My friend George had some advice for one of Christianity’s oldest churches.  See the column below ...

Spirituality Column #867

June 27, 2023

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

‘Whoever Says …’  Part 1

By Bob Walters

“I have not written here any anathemas, but warnings.  I hope that what is said will not be lost in the uproar of the mob – but those who are enlightened will know the seriousness of what I wrote.” – Dr. George Bebawi, to the Coptic Church, 2012

An “anathema” is a severe religious untruth.  Think of a heresy on steroids, a poison pill that will kill a doctrine, condemn a soul, and benight the truth of God.

Eleven years ago, my friend and mentor George Bebawi published a 12-point article warning the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Christian church of Egypt, of severe doctrinal stumbles he observed among its leadership.  Written in Arabic, as was most of George’s published writing, I’d never seen the piece until this summer when a mutual friend sent an English translation to me.  Wow.  A theological geek-fest, and sobering.

George died in early 2021.  He grew up in Cairo and was ordained a Coptic priest in the 1960s. He had a PhD from Cambridge University, served at high levels of the Coptic administration in Cairo, was Coptic emissary to the Vatican, studied the ancient papyri (Bible texts and commentaries), taught at various universities including Cambridge, and was a renowned expert on the ancient church, Eastern Christianity, and the church fathers. He knew 11 languages, including Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, Syriac, and Arabic.  English, I believe, was his fifth or sixth language.

Studying with George – he taught weekly at East 91^st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis from 2004 to 2017 – meant navigating his thick, multi-cultural brogue (accent), enjoying his middle eastern humor, and becoming accustomed to hearing ancient truths, biblical subtleties, and the names of early Christian doctors of the faith.

George also had an ongoing, multi-decade, internationally recognized row with the Coptic leaders in Cairo – in a nutshell, he considered them too legalistic – and was himself excommunicated and then later anathematized for speaking and writing firmly against doctrinal alterations. Reinstated to communion with the Church in the months before he died, George throughout led a global online ministry of like-minded Copts.

So … that’s what we’re going to do starting today and for the next few weeks: look at those firm “warnings” George issued to the Coptic Church.  The current-day reader, however unfamiliar with Orthodoxy, the Copts, Eastern Christianity, or ancient church structure, will nonetheless discern George’s clear understanding of Jesus Christ.

We all tend to be a little isolated in our own churches and our own Bible studies, cultures, small groups, etc.  George shines a very bright light and casts a very wide net on the great truth of the Church as the Body of Christ for us all.  We’ll do two or three points a week.  Here’s the first one, and I’ll follow up with a comment after each point.

“First: Whoever says that the Church is not the Body of Christ but that it is a social institution or a society of believers only, then he denies his birth from waters and Spirit and has returned to his first birth from Adam that is dominated by death.”

In baptism we must love as the Lord loves and take seriously our position in the Body of Christ; a gift not of this fallen earth but of God’s divine grace.  It is a gift and a responsibility that must govern and animate all corners of our life, purpose, and identity. Otherwise, we remain in the death of Adam, which is all an earthly society offers.

Think about it.  More next week.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) has no beef with the Coptic Orthodox Church, but harbors a profound appreciation for George’s clarity and orthodoxy on so many important and difficult points. Thanks to Joyce Vanatta for sending along this translation.      

Friends, I promised a review of the podcast, but this is more of a recap. Blessings, Bob

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Spirituality Column #866

June 20, 2023

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Bread Upon the Waters, Part 3

By Bob Walters

“I hope somebody hears it and it makes them think.” – yours truly on “Finding Genius.”

Thus was one of my final thoughts when that podcast guest slot wrapped up a couple weeks ago. “Genius” jokes aside, I love to talk and it was a fun hour.

The entire interview can be heard HERE at the “Finding Genius Podcast with Richard Jacobs.”  It goes 51 minutes, including an opening minute of advertising. 

Well … I promised a review, and here it is: In general, I’d say your old scribe didn’t do too bad.  We covered a lot of territory – much of it familiar to Common Christianity regulars – and Richard Jacobs was an engaging, gracious host. Here is a broad brush, approximate, abridged, and ever-so-slightly aggrandized recap …

Were you always religious? No. I was an Episcopal altar boy (acolyte) as a young teen, then away from church and faith until I was 47.  That’s when my older son Eric, 13, asked why we didn’t go to church. So, we went.

What changed? That first adult day in church, for whatever reason, I suddenly “got it.” Say it was the Spirit and my heart.  Then a variety of people showed up in my life: Russ Blowers, Dave Faust, George Bebawi.  In no time the Bible came alive, and when I had questions, I had lions of the faith I could go to for counsel and answers.

