The Agony Of Our World and Our Lifestyle

Rev. J.J. Van Wageningen. Trowel & Sword. Jan/Feb 1975

Preamble: In Jan/Feb 1975, the second decade of John Westendorp’s walk back through history, we encounter this offering by Rev. J.J. Van Wageningen which even today gives us much to think about. Did we get caught up this weekend in the great money splurge euphemistically referred to as Black Friday, (Did they even have “Black Friday” in 1975), to be followed by the great pre-Christmas spending spree? In this article we get a sober reminder not to follow the ways of the world, but rather, to follow the way of the Lord.

The Agony Of Our World and Our Lifestyle

Give us today our daily bread.”  Matthew 6:11
“But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Tim. 6:8

We pray as the Lord Jesus taught us, “Give us today our daily bread.”

We want however a little more, for we live in a “welfare” state. We live in one of these highly industrialised countries with mass production. And mass production demands mass consumption. We cannot help it. In all possible ways it is impressed on the public. One needs this, and one cannot live without something else – and life is worth living only if one buys the advertised goods. The more people consume, the more manufacturers produce, the more employees earn and spend, the more money comes in circulation. The more consumption, the more production, the bigger the Gross National Product; hip, hip, hurrah! In between the T.V. commercials we see the pictures of starving people: skeletons with swollen bellies; old and young people; parents and children; fellow human beings.

“Give us today our daily bread.”

The developed countries however need almost all the resources for the production of so many things which are not really needed. It is a thoroughly wasteful exploitation, but we are used to it. We think we really need all these things in order to live a happy and full life. Gradually we begin to realise that somewhere along the line something must be wrong, but what can we do about it? That is something for the government, the United Nations, etc. The government however cannot do much, because it has to please the electorate, and both are dancing around the golden calf of the Gross National Product, and every one craves for a bigger slice of the welfare cake.

Can we as Christians, as children of God, say that our attitude, our life-style is essentially different? We try to help. At Christmas we give generously to World Relief. It helps to soothe our consciences, in case we feel any pangs.

To what extent is our life-style influenced by the world around us, and by our old Adam? To what extent is our life-style genuinely Christian, in harmony with the Gospel of Christ? To what extent do we show Christ’s image? If we have “food and clothing”, are we content with that? In other words, are we content with a simple life-style?

The apostle writes to Timothy about it. “Nourishment and shelter”, these two words imply all that we really need to fulfil our calling, to live and work as disciples of Christ. It is the same as our daily bread. Luxuries are not included.

This is a very burning issue. First of all because this is the pervasive teaching of the New Testament. The Lord Jesus warns us that “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”, (Luke 12:15). “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We cannot serve both God and Money. (Matthew 6:19-21, 24).

It is a burning issue also because of the conditions in the world, the agony of millions. The word “agony” is not an exaggeration. There is a depth and extent of human suffering, of both bodily and mental distress, of both material and spiritual need, which goes far beyond our imagination.

“Darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples.” (Isaiah 60:2). This is a spiritual darkness as well. “Without God and without hope” (Eph. 2:12). Let us not, because of the material misery and physical sufferings, lose sight of the spiritual need.

In Lausanne the (evangelical) International Congress on World Evangelisation (held in July 74, with participants from 150 nations) issued a statement in the form of a solemn covenant with God and with each other. In point 9 dealing with “The urgency of the evangelistic task”, we read that more than 2,700 million people, which is more than two-thirds of mankind, have yet to be evangelised. And it goes on. “We are ashamed that so many have been neglected; it is a standing rebuke to us and the whole church. The goal should be, by all available means and at the earliest possible time, that every person will have the opportunity to hear, understand, and receive the Good News. We cannot hope to attain this goal without sacrifice. All of us are shocked by the poverty of millions and disturbed by the injustices which cause it. Those of us who live in affluent circumstances accept our duty to develop a simple lifestyle in order to contribute more generously to both relief and evangelism.”

Have we a duty to develop a simple life-style? Maybe you object – and this objection is valid – that God’s Word does not condemn riches, the possession of material goods as such, only the love of money, the desire to get rich, an undue attachment to and trust in the things you possess. Should we not thankfully enjoy all the gifts of God’s grace, also the material blessings?

Yes, indeed, but thankful enjoyment is the opposite of selfish enjoyment. Not our own dear self, and our own small group, but God and our neighbour must be in the centre. God’s grace, that brings salvation, has appeared to all men. We have celebrated Christmas. “It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:11-14).

The world becomes smaller and smaller. Through our daily papers, radio and T.V. broadcasts we get the whole world in our living-room. The circle of our neighbours becomes bigger and bigger. Do we greet them with love and compassion, all those neighbours, close by and far away? Do we realise our calling to love them with a true, Christian love?

“Give us today our daily bread.”

Then we see that the duty to develop a simple life-style is more urgent than we thought it to be. It is not just a matter of giving something now and then. A life-style is something permanent and total. It concerns our whole life. A simple life-style is a matter of being content with “food and clothing”, with the real necessities, in order to contribute more for the agonising needs of this world. Such a life-style must be developed.

Father in heaven, Thy Name be hallowed, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done; Give us today our daily bread; And let us be content with it. For the sake of Christ and the true welfare of our neighbours.  Amen.

J.J. VAN WAGENINGEN

We look forward to receiving feedback about any of our posts. We also encourage you to share our posts with family, friends and acquaintances; in fact anyone you think may appreciate and/or benefit from the knowledge and wisdom handed down to us from the past.   To view previous posts visit our website at www.tsrevisited.com

Feedback re-New Zealand Elders Conference Labour Weekend 1984, from Sarah: I have put these questions in our last newsletter of the year in hopes that as a small – mainly elderly church we continue to strive for growth, not just in numbers but in all aspects of our church services and community involvement. Thank you for your work in posting these gems, they are a wonderful resource and are deeply appreciated.

To our subscribers and all members of the CRCA. We are in the final stages of producing a special edition of Trowel & Sword to mark 15 years since the last printed edition. We expect it to be available by mid December. D.V. Thank-you for your continued support.