April 1996 New Horizons

The Resurrection Plot

by Thomas E. Tyson

"The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 'Sir,' they said, 'we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, "After three days I will rise again." So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.' ... When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, 'You are to say, "His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep." ' ... And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day" (Matt. 27:62-64; 28:12-15). Sometimes folks miss the forest because of all those trees in the way. For instance, take Easter—our nation's big springtime holiday. You'll know it's coming (even though the exact date is always a bit of a mystery) by the supermarket decorations: pastel-colored eggs, ... Read more

Evangelism: Its Goal and Motive

by Arthur J. Fox

"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen" (Matt. 28:16-20). Introduction I believe that the church has a big problem on its hands, one that goes back over 150 years. It suffers from a cheapened definition of what a Christian is. This is related to the concept and methods involved in evangelism that have been accepted as true and used for about that long. The trouble lies, as is so often the case, with our definitions. We need to accurately define the work, goal, and motive of evangelism. It is also a good time for us to be ... Read more

A Look at Promise Keepers (By One Who Has Been There)

by David J. O'Leary

I was present at the Washington, D.C., Promise Keepers rally in May 1995. Thirty thousand men were there. The power of what was said, the atmosphere of praise and delight in the Lord, and the integrity of the men around me, refreshed me and the thirty or so men from Covenant OPC in Reading, Pennsylvania. While criticism can and should be leveled at Promise Keepers (PK), one has seriously to question the claim of G. I. Williamson that "the PK will—in the end—do far more harm than good" ( New Horizons , January 1996, p. 20). Mr. Williamson's claim rests on a loss of perspective. Promise Keepers is functioning to revitalize and challenge men to a deeper commitment to seven basic promises that one would expect in an obedient and growing Christian man. Although these promises could be kept in an external manner by an unbeliever, it verges on presumption to think that the vast majority of men at RFK Stadium (or in any of the thirteen other 1995 rallies) were unbelievers. And if they are believers, ... Read more