GCI Media – Page 208

Converge 2014

You are invited to Converge 2014 with the theme, Let’s Build Something Together!. We request that this information be passed along to young adults and older teens in your congregation(s). Members of all ages are encouraged to attend!

Converge is the annual gathering of Generations Ministries leaders, staff and friends (including pastors)—all who share a passion for loving kids, developing leaders and sending a generation of young disciples of Jesus to live and share the gospel in their families, churches and communities. This year, Converge will be held in two locations (click on the links for details and registration):

• Converge West will be held in Encino, California on February 28-March 2. Register at gci.org/go/converge14w.
• Converge East will be held in Marengo, Ohio on March 21-23. Register at gci.org/go/converge14e.

Here is a video in which GenMin leaders discuss Converge 2014.

Watch on YouTube at http://youtu.be/NaaHTMVWniU.

New church started

A new GCI church was launched recently in Masterton, New Zealand. Of the 25 people who attended the first service (pictured below), most came from the nearby community, including friends and colleagues of Manny Ornejas (pictured at right) who helped plant the church. Manny had pastored in the Philippines prior to moving to New Zealand to work as a beekeeper. He found a sizeable Filipino population in Masterton and discovered that many of them do not have a church home. The new church is reaching out to this group of unchurched people.

At the inaugural service, Manny gave an opening devotional. That was followed by a sermon from Dennis Richards. The service was followed by afternoon tea, providing time for fellowship during which new friendships were formed.

Tom Pickett

Tom Pickett, pictured at right with his wife Adrienne, pastors New Hope Christian Fellowship, the GCI congregation meeting in Fort Worth, Texas. When Tom was just six years old, he was sent to live with his uncle, aunt and cousins in Phoenix, Arizona. “My Dad had graduated from an optometric college in Chicago. During the time he was setting up practice and moving, my parents thought it would be best for me to live temporarily with my family in Phoenix. After they got settled in Gunnison, Colorado, my parents came and got me.” Growing up in Colorado, Tom says, “instilled in me midwestern ethics and a conservative mindset that I still have today.”

In the early 60s, Tom’s dad started listening to The World Tomorrow radio program in the evenings. “He decided to share what he had found with his family. After I first listened in 1963, my dad and mom drove to California to check out Ambassador College. He came back with an application for me to apply for the fall semester. I was 19 at the time.”

Tom got much more than an education at Ambassador. “I met my wife-to-be, Adrienne Russell there. It was 1964 when we first dated on the Pasadena campus. It didn’t take long to realize that she was the one for me. We were married after graduation in 1967. She is the mother of our two sons, David and Andrew, and the love of my life.”

Tom worked at the Pasadena headquarters for a number of years, serving in many capacities. “Before being commissioned as a pastor, my experience in the church was one of service. I was a deacon for 14 years and then a local elder for five. So when I became a pastor, my joy was to serve the members.”

Tom and Adrienne moved to Texas where Tom now pastors the Fort Worth congregation, which meets in Euless. Tom says that Adrienne is a big part of his ministry. “She is my confidant, counselor and prayer partner. She also leads praise and worship at church and gives encouragement and counsel to the members. We are ‘connected at the hip’ in ministry and everything else in our life together. She truly is God’s gift to me!”

Tom’s sons are a big part of his favorite memories of ministry. “My most memorable moment came in three parts when I had the blessing of baptizing my sons David and Andrew and the privilege of officiating at their weddings to their beautiful brides, Joni and Jonelle.”

When asked what he enjoys most about being part of GCI, Tom said, “I appreciate that we are continually growing in the grace and knowledge of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Just when I think I understand who Jesus is, he reveals himself more fully. We as a denomination have responded positively to that revelation each time.”

Tom is also involved in the Office of Reconciliation and Mediation (ORM). “I became involved in 1998 when we hosted a reconciliation conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Since then I have been an ORM chapter leader. I also got involved in a related radio ministry with my son, David and Curtis May. It’s titled A Time to Reconcile. It’s a weekly program on KCLE, 1460 am in the Fort Worth and Dallas area. It also is uploaded to YouTube at www.youtube.com/atimetoreconcile.”

When asked about his passion, Tom said, “the reconciliation or eternal relation that Jesus has given to all humanity, and the reality that he has made all believers the ministers of it.”

Second worship service started

GCI’s congregation in Orlando, Florida, pastored by Steve Schantz (at left in the picture at right), recently started a second worship service oriented toward young adults. A key factor is the involvement of Ish Beloso (at right in the picture) who grew up in GCI and attended Ambassador University.

