The Question of Questions

August 25, 1996

THE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS

Matthew 16:13-20 (also Mark 8, Luke 9)

In the July 15 issue of Christianity Today this summer there was an amazing, almost unbelievable article. All my ministerial career no study or listing of heretical or quasi-Christian sects in America would have been complete without mentioning at least in passing the World Wide Church of God, founded by Herbert W. Armstrong. This article, by Ruth Tucker, fully endorsed by CT stated that the WWCG is now an orthodox Christian fellowship being welcomed into the Church of Jesus Christ. It seemed to me almost too good to be true— but after careful reading, I believe it is true.

The details are, in brief, that after the death of Herbert W. Armstrong the very authoritarian leadership passed to a man named Joseph Tkatch, Sr., who made the astounding statement that he was prepared to follow the whole counsel of the Bible and acknowledge any errors that may have been taught as God's way of salvation. The metamorphosis is too complicated to deal with in detail here; the WWCG had been very legalistic, teaching salvation by what seems to me to be a combination of OT rulings (no pork, no observation of Christmas, a myriad of other rules) and had specifically denied the Trinity— ruling that God the Father had no only begotten Son in Jesus Christ. It was in answering the question: WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? that the WWCG entered into the true faith.

Of course the members of the WWCG had decisions to make as well. in 1986 they reported 89,000 members in the US. In 1996 after the momentous decision they now report 49,000 members. They have lost nearly half the people who were brought up believing what Herbert W. Armstrong had told them. But the 49,000 that remain belong now to a Christian denomination. And the central reason we can rejoice and believe that is the answer to the question Jesus asked the disciples that day in Casarea Philippii: WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

The one main reason that the Christian community can welcome the WWCG is that this great question was answered correctly— this question Jesus asked the disciples: Who do you say that I am?

Actually JESUS ASKED HIS DISCIPLES TWO QUESTIONS as they walked through the hills in the far north of the Holy land. The pace of their ministry had been fast and furious, but now they were alone on the road. JESUS ASKED FIRST: "WHO ARE PEOPLE SAYING THAT I AM?" The disciples needed to know what people thought of their Master, and so do we. (Many of the answers we will hear are "wrong" answers, just as the disciples reported to Jesus then: answers that contradict the clear teachings of the Bible. Some of these answers are simply ignorant or incomplete: Jesus was a great teacher, a martyr, or whatever. Many answers are probably "right" answers as well.

Every sermon, every good book, and even what Matthew Mark and Luke and John say about Jesus are right answers to this first question Jesus asked.) But what people say about Jesus tells more about them than it does about Him. Jesus is the great I AM. To have that knowledge is life itself. Who is Jesus?

It is the watershed question of all time.

It is the most important question in the world.

Actually when the question comes to you and me it has two parts:

WHO IS JESUS? is the first part. But the second part is: WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

When Jesus asked THE BIG QUESTION to the disciples, Peter, of course, gave the right answer. He was like the little kid that sat in the front row in your fourth grade class and had her hand up all the time. Peter always had something to say. This time he hit the nail on the head. "You are the Christ! You are Messiah! You are the Son of the Living God!"

Jesus' response was immediate— and he said, "Blessed are you Simon, son of John! This idea didn't just come out of your own head— it was a revelation from my Father, God, in heaven!" And then Jesus went on to say that this faith, this revealed confession of Peter is foundational to the very kingdom of God!

This is fine when it is a story about the disciples long ago. But when Jesus asks us here and now, today, "Who are you saying that I AM?" it becomes a living issue. IT MAKES AN HONEST PASTOR STOP AND THINK...(how do I answer it?)

A couple of years ago Rev. Martin Copenhaver, of Wellesley Congregational Church, preached on this same passage. He had been to a pastor's seminar where Michael Greene from Britain, a scholar of the history of evangelism, had challenged a group of pastors with "When is the last time you told your congregation what Jesus means to YOU?" Later Pastor Copenhaver wrote in his study "As a pastor I talk a good deal about Jesus, but do i say what Jesus means to me?" He decided he would try to do just that.

