Saturday Post -- 21/03/15

In recent weeks, I (Craig – sorry, you’re stuck with me again) have graciously been granted a first-hand glimpse into the workings of our great God.

Those who know me will be aware that I enjoy setting myself targets now and again, in the hope of infusing my ever-hastening days with structure and purpose. During our time away in 2014, I managed to pick up a cut-price copy of Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, which has already established itself as something of a classic in evangelical scholarship since its publication in 1997 (it’s also a bit of a doorstopper – handily for us, this version was in a digital format). Bearing in mind the relative lack of in-service training opportunities available to us out here, I resolved to study one chapter every Sunday afternoon upon returning to Bolivia. Thus far, I have barely dipped my toe into the first major section, on the word of God, but I already feel greatly enriched for the study.

Grudem’s work transcends the academic in its endeavour to apply Christian doctrine to the life of the reader and with this in mind, each chapter closes with a series of questions for personal application. A couple of weeks back, I noticed that, not for the first time, there was a question about how the particular doctrine of that week might challenge the teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses; perhaps Grudem has previous in this area. And not for the first time, I felt unequipped to answer the question. To the best of my knowledge, at no point in my life had I had any engagement with a Jehovah’s Witness, and (probably as a result) I’d never really taken the time to study their teachings and see how they measure up with Scripture.

Having been forced to skip a JW-related question for the second week running, I felt this was perhaps a little prompting from the Lord to venture down this particular rabbit-hole. Not that I was motivated by a mere lack of ability to answer homework questions. I knew fine well that I could hardly engage such people without having first gotten to grips with the tenets of their faith. And this would potentially be of even greater benefit here in this corner of Bolivia, where the Jehovah’s Witnesses are more visible than back in the UK – not that I had yet had an opportunity to converse with one.

And so, I spent some time the following day doing some research into the beliefs of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, in the process learning more about the reasoning for their reading of the 144,000 in Revelation, the various day-and-date proclamations of the world’s end, and the sharply contrasting claims (with us evangelicals) as to the divinity of Jesus. I wasn’t exactly ready to write a PhD on the topic, but I certainly had a better understanding as to where they were coming from – though, if anything, I was all the more perplexed as to why anyone with half a brain would give it all more than a moment’s thought. In any case, I would be prepared to engage a Jehovah’s Witness on these issues if and when an opportunity arose.

Five days later, seemingly unrelated circumstances were taking place. I was enjoying lunch with Amanda, not so much for the food as simply the opportunity to relax for the first time last Saturday, having attended the monthly 6am joint pastors’/leaders’ meeting before setting off on the odyssey that is the Saturday Morning Shop (stepping in so that Amanda could write last week’s blog entry). But I knew that I had better make the most of my plate of pasta. In mid-afternoon, I was scheduled to attend the weekly church music group’s practice, with the youth group to follow. But seeming light years ago, when energy levels were sky-high (i.e., Tuesday) I’d pencilled in another appointment for Saturday afternoon: a visit to the hospital, where FT’s former patient Hernán, the 19-year-old quadriplegic, had recently been transferred.

One morning at the Foundation, I paid Hernán a brief visit to read Scripture and pray with him. He mentioned that he really loved films and I suggested I could maybe come round with a DVD. I never quite got round to this when he was with us at the Foundation, so I felt it was only correct that I right this wrong – hence my pledge to come and visit last Saturday.

And so, I made my way to the hospital, but practically running on empty. I resolved in the car that I’d just watch half of the film with him and come back the next weekend (i.e., today) to watch the remainder.

But, as it happens, we both rather got into the film in question, and I thought to myself, “I have time, I might as well stay till the end”. But we didn’t quite get there.

About three-quarters of the way through the film, a medical team came to carry out a routine check-up, and so, to give Hernán and his mother some privacy, I stepped outside into the corridor, only to feel a pamphlet being thrust into my open hand and unwittingly open the door for the very first time in my 32-and-a-half years to…

…a Jehovah’s Witness!

