Valedictory Service

Is Your House In Order?

It is a natural craving of every human being to live as long as possible. If given a chance, we would choose to die after we graduate from college; maybe our wedding or some of us would rather wait till we see our grandchildren or even great-grandchildren. The bottom line is: None of us want to die anytime soon. We are enjoying life to the core and that is exactly what our Creator intends for us. Once, Isaiah who was a great prophetic figure of biblical times visited King Hezekiah who was very ill. The meeting turned out to be quite horrifying when the prophet wagged his bony finger at the king and told him, “Set your house in order, for you will die and not live.”It came as an alarming news to the sick king but isn’t Isaiah declaration applicable to every living creature? Is not all of creation prone to death?

On the dawn of 13th November 2010, my best friend Noble John was promoted to glory. He was a luminary in terms of conduct, academics, and above all, his relationship with God. It was through him, after a‘07 ICPF youth camp at Manganam, Kottayam, that an ICPF prayer cell in AmalJyothi Engineering College, Kerala was formed.  Being raised up together under one roof in Saudi Arabia, we shared similar tastes and developed a bond that nothing could separate. Just before officially graduating as an engineer from AmalJyothi Engineering College, Kerala, God called him back home. The news of his departure came as an arrow right through our hearts. The grief of his departure left a mark on the walls of many hearts. The deaths of young lives are always considered untimely and the horrifying news of their deaths startles us because they are expected to live upto a span of 70 or 80 years.

It is anticipated that all of us including our near and dear ones would live throughout a lifetime. However, the truth of the Bible proclaims—Tomorrow is promised to no Man.The fact that there is no guarantee of being alive the next moment can be frightening. To bring it into perspective, consider these statements: This day can be the last day of our life,or, reading this article can be the last thing you will be doing. The psalmist in Psalm 103: 15 declares, “As for man, his days are like grass…” As for the epistle of James, it is an evil to brag and boast about our future because we do not know what tomorrow holds for us. Life is short and uncertain. In the past, we could take for granted that death would meet us after entering old age but in the 21st century, we are surrounded by news of young people falling prey to death. However, let not the thought of life’s uncertainty frighten us.

Life can be terrifying and insanity can creep in if one starts to live as though today was the last day for his/her existence on earth. I lived that kind of life for about two months when Noble passed on. Fear engulfed me and I lived as though death was waiting for me at my doorstep. Nevertheless, God’s grace was sufficient for me. Through this bitter experience God taught me certain Kingdom principles. Life on earth should be lived in the light of eternity. Everything that we do on earth is a preparation for what holds for us in eternity. It is that eternal hope that sustains us and keeps us going in this world. Jesus came into this world and conquered death so that we could have life and life eternal.

When we live in the light of eternity, there is a new meaning and a purpose for life. Every little thing that we do in this world will matter in terms of the eternal glory that we will inherit. Having the realization that life is shorter than we think, I am reminded of the words of John Wesley who states, “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as you ever can.” When our work on earth is done, God will call us home. Is our house set in order? Are we living in the light of eternity or obsessed with the world and everything in it so much so that the hope of life is lost. When we close our eyes on earth, will we open our eyes to see Jesus? Start builder a closer relationship with God and the people that God has given you because what you do on earth matters! Dear friend, will you set your house in order? Time is running out!

- Renny Cherian,
  UBS, Pune

“I Personally Do Not See Much Value in ‘Academics’ for Its Own Sake”, says Dr. Brian C. Wintle

[Dr. Brian C. Wintle completed his Mechanical Engineering (BE) from the University of Madras in 1965, Bachelor of Divinity (BD) from the Union Biblical Seminary (Yavatmal) in 1972, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in New Testament from the University of Manchester in 1977. He was a teaching faculty in the Department of New Testament at the UBS, Yavatmal and Pune (1978-1995) and served in various administrative positions of the seminary including that of Principal (1987-1995). Since 1995, he is involved with the Asia Theological Association and, at present, serves both as the Regional Secretary (India) and as the Associate General Secretary of ATA. Dr. Brian is an ordained presbyter of the Church of North India (CNI) of the erstwhile Diocese of Kolhapur, Maharashtra. During his UBS tenure, he was also serving on the pastoral staff of the St. Paul’s Church in Pune. Presently, he is a pastoral staff of the Divya Shanthi Community Churches of India, Bangalore. His publications include articles in various magazines and journals, two volumes in the ATA Commentary Series (Ephesians and Colossians & Philemon), Synoptic Studies (Vols. I & II, TBT, Bangalore), and Small Groups in the Local Church (TBT, Bangalore). Presently he is General Editor of and contributor to the forthcoming South Asia Bible Commentary, a one-volume contextual commentary on the Bible.]

 

See the interesting interview with Dr. Brian below…

Question: Dr. Brian, you have served as a Professor of New Testament and Principal of Union Biblical Seminary, and now you are working as the Regional Secretary (India) and Associate General Secretary of Asia Theological Association (ATA). You are one of the few people who excelled both in ‘academics’ and ‘leadership’. May you please share your experiences in brief with the younger generation scholars and leaders?

