Jul 25-26, 2020
Rev. Simon Lee, Senior Pastor RCAC

Dear brothers and sisters in RCAC family,

Last Friday (July 17, 2020) I received news that Dr. J.I. Packer (巴刻博士) has gone to be the Lord at the good old age of 93. I am going to miss him as one who has been my theological mentor since my Regent days. He and others at Regent College (including Dr. Bruce Waltke) shaped my evangelical faith, and my love for the Word and my understanding of God. May his life inspires you and I to live for God.

Like many people, my first encounter with Dr. Packer was through his books which I read in my early university days in the 70’s, Fundamentalism and the Word of God (基要主義與神的道) and Knowing God (認識神). As a layman, he and his books made theology understandable and relevant. When I eventually started to study full-time (1978) at Regent, Packer also came to Regent (1979) and I was so happy to have him as my professor in theology. Some people may have regarded Packer’s lectures as dry and unappealing (by North American standard), but one has to discover his depth of knowledge and wisdom, his skilful and articulate use of language and his brand of British humour, to really appreciate him as a lecturer. Going to his theology classes was like taking a Bible class, always centered in the Bible and on Christ and always focuses on building Christ’s church. I attribute my interests in the Puritans, and my love for the Word of God in serving the church, to Packer, my theological mentor. Eventually, he and Dr. Klaus Bockmuehl became my supervisors in my Master of Theology thesis. Packer was one of the teachers who encouraged me to pursue further theological studies.  I always take pride in these two teachers, as I regard them both as two of the foremost evangelical voices in modern times.

Regent has always been known for the training of the laity. When China Graduate School of Theology started in Hong Kong in the 70’s and 80’s, Regent was a model to the School. Packer was invited to give lectures in CGST and CGST began the Diploma of Christian Studies (Dip.CS) patterned after Regent’s program. I was privilege to have witnessed the genesis of that program, helping to connect the two Schools. Since then, Regent has maintained a long-standing relationship with theological education in Hong Kong.

In January, 1998, J.I. Packer visited Hong Kong again to celebrate the establishment of the James I. Packer Chair of Theology at Regent. There were several events including a special seminar for pastors in Hong Kong called ‘the pursuit and practice of holiness: the work of the Holy Spirit and the pastoral role’ (聖潔生活的追求與實踐-聖靈工作與牧者的職分) and I was honoured to be a respondent from a pastoral perspective (I had become a professor at Alliance Bible Seminary in 1994). Coming right after the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, it was such a memorable and important event.  I was even presented as mementos an autographed copy of “Knowing God!”

I attended Lausanne II, the Second International Congress on World Evangelization, held in in Manila in the Philippines in July 1989 (right after the Tiananmen Incident in June) and served as an interpreter in the conference. There was a special presentation on the Holy Spirit with J.I. Packer and Jack Hayford  as speakers. Hayford spoke first on the Signs and Wonders of the Holy Spirit. I will never forget how Packer came after Hayford and spoke on being “In Step with the Spirit” and proclaimed that there is nothing more powerful than the work of the Holy Spirit in the conversion of sinners. That message echoes powerfully in my mind till now.

As a prolific author, Dr. Packer has inspired me very much in my own writing career. Most of his books were written with the lay people in mind. Books like “Hot Tub Religion” and “Finishing our course with Joy” are some examples among the score of books he has written over a long span of his career. Packer did not write his magnum opus in theology, but his many books speak volumes and are immensely helpful to all Christians in instructions for living a life of godliness and holiness. There lies his legacy. I salute my esteemed teacher, J.I. Packer.

Your Servant in Christ,

Simon Lee