Back to the Basics

by Charles R. Swindoll

Ang yumao nang stratehista sa football, si Vince Lombardi, ay isang panatiko pagdating sa mga saligan. Sila na mga naglaro sa ilalim ng kanyang pamumuno ay madalas na magsabi ng tungkol sa kanyang sidhi, kanyang pwersa, kanyang hindi nawawalang sigasig para sa laro. Regular siyang bumabalik sa mga pangunahing pamamaraan ng blocking at tackling. May isang pagkakataon kung saan ang kanyang pangkat, ang Green Bay Packers, ay natalo sa isang mas mahinang koponan. Masama na ang matalo … ngunit ang matalo sa koponan na iyon ay hindi mapapasubalian. Tumayag ng pagsasanay si Coach Lombardi noong sumunod na umaga. Tahimik na nakaupo ang mga kalalakihan, na mas mukhang hinagupit na mga tuta kaysa isang koponan ng mga kampiyon. Wala silang ka-ide-ideya kung ano ang aasahan mula sa lalaking kanilang pinakakinatatakutan nila.

Nagtitimpi at tumititig sa bawat isang atleta, nagsimula si Lombardi:

“Okay, babalik tayo sa simula ngayong umaga. …”

Hawak-hawak ang isang football sa taas na makikita ng lahat, patuloy siyang sumigaw:

“… mga ginoo, ito ay isang football!”

Tingnan mo naman kung gaano ka-basic iyon! Ang mga lalaking nakaupo doon ay naglalaro na ng football nang labinlima hanggang dalawampung taon … sila na mas alam ang opensa at depensa higit sa mga pangalan ng mga anak nila … at ngayon ay ipinapakilala niya ang football sa kanila! Para iyong pagsasabi, “Maestro, ito ay isang gabilya.” O, “Librarian, ito ay isang aklat.” O, “Marine, ito ay isang rifle.” O, “Ina, ito ay isang kawali.” Halatang-halata naman kung ano iyon!

Bakit naman sa tanang mundong ito makikipag-usap ang ekspertong coach na ito sa mga propesyunal na atleta sa ganoong paraan? Pero gumana naman iyon, sapagkat walang sinuman ang nagdala sa isang koponan sa tatlong magkakasunod na kampyonato sa buong mundo kundi siya. Ngunit—paano? Gumawa lamang si Lombardi sa isang simpleng pilosopiya. Naniwala siya na ang kagalingan ay pinakamainam na nakakamit sa pamamagitan ng pagma-master ng mga basics ng isang laro. Ang panlilito, pagpapasaya sa madla, at larong pakikipagsapalaran ay pupuno ng stadio (nang pansamantala) at maaaring makapagpanalo ng ilang mga laro (paminsan-minsan), ngunit sa huling pag-aanalisa ang mga palaging nananalo ay mga koponan na naglalaro nang matalino, taas-noo, at matigas na football. Kanyang stratehiya? Alamin ang iyong posisyon. Matuto kung paano ito gawin nang tama. Pagkatapos ay gawin ito nang buo mong lakas! Ang ganoong kasimpleng plano ang naglagay ng Green Bay, Wisconsin, sa mapa. Bago dumating si Lombardi, ang Green Bay ay isa lamang tigilan sa pagitan ng Oshkosh at Iceland.

Ang gumaganang stratehiya sa laro ng football ay gumagana rin sa iglesya. Ngunit sa mga ranggo ng Kristiyanismo, medyo mas madaling malito. Ah, hindi lang medyo: sobrang daling malito. Kapag sinasabi mong “church” sa ngayon, para lamang itong pag-order ng mainit na inumin … mayroon kang tatlumpu’t-isang klase ng mga lasa na pagpipilian. Maaari mong piliin ang mga madidiskarte, o mga humahawak ng ahas, o mga positibo mag-isip. Mga bandang may makukulay na ilaw, mga nakadamit na “pari” na may madudugong mga patalim, mga inahit na ulo na may magagandang mga bulaklak, at sumisigaw na mga showman na may mga nagpapagaling na mga linya ay mayroon din. Kung hindi pa iyon sapat, hanapin mo ang paborito mong “ismo” at magiging okay na: humanismo, liberalismo, matinding Calvinismo, politikal na aktibismo, antikomunismo, supernatural na spiritismo, o lumalabang pundamentalismo.

