GOD’S FAMILY, CHURCH FAMILY, MY FAMILY

A Summary of the Church Camp Messages by Thaddeus Wong

Why that? Why family? Some say that it is to ensure society advances. But it also brings more to the church and God (more crucial). Doctrine must be sought first (truth) then action can be taken.

God’s Family

God rules over everything, ruling with mercy, providing for all. For Christians, a special grace is ours. However, we must make Him Lord of our lives and our houses for better or worse, especially since He is the Triune God, covenantal God. He cares for us.

Church Family

Church universal consists of all elect (exact number to be revealed on the last day). Church local consists of believers but it’s a rojak crowd. It’s given the duties, ministry and practices to gather and perfect the saints, even in private. The church local can fall. We must ensure our future generations stick to the good old Faith, just like Luther, John Calvin and other Reformation saints. Even if church buildings fall, it’s God’s people who are preserved. The Church is not a place; it’s a people called out unto God from that foe. TRUTH is key.

My Family

We thank God for the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes both written by King Solomon. Proverbs even has counsel for the family. Psalm 127:1 also goes for the Church. And our spouses must be Christians! Family building must be done in godly fear. Husband must lead, love his wife. Wife submits to husband. Children take heed to father and mother.

The truths God has on and about family are of utmost vitality in this pitch black age where gays, feminists and people like them run rampant in all countries, and divorces are all too common. Already the churches are falling apart spiritually or have completely crumbled like Princeton Seminary. God’s family? Well, we must ensure that it increases. For Jesus Christ said, “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother” (Mark 3:35). Ministry is crucial for anyone (us included) to see God as our Heavenly Father (and to be part of God’s family).

MARTIN LUTHER’S MARRIAGE
R Cameron Smith

Martin Luther lived in the monastery at Wittenberg in Germany. He and many others had left the Roman Church, and he preached and wrote against the false doctrines and practices of that Church.

In 1521 many of Luther’s friends married soon after they left the monastery. Although Luther admitted that he was lonely, he said that marriage was not for him.

Early in 1523 Luther received a letter from 12 nuns who were in a convent about a hundred kilometres from Wittenberg, asking him to help them escape. For a while Luther did not agree to help them, especially seeing such an act could result in their being punished with death. But at last Luther’s heart softened.

Luther had a friend named Leonard Koppe, a merchant who often visited the convent to deliver good. He agreed to help. During the night, Koppe and two helpers drove to the convent with a covered wagon which carried 12 empty herring barrels. The nuns who were waiting quietly climbed out of one of the windows and onto the wagon. Then they hid in or among the barrels while the wagon made its way back to Wittenberg as quickly as possible.

Their arrival caused much excitement among the people of the town. Three of the nuns were able to return home, others soon found jobs, while others found husbands.

One nun named Katherine von Bora worked in the Town Clerk’s home for a while, then she almost married a rich student, but his parents objected because Katherine had told him that she would only marry himself or Luther. Amsdorf was not at all interested.

The idea of marriage stuck in Luther’s mind, and when he visited his parents, his father urged him to get married.

Luther returned to Wittenberg and asked Katherine to be his wife. He was 42 and she was 26 years old. After a few weeks’ engagement Luther and Katherine were married on June 13, 1525. Luther explained in a letter to his friend Leonard Koppe, “Suddenly and unexpectedly God took me prisoner in holy matrimony.”

Katherine was an excellent and caring wife to Luther. Years later he wrote, “Marriage is not an affair of nature. It is the gift of God. It is the sweetest and dearest and purest state. When it turns out well, it is far better than being unmarried.”

[Ed: Luther’s love for his wife was great. He bequeathed to her all his belongings when he died.]

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF MARTIN LUTHER

Wittenberg, 6 January 1542

I, MARTIN LUTHER, Doctor of Sacred Scripture, etc., acknowledge with this my own handwriting that I have given to my beloved and faithful wife Katherine as an endowment (or whatever one can call it) for as long as she will live, which she will be at liberty to manage according to her desire and best interest, and give it to her by means of this document on this present day;

To wit, the small holding at Zulsdorf, which I purchased and made productive until the present day;

Second, Bruno’s house, which I bought under the name of my footman Wolf,

Third, goblets and valuables, such as rings, necklaces, gratuities, gold and silver, which should be worth about a thousand gulden.

I do this because, above all, as a pious and faithful spouse she has at all times held me dear, worthy, and well and with God’s rich blessings gave birth to and reared for me five living children (who are still living, God may grant them a long life).

Second, that she should herself assume and pay off the debt, insofar as I am still indebted (what I do not pay off during my lifetime), which may be about four hundred fifty florin as far as I am able to ascertain. There could perhaps also be more.

Third, and most important of all, that I do not want her to have to look to the children for a handout, but rather that the children should be obligated to her, honor her, and be subject to her as God has commanded. For I have surely seen and experienced how the Devil agitates and provokes the children, be they ever pious, contrary to this commandment through evil and jealous gossips. This is especially true when the mothers are widows and the sons take wives and the daughters, husbands, and in turn, mother-in-law daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law mother-in-law! For I maintain that a mother will be the best guardian for her children and will use such a holding and endowment not for the harm or to the disadvantage of her children, but to their use and betterment, since they are her flesh and blood whom she carried under her heart.

[Ed: The above is the first half of his will and testament. Indeed Luther was true to the marital vow, “… and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow.”]

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS
Yap Choo Lian

Thank you for praying for me. God is indeed merciful and good. As He has promised, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matt 21:22). God has healed me and now I am disease free. Words cannot express my heartfelt gratitude to our Lord for His divine healing. It is a miracle.

I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in December 2018. The type of cancer I had was called carcinoma-sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. The treatment had to be comprehensive comprising surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. According to His words and according to His promise, I felt secure and know that God will watch over me every step of the way. God took control of the treatment process; all medical procedures went successfully. Chemotherapy drains me physically and emotionally and I am so thankful to the Lord for giving me the comfort and strength to cope with the side effects. Psalm 86:15 comes to mind; “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”

Have faith in the Lord and trust Him. Surrender to Him and worship Him. God will have a way when there is no way. Praise the Lord. (16 June 2019)

True Life BP Church Camp 2019
Royale Chulan, Penang