Ish stopped attending GCI for a time, but recently returned and has become a worship leader in the Orlando congregation. He tells his story in the video below.

Watch on YouTube at http://youtu.be/J-mPC1YKOlg

Outreach in Colombia

GCI’s church in Barranquilla, Colombia conducted an evangelistic outreach at Christmas time. Pastor Sonia Orozco reported that 120 people attended, including 50 children. Here are pictures.

Clean and Unclean

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In the early days of our church’s transition from legalism to grace, I think one of the most dramatic changes was the way we regarded the “food laws” listed in Leviticus chapter 11. It was not the most important change spiritually, but this particular “upgrade” in our understanding did impact most of us in practical, down-to-earth ways.

I remember now, with some amusement, how some regarded this change as a kind of litmus test to see if we had really “accepted the new covenant.” Thankfully, we have matured, though some people continue to think that it is somehow “unrighteous” to eat what Leviticus 11 labels as “unclean.” Perhaps this letter will provide a more accurate perspective.

I recall talking with some teenagers years ago about their extra-curricular activities following one of our youth activities. They were all under age and got hold of some beer, which they drank to a moderate level of excess. Then they ordered pizza. Some of the pizzas came with pepperoni. As I discussed with them the illegality and dangers of underage drinking, they were quick to point out that they did not eat the pepperoni. In their minds, it appeared that drunkenness was minor compared to the “sin” of eating pork.

Because we are ministers, not nutritionists or dieticians, it is not our responsibility to tell people what they should or should not eat. What a person decides to put in their stomach might be a matter of wisdom and common sense, but according to the New Testament, it is not a matter of righteousness. But some old habits die hard. If someone decides to follow Old Testament dietary rules, be a vegetarian or even a vegan, they are free to do so. The problem comes when they decide that in doing so they are being more righteous than those who do not follow their preferences.

It is sometimes argued that “clean” food is better for you. Maybe it is in some cases, but it is important not to read health advice into the Bible’s food laws. Some of the great Jewish sages made that mistake. For example, Maimonides thought that unclean animals were disease carriers. Apparently, he did not know about deer ticks, salmonella bacteria in poultry, or E. coli in beef and lamb. Some saw significance in the fact that unclean animals are scavengers and clean animals are not. Whoever came up with that one apparently did not know how close the “clean” fish, sole, is to being a bottom-feeder. Nor, apparently, had they observed that chickens eat disgusting things. I won’t go into detail!

God gave Israel the list of clean and unclean animals as yet another way to keep them separate from the other nations (Gentiles). Some of those nations ate almost anything. An archaeological excavation at the ancient city of Gath discovered that Philistines enjoyed eating dogs. That doesn’t surprise me, given some of the things I am invited to “enjoy” on my travels around the world. I personally feel that some foods should be off-limits to anyone! I still can’t bring myself to eat certain seafood. But that’s my personal dietary preference, not a matter of righteousness.

The real issue in Israel’s food laws was social order. God wanted his people to have a distinct culture, so they would stand out from other nations. The detailed rules of the old covenant effectively accomplished that separation—addressing every aspect of life, including diet. The food laws of Leviticus 11, which were part of the old covenant’s purity laws regulating Israel’s worship and social interactions, limited God’s people to the consumption of “clean” meats. Eating clean meats symbolized communion with God while eating unclean meats symbolized distrust and separation from God.

Thus, in new covenant times, when Peter was struggling with the question of taking the gospel to the Gentiles, God gave Peter a vision of both clean and unclean animals and then commanded him to “kill and eat” (Acts 10:13). Peter protested: ““Surely not, Lord!…I have never eaten anything impure or unclean” (Acts 10:14). In reply, God declared: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (Acts 10:15).

Through this vision, God was teaching Peter that Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension had ended distinctions between clean and unclean people, symbolized by the end of distinctions between clean and unclean animals. The previously “unclean” Gentiles, like the previously “unclean” animals, were now declared clean in God’s sight. In Jesus, Israel and the Gentiles were brought together as the one people of God, filled with the Spirit.

Our calling is to participate with Jesus in what he is doing to take the gospel into all the world—unto all people. As we do, we are free to have fellowship (including table fellowship) with everyone. Paul corrected those who passed judgment on others concerning food preferences: “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean” (Romans 14:14 ESV). Paul also declared that “Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats” (Romans 14: 20 ESV).

