New.Demonstration

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised the third day in accordance with the Scriptures… —1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Typhoons

On the 26th of September, just a full day after Typhoon Ondoy (International name Ketsana) made land fall on the Philippines, Metro Manila and neighboring cities were instantly ravaged by ridiculously fast rising floods that went as high as two storeys even in the middle of cities and villages that are not positioned exactly beside rivers and lakes. Hundreds upon hundreds of homes destroyed. Hundreds upon hundreds lives lost. The typhoon single-handedly became the worst natural calamity the Philippines has ever experienced in decades.

The loss took so much away from the Filipino people, from the homes that families spent blood and sweat to build throughout the years, to the very lives of their loved ones, all gone in one dark and stormy night. A dark and stormy night that has it’s effects far-reaching to months and even years in the lives of these people. The path to recovery is indeed a frighteningly long, long journey, disheartening for most, but one that each and every one afflicted by the storm must undertake.^[i]

Now, as Christians, what do we say in all this?

The response from Christians all over the country is astounding, everyone helping and giving themselves to relief operations day in and day out. Donations coming from all over, even from around the world. It is a very heart warming thing to see the compassion that is being poured out by everyone for the sake of people who has experienced unimaginable losses, unimaginable heart-wrenching losses that can leave any man in utter despondency.

But again, I ask, as Christians what do we say in all this?

Yes, I wholeheartedly applaud and rejoice in the compassion, zeal and humanistic efforts Christians are exemplifying in times like this, just as with the response in tragedies all over the world, the recent 7.9 magnitude earthquake caused tsunami in Samoa also with the recent earthquake in Indonesia, but as Christians what do we say in all that has happened?

What Does the Bible Tell Us?

In the Gospels we see our Lord Christ Jesus doing somewhat similar humanistic efforts in His earthly ministry, healing the sick, making the lame walk again, restoring sight, but was all the signs and wonders and the healing of men’s bones, the alleviating of physical affliction, the Lord’s main purpose in His coming? Was the relieving of pain and utter suffering His main desire and goal in His taking upon the form of sinful man?

Was this the sort of mind the Apostle Paul admonished the Philippians to have in the Lord Christ Jesus? Did Paul tell them to have this mind among them, which is theirs (the Philippians) in Christ Jesus “who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Phil 2:6-7)” that they may by all means and purposes alleviate physical suffering?

“And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (v.8)” that men may be saved from physical torment and pain here on earth?

“Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (v.10-11)” for His deeds in helping poor man in his time of most desperate trouble?

How is it that somehow most of us think this way? I am not at all saying that we must not grieve for the losses of our fellow man and seek to help them with all that we can to somehow reduce the suffering they are experiencing. But though it is a noble thing, is it not a preposterous thing to assert that these efforts should be the primary goal of a Christian? Much less the primary purpose of Christ’s coming? Yet, why do we act like it? We go on and on with our zeal and giving all of ourselves, our strengths and resources to help those in grave need and danger, and we act as if all this is the main reason Christ came in His incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection.

Is There Any True Gain in Being Free from Dire Physical Affliction?

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? —Matthew 16:26

In the same sense, what will it profit a man if his pain is alleviated, his suffering consoled, his tears wiped from his eyes, and yet forfeits his soul in Hell?

What is the message that the angel of the Lord brought upon Joseph in a dream concerning Mary and the conception of Christ from the Holy spirit? “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus”, for He make life on earth better for all men? No! “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins”! (Matthew 1:21)

And yet in all these things why do we as Christian men and women practically see things otherwise, both in word and deed? We see congregation after congregation, believer upon believer giving themselves for the cause of alleviating suffering, if we are to be honest with ourselves, in our most honest of moments, as it is with me, wouldn’t you confess that there are moments, though it may be just a split second for some, or it may be the prime motivation for others, that we have cared and shed our tears so much for the temporal/physical condition of men, women and children, and yet not giving a care with the condition of their souls?

It’s a frightening thought isn’t it? How is it that we can be so zealous for the giving of food, clothing and shelter, and yet withhold the Gospel of the Lord Christ Jesus from them?

Of First Importance

The Apostle Paul taught otherwise, even in the face of the living conditions of his era which is far worse than ours, his primary agenda wasn’t the temporal, but rather the eternal! He had, and always had an eternal perspective in his thoughts and actions that he has expressed in his letters.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised the third day in accordance with the Scriptures… —1 Corinthians 15:3-4

He delivered the Gospel as of first importance! As his primary purpose, not just a supplement to his caring for these people. Rather Paul saw that the Gospel itself is the only true help any soul that is dead in trespasses and sins truly need!

On this point some may assert that it is virtually nigh unto impossibility to inject a Gospel presentation in relief operations. Is it? Or is it just most of us are just too slothful and indifferent to at least endeavor to try? Or to study how to? To plan how to truly make the Gospel of first importance?

Or is the painful reality of our practical deeds a great showing of the absence of our love and grief for souls who are a step away from Hell, and our great embarrassment of the Gospel?

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. —Romans 1:16

Ponder it in Yourself dear Christian

Examine yourself, are you perhaps ashamed of the Gospel? How many hours of study and meditation, and days upon days of labor in the Word and the study of the expositions of great men of God who have went before us have you spent? The onus is upon you Christian. God has placed His Word in your hands, yet as of late what have you done with it? Through the years that you have professed Christ what efforts have you given to forsake all of self to take up your cross and follow Him that His banner may be raised?

You say it’s difficult? Of course it’s difficult! All throughout church history men and women have bled and died for the sake of the Gospel of Christ and the sanctity and supremacy of His Word all in the midst of great physical trial and pain! (Don’t be mistaken, such men also gave themselves to humanistic efforts but such efforts was not their main purpose) Do you think that we are in any exception?

Yes we must be eager and zealous for the sake of helping those who have their dead, and those who are dying, those who have so much losses, those drowned in pain. But may it never be that we do so at the cost of the Gospel.

To withhold the Gospel of free grace from men just so we can alleviate temporal pain is not love. There is no love in that. Rather it is a most cruel form of hatred. We give men and women a boost to better their lives but we would not give a single help that would show them their deadness in sins, that they may repent and put their faith in Christ? Giving men, women and children better lives and yet leave them in their trespasses and sins—there is no love there.

Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that. The saving of souls, if a man has once gained love to perishing sinners and his blessed Master, will be an all-absorbing passion to him. It will so carry him away, that he will almost forget himself in the saving of others. He will be like the brave fireman, who cares not for the scorch or the heat, so that he may rescue the poor creature on whom true humanity has set its heart. If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.

—Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Footnotes

1. For more information and updates about the typhoon, visit TyphoonOndoy.org [↩]