Late January saw the publication of Alain de Botton's Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believer's Guide to the Uses of Religion (Hamish Hamilton, 2012). Far from being an attack on religion of the sort we have come to associate with the New Atheism, de Botton suggests that religion offers valuable resources which – when appropriately cherry-picked – address our need for community and compassion, our yearning for a sense of transcendence and connection. As the publicity blurb for the book put it, 'even if religion isn't true, can't we enjoy the best bits?'
All very well, perhaps, except at some point we come up against the claims of specific religions, not least the one who declared himself to be 'the way, the truth and the life' (John 14:6). How do you 'pick and mix' Jesus?
Even those who have not read de Botton's book are unlikely to have escaped the news of some high-profile 'religion versus secularism' battles of the last few weeks. Notable, perhaps, has been the bid to ban prayers before the meetings of Bideford Council, a ruling subsequently reversed by the Government, with Eric Pickles arguing that Britain is 'not strengthened by the secularisation of civil life'.
Even so, the ongoing challenge will be not just to contribute to the common good of civic life - to 'do God' in a generic sense - but to do so as Christians, with all that our witness to Christ might entail.
Writing in The Spectator last week, Matthew Parris, a self-confessed unbeliever, seems to recognise something of this in his comment that Jesus 'did not come to earth to offer the muzzy comforts of weekly ritual, church weddings and the rhythm of public holidays'.
Whilst acknowledging that the church is embedded in the social fabric of the country, Parris wonders whether this sufficiently captures what Jesus requires of his followers. So, he counsels: 'Beware (I would say to believers) the patronage of unbelievers. They want your religion as a social institution, filleted of true faith... To those who truly believe, the implicit message beneath "never mind if it's true, religion is good for people" is insulting. To those who really believe, it is because and only because what they believe is true, that it is good... If a faith is true it must have the most profound consequences for a man and for mankind.'
There lies the path of discipleship.
Thanks to Antony Billington LICC
Friday, 2 March 2012
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Wisdom from above
The world is full of crisis decisions at present. The Eurozone has ratified a multi-billion Euro bailout for Greece who now faces years of austerity and no doubt, anti-government backlashes. Syria is still in turmoil as the government tries to suppress the rioting masses and Iran is believed to be on the brink of manufacturing nuclear weapons, cutting off oil supplies to France and Great Britain to show their dislike of European sanctions. Where is the wisdom in all of this?
In the Old Testament there is a body of literature known as the ‘Wisdom Literature’. This comprises Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes with extracts from Psalms and Habakkuk. The book of Proverbs is often attributed to King Solomon who, as you may know, had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Just imagine that - 1,000 mothers-in-law!
The book of Proverbs is full of pithy sayings, not dissimilar to those of other surrounding nations like Egypt and Mesopotamia. Some have suggested that the book of Proverbs may have been modelled on the earlier works of these nations, not least because there is no mention of the Mosaic Law which is at the heart of Old Testament thinking.
But what is wisdom and how can we distinguish it from its counterpart – foolishness? Several times in the Proverbs a contrast is drawn between wisdom and foolishness. Proverbs 3:35 says “The wise will inherit honour, But fools display dishonour.” The Hebrew word for Proverb is masal which can be variously translated as parable or riddle. As we know, Jesus often drew upon the wisdom tradition in that he used parables as his principle means of teaching the crowds – “All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable” (Matthew 13:34). This may seem strange coming from a gospel where Jesus addresses the crowds with the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) which is anything but parables. However, the root meaning of the Hebrew word masal is ‘to rule’ or ‘to have authority’. Jesus was recognised as someone who ‘had authority’ - “because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (Matthew 7:29).
To define what we mean by ‘wisdom’, I turn to the New Testament and to the letter of James which is sometimes referred to as a ‘wisdom book’. A verse I find very helpful is found in Chapter 3 verse 17:-
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
Just look at the attributes given to wisdom by James – purity, peacefulness, gentleness, mercy and so forth. The phrase I like is ‘open to reason’. It reminds me that we can argue with God, vent our anger and frustrations upon him, pull his decisions apart – but in the end we end up saying, “oh yes, I see what you mean - I get it now – you were right all along”. And through all this we can imagine God patiently listening to our ravings and saying in a gentle voice, “I know I was.”
