From: Jack Waller[SMTP:ab497@chebucto.ns.ca]
Sent: January 12, 1998 9:34 PM
Subject: Is this where we are?
"The eleven disciples took their journey into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had bidden them meet Him. When they saw Him there, they fell down to worship; though some were still doubtful.
"But Jesus came near and spoke to them; All authority in heaven and on earth, He said, has been given to Me; you, therefore, must go out, making disciples of all nations, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all the commandments which I have given you. And behold I am with you all through the days that are coming, until the consummation of the world" (Matt. 28 16-20).
Above, are the closing words of the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Let us now read the last lines of the Gospel of St Mark: "And He said to them, Go out all over the world, and preach the gospel to the whole of creation; he who believes and is baptized will be saved; he who refuses belief will be condemned" (Mark 16. 15-16).
It can be noted, that these two texts deal with the same subject; they are complementary. Has anything more impressive ever been said? Is it possible for us to be too attentive to anything said by Jesus Christ?
He draws our attention to the divine origin of His authority; "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." It is clear He is not talking about political or military authority. No, something greater, far greater... namely His spiritual authority.
Jesus claims lordship over souls; He is the one master of minds and hearts.
Early in His public life, He choose His apostles and said to them: "I will make your fishers of men." Their task, and that of their successors, is to teach ALL NATIONS.
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From: Carole Burton[SMTP:cburton@nf.sympatico.ca]
Sent: January 12, 1998 4:40 AM (!)
Subject: London Conf.
Haven't heard any mention of this on this "network", so will pass it on. (If you know of it already, OK!) A letter was sent to London Conf. pastoral charges by Conf. pres.& sec. (not exec.), dated Nov.24. London Conf. as you know has been quite orthodox- but they must have a chair & sec. who are otherwise. Anyhow, it was a defense of Phipps' views, esp. with the idea that if he had answered "Yes" to the q. "Was Jesus God?", THAT "could have been called heresy"!! BECAUSE "To suggest that he was GOD ONLY would deny his humanity"!!! No one was asking Phipps to say Jesus was "God only"- (i.e. and not human at all.) What a twisting of truth!
(In the letter they said only the paradox that Jesus was fully human AND fully divine can express the truth about him- which is TRUE. But then they twisted it in the above manner.)
Also, re. the same q. "Is Jesus God?", the letter says "To equate Jesus with God is to deny two-thirds of the Trinity"! But that is the whole point of the Trinity- the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus (Col.2:9), and yet there is ALSO the Father and the Holy Spirit- but not three Gods: one God in three persons. Ridiculous but true. (On "Face-off", Phipps said if Jesus is God, there is a DUALITY - but actually it's even worse- a trinity- and yet one!!)
The other main point they made was re. Phipps' views re. the Resurrection- when he said Jesus is alive [only] in the sense that he lives in people's hearts. The letter says that's in line with our Article of Faith XIX- "In the hearts of believers he abides forever as the indwelling Christ"!!! True- but he ALSO is alive and real APART from his dwelling within believers. How they twist truth! (Even more amazing is how many BELIEVE such twistings.)
Much like the word games of "We are not a creedal church; UC membership is by a profession of faith." (GC exec. November statement,and now the declaration of so many in UC who don't want a clear statement of BASIC faith within the UC.) A profession of faith in WHAT??? - if we don't go on creeds. (Actually, it's ingenious!! Who comes up with it all? It's as sly as the wording of MMHS- and then that "remarkable " solution to the "same-gender union" issue: "Worship and liturgy are the responsibility of the Session- so..." It HAS to be LAWYERS who come up with these "solutions"!)
An encouraging note is the number of media personel who defended Jesus against UC clergy in this "moderator controversy"- including Claire Hoy on "Face-off", Michael Enright on CBC Radio "This Morning" (esp. when he interviewed the Anglican bishop and Catholic bishop along with Bill Phipps), Michael Harris on CTV's Sunday Edition, and Bill Cameron on CBC Newsworld- not to mention Bob Harvey!
Carole Burton
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From: Jack Waller[SMTP:ab497@chebucto.ns.ca]
Sent: January 11, 1998 7:00 AM
Subject: Re: For Your Information
The Definition of the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D)
Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.