Summer Days in Tbilisi, Georgia #6 - 2 important appointments

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

The night breezes keep everyone cool and comfortable after a number of days of 38^o-40^o C daytime heat.  When morning began to break, the coolness invited you out of the bed.  I was refreshed enough to put on workout clothing to go for a run-workout.  I wound my way east along a mostly rising paved lane that snaked among a multi-numbered group of “soviet style” apartments, the ones which I had seen on Saturday night from the Orthodox church I visited.  When the lane ended, my jog took me northwest up a divided lane street toward the rise where the church was.  Women in orange vests were out early sweeping a portion of the street to which (I surmised) they had been assigned.  Some pull-ups on a metal soccer goal pipe, some more push-ups along the way, capped with a final jog downhill…again left down the familiar main street which would take me back to the apartment.

The day ahead had two appointments.  We were dressed and off just about 9:45 AM.

We would take the “Metro Tbilisi,” descending down under the main intersection 3 blocks from the apartment.  Jim bought the pass and waved it over the electronic sensor repeatedly so that Tim, me, and then Jim could have access to the escalator going, very quickly I might add, down several stories.   We caught a waiting train and would exit 4 stops later.  Up the rapid escalator, then emerging into a brilliant Georgian sun.  Jim began looking for Brian (Wolf).

Several acknowledging waves across a crowded parking lot brought us into Brian’s awaiting van, and we traveled the short distance downtown to talk in a beautiful, well-appointed coffee shop.

APPOINTMENT #1  10:30 AM

Brian Wolf is a young man who came to Georgia from Venice, Florida.  The Venice Bible Church for some time had been supporting the Baptist church planting movement in Georgia, and out of college, Brian came in 2003/2004 as a single, 30 year old, in-country missionary serving with Pastor Levan.  Within a short time, Brian would notice, date, come to love, and then marry Pastor Levan’s daughter Maia, and the dye was cast on his long-term ministry in this part of the world.  Brian and Jim (Herrington) have come to know each other over the years, and this coffee shop appointment was our opportunity to hear from Brian his take on a number of subjects:  the state of the evangelical church in Georgia, the challenges it faces, the Georgian culture, and the nature and teaching of Orthodoxy in country.  

Brian came to help start a youth ministry at the church, and in addition, he began discipling leaders of groups that would become in-home fellowship groups in a variety of places.  Some 14 small churches were begun.  He has stayed on with the ministry, even as God has given him and Maia two children, Nathan (5) and Elizabeth (2½).

We asked Brian to speak to the nature of what Orthodoxy teaches about Jesus, Mary, and the practice of praying to saints and icons.  Brian noted that although Orthodoxy insists that it’s doctrine has not changed since “the beginning,” in truth the use of icons did not happen in the church before 600 AD, and the proliferation of them as objects of prayer and worship occurred well after 600 AD, and culminated in the Byzantine Icon controversy in the 11^th century.  “It’s essential to understand this controversy if you want to understand Orthodoxy in Georgia,” he noted, adding that “the monks were making so much money off of the crafting and selling of icons” that it was virtually impossible to stop the practice.

As to the necessary practice of praying to icons and saints, and to Mary, Tim (Simpson) asked Brian what he had been teaching students (new  or young Christians) in a recent summer camp about how to have a relationship with Jesus, in contrast to what they were familiar with in Orthodoxy.  Brian’s reply was that the Orthodox view of Jesus is that “he is angry” with us.  “He is very angry because He died for our sins, and provided a way for us to be free from our sins, and he is angry that we haven’t dealt with our sins, gotten rid of our sinfulness.”  He went on to explain that any parishioner cannot pray directly to Jesus because of this disappointment and anger.  “Your only hope is to pray to others who have influence with Jesus – his mother, other venerated saints” who have Jesus’ ear.  In this way you may be able to get Jesus to answer or provide some kind of help.

[TO THE READER:  How many Scriptures come to your mind that contradict this?]

“Furthermore, the Holy Spirit only resides in the priests,” Brian explained, and so “you have to have the priests bless you and pray for you to get any kind of help from God.”

“Which speaks to the larger problem of the superior role of tradition over Biblical revelation in Orthodoxy,” Brian continued.  “Tradition is ongoing revelation, superior to Scripture, which is given to keep improving things.  Orthodoxy insists that it can trace its historical story back to the beginning.  And though it is not recorded in Scripture, tradition records that when Jesus’ mother Mary died, her funeral procession was guarded by angels who warded off and punished any intruders.  Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples who often doubted, was not at the funeral, but came later.  When he arrived at Mary’s tomb, he insisted that the tomb be opened, and he went inside.  While inside, he witnessed the Ascension of Mary into heaven, and bore witness to it to the church.”  This story of Mary’s ascension is printed in all the Georgian papers at the annual anniversary celebration of it, and can be read by simply doing an internet search of “The Story of the Ascension of Mary.”