Pero teka! Ano ba talaga ang mga basics ng “iglesya”? Ano ang pinakapangunahing Gawain ng isang iglesyang naniniwala sa Biblia? Kung aalisin ang lahat ng mga hindi kinakailangan, ano ang matitira? Makinig tayo sa ating Coach. Sinasabi Niya sa atin na mayroon tayong apat na pangunahing prayoridad kung nais nating matawag na isang iglesya:

katuruan … pagsasama-sama … pagpuputul-putol ng tinapay … pananalangin (Mga Gawa 2:42).

Sa apat na ito tayo ay dapat na “patuloy na igugol ang ating mga sarili.” Ang mga matitibay, balanse, at “nagwawaging” mga iglesya ay sila na mina-master ang mga basics na ito. Ang mga ito ang bumubuo ng aspeto ng ano ng iglesya.

Ang paano ay pareho lamang na mahalaga. Muli, ang Coach ay sinasabihan ang ating koponan. Sinasabi Niya na ang iglesya na ginagawa ang kanyang trabaho ay ang iglesya na:

… nagsasanay sa mga banal para sa gawain ng paglilingkod, sa ikatitibay ng katawan ni Kristo … (Efeso 4:12).

“Aba, ang dali naman pala,” sasabihin mo. “Napaka-simple naman yata?” itatanong mo. Handa ka na ba sa isang panggulat? Ang pinakamahirap na trabaho na maaari mong maisip ay ang pagpapanatili ng mga pangunahing gawain na ito. Maraming mga tao ang walang ideya kung gaano kadaling iwanan ng mga kinakailangan at mapasali sa ibang mga gawain.

Maniwala ka—mayroong tuluy-tuloy na daloy ng mga hiling mula sa mabubuti, at nakatutulong na sources na gamitin ang pulpit bilang isang plataporma para sa kanilang agenda. Inuulit ko, mabubuti at nakakatulong na sources, ngunit hindi kinakailangan … hindi direktang may kaugnayan sa ating pangunahing layunin. Ang layunin ng iglesya ay ang interpretasyon, eksposisyon, at aplikasyon ng Banal na Kasulatan.

Ngunit ang ganoong iglesya ay napakabihira sa ating lupain, parang gusto mong tumayo at magsabi:

“Mga Kristiano, ito ay Biblia!”

Pagpapalalim ng iyong mga ugat: Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 4:12-16; Ephesians 2:19-22

Pagsasanga: Gawin ang mga sumusunod na basics: 1) matuto sa mga tinuturo; 2) makipag-fellowship sa kapwa mananampalataya; 3) sumama sa mga activities ng church; 4) manalangin.

—Mula sa Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life ni Charles R. Swindoll, pp. 372-375.

The Music, The Change, and The Stand

SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLE
by Bishop Felizardo D. Abanto

In the midst of today's controversy about music, the pastor of Capitol Bible Baptist Church-Tanza, plainly and unashamedly still stand on the kind of music he learned when he was still a student in Bible Baptist Seminary of the Philippines, Mandaluyong City, year 1977 to 1980. Back then the use of drums in BBCs was prohibited. There was no "praise and worship" music--none, no, not one. They were only done in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. BBCs and pastors back then were still strong on music and standards of dress and hair--especially on doctrines and Baptist Distinctives. We even disfellowship a young pastor, Rey Clemente, because he believed in the universal church and did not believe in tithing. So he went out really and really did what he wanted to do. I think his church (one of the oldest BBC in the Philippines) was the first BBC to embrace "praise and worship" and drums in their music, as he opened the church to charismatic practices. That's history. We cannot deny it.