Dr. Brian: I personally do not see much value in `academics’ for its own sake. I believe that all ideology and theology must be made to serve the important task of helping the Church to become the people of God in everyday living. Christians must be challenged to think through their faith, to work out for themselves what is involved in becoming the persons God wants them to be. And that is where someone who is a sound scholar can make a contribution.

Question: In my observation, you are one of the leading Evangelical scholars in India today. As an “Indian Christian”/”Evangelical”/”Biblical scholar”, how do you view the concept and praxis of Mission in the present day Indian context?

Dr. Brian: In my opinion, a primary need in the Church is that of sound Bible exposition. That was the perceived need when I made the decision to train to become a Bible teacher, and I believe the need remains today. The Church needs Christian thinkers – members who have allowed the truth of the gospel to shape their thinking, their convictions, their lives and their responses to people and to situations in which they find themselves. In our country, piety is often confused with religion – ritual, and performance. But the essence of being Christian has to do rather with being – with the kind of persons we are. And it is our thinking that will determine that.

Question: As a New Testament scholar, what is the usual method you employ when you interpret the scripture? Do you have any special advice(s) to share with the upcoming New Testament scholars in particular and biblical scholars in general?

Dr. Brian: My starting point in Biblical interpretation is the authority of Scripture. I come to Scripture as a member of the faith community, and trusting that, if I use the necessary tools of interpretation correctly, the Spirit will guide me to the truth. I do not have much respect for approaches that sit in judgment on the Biblical text.

Question: Who is the biblical scholar who influenced you the most? May you describe a bit about her/him and the way s/he influenced you?

Dr. Brian: In my days as a student in Union Biblical Seminary, my NT Professor, Dr Peter O’Brien, had a profound influence on me. He taught me to handle the Biblical text with respect, and to submit to it as the Word of God. Dr O’Brien was a meticulous exegete, and at one time, his commentaries on Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians & Philemon were acclaimed as the best available in evangelical scholarship. He has left a lasting impression on me.

Question: What is your opinion about “bridging the perspectives of the Eastern and Western New Testament scholarships?” In your opinion, whether the scripture has to be interpreted ‘locally’ or ‘globally’?

Dr. Brian: I’m not sure that there is wisdom in making a choice between interpreting Scripture globally or locally. Surely we need to look for both global and local relevance and application of a text. Similarly, in trying to understand a text, we can learn from the history of its interpretation – no matter whether the latter is from the West or elsewhere. However, in the light of my earlier comments I may say that it is the interpretation of Scripture in the local context that primarily helps Christians to develop biblically in their thinking and practice.

Dr. Brian, we appreciate you for your generous contribution toward UBS, New Testament scholarship, Indian Church, and ATA.

Interviewed by Johnson Thomaskutty, Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India

LIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Living in the presence of God is not a good way to live life

but it is “only way to live life.”

              

Ashish Gavit  (BD Final year)

Psalm 91

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. (Psa 91:1-2 NLT)

only in the shelter of the most high we will find rest.

Reason is so simple no traps, no disease, no fears, no calamities, no disaster will touch me. (Psalmist says in V. 2,5-7NLT)

Because He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection (Ps 91:4 NLT)

Thousands may die around u because of diseases, calamities, fears but He will save you.

No evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. (Ps 91:10 NLT)

For His angels will protect you.

HE will give you authority to crush lions and serpents under your feet because you Love your God, you trust in Him, You seek Him all the time so He will be on your side all the time.

¹⁵ When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. (Ps 91:15 NLT)

God will also reward them who live with Him and rewards are ‘Long life’ and ‘salvation. ‘

All those people who want rest, protection, safety and power to overcome evil must live in the presence of God.  

Just look at the flip side of it.

The more we go away from His presence we face more stress, fears, calamities and disasters in our life. We invite more tension, more stress, more problems which removes/decreases our peace, joy, love from our heart and mind. We pursue our own goals not God. Life becomes constant struggle to reach those goals at the expenses of our moral and ethical decay. We become self centered rather than God centered.

Do not waste 10 years of your life to understand such simple truth of life.

Struggle here with us as Christian is we think God will remove all our “PAIN” but bible do not support this view

I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. (Ps 91:15 NLT)

Paul says in Romans 5:3-4 NLT

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.      

Paul in his letter to Rome rights about his suffering and he rejoices for it but we know that his suffering was from God. In the book of Acts God says “And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake." (Act 9:16 NLT)

Suffering has very important role to play in our life but it needs to come from God.

And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1Co 10:13 NLT)

Even Jesus was tempted by satan. Satan made trap for Jesus but he was not able to seize. 

Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. (Psa 91:8 NLT) but here we see that wicked are those who refuse to live in the presence of God and hence God will bring all these problems in their life as a punishment for their refusal.

Psalmist talks about unnecessary suffering which is coming from our own refusal and from satan. Bible says 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy……” (Joh 10:10 NRS)

This type of pain or suffering is not constructive but it is destructive.

I do not know which type of suffering comes from God and which is from satan. But I know for sure that God will never allow me to suffer unnecessary.

So ultimately we understand that in order to live life we need God and without Him there will be “no life” left in us. Living in the presence of God is not a good way to live life but it is “only way to live life.”