Letters to Christis

Dear Christis,

As followers of Jesus Christ we seek to follow His teachings alone and unreservedly, in expression of our fervent love for Him and recognising his words that “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:23). We believe that Christ Himself and His good news (the promise of forgiveness of sins and being restored to a right relationship with God through the new birth of the Holy Spirit, witnessed by turning from sin to obedience towards God and putting all our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone and nothing else) — are preeminently vital for every single human being. Christ as Lord over the whole universe is preeminent over all man made organisations, and Head over the Church that He redeemed. Salvation is in Him alone and He alone has the words of eternal life.

With these things in mind we would seek to consider the remarks which Andrew Filby made in Christian Unity — the Gordian Knot only with gentle reproof, speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), and anxious that we would not become the enemies of any because we seek to tell you the truth (Gal.4:16).

In his article Andrew unfortunately drives a wedge between the Word of God and the Spirit of God, this of course is in direct opposition to that which we learn from the Bible and has very disturbing consequences. In creation (Gen.1:2–3), re-creation (James 1:18, Titus 3:5), the very preaching of the good news (1 Cor. 2:4) and the Christian life (1 Peter 1:22–23) this union of Word and Spirit is clear. We know that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom.10:17). It is clear that personal experience is built upon and cannot be divorced from knowledge of the truth through the word of God. John writes: “these are written that you may believe …” (knowledge of the truth fundamental to personal experience)“… and that believing you may have life in His name” (personal experience of God) (John 20:31). To separate experience from knowledge turns ultimately into absurdity: if one had claimed to have met Andrew, yet in response to questions regarding his appearance and character could not answer, then few would be inclined to believe them. A test of objective Truth must itself be objective Truth.

We found Andrew’s article on the whole really rather confusing. He talks of truth as only really subjectively experienced but seems to want to avoid the inevitable conclusion that this makes truth relative, although he condemns ‘Fundamentalists’ for treating truth as absolute “imparting the same truth on each person’s heart” he maintains that the conscience is the “only place where we can know the truth and gain an absolute sense of God.” Does this mean that the conscience becomes perfect? What does the Bible say on this? (1 Cor. 4:4, 8:7,10 and 1 Tim. 4:2). If individual consciences vary in their perception of truth how is this accounted for? What of Jeremiah 17:9, which applies even to the believer (for although regenerated, with the power of sin broken, its extent of influence is still apparent)?

Andrew makes some very dogmatic knowledge statements which obviously aren’t taken from the Bible, but what concrete basis do they therefore come from?

It seems that Andrew is trying to say that truth is only subjective and that because our individual ‘truths’ and ‘truth traditions’ are therefore relative to each other we can have unity. We are unashamedly committed to the objective revelation of God as Truth and wholeheartedly affirm that this is also subjectively experienced through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The New Testament is very strong that the good news is Truth and that this is a defined and nonnegotiable body of teachings. God makes it very clear that anything contrary to this is to be utterly avoided. The Lord Jesus Christ commands repentance of the false doctrines of the church in Pergamos (Rev. 2:14–16). The heresies in Galatians and Colossians that Paul condemned as a perversion of the gospel subtracted nothing from it, but perverted it through adding to it. Why was he so narrow-minded as not to be tolerant of other ‘Christian traditions’?

The believer is commanded to separation from those that teach contrary to this nonnegotiable Truth:

… note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them.

(Rom. 16:17)

There are strong words in condemnation of those who “preach any other gospel” (Gal.1:8). Such are indeed “the enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18). “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him: for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2John 1:10–11). This is not theoretical, for “departure from the faith” is prophesied (1Tim. 4:1). “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness … From such withdraw yourself.” (1 Tim. 6:3–5). Separation is clearly commanded in 2 Cor. 6:14–17.

We have a clear basis for Christian unity in the nonnegotiable word of Truth by which we were born again, yet we must separate with love, with much pain and even tears in our eyes but with unshakeable firmness from those who would reject, add to or nullify (through evaporating it into metaphor), this Truth. When Christ prayed for the unity of his Church, he linked it inextricably with the purity of the Church and the purity of the gospel, saying “Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word is Truth.” (John 17:17). The Church is defined as “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15), whenever any group of professing Christians ceases to uphold the Word of God which is his Truth, they cease to be the Church.

The following passage indicates the only basis for the unity of the Church:

You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently out of a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever … Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

(1 Peter 1:18–25).

May God give to all them that are His, grace unreservedly to obey Him in this.

Yours in love

Matthew Moxon, William Olphert and Matthew Vogan.

Dear Christis

Seeing as the ‘Comment Corner’ has been set up to incite a bit more debate about the issues facing Christianity on campus, I would like to respond to one of the points raised; that of involvement — or lack of it — in the Students’ Union at York. I suppose I really want to echo what was said in Issue 39; that Christians here may indeed have an obligation to show a greater interest in this very central aspect of campus life. There is no doubt that as Christians, we know God is interested in, and affects, every part of our University careers — every act, every decision. Maybe, as a necessary extension of this we can become interested in wider campus issues, and apply our values there — not with any ulterior motive; simply because we are followers of Jesus. Is the fact that the UGMs have a reputation of being rather lengthy and boring, a genuine reason to avoid them? Moreover, on a practical level, every single person who comes to a UGM brings the numbers that bit closer to quoracy, and to actually getting things done. This on its own might be a good enough reason for a Christian to turn up. I don’t think the issue is just about the politics side of the SU though; RAG and CAP need Christian support too — for many reasons, but essentially because Christ said “Love your neighbour”.

It seems that as individuals, and as Christians we need to work out and constantly evaluate how we can best serve God in York; whether through existing Christian society channels, or by less conventional methods. The important thing is that we are serving Him, sharing His love.

Am I just rambling on about my own shortcomings here, or do others acknowledge the difficulties and opportunities I have mentioned? I challenge you to consider just how far-reaching and effective your Christian witness is on this campus. And if you could be doing a little bit more, go for it!

Yours,

Heather Colgate