But things change. People change. Now, pastors of BBCs are in a controversy over music. And I left behind and become "irrelevant." Well, come to think of it--Rey Clemente was right after all! And we must ride the bandwagon.

But, NO THANKS. With all due respect I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE. I think this is the change we don't need. Are our churches to conform to the world's concept of relevancy and to the market-driven philosophy to reach the world? NO! NEVER! The answer, of course, is that OUR CHURCHES MUST CONFORM TO GOD'S CONCEPT OF RELEVANCY. That's the real story behind this change. To continue to be relevant to this world you must change, and you must conform to the world. That is the world's concept of relevancy. But God's concept is not to conform but to be transformed:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

God's concept of relevancy is to be different from this world: To be sanctified and clean from worldliness; to be a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle; to be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27). A transformed life and lips are still God's instruments in reaching the world.

That's why we need our pastors to speak out and sound the alarm. This is not the time to be silent. This is the time to make a real, definite, and a courageous stand. The future of our churches is at stake. I don't want my sons to accuse me later that I am only long on rhetoric, but short on memory, and negligent in weighing the consequences of my actions. I want them to remember me as a leader who knew how to make a stand for my convictions without fear or favor.

am surprised why the conflict ever exists. Why? For the past 30 years BBC pastors knew and were very sure of their stand on this. Now we "don't know anymore." What we know is that everything is changing. And it is "impossible" not to go with the change. Unless we do, we'll be left behind and become "irrelevant." Well, come to think of it--Rey Clemente was right after all! And we must ride the bandwagon.

But, NO THANKS. With all due respect I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE. I think this is the change we don't need. Are our churches to conform to the world's concept of relevancy and to the market-driven philosophy to reach the world? NO! NEVER! The answer, of course, is that OUR CHURCHES MUST CONFORM TO GOD'S CONCEPT OF RELEVANCY. That's the real story behind this change. To continue to be relevant to this world you must change, and you must conform to the world. That is the world's concept of relevancy. But God's concept is not to conform but to be transformed:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

God's concept of relevancy is to be different from this world: To be sanctified and clean from worldliness; to be a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle; to be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27). A transformed life and lips are still God's instruments in reaching the world.

That's why we need our pastors to speak out and sound the alarm. This is not the time to be silent. This is the time to make a real, definite, and a courageous stand. The future of our churches is at stake. I don't want my sons to accuse me later that I am only long on rhetoric, but short on memory, and negligent in weighing the consequences of my actions. I want them to remember me as a leader who knew how to make a stand for my convictions without fear or favor.

What Will Happen to the Church of Tomorrow?

by Bro. Elijah Abanto

A wise Christian talked to me about this article last time and made some advice to improve this article. The changes are exhibited by the following article. --editor

With very few exceptions, all the parents that I know of want their children to have a bright future. They want them to become the best they could be, the greatest potential they could be, and especially for us Christians, we want them to become saved and to live a life that's pleasing to God and His Word--doctrinally and practically.

But I'm afraid that our dreams for our children might not become a reality. We thought what we are doing is the best way to raise them, but we don't know--we might be wrong. We think that our methods are right, and they seem to be good at first--then later we wonder, "Why did that happen to my child?" And with that we must consider an important question.

What will happen to the church of tomorrow? If we are not careful, the children today could be the apostate adults tomorrow--the apostate church of tomorrow. Little by little, change in doctrine and living would destroy future generations.

You don't have to look far away to see that it's happening. The trends say that. I personally know of one church that has a service for adults and a service for young people. Not that separating church services between age groups is bad, but that's not the case. The reason why they have separate church services is because the adults want hymns and the young people want the 'alive' songs! What's frightening is that most of the young people are children of the adults of the same church! What's more, the children of another church are mocking the choruses they are singing at Sunday school, and, as one of their teachers has said, they are throwing crumpled papers to the teacher while in class! Also, in an old church I know, while all the adult ladies are dressing in right apparel in church service, the young people are wearing mini skirts or spaghetti's. And they grew up there in the church!
I'm not saying it's all our fault--the example set by the adults is strong enough to make them think of the right way to do things. But, the question is, could it be that there may be something wrong with what we are doing? I'm afraid kids are getting enough of Bible stories and not a bit of doctrine. I'm afraid we are just letting (or forcing) our children to do something, and they don't have the least idea why they should do this, or why they should do that this way or that way. And so, when they grow up, they would not believe it, or do it, or at least do it the way we expect them to do it.
What's more alarming is that we are not aware of it, much more do something about it.

