Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Christian Primer Terms? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 18115 | ||
Dear Saints and fellows, Again I ask for help in creating a primer for new Christians and those 'on the brink.' The first class will be Christian-Bible terminology. I would like to give basic definitions pertinent to starting a life in Christ Jesus. Please rememeber that I am living in a country with less than 1 percent Christian population (Japan), and very little knowledge of things many would take for granted. A few terms I would like to bring up are: God, Holy Spirit, Trinity, Messiah-Christ, heaven, hell, salvation, justification, redemption, Bible-Old Testament-New Testament, prophecy, ministry, faith, baptism...etc. Please give me a definition of one or more of the above, with a clear Bible reference (Not too many!) Let me know what you might want to add to the above list. Please, do not 'wax poetic' or philosophize. Also, don't refer me to another book or web-site...tell me what YOU think. Be brief; I want to give a list of basic definitions, explain the basics, then have some free discussion, all in about 90 minutes. Think what is most important to you. Thank you all for you help. I plan on publishing the course outline on my homepage as an 'open source.' I pray that it will be a blessing to many in non-Christian nations, and maybe in some so-called 'Christian nations' as well. Blessing to all in Christ Jesus, charis |
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2 | Christian Primer Terms? | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 18146 | ||
Charis: Not that I haven't read your request that we give OUR answers, but it does sound that what you are looking for is a catechism. Why "re-invent the wheel" when a catechism (such as the Westminster Shorter Catechism or one of the many other evangelical ones) serves the very purpose you are seeking? They are used as educational tools to help seekers/new converts/children grasp the basics of the faith in a manner that is easy to understand. Why don't you take a look and see if this will help, and I am sure that someone on the forum will work with you if that doesn't pan out. A whole host of catechisms can be found at www.reformed.org under the link "Historic Church Documents." Others can be found at www.reformedreader.org under "Baptist Documents." These are worth a looksie for everyone in my opinion, even if you don't agree with every last point of doctrine contained therein. --Joe! |
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3 | Christian Primer Terms? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 18163 | ||
Dear Joe! Greetings in Jesus' name! One of the main reasons I do not just find a 'good teaching' or catechism and translate it is that it is hard to find one that is 'valid' in my here and now. The church in Japan has been trying to reach this land for 400 years, and has not been very successful. Especially after WWII, a great influx of missionaries and mission money saw some church growth, but there has been a steady downward curve since. Though many ministries have been claiming 'revival, restoration and-or renewal' these past 20 years (my personal Christian experience), the evidence shows a clear lack of efficacy in sharing the Gospel. Churches are failing and membership is waning. The 'tried and true' methods are NOT working here. Churches import every new wave of programs, courses, messages, and 'special guests.' So you see, my friend, they do NOT serve my purposes. Reinvent the wheel? Hardly! I thought we were to work out our salvation in fear and trembling. This is one thing that you cannot build on another's foundation. Each individual's salvation is fresh and new in Christ's eyes. Each nation has it's own 'situation.' If the wineskin is obviously cracked and leaking, it must be replaced. Trust me, Joe, I have already spent 15 years having a 'looksie' at just about every major work of catechism. In fact, I agree with most of them, as they are basic Christianity. But I seek some thing that portrays the 'success' that my fellowship has enjoyed here. My own church has grown steadily (not explosively) for 15 years, and our own kids are in church. Because of the social and educational system here, most churches lose their youth before junior high school. Please, my fellows of the forum, it hasn't 'panned out,' so I DO need your help. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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4 | Christian Primer Terms? | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 18211 | ||
Charis: Of course, I don't know your situation intimately, but have you considered that the lack of fruit may not be from a poor EXPLANATION of theology, but rather the way it is PROCLAIMED? What are the "tried and true" methods that you mention in your post that have been ineffective in stemming the decline in church membership? One thing I can tell you from the experiences I have here is that true revival is not likely to result from the "new wave of programs, etc." One thing that you know will work is the proclamation of God's Word (Romans 1:16-17). The proclamation of the Gospel, whether there are any beels, whistles, dramas, or whatever, is the ONLY thing that will be the means of convicting the Japanese of their sinfulness before a holy God and direct them to Jesus Christ as the only mediator between them and that God. I guess that rather than go on, I would like a better perspective of your situation. What do the Christian churches do to get the Word out to the Japanese, "to hit them where they live," so to speak? As Augustine put it, "Our souls are restless until they find their rest in Thee." No matter how much they suppress the truth, their souls are indeed restless, because they were created for relationship with God. I guess what I am wanting to learn in order to expand my knowledge of the situation is what have been the failed efforts in your experience? How would such traditional methods such as street preaching without "gimmicks" work? Tracts which speak of God's holiness and our sinfulness and need of repentance? What is the attitude of those who are going to church as far as proclaiming the Gospel to those in their spheres of