Is faith a common experience? Everyone experiences their faith, i.e., their relationship with Jesus, differently.  Maybe just a bit differently, but the relationship is unique.  It’s important we don’t insist on “one and only one final answer,” except Jesus.  It is OK to disagree in peace.  I’ll take joy over guilt, and love over religious legalisms. Another person may focus on the Ten Commandments, obedience, and prophecy. 

There are many paradoxes in Christianity.  What we may see as a paradox – say, joy in Jesus vs. fear of God in one’s faith – is always something we either don’t understand or don’t expect. Faith is trusting it to be in line with God’s righteousness, truth, goodness, and plan for humanity. We ask God for wisdom, not His agreement. 

George Bebawi was very influential to you. What were his teachings? (See last week’s column #865, but also …) George made Christian history come alive for me.  I realized the importance of questioning modern faith fashions and to seek lasting truth.

What mystery did George leave you with? More than anything, it is the impossibility of the answer to the question, “Why me?” There are people I love and people who are way kinder, smarter, and more successful than me who do not believe.  Why am I afforded this trust in Jesus, gift of the Spirit, and place in God’s Kingdom?  I share it as best I can, but I also know you can’t argue faith into someone’s soul.

People see a paradox or a mystery and want answers, don’t you think? It is very human to want answers, but love and trust are the keys to the kingdom.  I have a friend who recently came to Jesus in order to go to heaven.  That’s good, but he’s still thinking about “what he gets,” like a reward, not about what he can give, like love and faith.

Why does God need more glory?  He doesn’t have an ego, does he?  We must not think of glory as something we add to God; glory is what God is.  George taught me that our purpose in life is to participate in God’s glory with faith in Jesus.

There’s more, but I hope the interview made people think.  It sure made me think.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) freely shares this weekly column … just ask.

Friends: On that podcast last week, I should have been quicker listing the things George taught me, several noted here.  Next week in Part 3 we’ll review the actual “Finding Genius” podcast (see link below, all the way at the bottom). Your thoughts are welcome, but I already know I talk too fast. - Bob

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Spirituality Column #865

June 13, 2023

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Bread Upon the Waters, Part 2

By Bob Walters

“Bob … it’s a story!” – How Dr. George Bebawi once explained the Bible’s book of Genesis to me.

Whenever I’m asked about my Christian writing, as I was on a podcast last week, there are two names that come to mind immediately: friend and minister Russ Blowers, and mentor George Bebawi.

Russ encouraged my writing and shepherded my first six years of faith before he passed in 2007. George, from 2004-2017, taught a weekly Bible class at our E91 church and provided many “head-spinners,” blow-your-mind type observations and enough material for a lifetime of reflection and recitation.  George died in February 2021 and never is my writing not impacted by his teaching or Russ’s love.

Continuing last week’s thoughts about my guest slot on the podcast, “Finding Genius,” I woefully under-performed on a softball question about “other” memorable things I learned from George.  I neglected …

“Bob, it’s a story.” – This was George’s response when I once asked him why God allowed evil to enter the Garden of Eden.  Accompanied by his friendly laugh, it was George’s unique way of saying the question doesn’t matter.  In time I figured it out; “Jesus is what matters.” And God’s love is what matters.

Literal in what way? – Until the latter 1800s, nobody thought to try to prove the literal truth of the Bible.  The Bible was just accepted, faithfully, as the truth of God. Then as academia’s paradigm shifted away from theology to the more physically provable and applicable spheres of engineering and science, theologians attempted to follow suit.  Tough sell; faith can be seen and felt, but not calculated or proven.

We’re no angels. – When we die to this life, George vigorously reminded, we do not become angels; in Christ we become fully human.  We were/are created human in the image of God as heirs and friends, not as servants like the angels. Do angels, demons, and spirits exist? Unquestionably, but our goal must be to develop our humanity, as best we can, in humanity’s perfect example of Jesus.

Three’s a crowd? – No, three is the smallest number of a community, and that’s why there are three in the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, Spirit – for love. This is among the first surprising and stop-the-presses things I remember George teaching.  Humans want to assign the three persons of the Trinity unique functions and identities, and are disturbed by the three-as-one arithmetic.  Love can only exist in community, and “God is love” (1 John 4:8). In Jesus we are heirs of that community, God’s Kingdom.

“Forgiveness: Number 15 or 20 on the list.” – Perhaps the most common Christian error, or miscalculation, George asserted, is thinking the most important thing Jesus did on the cross was forgive our sins. Forgiveness is a big deal, no doubt, but Jesus died on the cross to defeat death and restore our relationship within God’s Kingdom; forgiveness is merely a precondition. Christ’s purpose was restoration, healing, hope, revelation (Yes, God is real!), love, obedience, grace, truth, and knowing God. Our joy is to focus on Jesus, love, and others going forward; not remain mired in the “me” of past success or suffering.

The New Testament explains the Old. – Jesus Christ completes the unfinished story of the Old Testament.  Do not jam the OT of the Law into the NT of grace and faith.  Same God, different covenants.