Let's be reminded: your children - our children, are the church of tomorrow. What we are teaching them and not teaching them will determine what kind of church we are forming for the future.

It starts with us parents. Read Deuteronomy 6. This chapter will refresh you on the importance of children to be taught and trained. Consider verses 1-2 and 7,

Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:

That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged...

...And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (emphasis mine)

This principle also applies to the way the church teaches its children, because it is where families are built. The church and the family must not contradict each other, whether doctrinally or practically.
Now let's do a check-up. Try asking or observing a child (12 and below, could be your child) about certain aspects of our faith and practice. That will tell you if you are doing your job.
Doctrine. Ask him about some of the basics of our faith. How many Gods are there? How can you be saved? What do you think about the Bible? Can baptism bring you to heaven? These are some of the many basic questions you must check in the child's being. If the child answers wrong in these basic questions, that means he hasn't really learned what he must believe. Timothy learned the cardinal doctrines of the faith when he was young (2 Timothy 3:15), and it had become undeniably one of the factors why he became one of the youngest church leaders of his time.
Attendance. Do you really like attending church, or are you just forced? If you attend church, do you believe it's needed to attend all of the services and not be late? Do you need to behave in the worship service? Many parents are choosing to leave their children in their houses when attending church, basically because they think their child will just mess things up. But it's a matter of teaching and training.
Another word about church attendance: I would not recommend separate churches, or a children's church, a youth church, and an adult church, though I know that God does use them to bring salvation and spiritual growth to many. If you would look at the scriptures, you would not find any single principle about separating them; instead, scriptural examples implying a family sort of attendance are rampant. (See Deuteronomy 16, specially verse 11; also Luke 2, when Jesus turns twelve)
Offering/Giving. If children are not trained to give now, it is more probable that they will never give later, or they will be selfish. Ask, What do you think about putting money in the offering plate? Is it right? Don't think they will learn it when they grow up. It starts NOW.
One significant example of early-age giving in the Bible is the child who brought the five loaves and two fish to Jesus. (John 6:8-10) Though what stands out more is Jesus' wondrous miracle, carefully studying the passage will bring to light the giving heart of the child. Where must have that giving spirit come from?
Music. What songs to do you like, choruses or hymns? Are you bored with hymns, and want lively songs instead? Though not entirely applicable to all, it is generally reasonable to say that what children sing today will determine what they sing tomorrow. If all they sing are shallow songs without some deeper, richer language, the hymns could probably be alien to them later. What's more important, tell them why they must be singing that, and why they shouldn't be singing this--that could somewhat put strength to the belief you want to mold in them.
To have an idea of how Jesus and the N.T. believers treat music, look up the passages in the parentheses (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Acts 2:46, 47; 16:25, 26; I Corinthians 14:15, 26; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13). Though these passages are not clear on the instrument issue, not mentioning instruments can give a clue. You can also study the instruments used in the Old Testament, and see if all are used in temple worship.
Worship and Service. Think that you are in front of God, what will you do? Would you like to sing in the choir? Join the church activities? Go with an adult sharing the Bible? Or teach? Reverence to and eagerness to serve the Lord are nurtured and developed. Are they growing wanting more and more to serve the living God?

What will happen to the church of tomorrow? It depends on us. Let us examine our practices. Maybe we are ignorant about the how, but the Bible is never short of principles and guidelines to do that. All we need to do is carefully study it.
Let us learn to nurture them. And who knows? God may use them to turn the world upside down again.