Author: Dr Rene Hattingh-Rust (Page 1 of 2)

A war against the truth of the Bible

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There is a war against the truth of the Bible. People resist the message of the Bible, and for years there has been a relentless battle against it.

Initially, the strategy was subtle, but it has escalated, and now it is evident that this is a war – a war to undermine the Bible. The well-known Jewish professor and best-selling author Yuval Noah Harari has even suggested that the Bible be rewritten by Artificial Intelligence. The assault on the Bible has become blatant, no longer hidden, but with “all guns blazing.”

The war is not merely about a book. It concerns Jesus Christ and our salvation through Him. Jesus is not just one of the messages of the Bible. If you think Christ-centred, then Jesus is the message of the Bible! If Jesus is removed from Scripture, the heart of the Bible is removed.  The attack is on the Bible because it is precisely the Bible that brings us the core truth of Jesus.

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Compelling reasons for school leavers and their parents to consider a Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degree

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The most obvious reason for pursuing a Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degree is when a young person feels a strong calling to full-time ministry. Wanting to prepare themselves as thoroughly as possible for this calling, they may consider studying for a BTh degree. We always advise young people called to full-time ministry to ensure their “ceiling” is as high as possible because they don’t know what God has planned for them. Many of ATS’ lecturers began their ministry without any expectation that one day they would be responsible for the spiritual and academic training of future leaders.

However, there are other reasons for school leavers to consider studying for a BTh degree, and I would like to focus on these reasons. I want to include fathers, mothers, and grandparents in my audience. Making the decision about tertiary studies and choosing which degree to pursue, is a very stressful time for a family. The cost of tertiary education is substantial, and parents are understandably eager to ensure their children are well-prepared for the future. To these young people, parents and grandparents, I would like to offer a different perspective for consideration.

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When the “tectonic plates” moved

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Most of us have a few pivotal moments that change the course of our lives: metaphorically, when the “tectonic plates” break free and travel several kilometers in just a few seconds. For me it happened years ago, when as an undergraduate student, I heard of a seminar on the Second Coming of Jesus (eschatology – the science of the last things) at Auckland Park Theological Seminary.  I was studying science at another university and the topic was far removed from my own studies.  As a Christian however, I always knew that the ‘second coming’ or end times, installed fear in me.  I decided that for once I was going to face this fear and attend the seminar. 

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Election 2024

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To vote or not to vote… and who to vote for on the 29th of May 2024?

When I grew up it was often said that you should not talk about church or politics.  I think it was a way to say that as Christians we should live in harmony and peace, and then it is best to stay clear of the two subjects that might stir up heated emotions.  Today I think differently.

Dr Frans Cronje*, arguably one of our countries most solid researchers and political analysts, last week spoke about the South African landscape and where our country is heading in the context of the upcoming election. Dr Cronje has been doing research and analysis for more than 20 years and in the past has been able to make conclusions that eventually materialised, even though at the time it was greatly criticised. Thus, in the light of his track record, it might be of value that we take note of some elements of his analysis. I would like to mention a few comments from the interview with Dr Cronje. 

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God-stories in the lives of ordinary people

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Dr Möller senior, a previous president of the AFM church of South Africa, said that demon possession is not the church’s biggest problem (although Christians in Africa may experience it differently). His argument was that when a demon manifests in a person, a Christian sees it and then rebukes it in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. A greater danger for the church however, is the world’s philosophies (world views) that enter the church unseen and undermine the truth of the Bible and Jesus.

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Sanctified in Thy truth

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The dictum of Auckland Park Theological Seminary (ATS) is “Sanctified in Thy truth”.  It dates back to around 1949 when Dr FP Möller (senior) created the first hand drawing of the logo.  I have over the years often thanked the Lord for the dictum Dr Möller had chosen so many years ago as it still directs our path today.  I have asked the Lord through his Holy Spirit to help us understand what this dictum means for a theological training institution within our present-day context of relativism (a belief that there is no truth – whatever you want to be true is true), fake news, and mass media.

The development of Auckland Park Theological Seminary’s logo over the years.
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A Christ-centered perspective

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In the article “A picture guide to good preaching”, one of the principles was that a sermon should be Christ-centric (or Christocentric).

Readers have asked us for more information on how to create a sermon that is Christ-centric. We have recorded a reading of the essay “Forgiveness – a Christ-centered perspective” to illustrate this principle in practice. You can read or listen to this essay to get a practical example of how to be Christ-centric.

We also have a second video example: “Aan wie se kant is God?” (apologies to our English readers – it’s only available in Afrikaans).  In this example, a few ways that people try to use the Bible to promote their own agenda (similar to the “kapstok preek”) are mentioned, and then, in conclusion, an excellent Christ-centric position is made.

We trust that these examples will help you to better understand the principle of being Christ-centric.

Lastly, there is also the “Saviour – Sermon” test: a test of whether a sermon is Christ-centric or not, is when the congregation’s response afterwards is “What a Saviour!” rather than “What a sermon”.

Big Change: economic and social recovery plan for South Africa

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This article is part of BIG Change.

The economy is a living organism with millions of connections between large, medium, and tiny nodes, in essence it boils down to over 55 million interconnected individuals. Fifty-five million individuals that come together in this country to trade in skills and time. People who want to gain value, and who want to improve their own lives and the lives of others through mutually-beneficial transactions.” ~ Chris Hattingh, about South Africa’s economy (BizNews).

The economist and philosopher Friedrich Hayek explains this complexity as a system that no one can possibly get a mental grasp on. We cannot begin to truly understand this organisation and connection of millions of nodes, and therefore it is an order that no one can possibly control.

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