Paul’s point was that we should not insist that others eat what we regard as acceptable. Eating or not eating does not define a right relationship with God. In the multi-cultural setting of the city of Rome, Paul urged that dietary differences between Jews and Gentile Christians be accommodated, declaring that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17 ESV).

The new covenant gives us new direction related to a new kind of fellowship that is centered around Jesus Christ. Let’s help our people follow that direction.

Your brother in Christ,
Joseph Tkach

Birth of Redmonds’ grandson

Congratulations to Alan and Carolyn Redmond (Alan pastors GCI’s church in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada). They added a new grandson on December 14 when Kian was born to their son Stephen and his wife. Kian’s three-year-old brother Finn now has a little brother!

Hands of Hope

This update is from Charles Norris who coordinates Hands of Hope, an outreach ministry of GCI’s congregation in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

In January of 2000, several of us attending the Winnipeg church began reaching out to citizens of Winnipeg through a World Vision sponsored church network called NeighbourLink. It soon became apparent that over 80% of the requests for help were for basic household furniture. No one appeared to be able and willing to help people meet this need.

With assistance from my wife Sandra, we began delivering tables and chairs from our home and from the homes of other members to those requesting help. In 2002, with help from our pastor Alan Redmond, a registered charity called Hands of Hope was formed. Today, Hands of Hope responds to about 100 calls plus many more emails every day. Two paid staff now coordinate about 70 volunteers in picking up and delivering furniture to a great variety of people in need.

Winnipeg has over 70,000 people of aboriginal descent. A high percent live in very poor circumstances. Many more are moving into the city every year from remote reservations. Over 16,000 people immigrate to Manitoba every year—many coming with no extra money. Many women are fleeing abusive relationships. Almost all the mental hospitals were closed years ago, putting patients out into the community where they often fare very poorly. Many elderly people find themselves with only the hard floor to sleep on when their beds are infested over and over again with bedbugs.

One 75-year old woman with learning difficulties was discovered to be living in a dilapidated bug- and mouse-infested rooming house with no bed, furniture, or pots to cook with. We gave her a bed, blankets, sheets, chairs, pots, dishes and lamps. She was very grateful. There didn’t appear to be anyone concerned and able to help her. When she moved into a much better apartment, Hands of Hope continued to help her. She is over 80 now and still calls Hands of Hope to ask for items.

We often help five or six families a day. I tell them, “This is what Jesus would do!” In the past 14 years, we’ve helped over 60,000 people—close to 10% of Winnipeg’s population! Ministry employees and volunteers get friendly waves and smiles as they drive down the city’s streets.

A 67-year old woman living under a bridge came to Hands of Hope asking for dry shoes and a coat last February. We gave her shoes plus blankets and food. She is now living in a warm apartment well furnished by Hands of Hope and is very grateful.

One recent immigrant attending the Winnipeg congregation with his wife and teen-age son has been eagerly volunteering for several years. He says, “It’s my job!” Over 15 beneficiaries of Hands of Hope attend our church services at present.

This service to the community, we believe, is a great way to put into practice what Jesus said: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Death of Ollie Baker

We are saddened to learn of the death of Ollie Baker, senior pastor of the GCI church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Here is an update from Ollie’s district pastor, Mike Horchak.

Pastor Ollie Baker died quite unexpectedly. He had fallen in his home and apparently died from a blow to the head.

Ollie was loved by everyone and was a very caring pastor. His death is a shock to his congregation. Please pray for them. Also pray for his family of nine children and their families. Ollie’s wife preceded him in death.

Please also pray for Kathy Houston. She has been assisting Oliver as a pastor-in-training for the last two years. She will now be taking on full pastoral responsibilities.

Ollie’s funeral is scheduled for January 18.

Is God a family?

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I’m sometimes asked why we no longer refer to God as a “family.” Isn’t that term appropriate, given that there is a Father and a Son who are bringing “many sons to glory”? My answer is that whereas the analogy of God as a family works at some levels, we must be very careful because it can lead in directions that distort the biblical revelation of the one God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The analogy of God as a family can be used in a limited way to indicate that just as there are relationships between family members, there are relationships in the triune God. However this analogy is easily misunderstood as indicating that just as in a family there are separate persons who each have their own being, so God is made up of persons with separate beings.

But that is not the case. What is true of human relationships in families is not necessarily true of God, who is not a creature. While there is a triune relationship within God’s one being, that relationship is not between separate beings. The three “persons” of the Trinity, through their absolutely unique relationships, constitute the one being of God in a way that is quite unlike a human family.

