Protestant participating in Mass?

Holy Communion

Q. My Catholic colleague invited me to his wedding, where they celebrated mass as part of the ceremony. Is it alright to partake of their holy communion since they worship Jesus too?

A. My opinion is no, because Catholics attach a meaning to the Eucharist very different from Protestants. To Protestants, the bread and the wine represent the body and blood of Christ. The “is” in “this is my body” and “this cup is the new covenant” speaks of spiritual, not physical, reality. We partake of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him.

• Lk 22:19-20 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
• 1 Co 11:24-25 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The Catholic position is quite different. There are at least two issues. The first is transubstantiation, which is the changing of the substance of bread and wine, at the consecration in the Mass, into the substance of Jesus’ body and blood. The appearance of bread and wine remains, but Christ’s body and blood is really present.

Secondly, as a result of transubstantiation, “in the Mass, the same Christ who offered Himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross, is present and offered in an unbloody manner. Consequently, the Mass is a truly propitiatory sacrifice …” (from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon). The Second Vatican Council claims that Christ instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice “to perpetuate the sacrifice of His cross throughout the centuries until He should come again.”

This is contrary to Scripture, which nowhere teaches transubstantiation. Christ’s sacrifice was once for all, and never need to be repeated:

• Rom 6:10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
• Heb 7:27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
• Heb 9:12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
• Heb 9:26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.
• Heb 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

To Roman Catholics, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was not sufficient to obtain eternal redemption for all. He had to be sacrificed again and again in the Mass to propitiate God’s wrath, which blatantly contradicts God’s word. So, by partaking the Catholic Eucharist, the Christian by his action is concurring with this false doctrine, and crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace (Heb 6:6).

Based on the above I would not partake of their Holy Communion. Actually, they may not permit non-Catholics to receive the bread, but that’s another story.

Catholic-Protestant Marriage?

Grace alone. Faith alone. Deeds as a consequence.

Q. I have a friend who converted from Protestant to Catholic to marry her Catholic boyfriend. Is that alright?

A. No. Some people consider both Catholics and Protestants to be part of Christendom, so it’s alright for them to inter-marry. I consider this to fall under 2 Co 6:14 “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” and advise against such inter-faith marriage.

To be yoked is to be bound together in a relationship such that to third parties they are treated as one unit, as in marriage or business partnerships. While Catholics and Protestants worship the same Triune God, their beliefs in salvation, how to have a right relationship with God, are so different that it would be wrong to treat them as equals.

Catholics believe in “Faith + Works –> Salvation”. In other words, you need faith in God, but you also need good deeds which are meritorious. You have to believe in Jesus Christ, God the Son, but you also got to have works and sacraments to win God’s favor. Protestants, on the other hand, maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law (Rom 3:28). All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Rom 3:24). Works are the fruit or results of being saved, not the root or cause for one to be saved.

The difference hinges on the sufficiency of the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. The Catholic view is that Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice is insufficient in and of itself, and must be supplemented by good works on man’s part. Protestants hold that Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient for all people of all times, and good deeds are only our response to God’s grace and mercy, not to earn our salvation.

Your friend’s conversion to Catholicism indicates that she does not really understand her relationship to the Lord and all that He had already accomplished for her. Or if she had understood, then she is willfully disobedient by putting her relationship with her fiancé ahead of her relationship with God. It is very sad as many of our problems are caused by our unwillingness to obey God.

Catholic Bible

The Catholic Canon

Q. Do Catholics have the same Bible as Protestants? If no, why?

A. No, Catholics have the same NT as Protestants, but add books from the Apocrypha (called Deuterocanon by Catholics), written during the 400 inter-testament “silent years”, to their OT. These include:

• Historical:
* Tobit
* Judith
* 7 more chapters in Esther (chapters 10-16)
* 1 Maccabees
* 2 Maccabees

• Wisdom
* Wisdom of Solomon
* Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus)

• Prophets
* Baruch
* 2 more chapters in Daniel (chapter 13 Susanna, chapter 14 Bel and the Dragon), plus 2 more verses in chapter 3, prayers of the three children v 23-24)

Several books are also included in the Appendix to the Latin Vulgate, formerly the official Bible version of the Roman Catholic Church:

• 3 Esdras (They called Ezra 1 Esdras, and Nehemiah 2 Esdras)
• 4 Esdras
• Prayer of Manasseh

Catholics accept the additional 7 books and chapters as part of Scripture (the canon) based on the recognition of the Catholic church, which holds tradition as authoritative. This single difference in the basis of authority allowed many unbiblical teachings into the Catholic Church. Protestants do not accept them as canonical because they believe they were not inspired by God, and were only the writings of men. They contain teachings inconsistent with the rest of Scripture, and our Lord and the apostles never quoted from them. The tests of canonicity are given in the chart and a detailed discussion is beyond the scope of this blog.

Tests of Canonicity

Luther’s Dilemma

James versus Paul

Q. Did Luther exclude James from the Bible? Why?

A. Luther considered certain books, namely Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation, part of the so-called Antilegomena (disputed books), to be of lower value, but he did not exclude them from the Bible. He just placed them at the end of the NT apart from the other books. His reasons were that James flatly contradicted Paul, and the epistle was not Christ-centered enough.