If you take James 3 verse 17 and apply it to a person, what kind of person do you picture? Is it the brash, arrogant evangelist who proclaims their message, desperately trying to convince you to change your mind? Or is it the forceful leader who surrounds themself with ‘yes men’ and refuses to tolerate opposition? Or is it a gentle, humble and loving soul who has infinite patience – never mocking you for your slowness to understand? For me it’s the latter. Think for a moment, which of these people would you feel most comfortable confiding in and sharing your innermost doubts and fears with?
What James has so cleverly defined in this verse is not simply the nature of wisdom, but the nature of God himself. This is indeed the model we need to aspire to. The more Christ-like we become, the more our personality will reflect the words of this verse. If only the leaders of nations were steeped in these virtues. If only we, as we attend our many meetings and hold our many discussions in the church, would bathe in the words of James before breaking out into disputes and divisions.
But my final thought is this. James does not simply define wisdom. He refers to it as wisdom from above or divine wisdom. That reminds me that the source of true wisdom is not men and women but God. What better reason could the Bideford Town Council have for reinstating their prayer time before council meetings?
A prayer for wisdom:-
Lord, in all my dealings with people may I not only be able to discern your wisdom, but also to be a conduit of your wisdom. May …
my heart and mind be pure
my temperament be peaceful
my words be gentle
my mind be open to the thoughts of others
my life be merciful and bear good fruit
my judgements be unbiased
my thoughts be sincere
For the sake of your kingdom … Amen
thanks again to Roger Johnson
In the Old Testament there is a body of literature known as the ‘Wisdom Literature’. This comprises Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes with extracts from Psalms and Habakkuk. The book of Proverbs is often attributed to King Solomon who, as you may know, had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Just imagine that - 1,000 mothers-in-law!
The book of Proverbs is full of pithy sayings, not dissimilar to those of other surrounding nations like Egypt and Mesopotamia. Some have suggested that the book of Proverbs may have been modelled on the earlier works of these nations, not least because there is no mention of the Mosaic Law which is at the heart of Old Testament thinking.
But what is wisdom and how can we distinguish it from its counterpart – foolishness? Several times in the Proverbs a contrast is drawn between wisdom and foolishness. Proverbs 3:35 says “The wise will inherit honour, But fools display dishonour.” The Hebrew word for Proverb is masal which can be variously translated as parable or riddle. As we know, Jesus often drew upon the wisdom tradition in that he used parables as his principle means of teaching the crowds – “All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable” (Matthew 13:34). This may seem strange coming from a gospel where Jesus addresses the crowds with the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) which is anything but parables. However, the root meaning of the Hebrew word masal is ‘to rule’ or ‘to have authority’. Jesus was recognised as someone who ‘had authority’ - “because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (Matthew 7:29).
To define what we mean by ‘wisdom’, I turn to the New Testament and to the letter of James which is sometimes referred to as a ‘wisdom book’. A verse I find very helpful is found in Chapter 3 verse 17:-
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
Just look at the attributes given to wisdom by James – purity, peacefulness, gentleness, mercy and so forth. The phrase I like is ‘open to reason’. It reminds me that we can argue with God, vent our anger and frustrations upon him, pull his decisions apart – but in the end we end up saying, “oh yes, I see what you mean - I get it now – you were right all along”. And through all this we can imagine God patiently listening to our ravings and saying in a gentle voice, “I know I was.”
If you take James 3 verse 17 and apply it to a person, what kind of person do you picture? Is it the brash, arrogant evangelist who proclaims their message, desperately trying to convince you to change your mind? Or is it the forceful leader who surrounds themself with ‘yes men’ and refuses to tolerate opposition? Or is it a gentle, humble and loving soul who has infinite patience – never mocking you for your slowness to understand? For me it’s the latter. Think for a moment, which of these people would you feel most comfortable confiding in and sharing your innermost doubts and fears with?