Finally, we also discussed together some of the cultural values that are imbedded in the mindset and thinking of national Georgians.  “Shame vs. honor, betrayal vs. loyalty” are huge.  Few things are worse than to be publically embarrassed or shamed by another, to be betrayed.  Few things are more cherished than to give another honor, and to be loyal.  “Inconsistency is death,” Brian and Jim noted.   “You must not say and then fail to come through.”

Furthermore, “hospitality is offered whether you like someone or not.  It is an obligation.  You provide for a guest, an outsider what they need, at least once.  If you are not liked, it will likely not be offered again.  But you can tell if you are liked and trusted when a Georgian moves beyond hospitality, and shows you a bit of vulnerability, or feels the freedom to contradict or correct you.”  What about demonstrating to your host that you want to honor them.  “You must let them know that you are interested in what they want, what they would like to see happen…and not just what you would hope for.”

It was a delightful hour, and ended (for my liking) too soon.  We were to meet Gia at the MacDonalds down the way, scooted off to the next appointment.  We bid Brian a warm goodbye and headed up the shop-lined downtown street.

APPOINTMENT #2 – Pastor Beso at Gori, Georgia

Four of us (Gia, Jim, Tim, David) loaded into Gia’s Honda and made our way northwest from Tbilisi, some 45 miles to the city of Gori.  Georgian infrastructure around its capitol city is excellent; the highway miles went by quickly. 

Georgian countryside revealed itself to be one beautiful scene after another.  Broad valleys of agriculture, backdropped by modest but majestic mountains.  Every turn offered yet another vista, many of the mountain sides were dotted with centuries old fortresses, ancient monasteries, and places of orthodox worship.  At least 2 major rivers can be found along the route we took to the home city of Joseph Stalin.

Russia’s ruthless master was born and raised in Gori.  Stalin actually went to seminary in Tbilisi until he met Lenin and became part of the red revolution.  His home city pays honor to his birthplace and boyhood home.  When asked, Gia said that Georgians are ambivalent about Stalin.  Many older Georgians revere him for his strong leadership; most of the younger generations would prefer to forget about him.  A Nebuchadnezzar-like statue of Stalin stood in Gori for decades; quietly one night, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it was toppled and dragged off, not to be seen again.

Due to highway construction around the city, we had to make a way along a longer entry into the city.  Pastor Beso had been one of 3 pastors at the Tuesday meeting reviewing the proposal for a Bakke training center.  We were heading to visit his church and hear of God’s work through his church in Gori.  We arrived around 2:00 PM.

The Gori Baptist Church is housed in a former restaurant which has been converted into a very lovely church building, with a main worship room that can seat 400, and currently hosts about 250 in worship.  Along one corrider are nicely painted classrooms with desks and attractive flooring, newly constructed restrooms.  Turning right, more rooms, a kitchen in the process of remodel, and dorm rooms with bunk beds for when conferences are hosted…and showers nearby.

The quiet, reserved pastor we had met the day before presented himself quite differently as we stepped on to his ministry turf.  He met us at the church, accompanied by his son Roman.  Roman is 20 years old, and about to enter his 4^th year at University in Tbilisi, majoring in business.  He would like to start his own business, likely in the capitol.  He is shy, but personable, and very bright.

We spent about 45 minutes listening to Pastor Beso’s story.  He went to Russia to study engineering, but returned to Gori his spiritual life renewed, and with a call to ministry.  He has completed study at the Biblical Leaders Training Center in Krasnodar (southern Russia).  His mother was a believer in Jesus, and handed off well her biblical faith in Jesus to her son.  Beso felt his heart renewed after a period of a bit of wandering, and began ministry shortly thereafter.  His congregation is 250+, “with many young people,” and a large number of home group/smaller churches in the surrounding villages.  Some churches, like Beso’s, have had a good ministry with refugees from the two wars Georgia experienced in the 1^st decade of the new millennium.  We asked Beso to explain how his people do evangelism.  He was eager in all his explanations, and pleased in the Lord what God’s Spirit was doing.

Suddenly, we were invited to a luncheon at a local restaurant.  Perhaps Beso sensed our genuine interest in him.  We followed in Gia’s Honda as Beso and Roman led in theirs to a delightful country restaurant just outside the city.  A cooler breeze was blowing through the open courtyard eating area.  Beso insisted on treating us all to yet another Georgian meal (feast!), including a bottle of the best Georgian red wine.  As the meal progressed, with plate upon plate coming, he eagerly led us in at least ½ dozen toasts…to the Lord, to the Lord’s work in Georgia, to our wives, and to several other honored ideas.  He truly enjoyed being the toastmaster.

Needing to get Tim Simpson back to Tbilisi for his flight home in the evening, we left just after 4:00 PM.  The Georgian landscapes on the way back were even more impressive in the late afternoon sun.   Jim Herrington playfully (and yet with a serious bent) kept asking Tim to consider moving to Georgia…and Tim (who really does have a hard time saying “no” kept laughing at each “additional benefit” offered by Jim if Tim would say “yes!” (which he didn’t)

It has become a great day, and a very good finish to Tim’s time here.  Godspeed home, my brother.