HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-02-21, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013. By Pastor Mark Royall
Huron Chapel Evangelical
Missionary Church, Auburn
“When Jesus saw him and knew
He had been ill for a long time, He
asked him, ‘Would you like to get
well?’” (John 5:6).
As I am writing this I am looking
forward to this Sunday when some
young men from Teen Challenge
will come to Huron Chapel and
share how Jesus changed their lives.
Having heard these young men
speak before, I know they will be
honest and straightforward about
how they were living damaged and
hurting lives without hope until they
met Jesus.
Jesus changes lives. This fact was
evident when Jesus’ critics brought
Him a woman caught in adultery.
She was guilty. She knew it, Jesus’
critics knew it and Jesus knew it.
Men were wanting to condemn her
but Jesus was wanting to restore her.
The critics had surrounded her with
stones in hand ready to exercise their
sentence of death. But then Jesus
asked that soul-searching question,
“Let the one who has never sinned
throw the first stone!” None of them
could or would throw a stone for
they knew they had sinned in their
life just as she had. They could not
condemn her without condemning
themselves. All of her accusers
dropped their stones and left. Jesus
then turned to her and asked,
“Where are your accusers? Didn’t
even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said,
“Neither do I. Go and sin no more”
(John 8:11).
Notice that Jesus accepted and
loved this woman even though it was
clear that she had sinned. But it was
because He loved her that Jesus did
not leave her lost in her sin. He loved
her more than that. He told her to go
and leave her life of disobeying God.
Jesus is basically telling her, “Your
life of sin isn’t working out very well
for you. There is a better way for you
to live. I have come to give you an
abundant and eternal life but sin will
prevent you from realizing it.” This
is what Christian love does. It
accepts us as sinners but then it calls
us forward to overcome the power of
sin in our life through Jesus Christ.
Jesus did the very same thing
when He healed the lame man who
was lowered down through the roof
by his friends. Before Jesus healed
him he said to him, “Be encouraged,
my child! Your sins are forgiven”
(Matthew 9:2). Jesus loved him and
because He loved him He dealt with
a more pressing issue in his life,
namely his sin.
After Jesus had healed a man
THE EDITOR,
I am responding to Rev. Gary
Clark’s article in “From the
Minister’s Study” in the Feb. 7 issue
of The Citizen.
In regard to his statement about
the evolution of theology, I must say
that the only way theology should
evolve is for us to come into a more
intimate relationship with God,
whereby we better understand him
and how he expects his followers to
live. It should never bring us to a
place of living in contradiction to
the truth of God’s word. Hebrews,
chapter 13, verse 8, tells us
that Jesus has always been, and
will always be, the same. He has not,
nor will he, change his mind
about what he originally said is
right or wrong, no matter what
century we are living in at any given
time.
As Christians, one of the things
God expects of us is to “love your
neighbour as yourself.” What good
parent does not continue to love
his/her children even while not
approving of some of their
choices?
Using Rev. Clark’s reference to
“gay and lesbian individuals”, the
Bible clearly denounces this
lifestyle. See Leviticus 18:22;
Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:25-27; 1
Corinthians 6:9. These are God’s
words, not mine.
God’s love for everyone,
including those living in direct
contradiction to his ways, was
shown when he sent Jesus to die for
us (John 3:16). The word
“whosoever/whoever” indicates that
we do not automatically receive the
eternal life he offers; we must
individually receive this precious
gift for it to become a reality.
To say that there are many doors
to salvation is in direct contradiction
to God’s word. Neither Muhammad,
the Dali Lama, nor any other
religious leader died for our sins and
rose from the dead to give us eternal
life. In the amplified version of the
Bible, Acts 4:12 emphatically states:
“And there is salvation in and
through no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given
among men by and in which we
must be saved.”
So if we intend to be disciples of
Jesus and let him teach us, we must
agree with what the Bible says.
Otherwise, we rob ourselves of the
greatest treasury of knowledge and
wisdom in the world.
Sheila Dawson, Blyth
Writer objects to Minister’s Study
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, February 24
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Interim Minister: Pastor Gary Klumpenhower 519-523-9233
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
BRUSSELS
Sandra Cable, Pastor
Church Office 519-887-6259
E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am
Sunday School
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
United Church
getlivingwater.org
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Wingham Bible Study - Tuesdays 7:30 pm
Youth Group - Tuesdays 7:30 pm (at CRC)
Women At The Well - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Evangelical Missionary Church
Feb. 24: Ps. 32; Rom. 7
“Road to
Recovery” #1:
First Steps to Freedom
February 22 ~ 7:15 pm
DATE NIGHT CHALLENGE!
Free dessert, inspiring speakers, music, comedy
DVD presentation - Focus on the Family
250 Princess St., Brussels
519-887-6388
www.bmfchurch.com
Pastor Jim Whitehead
Guests Welcome
Jesus Is Lord!
Brussels
Mennonite
Fellowship
Worship Service 10:00 am
Sunday School 11:15 am
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
FEBRUARY 24 ~ Sound Check
MARCH 3 ~ Ministry Exchange
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9017
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
On What
Really
Matters
@ HURON CHAPEL
10:30 am Every Sunday
www.huronchapel.org
From the Minister’s StudyRoyall preaches redemption through teens
Letter to the Editor
Continued on page 18