What James has so cleverly defined in this verse is not simply the nature of wisdom, but the nature of God himself. This is indeed the model we need to aspire to. The more Christ-like we become, the more our personality will reflect the words of this verse. If only the leaders of nations were steeped in these virtues. If only we, as we attend our many meetings and hold our many discussions in the church, would bathe in the words of James before breaking out into disputes and divisions.
But my final thought is this. James does not simply define wisdom. He refers to it as wisdom from above or divine wisdom. That reminds me that the source of true wisdom is not men and women but God. What better reason could the Bideford Town Council have for reinstating their prayer time before council meetings?
A prayer for wisdom:-
Lord, in all my dealings with people may I not only be able to discern your wisdom, but also to be a conduit of your wisdom. May …
my heart and mind be pure
my temperament be peaceful
my words be gentle
my mind be open to the thoughts of others
my life be merciful and bear good fruit
my judgements be unbiased
my thoughts be sincere
For the sake of your kingdom … Amen
thanks again to Roger Johnson
Friday, 25 November 2011
The Walk On By Society
Civic duty has been in the spotlight this week, drawing into the debate a campaigner who has dubbed us the 'walk on by society'.
Guy Dehn of 'Witness Confident' - a charity that aims to help people take a stand against the culture that fuels street violence - was quoted in reference to proposed plans for overhauling the system of registering to vote, which might lead to even fewer people turning out at elections.
This week has also seen the unveiling of a startling report on the lack of quality care for the elderly within society. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has judged that the low standard of treatment of thousands of older people in home care essentially breaches their human rights.
Does all this suggest that the concept of civic duty is past its sell by date? That we may aspire to be the 'big society' but what we have instead is the 'walk on by society'?
Do we have a right to be cared for? And whose responsibility is it? The state? Except it appears that the government cannot cope with the level of demand placed on it by an increasingly ageing population.
The family, then? But as David Willetts argues in his book, The Pinch: How the Baby Boomers Took Their Children's Future - And How They Can Give it Back, there has been a breakdown of 'the social contract'. Put simply, 'what you give to the next generation depends on what you received from the previous ones'. Indeed, Scripture emphasises the formative significance of relationships within the household, and the success of the 'big society' will undoubtedly depend on how well the 'small society' of the family thrives.
Beyond that, civic duty involves the obligation to uphold the public good as opposed to pursuing one's private interest. I live in relationship with, and dependence on, others. My action or inaction affects others. My choices carry consequences, not only for myself but for others. Of all citizens, it would seem, Christians should be ideally placed to tackle the 'walk on by' mentality. The scope and implications of the gospel suggest nothing less.
thanks to Jason Gardner (LICC)
Guy Dehn of 'Witness Confident' - a charity that aims to help people take a stand against the culture that fuels street violence - was quoted in reference to proposed plans for overhauling the system of registering to vote, which might lead to even fewer people turning out at elections.
This week has also seen the unveiling of a startling report on the lack of quality care for the elderly within society. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has judged that the low standard of treatment of thousands of older people in home care essentially breaches their human rights.
Does all this suggest that the concept of civic duty is past its sell by date? That we may aspire to be the 'big society' but what we have instead is the 'walk on by society'?
Do we have a right to be cared for? And whose responsibility is it? The state? Except it appears that the government cannot cope with the level of demand placed on it by an increasingly ageing population.
The family, then? But as David Willetts argues in his book, The Pinch: How the Baby Boomers Took Their Children's Future - And How They Can Give it Back, there has been a breakdown of 'the social contract'. Put simply, 'what you give to the next generation depends on what you received from the previous ones'. Indeed, Scripture emphasises the formative significance of relationships within the household, and the success of the 'big society' will undoubtedly depend on how well the 'small society' of the family thrives.