influence. Revival will come when and where the Holy Spirit brings it about. The possibility exists that you may be doing everything right and they are rejecting the Gospel. However, the preaching of God's Word is the primary means that God uses to draw the elect to Himself. You are right that every nation has it's own situation in the particulars. But as human beings, we at the core all have the same situation. The obstacles may manifest themselves in different ways, but at the heart is the depravity of man, which only the regeneration by the Holy Spirit can overcome. Knowing the particulars in Japan's culture, how can you most effectively strike at the heart of their secularism and unbelief? Take a cue from Paul in Acts 17. In the meantime, I would love to know some of the particulars myself, so please share some specifics of your struggles so that we can learn more about the struggles of the church in Japan and how to pray effectively for you. --Joe! |
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5 | Christian Primer Terms? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 18225 | ||
Dear Joe, Greetings in Jesus' name! Brother, after I sent my reply post to you I felt that I was rude to you, and I apologize. What you wrote had merit, and I know that you had the best of intentions in your answer. As I wrote to Lionstrong, the questions of many available catechismal teachings valid, but the answers might be different. This is not to say that human beings have different spiritual needs depending on their locale, but the social perception and environment do make a difference in how they hear the answer. My friend, you have hit the nail on the head (IMHO) concerning 'the lack of fruit may not be from a poor EXPLANATION of theology, but rather the way it is PROCLAIMED?' I agree with you! The 'tried and true' methods used by many churches are based on Western (usually American or English) evangelical models. They also depend heavily on 'fads,' so it is always changing! Some churches change their evangelical program 2 or 3 times a year, even when they don't 'match' one another theologically! Talk about confusion. The proclaimers are 'clanging a cymbal' and the 'trump is out of tune.' The hearers are more sensitive to this lack of continuity than the speakers, fortifying their skepticism. Another obvious part of evangelism that may be more important in Japan than in a Western nation is the role that your example or testimony plays. Many Christians have exactly the same problems and sins as the rest of the world. The men are never home, and totally 'bound' by their work. Their children are out of order, and follow the ways of the world from an early age, and the parents exercise not control or discipline in their lives. Is it no wonder that most churches are 90 percent (or more!) women? Even the men that DO come on Sunday have no other fellowship with other Christians. Those we want to hear the Good News look at our lives. My own experience (which has born steady fruit) has been to proclaim the Gospel on a more personal basis than the 'buckshot' methods of present-day revival preachers. We try to find opportunity to meet people on a face-to-face basis. You are correct that society and culture make it difficult. The working man is NEVER home. It is common for a salaried worker to be away from home 16 hours every day of the week! (Sunday may be off, but you must go golfing with the boss, or out with coworkers) Children, from the 4th grade are 'required' to be involved in school clubs, cram schools and special tutoring in order to 'get to the next step.' It is perfectly normal (even Christian families!) to totally lose all touch with your child from the age of 10. These situations are ubiquitous. Finally, Joe, you may be right that it is not yet God's will for this nation to submit to Him. Unfortunately, this does not get me off the hook! :-) I have believed, and will continue to believe that the Lord will shower His grace upon this land. When is not my affair. This is why I am not disappointed when (yet another) 'prophecy' of revival or renewal does not come about as 'promised.' I have never sought numbers or fame, thus I do not 'make haste.' (Isaiah 28:16 KJV) :-) Blessings to you, and thank you for your prayers. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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6 | Christian Primer Terms? | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 18227 | ||
Charis: Thanks for sharing about the work habits of the Japanese. I had never even thought of that as an avenue for communicating God's truth. So many things come into play there for the Christian to address. Here are some that I can think of right off hand: 1. Gaining the whole world, and yet losing your soul (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36) 2. Biblical admonitions of raising one's child (too many references there to cite) 3. Christian marriage (1 Peter 3; Ephesians 5) 4. Counting all things as loss for the sake of Christ (Philippians 3). I would suspect that this would be quite a powerful one, since Saul was on the fact track to executive status when he met his Maker on the road to Damascus :) 5. Ecclesiastes. Need I say more? :) 6. And, of course, bringing it all back to God's holiness, our sin, judgment, and the Cross... You know without a doubt that the Bible stands completely contrary to the lifestyle of the Japanese middle class (in a different way than it does in the U.S., in many respects). What an opportunity you have to advocate the Christian "counterculture" there! What a marked difference those who are following Christ will make there! Perhaps a very effective approach would not be to try and find in-roads into the culture (blending Christianity ino the culture), but rather stressing it as a way of life completely contrary to the lifestyle of the Japanese world. This is certainly not going to cause those who will continue to love the world to embrace Christianity, but that is the idea, isn't it? First John in living, breathing, 3-D. And, as you can undoubtedly attest, a task for which only the Holy Spirit is equal... Thanks for sharing! --Joe! "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.'" --Romans 1:16-17 |
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