christianity

“The heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact.”

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Lewis writes, “Myth transcends thought, incarnation transcends myth. The heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact. The old myth of the dying God, without ceasing to be myth, comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the earth of history. It happens- at a particular date, in a particular place, followed by a definable historical consequence. We passed from history to our historical person crucified under Pontius Pilot. By becoming fact, it does not cease to be myth; That’s a miracle. I suspect the men have sometimes derived more spiritual sustenance from myths they did not believe then from the religion they’re professed”. That’s a huge insight to the call not to stop at Easter resurrection, but truly dwell on the mystery of a resurrected Christ bodily, I see Lewis’s exhortation of dwelling in the myth of Christ must be grasped by Christians today to be able to truly walking in the Spirit.

Lewis writes, “ A man who disbelieved the Christian story is fact but continually fed on it as myth would, perhaps, be more spiritually alive than one who assented” and did not think much about it”. There is so much truth to that because there are many people who just intellectually assented to the story of salvation and even believed in it but did not think much about it and which means it never changes their lives much at all. Compared to a person who disbelieve the Christian story but believe in the myth that came with it is, definitely potentially more spiritually alive person in a spiritual sense.

Lewis rightly says that those who do not know this great myth became fact when the virgin conceived or, indeed, to be pitied. I think America today is awash with people who don’t believe in the myth of Christianity but merely assented to it intellectually on a superficial level and that’s why we have this Easter bunnies overwhelming the resurrection of Christ. To the point that even White House refused any religious themes to Easter celebration this year.

Lewis writes, “Christians need to be reminded that what became fact was a myth, that it carries with it into the world of fact all the properties of a myth. God is more than a god, not less; Christ is more than Balder, not less. We must not be ashamed of the mythical radiance resting on our theology. We must not, in false spirituality, withhold our imaginative welcome. If God chooses to be mythopoeic- and it’s not the sky itself a myth- shall we refuse to be myopathic? For this is the marriage of heaven and earth; Perfect myth and perfect fact; Claiming not only our love and our obedience, but also our wonder in delight, addressed to the savage, the child, and the poet in each one of us no less than to the moralist, the scholar, and the philosopher”.—I think Lewis just make Christianity so much more alive and personal, something not only to be obeyed and followed in obedience, and with love, but indeed with wonder and delight. That’s a huge contribution to humanity understanding of Christianity because no one, even though rejecting Christianity or just being ignorant, will reject delight and wonder in a religion. To deprive Christianity of wonder and delight is to make the God of miracles and love and passion into a stoic idle that doesn’t speak or move.

(Lewis, God in Dock, “Myth Became Fact.”)

Christian & Culture Engagement

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I am most sympathetic and liking towards the Transformationalist model of Christian and culture engagement, because it is active in influencing culture. It has the Kuyperian touch of Neo Calvinism, which spreads the influence of Christ over all aspects of culture. This model looks at the secular work in the world as important way to serve Christ and his Kingdom, and calls for the importance for Christians excelling in the work, and their spheres of influence. Christians must bring their distinctive Christian commitment to Public Square. And make them as part of the identity. I do have reservation of their triumphalism, self-righteousness, and overconfidence, which comes from the lack of theological understanding of the common grace outside the church. And their politically active in wanting to change politics is attractive, and compelling as Kuyper’s view on Christ rules overall including politics. However, excessive confidence in politics as a means of changing culture may be backfiring, though it’s the right direction as part of the overall package.

The Countercultures model is the saddest because they withdraw or separatist from the world, with a dispensationalist mentality. Saying that the return of culture is imminent, so no point in saving the culture. Basically, leaving the world to rot, and the spiritual darkness takes over the governments, and implement whatever godless culture to our kids and families and society. And they downplay penal substitutional redemption because they don’t believe God will endorse a violent atonement. The other problem is this philosophy undermines communication with the fallen world as Christians are so separated from the world, the culture.

The Two Kingdom Model places high value on secular vocations, like teacher, lawyer, etc. They believes in a strong doctrine of common grace in the public sphere. Christians and non-Christians can work together well. I do not like the low expectations for cultural reformation prior to the eschaton, in the Amillennialism viewpoint, resulting in the mindset that Church is going to be a minority. And it’s not big for cultural transformation and will not have a great deal of influence and power in the world. This is problematic in my view.

They tend to accept secularism. They encourage the church not to take action against society’s ills. Church only does gospel ministry and not meant to get involved in politics, social issues. Not to speak out on social political. And not act to organize on social issues. All these are problematic. In my view.

The Relevance model. They have such great optimism about cultural trends. Instead of influencing the culture, they’re bringing the culture into the Christian life. They emphasize on the common good and human flourishing. That Christians needs to promote the common good, and not just the welfare for the Church, but all of society and seeking to rectify injustices, which is a very good. Mindset of this model is to treat Christian and church as synonymous. There are groups like Liberation Theology, Black, Liberation Theology, Feminine Theology. And seeker sensitive movement like Willow Creek and Emerging Church Movement.