• Rom 3:28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
• Gal 2:16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
• Jas 2:14, 17, 20, 24, 26 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? … In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Actually the two are complementary, like two sides of a coin, not contradictory. A person is justified by faith, not by the works of the law. But that faith is always manifested by deeds, without which the faith is not genuine, not a saving faith. The faith that saves is always accompanied by action, which proves that it is a living and not dead faith.

Secondly, Luther believed that the book of James did not teach enough about the Lord. His name appeared only twice in the letter (James 1:1, 2:1), which is more focused on faith in God and how that should be lived out. Therefore to him it was not apostolic, as the primary task of the apostles was to bear witness to Christ. But James was addressing the twelve tribes scattered among the nations, teaching them about trials. temptations, and practical Christian living. The emphasis was not on the life and works of the Lord, nor on developing a Christology, so Luther’s opinion is rather one-sided.

My concern is that we should follow the whole counsel of God and not push one aspect at the expense of another. Hold a balanced view and it will save you from a lot of errors.

The Suffering Servant

Q. Who is the servant that Isaiah 49 v 1-7 is talking about?

A. It is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s examine the clues. Some identified the servant as the nation Israel based on v 3:
• 49:3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
But this cannot be the case since v 5a and 6a indicate that the servant’s mission is to bring back Jacob or Israel to the LORD:
• 49:5a And now the LORD says—he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself,
• 49:6a he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept.

A better explanation is Jesus as the true Israel, who gathers or restores national Israel to the LORD. This is reinforced by other evidences in this passage:

Sword:
• 49:2a He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
• Rev 1:16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.
• Rev 2:12 These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
• Rev 2:16 Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Superficially In vain:
• 49:4a But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
• John 1:11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Light:
• 49:6b I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
• Luke 2:30-32 For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.
• John 8:12a When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.”
• John 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Based on the above most scholars conclude the servant to be Jesus Christ Himself.

Deception – The Art of War 1

The Art of War

We watched Mandarin TV as part of our language learning. One interesting drama series is Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”, as there are parallels between his strategy and spiritual warfare. For example, chapter one pronounced the principle that “All warfare is based on deception.” We mentioned Satan’s schemes (2 Co 2:11, Eph 6:11) in previous posts. What are some of the deceptions we have to watch out for in spiritual battles? Let me name three:

1. Wealth – Many people, including Christians, are lured by chasing after money, and do not bear fruit.
• Mt 13:22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Also Mk 4:19)
Closely associated with this is our desires or lusts:
• Eph 4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.

2. False doctrines – If the devil can’t divert you from the goal of following Christ, he’ll try to lead you astray by errors, typically mingled with truth so that they are not easily detected. Many are misled by aberrant theology and human thinking not centered on God’s word. You need to know your Bible.
• 2 Co 4:2a Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.
• Eph 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
• Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
• Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

3. Sin – A third way Christians are deceived is by the fleeting pleasures of sin (Heb 11:25). Satan belittles the true character of sin and downplay the consequences, and people are trapped.
• 2 Thes 2:10a and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.
• Heb 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

If Satan can beguile you with these three as bait, you are rendered useless to God and others. So watch and pray, that you are not deceived and fall.

The Big Apple

As part of our niece’s graduation celebration, we visited New York City for a few days. Driving in the city is a nightmare so we chose a hotel in Time Square and did sightseeing by walking and subway. It was an interesting but tiring trip, including a false fire alarm and running down from 14/F to the street at 4:30 am! Here are a few snap shots:

Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum – Die Hard? You’re not that tough!

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rockefeller Center

Belvedere Castle, Central Park

Strawberry Field’s “Imagine” memorial in memory of John Lennon of the Beatles.

On Top of the Rock, overlooking Empire State Building.

Museum of Modern Art MoMA

Time Square at Night, always crowded, not just on New Year’s Eve.

Learning Mandarin

Mandarin tones

As part of our being equipped for service, we are continuing to take Mandarin lessons so that we can communicate at a practical, daily living level. When we were in Taiwan, we did not undertake a systematic learning of the basics due to the time constraint. Instead, we focused on sharing our testimony and the gospel content, in order that we can witness in Mandarin. Now that we have decided to take up ministry to the Chinese, Mandarin becomes mandatory.

Our objectives are similar to people learning touch-typing: accuracy and speed. Some fellow Cantonese felt that it is sufficient that they can say things in Mandarin, and so long as they can maintain a dialogue at conversational speed, that’s good enough. That is not so. Imagine receiving a job application from someone who typed his resume at record speed, yet the letter is full of spelling mistakes. It is unlikely that you’ll hire that candidate. It’s the same for Mandarin. We have made enough mistakes to know that when we mispronounce the tone, we change the meaning of the word completely. Worse, the audience may doubt the speaker as a person and discount his message entirely, at great loss to both. So our aim is first accuracy, then speed. We need to walk properly before we run.

