mgpcpastor's blog

David Cook, Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia has his own page at the PCA website.
It seems like there’s a post there every couple of weeks.
Like this Christmas themed piece.
Well worth checking out.
I’m sure someone may make the page able to be subscribed to at some point.
It’s not quite a blog, but it’s close.

The Important Message Of Christmas

A few statistics published recently disturb me:

• Australia is second only to Switzerland as the nation people are most fortunate to be born into and live in.
• Australia is second only to Switzerland in terms of high life expectancy.
• Australia is the wealthiest nation on earth, mean worth of each of us is USD219,505 and 5% of us are millionaires.
• The fifth highest cause of death in Australia, after heart disease, stroke, lung and bowel cancer is self harm, prevalent especially among 19 – 26 year olds.

Why, when we live in what is virtually paradise on earth?

It was the French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal who said that inside each of us is a God-shaped vacuum and try as we might to fill it, only God can fill that space.
Christmas is all about Jesus’ entrance into this world. In John 14:6 in response to Thomas’ gloomy question, Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life no one comes to the Father except by me”.
This is surely an arrogant claim, unless of course, it is true.

At Christmas we remember that the one who is the way to God has come; the one who reveals all the truth we need to know about God has come; the one who is the source of life itself has come. There is a way to God, there is truth and real life available in Jesus. The apostles always declared that there is only one way to God. Saul went to Damascus to persecute followers of the Way, not a way.
Of course other religions make exclusive claims, so what is so special about Jesus’ claim? Jesus’ claim is unique because it is backed by his death and his resurrection, better attested by ancient manuscripts, than any other ancient events. No other religious leader has risen from death, thus Jesus uniquely authenticates his claims: The way. The truth. The life.

This Christmas think about C S Lewis’ challenge:
If Christianity is untrue, it is unimportant.
If Christianity is true, it is infinitely important.
The only thing Christianity cannot be, is moderately important

Jesus says he is the only way, the exclusive truth and the sole source of life. Since that is true, the most loving thing we can do is to declare it and warn others that they are on a path which is a dead-end street, leading to disappointment and catastrophe.

On 3 January 2014, as a member of the SCG I will get up at 5 am, queue up at the members gate at 6 am and then run from the gate, in what is called the “Paddington gift” to secure my seat for the day, in the Members’ Stand. I will try to reserve the seat next to me for a friend. He will get up at about 9:30 am, wander into the ground at 10:30 for the start of play, secure in the fact that I have reserved a seat for him. I pay the member’s subscription, I get up at 5 am, queue at 6 am, race at 7 am, I do all the work, he wanders in and enjoys the fruit of my labours.

That’s what makes Christianity so unique. All religions tell you to line up, join the queue, run the race, do your best, but you will never be sure you have done enough. If you get a seat in heaven or paradise it reflects well on you.

Jesus came into the world, to live perfectly, die substitutionally and rise bodily, and he says: *“in my Fathers house are many seats, I have reserved one for you”* (John 14:2).
Jesus came at Christmas to win a place for you at God’s family table, your being there will reflect well on him. Jesus asks you what he asked Philip – do you believe this? (John 14:10). Then he tells Philip the basis of such belief, it is the words of Jesus , or believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves (John 14:11).

Do you believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life? Believe on the basis of his words or his works, on the basis of his resurrection itself.

David Cook
Moderator General, Presbyterian Church of Australia.