Whose covenant is it? – God’s Old Testament covenants were between God and men (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Israel, Moses); the new covenant is between God and Jesus, not man. George was clear on this: our only way to God is through Jesus (John 14:6). We want our own covenant to hold God responsible, but God’s deal is with Jesus. God demanded a perfect sacrifice? He trusts Jesus, not us.

Punishing truth. – Better sit down. Though we say it all the time, nothing in the Bible says Jesus was punished for our sins. (Go ahead, look for it; we’ll wait.) Jesus was punished by the Jews for saying He was God, and Pilate played along with the threat that Jesus was a king.  But, Jesus “punished for our sin”? No, the Bible doesn’t say that.  I found out later Anselm put forth the now-popular notion of “Penal Substitutionary Atonement” (i.e., Jesus punished for our sins to satisfy God) in the 11^th century.  This idea was unknown for the first thousand years of Christianity, and grossly popularized in the past 200.

Cost free. – Like punishment, the Bible does not say Jesus paid anybody for our sins.  His death on the cross was about love, grace, humility, and obedience.  Besides, who would Jesus, i.e., God, pay?

What do I get? – “An eternal seat with the living God” (Rev. 3:20). No other faith promises that.

Think like a Christian! (I did mention this on the podcast.) – George was quick to notice Christians clinging to Old Testament law, not love. You can’t be a Christian, he’d say, and think like a Jew. Shalom.

As I miss Russ, I miss George every day.  I always had questions; they always had answers.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) invites you to listen to his “Finding Genius” podcast interview, HERE (approx. 48 minutes). For more info on George, see GeorgeBebawi.com, with thanks to great friend Stan Naraine for continuing to maintain this wonderful written and audio repository of George’s work.  

 Friends: An old connection comes back with joy and opportunity to talk about Jesus in a three-part series. - Bob

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Spirituality Column #864

June 6, 2023

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Bread Upon the Waters, Part 1

By Bob Walters

“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.” Ecclesiastes 11:1

If I may share, I had a new experience last week; I was the guest on a podcast.

The “Finding Genius with Richard Jacobs” podcast (I know … the “Genius” thing makes me a bit queasy, too) reached out recently on a tip from long-ago church buddy Greg Rohler. Ten or more years past, Greg attended Dr. George Bebawi’s Wednesday night classes I coordinated at East 91^st Street Christian Church (2004-2017).  Turns out Greg still receives this “Common Christianity” column/blog via weekly email.

Richard lives in Rochester, N.Y., while Greg (with wife Deb) still lives here in the Indianapolis area. After they met randomly at a marketing conference years ago, Greg and Richard became friends and eventually Greg became Richard’s accountant.

While I blast-email this column/blog on Mondays to 580-plus direct recipients – many of whom, like Greg, are alums of George’s class – and post it on Twitter and Facebook, I’ve never promoted it heavily nor paid much attention to who exactly reads it.  I write the piece as an encouragement to believers, as a welcome faith and theology “release” for my busy brain, and as an excuse not to “journal” (not my thing).

Then … I send out “commonchristianity.blogspot.com” weekly as bread on the waters, confident someone will find it, praying they find encouragement, and hoping it sparks a thought or two about their faith, Jesus, God, their church, or life in general.

I receive some feedback, usually positive, but mostly, readers are on their own.

So it happens that Greg – talking with friend and client Richard who by the way grew up Jewish – dropped my name as a potential guest.  Richard contacted me in late April and after speaking with him on the phone and in a couple of follow-up texts, I knew I would enjoy chatting with him on the record fielding questions about my background and faith, and more than a little of addressing his own curiosity about Jesus and God.

We recorded the session Friday afternoon.  About an hour long, it will be post-produced and “up” at “FindingGeniusPodcast.com” possibly later this week.  In next week’s column I’ll share how to access it once I know the podcast is available.

The interview went well but I was surprised I stumbled when Richard asked me to list some of George Bebawi’s “blow your mind” teachings.  Folks from George’s class can likely relate. G.K. Chesterton in his book Orthodoxy noted, “that which we know best can often be the most difficult for us to explain.”  True…I didn’t know where to start. 

Next week’s column will get into “what I should have said” in response to the George question, and the following week we’ll review the podcast after I’ve listened to the final product. I am sure there will be other cases of “staircase wisdom,” or, the thing you wish you would have said but don’t think of until you’re “on the staircase leaving.”

It is surprising what returns, what we find, and what finds us “after many days.”

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com), often amazed at where the bread floats, thanks Greg and had no idea he still reads this blog. Wonderful! Anyone is welcome to receive the blog email upon request (email Bob), no charge, and anyone with a notion to share the link CommonChristianity.blogspot.com is welcome to do so.  Walters has been writing the column, which began as a newspaper feature, weekly since November 2006.