The biggest problem of this model is they have a low view of theological precision or orthodoxy and Christian tradition. And this another huge problem is this supplanted evangelism and conversion by emphasis on social action. There’s not much preaching of the gospel and asking for repentance, but move to social action and social gospel, false gospel. There is an erosion of the biblical distinction between the church and the world. And they regard any distinction will be problematic by them. They have a lack of enthusiasm for membership and discipline under authority of eldership. To me, this doesn’t sound like they’re even a born again group of Christians.

Tim Keller., Loving the City., Zondervan,  2016.

H Richard Niebuhr,  Christ and Culture, Harper one,  2001.

Wedding Sermon Reflection and Plan

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Al Ngu       December 14, 2023

My philosophy of performing weddings as a Pastor

I am to officiate the ceremony in the presence of God in front of invited guests and families. In other words to be solemnized.

59-2. Christians should marry in the Lord; therefore it is fit that their marriage be solemnized by a lawful minister [1]

This is based on Genesis 2, when God brought Eve to Adam.

Genesis 2:22–23 (NIV) 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”

This is a very important verse or I call it as the foundational principle of marriage, the goal and meaning of it. God brought the woman to the man. That will be the basis of foundational principle of the union between a man and a woman. Its God who brought them together. Not by human effort only. The divine providence and human responsivity working together.  Therefore a flourishing marriage will have to be a God centered marriage. In fact, there is no other definition of marriage. So how would God bring nonbelieving people together? Or one believing person, while the other is not? It would not make sense.

Also marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman before God . It’s not a contract, but a covenant in God’s presence, who also instituted his covenant through the bread and wine with us by our Lord Jesus in the last supper, which we celebrate in all churches monthly if not weekly.

“The covenant made between a husband and a wife is done ‘before God’ and therefore with God as well as the spouse. To break faith with your spouse is to break faith with God at the same time.” [2]

Therefore I would only conduct marriage:

Between two believers, and of course, it will be between a man and a woman, as in the design of God’s bringing a woman to the man. Not two women to one man, but one to one. So in order for marriage to flourish, God will have to be the centrality. Not only that:

24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

There will be a leaving of parents and cleaving to his wife in marriage, and that’s from the bible which also prophetically points to the ultimate marriage between Christ and the church.

Logically therefore I would refuse to perform a wedding ceremony to be solemnized in the presence of our Almighty God if they are not believers in Christ and walking in their faith in Christ. Also I will not conduct a wedding ceremony for any other violations of what God instituted as marriage like same sex marriage, as He brought a woman to the man.

BOCO writes: 59-3. Marriage is to be between one man and one woman, in accordance with the Word of God. [3]

Ceremony, music and photography:

Should point to the joyous uniting of a man and a woman as a covenantal way. Commitment is the message in the love and providence of God. Music worship songs should reflect that.

Reflect on your research and develop a personal plan for performing a wedding ceremony

I will quote this verse as a wonderful shower of blessing and joy and confidence to the joyous couple in the presence of the witnesses, friends, and families.

“ The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).[4]

I will also read out the scriptures of the call of God for the husband’s duty towards his wife, and also the wife’s duty towards her husband as in this wonderful, glorious verses.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:26). “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22).

The happiness contemplated by this union is realized only by those who fully appreciate its sacredness and are faithful in the performance of the mutual obligations growing out of it, and seek daily God’s blessing.[5]

I will expound the significance of this sentence from BOCO which says beautifully that a married couple’s happiness is realized only by those who fully appreciate its sacredness.[6] Marriage is sacred, and therefore it means God is in the center of our blessed marriage, and hence sacred and holy. It’s not some kind of play around, and try around ritual, but a lifelong covenantal commitment.

Also, it says happiness only realized by those who are faithful in the performance of the mutual obligations growing out of it, and see daily God’s blessings. I believe such performance of mutual obligations is only possible as the couple both seek daily God’s blessings. [7]

Finally, as BOCO puts it that the new relation is consecrated by heaven’s benediction. Consecrated means set apart for God and hallowed by all that is tenderest and truest in human affection.[8] I love it that it’s a combination of God’s blessing and consecration, and also blessed by the tender and true human affections. It’s important that couples express their affections towards one another continually through their lives.

[1] THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA, 59-2

[2]  Tim Keller in The Meaning of Marriage, p 83

[3] Ibid, 59-3

[4] Ibid, Appendix A

[5] Ibid, Appendix A

[6] Ibid, Appendix A

[7] Ibid, Appendix A

[8] Ibid, Appendix A