Mandarin initials

With respect to system, our Taiwanese friends claimed that their bopomofo system using phonetic symbols provides the most accurate pronunciation. On the other hand, our friends from mainland China claimed that their pinyin system is more precise, and 1.3 billion users can’t be wrong. In the end, we opted for pinyin, taking into consideration:
• Our age, which means we have fewer years at our disposal;
• The ease of learning, given that we don’t need to learn and memorize 37 special characters, and that most foreigners adopt this method;
• The popularity of this method vs. bopomofo;
• The fact that there are regional differences in various parts of China, and that people can understand small variations in the pronunciation.

Mandarin finals

What about method? We intend to use a 5-prong approach:
• Classes with a teacher/language helper who teaches us the correct pronunciation and corrects our mistakes;
• Online courses for day-to-day life situations to build vocabulary;
• E-bible for biblical vocabulary which is quite different from everyday life;
• Watching Mandarin TV programs to comprehend what was said; and
• Attending Mandarin church to practice what we learned.

Unlike some missionary friends who are gifted in languages, we have no gifts or talents in this area. Yet we are zealous in sharing the gospel with our countrymen, most of whom do not speak Cantonese or English, and equipping believers so that they will multiply this ministry. Pray for us as we stretch ourselves to serve Him. We hope you do the same too.

Dandelion Lessons

When we came home after our extended trip, our front lawn looked like a wild weed patch – grass so long that it bends under its own weight, broad-leaf weeds growing everywhere, and dandelions! These were the worst. There were so many of them that the yard looked like we were cultivating them on purpose.

We tried every means to get rid of them. First we got down on our hands and knees and tried to dig them up. But they were so numerous that the handle of our hand tool broke off before we made even a dent in their population. Then I borrowed a friend’s heavy-duty “dandelion eater”, which allowed you to dig the roots up without bending down and hurting your back. Finally we sprayed them with organic weed killers, which supposedly should make them turn black, shrivel up, and die. We have yet to see that happen!

Dandelions are so tenacious that I thought Christians should learn an object lesson from them. No I don’t mean that in a pesky way, as some folks are really obnoxious, even though they call themselves Christians. I mean their adaptability and tenacity, something lacking in a large segment of the Christian population.

First of all, dandelions grow in all environments. Its tap-root goes deep into the soil to gather water and nutrients. They flourish in lawns, flower beds, along driveways, even in the cracks of concrete sidewalks. They are everywhere! I wish Christians have deep roots and can adapt to any circumstances too, but unfortunately some shrivel in adverse conditions. Some thrive only in a protected, green house environment, where they are among fellow Christians. But once they move into secular society, say a university campus or the workforce, they lose their faith and start following the crowd to blend in. Instead of changing their world, their world changed them. Not so with dandelions. I hope you are that way.

Secondly, dandelions’ ability to hold on is legendary. Before chemicals were banned, we sprayed them with different kinds of herbicides, but they lived on. Then we used different organic or home-made formulas, such as vinegar or soapy water, but to no avail. It’s as if the more you try to exterminate them, the wider they spread. They hung on to life despite hostile conditions. I wish Christians are more like that in their persistency and endurance. The world is getting increasingly Christian-unfriendly, targeting them with biased treatment and harassment. In some countries it is downright hostile and Christians are persecuted. We need to be trained to persist and endure, or face extinction.

Third, dandelions propagate profusely. They are designed for maximum reproduction. Each flower head actually consists of many small flowers called florets. When mature the flower head turns into a “blowball” containing many single-seed fruits. Each fruit is attached by a stalk to a “parachute” consisting of many fine hairs, allowing it to be blown about by the wind, travelling long distances. So without any effort to cultivate them, they grow spontaneously and have a wide distribution. Would that Christians are more like dandelions, reproducing themselves spiritually, effortlessly, anywhere and everywhere.

Lastly, despite their being classified as a weed, dandelions are actually quite pretty with their bright yellow flowers, giving the impression of a sunny disposition notwithstanding being looked down upon. Christians are sometimes viewed by the world as weeds too, but we can be beautiful in God’s sight, adapting, persevering, enduring, and propagating. Learn a lesson from the lowly dandelion.

Tyre in Prophecy

Q. In Is 23, has the prophecy about Tyre happened? Which 70 years is v 17 referring to? Is 23:17 At the end of seventy years, the LORD will deal with Tyre. She will return to her lucrative prostitution and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.

A. Yes, history and archeology proved that this prophecy, as well as that in Ezekiel 26, happened exactly as predicted in the Bible. Scholars believe the 70 years in Is 23:17 refer to the period between 700-630 BC, when Assyria captured Tyre and restricted her sea trade. Around 630 BC Assyria declined in power, allowing Tyre to revive her trade.

The destruction of Tyre as prophesied in Ezk 26 happened later. In 573 BC king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed the old Tyre after laying siege for thirteen years, but the people of Tyre fled to an island off the coast, where they built new Tyre. In 332 BC Alexander the Great attacked new Tyre, and demolished it by dumping the debris from old Tyre into the sea to make a causeway for his troops, thus fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy to the letter. This is summarized in the attached video:

Fulfillment of prophecy exactly as predicted proved the Bible to be trustworthy and indeed the word of God, and we can rely upon it in matters of faith and salvation.