Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/76

Contributor - J. Schriel

Title - Ascension- Gifts Why Are They Given?

Topic - Meditation

EPH 4:1-16

This month's important day in the Christian year is Ascension Day.

It is remarkable how little attention is paid to this important day by the Christian world. Many times you meet Christians, who are active in their Church, who know little or nothing about Ascension and it seems that Ascension also has disappeared completely from many a Christian Church leader. Why is this? Is it because many people today question the veracity of the Ascension account in the Bible? They point out that Ascension is not mentioned in Matthew, Mark or John and that only Luke tells us about it in detail. But the same people usually question the virgin birth, Jesus' miracles, His crucifixion and resurrection. They also should throw away their Confession of Faith if they want to be consistent.

The apostle Paul has none of those doubts in his mind, when he said in Ephesians 4: 8, "When he ascended on high ... he gave gifts to men."

What are those gifts?

"Some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers." And why are those gifts given?

". . . for the equipment of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ."

And the reason?

"We are to grow up in every way into him, who is the head, into Christ."

How can we grow into Christ, the king and head of the Church? By using his gifts. We are given gifts to do the business of the Church, which is the proclamation of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

Perhaps we need to revise the way we do this. Perhaps we need to revise our approach to mission. The Hebrew word "Dabar" means both word and deed. Jesus' word was always deed at the same time. His whole life bears witness to this. Therefore our proclamation of Christ should be both word and deed. We are given gifts to proclaim Jesus Christ as Saviour. He is the only answer to our hurt and broken world.

In a conference, which I attended recently, the word "trauma" was used quite often. Trauma is the Greek word for "wound". Well, the world is full of "traumata". Wherever you turn you see wounds, inflicted upon mankind by sin. We cannot afford to turn our backs to the sufferings of the hungry, the victims of natural disasters or those who suffer from persecution or are driven from their homes and their land. After all, we are given gifts to minister unto the world, not only to save man's soul, but his whole person. Perhaps we can learn here from our younger generation. Most young people want to realize the human values in man. But the big problem is that our youth is being, sucked into the big stream of secularization of all values. Their only concern is the here and the now; they could not care less for the hereafter.

Now this is easily explained. Our modern means of communication, radio and television bring this all into our homes every day. Everything is reduced to sex and success, the gods of our modern society. Our big question is: How do we prevent ourselves and our people from failing victim to this all? How can we use our gifts in this?

The apostle Paul has here good advice: "We are to grow up in every way into him, who is the head, into Christ.

Grow up: that means that we all stand in need of improvement, no one excepted.

In every way: Not only in Church; not only in Church work; in our whole day-by-day life.

Into him, who is the head, into Christ: Let us lay aside our objections, our destructive criticism, our laxness, our unwillingness to serve.

By the grace of God we can grow up in every way into him, who is the head, into Christ. May God give us all that grace.

We have His gifts. Let us use them to the glory of God.

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