The uncreated God cannot be explained in terms of a created human family. Trying to do so amounts to mythology and even idolatry.

Most of us probably are familiar with the Hebrew word Elohim. It is one of several names used for God in the Old Testament. In our former teaching, we mistakenly claimed that Elohim is a “uniplural” noun—like the noun “family.” Following this line of reasoning, we erroneously concluded that there are two separate Gods (Father and Son), comprising a “God family.”

From the Akkadians and Egyptians to the Greeks and Romans, pagan religions have taught a plurality (pantheon or family) of gods. The Greeks even constructed a family tree for their pantheon. [1] This pagan conception is known as polytheism (many gods, like the pantheon of Egyptian gods pictured below), or bitheism or ditheism in the case of two gods.

In contrast to the polytheistic misconceptions of paganism, God revealed himself to Israel as one (single, exclusive) God. He commanded his people: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). “Before me” is literally, “before my face”—a Hebrew idiom meaning “beside me” or “in addition to me.” [2] Though Elohim is a plural noun, it was never understood as a reference to many gods, and certainly not a reference to a family of gods.

The pantheon of gods in pagan religions ruled the realm of the gods, the supernatural and, ultimately, the human world. Typically one of these gods was designated head of the pantheon and, like the other gods, would have at least one consort (female partner). But God forbade Israel to think of him in these polytheistic and sexual terms. Yahweh definitely is not the head of a pantheon. He has no consort. There are no other gods in his presence [3]. Therefore, Moses proclaimed: “Hear , O Israel, the LORD [Yahweh] our God [Elohim], the LORD [Yahweh] is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

Old Testament Hebrew does not support the idea of a “God family.” The nouns used for God’s names and titles are coupled with singular verbs. For example, it is said in Genesis 2:7 that “the Lord [Yahweh—a singular noun] God [Elohim—a plural noun] formed [a singular verb] a man from the dust of the ground.” Though Elohim is a plural noun, the Bible almost always couples it with a singular verb.

Note, however, that while emphasizing the unity and uniqueness of one God, Elohim does allow for the idea of a plurality of persons in the one Godhead. We see this hinted at in Genesis 1:2, 26: “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters…. Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…'” This rich linguistic character of Elohim is found only in Hebrew and in no other Semitic languages—not even in Biblical Aramaic. [4]

Note also that, as is true in the English language, Hebrew has both singular and plural nouns. However, quite unlike English, Hebrew is able to specify singular, dual and plural meanings for nouns. [5] For example, in the Old Testament, God is named Eloah (a singular noun) 57 times; he is named Elohim (a plural noun referring to three or more) 2570 times; and he is named Elohiam (a plural noun referring to two) exactly zero times.

The nature and usage of the plural noun Elohim in biblical Hebrew, taken together with the singular verbs that are coupled with it, while allowing for the possibility of some kind of plurality in God, does not allow for separate beings who make up a pantheon (family) of gods. When we add to this the Old Testament’s emphatic teaching that there is only one God, it becomes clear that our former teaching that God is a family of two separate Gods is not biblical. Even though the Hebrew Scriptures hint at a plurality of persons in the Godhead, the notion of there being two separate “god beings” is ditheism (a form of polytheism)—a belief expressly prohibited by God himself.

God is one being with a plurality of what we refer to as divine “persons.” This is why I say we should be very careful in saying that “God is a family.” The truth about the nature of God, which is only hinted at in the Old Testament, is revealed to us fully by Jesus Christ. Given that revelation, we can say with confidence that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit live in a loving, eternal relationship as one Triune God—a relationship in which, by grace, we have been included. This wonderful truth of our participation and inclusion is helpfully explained by Gary Deddo in a two-part article. We published part one last week and you’ll find part two in this issue of Weekly Update.

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Tkach

PS. For those interested in further reading on this topic, here are the sources I’ve referenced in my letter.

[1] See the chart at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_tree_of_the_Greek_gods.

[2] H.D. Spence: The Pulpit Commentary: Exodus Vol. II. Logos Research Systems, S. 131.

[3] Victor Harold Matthews; Mark W. Chavalas; John H. Walton: The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Electronic ed., S. Ex 20:3.

[4] Gustav Oehler: Theology of the Old Testament, p. 88.

[5] E. Kautzch, ed.: Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar, p. 244.

Author: GCI Media