My pastor has said several times that we are fortunate as Christians because our beliefs are transferable between cultures and languages. It is concerned with the heart, primarily, and works out from there.
One of the reasons that this is important is that we do not have to go back to the original language that the Bible has been written in so that it can be understood. In contrast, many mosques offer Arabic lessons because Muslims believe that the Qur’an can only be understood properly in its original language.
You may guess from the title of this post that I can understand a small amount of French. It has been a few years since I have needed it to any degree except to understand a video clip here or there. Today I have had several people send me websites talking about Europe and I began to miss it slightly.
A few weeks ago I was fortunate to find a several books in French that were on the topic of theology at a yard sale. If the book that I turned to tonight is any indication, they were really published out of Canada. Regardless, they make for great reading material.
Because the lessons are based on a book that is available in many languages it is possible to read this while referencing an English Bible. That allows me to fill in the blanks on many of the words that I do not remember.
The title of this post is the name of the booklet and it could roughly be translated as “The Sayings [Words] of Christ on the Mountain.”
I’m not sure if I will ever recommend it to others because my French is too rusty to catch any subtle nuances but the book has made some excellent points so far.
Il faut d’abord venir à Lui, puis recevoir ses instructions; il faut faire des disciples, puis leur enseigner à observer tout ce qu’ll nous a prescrit (Matthieu 28:19-20). Non seulement “enseigner” mais “enseigner à observer”.
It’s probably best if I translate that for you. Matthew 28:19-20:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The first quote says that we must first come to Jesus in order to be able to receive his commands. He makes disciples and has them teach others to observe all that he has instructed us in. This is not just to “teach” but that we “teach to observe” the commands.
The copyright on this book says that it is from the early 80’s but this point is very much needed by the church today. Somehow we have gotten it into our heads that we can divorce our faith from our actions. That is not at all what the Great Commission says. When others come to Christ, teach them to obey His commands also.
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