This, surely, was providence writ large. And so I politely declined the copy of the Watchtower, explained that I was a follower of Jesus Christ and (unfortunately for Hernán, it must be said!) spent the next half hour in discussion with the woman in question and her friend, taking them to verses in Scripture that clearly contradict the teaching of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I take no pride whatsoever in saying that they were unable to give satisfactory explanations; their general reaction consisted in their presenting verses to me with total disregard for their context and for biblical genres (a particular favourite was Daniel 2:44 – yet when I asked the women what the overall ‘story’ of Daniel 2 was, they could not tell me).

The discussion ended, unfortunately, with the women walking away while refusing to answer my latest question (one of them, a tad cheekily, explained to me that my being a non-native Spanish speaker was a contributing factor to my inability to understand the New World Translation!). But in the meantime, perhaps sensing the tension, ‘a crowd had gathered’. And for another half-an-hour, I held something of an impromptu Bible study with some of the onlookers, to expose the false teaching of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and point them in the way of Biblical truth as to the person of Jesus and the end times. Alas, at 6:20pm, I realised the youth group meeting was just 40 minutes away, and I would have to take my leave of these people and, of course, Hernán (turns out we’ll be finishing the film today after all).

The spring in my step as I dashed to the car was Super Mario-like. My one slight regret was that the discussion with the Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves ended so abruptly – I do hope that it was not down to any aggression on my part (I did try really hard to keep my emotions in check!). But, overall, I was simply in renewed awe of ‘the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God’ (Romans 11:23).

A few key lessons have hit home as I have digested these occurrences; I do believe they are of universal application.

1.     This chain of events was set in motion only when I became aware of my limitations. If I hadn’t studied these topics a few days earlier, I would have had little to go on in exposing the false gospel of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. But this study only arose out of a deep sense of ignorance on my part. Surely this conviction was of God, and he used it to bring glory to himself.

2.     ‘Nothing in my hand I bring’. 95% of me on Saturday afternoon was saying ‘stay at home, get some rest, Hernán will understand.’ I cannot take a modicum of credit for what happened. It was all of God.

3.     The ‘part of pain and pleasure’ of recent weeks could only be fully understood at a later juncture. I sat down to study these matters in the hope that they might be of use some distant day in the future; God, meanwhile, had other plans, determining to throw me in the deep end that very week! More profoundly, what of Hernán’s circumstances, which have been documented here over the past couple of weeks? Naturally, as a church, while endeavouring to care for him as best we can, it has nonetheless been tough to have a ring-side seat on such suffering and trust that there is a purpose. It is certainly not my place to make sweeping pronouncements regarding such a sensitive topic. All I know is that, occasioned by Hernán’s situation, Saturday was my first proper visit to Trinidad’s hospital, and unbeknownst to me, God had a little missionary work lined up in its corridors.

Prayer

• Today’s entry was written yesterday – if you can get your heads round that – as this morning we’re off with the youth group to the local lake resort for a morning of fellowship. It'll mostly be a time of relaxation, but one of the leaders will also be showing them how to share the gospel using balloons! Pray for safety and for listening ears during the talk.
• We have had one of those weeks in the house in which the proverbial rain has been of the ‘pouring’ variety. Just one thing after another to be fixed. Pray for patience and for provision to meet these costs.

Praise

• We had another really encouraging meeting of the men’s group last night. We’re beginning a Bible study using the film ‘Courageous’. Film-buff that he is, Craig would not readily admit to usually enjoying Christian movies (speaking of Daniel, would it be overly-spiritual to say they have been artistically ‘found wanting’?)! However, as a teaching aid, it’s excellent, with themes applicable to men across all cultures, particularly touching on the responsibility for male Christian leadership at home.
• Amanda was in need of a little mending herself over the weekend, coming down with a 48-hour stomach bug not long after she finished putting pen to paper on the blog (ominous!). Give thanks for a full recovery.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda