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Is God A Math Teacher?
By Rev. Dr. Peter Doghramji
Teach us to number our days, writes the
Psalmist (90:12). Since Moses wrote this prayer, we
have made much progress in mathematics. Moses was well
educated in Egypt. Nevertheless, he prays God to teach
him how to number his days and his years.
My
grandparents did not know exactly how old they were.
She was born in "the year of the snow." My generation
is more fortunate. I know the exact date of my birth,
and even the time of day. Since the invention of the
video camera, some of us even record the birth of a
child in the delivery room. We know how to number our
days and how to record important events. The question
is whether we also have "a heart of wisdom." "Teach
us to number our days," prays Moses, "that we may get
a heart of wisdom!" Mathematics is important; but wisdom
is not necessarily its product.
An
important anniversary for all Armenians is the year
2001; it is the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of
Christianity as the state religion of Armenia. We know
the number, and we take great pride in declaring that
Armenians are the first among all nations to have accepted
the Christian faith. We have been Christians for 1700
years. We know exactly when we were born into the faith.
Once again, the question is whether we are any wiser
today than we were 1700 years ago!
As children of the Mother Church, it behooves us to
congratulate the Armenian Apostolic Church for an unbroken
tradition of faithfulness to Christ. Together with the
Mother Church, and our Catholic sister Church, we celebrate
the birth of Armenian Christianity and honor all the
patriarchs, saints, and martyrs who accepted the faith,
kept it, taught and transmitted it to coming generations.
We shall continue to celebrate this through special
services, lectures, dinners and banquets, pilgrimages,
and other appropriate events. "Teach us to number our
days," we pray with Mosesand we shall number the days
and years of Armenian Christianity throughout 2001.
Still, the question is, are we any wiser today than
we were when we first accepted Christianity as the religion
of our country! Are we, you and I, any wiser today than
we first became Christian, be it infancy or as adults!
Wisdom is more than knowledge. The information we receive
daily through the media is astronomically more than
what our forbears received in a lifetime. We know more,
but have we learned to process our knowledge, to number
and sort out the information we receive in such a way
that knowledge builds relationships! Are we wise enough
to number our days in such a way that they are measured
on the scale of Godıs eternity! Knowledge is related
to temporality; wisdom, to eternity.
Moses learned his math in Egypt; but he had to go to
God for using his math in a wise manner. Foolishly we
destroy each other. Foolishly we destroy what God makes.
But "wisdom builds her house!" (Proverbs 14:1) It is
not enough that we count our days and come up with a
1700-year history of Armenian Christianity. As we do
so, may we learn wisdom from God, who forgives, reconciles,
saves, and renews broken relationships. Are we Armenians
more loving, more forgiving, more accepting of one another
than we were 1700 years ago! Are we wiser and more mature
in dealing with our neighbors, Armenian and non-Armenian
alike!
Let us pray, as we number our days in this anniversary
year, that God will truly give us a heart of wisdom
which discerns and understands that divine mystery,
"according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ,
as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things
in him, things in heaven and things on earth!" (Ephesians
1:9-10).
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Newly
Published by the AMAA "The Armenian Evangelical Church 2000"
(Continued)
Those who survived the
Genocide settled elsewhere, and slowly rebuilt their lives,
institutions and churches in the countries where they had
found refuge. After the dismemberment of the Soviet Union
and the establishment of the Republic of Armenia, the Evangelical
believers emerged from their underground existence and organized
themselves as active churches and fellowships in their new
inde-pendent and democratic 'hairenik'.
Today, wherever there are substantial Armenian communities,
there are Armenian Evangelical churches, schools, publications,
and mission and service organizations ministering to all Armenians
without discrimination.
Over the years, the old animosity between the Armenian Apos-tolic
and Evangelical churches dissipated. Now both churches re-late
to each other with respect. In an unprecedented public display
of Christian love and fellowship, the late Catholicos of All
Arme-nians, His Holiness Karekin I of blessed memory, and
the Cath-olicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His Holiness
Aram I, issued separate Words of Blessings congratulating
Armenian Evangelicals for their outstanding spiritual, educational
and philanthropic ser-vices to the Armenian people. The commendatory
statements by the two Catholicoi represented history-making
pronouncements, recognizing the Armenian Evangelical church
as an integral part of, Armenian Christianity, and embracing
Armenian Evangelicals as brothers and sisters in Christ.
The beginning of a new century also offers all appropriate
occa-sion for introspection. What is the status of the Armenian
Evangeli-cal church? To what degree has it retained its original
distinctive evangelical traits and zeal? What specific areas
need reforma-tion? Can the Armenian Apostolic and Evangelical
churches de-velop significant mission partnership to reach
greater numbers in Armenia and elsewhere? How can the Armenian
Evangelical Church witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
yet be relevant to the time and place where it is called to
live?
The effectiveness of the life and witness ofı the Armenian
Evan-gelical Church in the new century will depend on how
Armenian Evangelicals answer these crucial questions."
Note: For a copy of the book "The Armenian Evangelical Church
2000", you may contact the AMAA, 31 West century Road, paramus,
NJ, 07652.
Online Sermons
Badarak.com
Evangelical
Links
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and Literature
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| Worship
updated
January 27, 2001 |
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How
Armenian Evangelicals Will Celebrate the 1700 Anniversary
By
Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian
301-2001 - Seventeen-Hundredth Anniversary of Armeniaıs adoption
of Christianity as state religion! 1700 years is a notable period
in the life of Armenian Church, especially if we consider the
fact that the centuries-long history of Armenian Christendom
has been a bitterly fought one a history of tears, sweat, and
blood.
The
1700th Anniversary is an appropriate time to pay tribute to
the memory of the pioneers of the Armenian Church who adopted
Christianity as state religion; to salute those who followed
in the footsteps of the fourth-century fathers of faith, and
kept the torch of faith burning; and to renew our dedication
to our Christian faith.
Obviously,
the seventeen-century legacy of Armenian Christendom is a rich
one. Its heritage is a proud one, and its benefits to the Armenian
nation have been manifold.
While the 1700th anniversary marks a significant mile-stone
in the history of Christianity, Christian Armenians everywhere
should be reminded that anniversaries are not only appropriate
times to honor the past, but also opportune times to claim the
future - to look forward to the future, and renewed rededication,
be challenged to greater efforts. The past is only ours to keep
when we are willing to move into a future we will accept.
The Armenian Evangelical World Council has instructed and challenged
all Armenian Evangelical churches and organizations to make
the year 2001 a year of spiritual revival and renewal, a year
of evangelism and Christian outreach. After all, the Christianization
of Armenia was a product of evangelism and outreach.
Thus, the Armenian Evangelical churches worldwide have embarked
upon a number of activities to mark this important milestone.
Each of the five Church Unions - the Armenian Evangelical Union
of France, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, Union
of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, Union of
Evangelical Churches in Armenia and Armenian Evangelical Union
of Eurasia have organized various religious, cultural and artistic
programs. They have organized spiritual revival meetings to
impart the Christian faith, our religious heritage, and the
virtues of the "faith of our fathers."
Armenian Evangelical churches will also place a special emphasis
on Christian education through lectures, seminars, conferences,
production and dissemination of Christian literature like Bibles,
textbooks, hymnals, brochures, books, etc. The Armenian Evangelical
World Council has just released a bilingual book by the Rev.
Vahan H. Tootikian entitled The Benefits and Contributions of
the Armenian Evangelical Church to the Armenian Nation, which
is being translated into French and Eastern Armenian.
During this anniversary year, there will be other publications
on the Armenian Christian heritage.
The Armenian Evangelical churches will conduct programs for
youth to participate in youth conferences, camps and trips to
Armenia. They will also organize cultural events, such as lectures,
concerts. plays, athletic events, artistic programs, art exhibits,
etc.
Our churches will also participate in ecumenical and inter-church
anniversary programs, such as religious, cultural and musical
events in collaboration with Armenian Apostolic and Catholic
Churches.
During the current year, the Union of Evangelical Churches in
Armenia will play host to an all-Armenian Evangelical anniversary
celebration in Yerevan, Armenia in mid-August. In conjunction
with an all-Armenian Evangelical Youth Rally, a 1700th - Anniversary
pilgrimage to Armenia has been planned from August 9-21, 2001,
details of which will soon be communicated through the media.