In his sermon he said, "As a pastor in the UCC our forebears in the faith worried that they might be taken for heretics. Today we UCC people seem to be more worried about being taken for fundamentalists" So in personal, devotional terms Pastor Copenhaver tried to tell his people what Jesus Christ meant to him.

Evidently the sermon was quite a personal testimony. After the service Pastor Copenhaver noticed on dear lady whom he respected as one of the 'saints in Zion'— she came past to shake his hand, and could not speak. So she went around and came past again, to give herself time to compose herself. When she finally came the second time she simply said, "Why didn't you tell us this before?"

Copenhaver wrote: "I did not know how to respond. Now her question, along with Michael Greene's, continues to haunt me."

I have wrestled with the question again this week. I can answer it professionally with not too much trouble. But really, how do I answer honestly who I say Jesus is? How do YOU? What do we say?

The Apostle's Creed? Sure. Orthodox answers ? Jesus can build his church on those answers, especially as they come from a sincere and seeking heart.

But how about searching, honest answers: "I don't really talk about Jesus all that much!" or "I used to think I knew Jesus when i was younger— now I'm not so sure I know as much as I thought I did?" It may be true that a maturing faith sometimes requires new revelation. The battle doesn't get easier— but the love does deepen and grow. No matter how well we know Jesus he seems to keep growing and growing...

Who is Jesus to me? How can I tell you honestly? ...

Jesus is a PRESENCE! I have never seen him, but I cannot imagine life without Him. I talk to Him. I listen for him. I wish I could hear his voice— but he does speak to me from time to time, as I'm sure he does to you as well.

Jesus is A FRIEND. But a friend with a capital "F." he is not my peer. He is not someone I consult with before I decide whether or not to do his will. There are many decisions I have to make, and Jesus lets me make them, along with my share of mistakes. But when I know— when Jesus makes it clear that this is or is not his will— there is no decision further. i have already decided years ago that i will follow my Friend.

Jesus LOVES ME! I confess I don't know why. It is sometimes hard for me to believe. But I DO believe it! I learned "Jesus loves me this I know" before I can remember. I never knew a time when I didn't know that and sing that. But this love has been dawning on me, little by little, more and more, for all the years of my life! I really want to return that love!

... I really want to answer that question with my life!

HOW DO WE ANSWER THAT QUESTION IN TESTIMONY TO OUR WORLD?

Can a fellowship, or an institution "answer" the question: "WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?" (Both parts? A lot of churches can say "This is who Jesus is!" But can we answer "This is who Jesus is to US?")

HOW YOU THINK OUR DENOMINATION MIGHT ANSWER?

HOW WOULD THIS FELLOWSHIP, THE WOLLASTON CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE ANSWER THIS QUESTION? (Doctrinal words are vital— important. The SPIRIT of Jesus is EVERYTHING!)

Do we say "Jesus is LORD!" by the spirit of our fellowship? Does JESUS at the center make us any different than we would be without Him at all? Can we show Jesus to others? I believe we can. By faith I believe we WILL. And I believe that is what Jesus meant by saying this is how he will build his church.

PETER DID NOT KNOW THAT DAY HOW WELL HE HAD ANSWERED!

Years later Peter had perspective on that day when Jesus called him "a rock." He was writing to the churches.. and he was thinking "Jesus called me "a rock!" I see now— Jesus is the Cornerstone. And we Christians are all living stones that Jesus is building into a habitation of the living God! The church is made of people who can say "Jesus is LORD!" Then he wrote these wonderful words that in part define the church: (I Peter 2: 9,10)

Coming to (Jesus) as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ . . . (9) ...you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

OUR WITNESS, IF NOT OUR SALVATION, hangs on how we answer that question Jesus asked the disciples so many years ago.

WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?

HOW DO YOU ANSWER IT, PERSONALLY? HOW DO I?

Prayer

576 [STL] Jesus Is All the World to Me, or

#142 [STL] Wonderful Savior