The Wanderer

The last couple of weeks have been something of a blur.  I think I last posted an update the Monday before I went to Holland.  The main task that week, in addition to the midweek prayer meeting, was finishing the preparation of the sermons, and also preparing some questions and pointers to answers for the discussion sessions at the conference.

I flew out to Schipol Airport, Amsterdam, on Thursday evening.  I was met at the airport by Arjen van Gent, a theology student.  We travelled an hour or so by train to his home, and as I quizzed him I began to learn a little more about the conference and its circumstances, aims, and attendees.  Arriving at his parents’ home, I scoffed a friendly pizza and headed pretty early to bed where I had a good night’s sleep.  I woke, and made full use of the space-age shower in the bathroom (although a slightly exuberant twist of one particular knob did cause freezing water to power into my shanks just as I thought I had finished).  I had a light breakfast while waiting for Arjen to emerge, and then I did a little reading and prepared to leave for the conference.  Marcel Vroegop, with whom I had been in primary contact, dropped in just to confirm with his own eyes that the speaker was indeed on Dutch soil, and it was good to meet him.  We had a lunch time feast of pancakes, and then Arjen and I set out into the snow and wind for a stroll through a forested area – almost as bracing as freezing water on the shanks!  We set off shortly afterward for the conference – Arjen and his father and myself, picking up a couple called Marco and Geretta in the same town before heading into the traffic for the 90 minute or so journey to the conference centre.

We arrived to find most of the committee ensconced and preparing the ground.  An evening meal of frankfurters and tomato soup was quickly prepared, and we made the place ready for the first service.

Those who came were, for the most part, hungry for the Word of God.  Even if they were not, food was offered in abundance.  The committee had asked for six sermons, in addition to which we visited a local church in nearby Rijssen on the Lord’s day morning.  Each sermon had 80 minutes allotted to it (albeit in translation), followed by a fifteen minute break, and then a discussion period in mentor-groups (which also served as teams for catering) which lasted 30 to 60 minutes (depending on the time available).  I was often participating in those discussions, and often informal discussion would continue afterward.  In the course of the weekend, I also had many opportunities for personal interaction with those attending, and was delighted with the open hearts and frank attitudes of many who were present.  A brother named Oskar Loohuis (I hope I have that spelling right) translated the first four sermons, and Arjen’s father, Pieter, translated the last two.  My assigned topics, and the texts and sermons from which I preached, were as follows:

• How does Christ become my Redeemer? (Isaiah 45:22 > Looking unto Jesus)
• Union with Christ (2Cor 5.17 > A new creation)
• The Biblical signs of a true Christian (1Jn > What is a true Christian?)
• Biblical manhood and womanhood (Gen 1.27 > Biblical manhood and womanhood)
• Living the Christian life (Phil 2.12-13 > Working in and working out)
• A Christ-glorifying life (2Tim 4.6-8 > The Saviour and his servant)

As you can see, these were foundational truths covering something of the range of Christian experience.  I think that God drew near to bless us, especially during two or three of those sermons.

That said, I learned yet more about the dark art of preaching via a translator.  The translators were excellent, but I did not always make their job easy.  The more topical sermons (the third and fourth) had much more technical and precise language in more complex headings as I tried to draw several different texts together.  These did not always translate easily and well.  I also had a plan for a way of referencing 1 John in the third sermon that worked better in theory than in practice.  Of course, over such an intense few days, weariness also sets in, not least on the part of the congregation.

There were many times when I was facing afresh the recognition that the Spirit of God alone can bring the truth to bear on men’s hearts.  I am also conscious that my sense of profit is not the same as something profitable accomplished.

On Monday we cleaned out the building in which we had stayed and were back in Waganingen by about midday.  Once the available members of the committee had convened, we enjoyed an easy lunch together and discussed various issues and relaxed and laughed.  Then, I was graciously escorted back to the airport and headed home.  The fellowship was very sweet, and I very much enjoyed my time with these dear brothers and sisters, being encouraged and instructed by the vigorous and sacrificial faith that particular friends are showing, and by the earnest and gracious character that many demonstrated over the course of the whole weekend.

I returned home weary, and slept well and long for the next two nights.  During the days, as well as taking a Sabbath for myself, I was catching up at home, and then began producing some follow-up material to the conference for which I was asked (an ongoing process).  I also had some writing projects that I needed to pursue, and managed to do a little reading.  On Thursday afternoon, it being a half-term break here, I went out to the park during the afternoon, and was delighted to find a few lads playing football, two of home remembered me from before.  I played football in the pouring rain for about half-an-hour, and then spoke to them a little about Christ and his church.  Although they were resistant, a couple of them did take CDs of sermons, and I think that there might have been some genuine interest.

On Friday afternoon, a friend came by to spend an hour or so for us to read some more of John Angell James together, a little bit of which is here.  A few minutes after he left, I had a phone appointment for the rest of the afternoon.  In the evening, I relaxed and read.  Saturday morning was sermon preparation, and in the afternoon I went back out to Maidenbower to see who was around.  This time, the older young people were missing (Jobs? Season tickets to various football clubs?  Football matches?) but there were a lot of young families around and one or two watching football matches being played.  Not the easiest environment in which to do gospel work more explicitly, but a good one in which to watch the world and learn how men are.

On the Lord’s day, our adult Sunday School class continued to consider our children’s intellectual development.  As an off-shoot, we are taking an opportunity to consider the formal education of our children, and – having established some fundamental principles and goals – we are looking at various approaches to formal education.  Yesterday we assessed the pros and cons of state education (including state schools with a Christian ethos).  We hope to go on to look at home education and other options.

In the morning worship I preached on The Liberator from John 8.36: “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”  We began by identifying the slavery men know: even – sometimes especially – those who boast in their freedom, are moral slaves to sin: ambition, anger, lust, greed, revenge, appetite, opinion, religion, superstition and scepticism.  This is the illusory freedom of the condemned prisoner dreaming of open spaces.

From there, we considered the freedom Christ gives: “if the Son makes you free.”  That ‘if’ is the key in the lock, the gleam of light in darkness that promises the prospect of deliverance.  It points to the author of freedom, the Son, who acts righteously, justly, freely, instantly and eternally in making free.  In might and with mercy, with authority and compassion, he can and does set the prisoners free.

It is a glorious freedom, a freedom that alone is worthy of the name.  We are set free from the guilt, punishment, power and consequences of sin.  We are set free to obey God, not needing to fear either men or outcomes in our pursuit of glorifying the God of our salvation.

I called upon some to feel their chains, that they might not boast in an illusion when offered freedom indeed.  Christ alone can liberate the captives.

I called upon others to feel their freedoms, to enjoy and employ the freedom bestowed by Jesus, so that we glorify God as those who are free indeed.

We had a friend from the church over for lunch, and I also got a little reading done.  The evening service was good, not least because my eldest son sat all the way through (with a little encouragement) for the first time.

Today, I will be at the John Owen Centre, participating in the Theology Study Group.  We are considering Tim Keller’s The Reason for God (reviewed here).  The discussion is usually stimulating, and the fellowship enjoyable.  The rest of the week is stacked to the gills with stuff.