Finally, the 1700th anniversary of Armeniaıs adoption of Christianity
as state religion will be a meaningful milestone to look at
retrospectively as well as prospectively: honoring the past
and claiming the future. Honoring the past is noble. But one
generation cannot operate on the faith of its ancestors, because
a vital faith, which accomplishes and sustains, has always to
be a personal and contemporary one. In all our celebrations,
the question is not how to preserve an abstract past, but how
to transmit to the present and the future the virtues of Armenian
heritage and the "faith of our fathers."
Note: The Rev. Dr. Va/ian H. Tootikian is the President of
the Armenian Evangelical World Council and the Moderator of
the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America.
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Newly Published by the AMAA "The Armenian Evangelical Church
2000"
By Charles DeMirjian
The
posthumous publication of The Armenian Evangelical church 2000
may be best described as Rev. Movses Janbazianıs final testament
of stewardship and closing testimony of Christian witness.
Newly released by the Armenian Missionary Association of America
(AMAA) and compiled by its late, beloved executive di-rector,
the Rev. Movses B. Janbazian, the book proved to be his last
accomplishment.
Timed for the new millennium, Rev. Janbazian viewed this vol-ume
as a current inventory of Armenian Evangelical churches world-wide.
The well-illustrated and handsomely cloth-bound reference book
provides concise, past-to-present perspectives of 84 Arme-nian
Evangelical congregations and their pastors and represents most
of todayıs churches in 18 different countries. Rev. Janbazian
hu-morously dubbed it a "snapshot" of the Armenian Evangelical
Church family in the year 2000.
The genesis of this book is of special interest as recounted
by the AMAAıs capable office manager. Dikran Yournshakian. He
informs that Badveli Janbazian conceived of the idea ten years
ago but ill-nesses interfered with two deadlines Most significantly,
one was the 150th anniversary of the Armenian Evangelical Church
in 1996.
More
recently, beyond his myriad, complex responsibilities, Rev.
Movses Janbazian resumed the project and personally supervised
its entirety from drafts to design. On Monday morning, September
25, 20001, having painstakingly reviewed the final galley proofs,
he turned to his printer with a broad smile and said, print
it!
But he would not see his finished brain-child. Rev. Movses Jan-bazian
died that same day, succumbing to a heart disorder at age 55.
In calm retrospect, one may muse that this book is a fitting,
cli-mactic chapter in the rich legacy of the Rev. Janbazian.
Typical of his Christian ministry, The Armenian Evangelical
Church 2000 is both substantive and easily understood. It is
a valuable reference that belongs in every home and church library.
As a compelling sample, this reporter respectfully urges you
to read the following excerpts from the bookıs incisive introduction
written by the compassionate visionary himself, Movses Janbazian:
"The Armenian Evangelical Church was established by a small
group of spiritually-awakened Armenian Christian believers under
challenging conditions. Its founders were misunderstood by the
religious authorities of their times and were, in fact, persecuted
and expelled from the fellowship of their Mother Church. They
were left with no option but to declare their freedom in Jesus
Christ, and establish, on July 1, 1846, an independent church
in Constantinople (Istanbul).
During its formative period, the new church was helped by Ameri-can
and European missionaries who were instrumental in translating
the Bible into vernacular Armenian, developing and disseminating
Christian literature, and establishing educational institutions.
The Genocide perpetrated by the Turks in 1915 was a disaster
for Armenians of all creeds. Just like their Apostolic and Catholic
kin, Evangelical Armenians living under Turkish rule lost their
homes, churches and in most cases their lives. The sovietization
of Armenia and persecution of Armenian Christians left no more
than 50 Armenian Evan-gelical churches in the world by the early
1920s.
The Armenian Evangeli-cal Church quickly spread to Armenian
communities throughout Anatolia, Syria, Armenia, Karabagh, Georgia,
and other regions. By the early 1900s, there were 140 or more
Armenian Evangelical churches with 55,000 adherents.
(Continued to the above right)
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