George always knew it was one’s heart, not one’s church affiliation, that carries the key to God’s Kingdom.  And he’d fight a church that said otherwise.  See the column below.  Blessings, Bob

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Spirituality Column #870

July 18, 2023

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

‘Whoever Says …’ Part 4

By Bob Walters

“…and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” Colossians 2:10

George Bebawi and his wife May Rifka for many years hosted Friday night Bible and theological studies at their home in Carmel, Ind.  What was especially fascinating, beyond George’s teaching, was the makeup of the all-comers crowd.

It was completely normal to have Christian ministers, Catholic students, Orthodox priests, Bible scholars, serious Christian church members, and even the occasional seeker or non-believer crowded into their spacious living room.  When George talked, people listened and asked questions, but this was not a debate society. Conversations with this eclectic group during the social time before and after were always interesting.

I describe this because George, a Coptic priest in Cairo in the 1970s and 1980s, first begged trouble with the Church when he allowed non-Coptic Christians to share a Coptic eucharist (communion) he was celebrating.  George knew that Jesus looked at one’s heart, not denominational identity, and George’s faith led him the same way.

This led to rifts between George, who was a top Coptic administrator, and other clergy. George was first excommunicated, which meant the church wanted him gone.  Later George was anathematized, which euphemistically meant it wanted him dead.

Thankfully, inquisitions had gone out of style. When Coptic leadership changed decades later, George was restored to communion in late 2020 before passing in February 2021.

His firm focus on “Jesus as No. 1” helps explain the fourth installment in our series (background HERE) on 12 warnings George issued to Church leaders in 2012.

“Eighth: Whoever thinks that the bishop or priest, etc., are the mediators between himself and the Saviour Jesus Christ our Lord, then he has fallen far from grace that comes from and is given by the Lord Jesus Christ alone.”

This follows last week’s warnings, numbers six and seven, regarding holiness of the clergy and the church. George is now addressing who mediates between God and man.  Scripture is pretty clear: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:5).  See also Hebrews 8:6 (ministry and mediator superior to the old covenant), 9:15 (“Christ the mediator of a new covenant”), and 12:24 (“mediator of the new covenant”). It is a trap for man to lose the mediation of his soul with Jesus, instead giving it to a fallen, earthly human. Grace is Christ’s alone.

“Ninth: Whoever says that the Patriarch is the head of the Church, or says so in theory, then he has denied the leadership of Christ, the head, from whom grows every member of the body (Col 2:19).”

While this is a fairly direct broadside at the leader of the Coptic Church – there were obvious issues between him and George – we must remember Christ is the head of the Church.  We can look around at all of Christendom and see examples of clergy humbly in control of their mission and acknowledging their roles as shepherd, teacher, and steward.  Sadly, we see the charlatans, too, and those “puffed up without reason” (Colossians 2:18).  Our spiritual growth and faith, are gifts from Father-Son-Spirit, God.  

I am grateful for all the humble but joyous clergy who have directed my steps, so we will close this week with a quote from George’s mentor, an Egyptian monk named Philemon: “You will be humble when you feel the glory of God and realize it isn’t you.”

Amen. More next week.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) especially enjoys refreshers of Philemon’s wisdom.