Beyond that, civic duty involves the obligation to uphold the public good as opposed to pursuing one's private interest. I live in relationship with, and dependence on, others. My action or inaction affects others. My choices carry consequences, not only for myself but for others. Of all citizens, it would seem, Christians should be ideally placed to tackle the 'walk on by' mentality. The scope and implications of the gospel suggest nothing less.
thanks to Jason Gardner (LICC)
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Power to the People ! ?
Thanks to Roger Johnson for this:
So a group of anti-capitalism protestors with a less than clear message pitch their tents and sleep outside (or some of them do as the police’s thermal imaging cameras have shown), bring St. Paul’s Cathedral to a halt, trigger the resignation of two of its senior staff and leave the Church of England in a position of acute embarrassment because of its less than decisive response to the issues being raised. Even now I wonder whether the Archbishop of Canterbury who advocates the introduction of the Tobin Tax (a tax on currency transactions) and the Bishop of London who has been ‘flown’ in to run St. Paul’s in the wake of these resignations, are actually singing from the same hymn sheet.
I say this, not to add to the plight of the Church of England with whom I have some sympathy, but to demonstrate that even the small, insignificant voices of the general public can, in fact, have world-changing consequences – and why not? Decades ago, the sight of Robert Lindsay dressing up as Citizen Smith and raising his revolutionary fist in the air with the cry of ‘power to the people’ was seen by many as an out dated and hopeless figure. But, is ‘people power’ seeing a resurgence?
The Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has secured the unanimous backing of his cabinet for a referendum on the eurozone debt rescue plan, leaving other European heads of state in fits of fury after they negotiated long and hard to secure a bail-out package which is now in jeopardy. But why shouldn’t the people of Greece have their say? Why should the financial gurus tell the Greek people what hardships they should face in the future when they, along with many other highly paid executives, see their salaries increase by around 50%?
This all begs the questions, ‘have the common people got it right?’ Can we leave the big questions in the hands of so-called experts any longer? Has it all come home to roost for the financial institutions who plunged us into this crisis in the first place. Has the great institution of the Church of England found itself unable to answer the question ‘what would Jesus do?’ for fear of losing its financial backing from the very people being criticised by the motley bunch of protesters camped on its doorstep? Is the axe hanging over the great institutions which have underpinned so much of society for so long?
Maybe we are seeing something for which Christian people should rejoice. Perhaps this is a sign that God has had enough and his Spirit is sweeping across the globe in an unprecedented way. Didn’t Joel prophecy that God would ‘pour out his Spirit on all flesh’, even the lowest of the low? Is this the moment when the Spirit fans the flame into an inferno? I remember that 2,000 years ago the religious and political establishment were rocked by an uneducated, Galilean peasant who eventually met his fate on a cross. However, the movement he founded, which has little to do with the erection and maintenance of large buildings in big cities, has grown ever since in the hearts of his followers – people upon whom the Spirit has been poured out as prophesied.
The Greek debt crisis will no doubt rumble on for some weeks now with the world’s financial markets cascading out of control and the politicians losing sleep. They will be asking themselves if it is right to use their taxpayers’ money to bail out a country which has consistently overspent. But with Ireland, Portugal, Spain and now Italy perilously close to melt-down, why don’t they simply give in and cancel everybody’s debt and be done with it? After all, that’s what Jesus did! (Isaiah 53:6, Luke 15:22-24, 1 Corinthians 6:20)
As the staff of St. Paul’s and the European leaders try and dig themselves out of these messes, I am reminded of the parable which Jesus told of a rich man who sat in his luxurious house, seemingly oblivious to the plight of the beggar at his gate (Luke 16:19-31). The point of this parable is that in God’s Kingdom roles will be reversed. It was the poor beggar who was favoured by God while the rich man faced eternal torment, pleading for the poor beggar to bring him relief.
It seems to me that the staff of St. Paul’s have missed an amazing evangelistic opportunity when they could have presented the true message of the gospel, not only to the protesters outside, but to the world’s media.
So a group of anti-capitalism protestors with a less than clear message pitch their tents and sleep outside (or some of them do as the police’s thermal imaging cameras have shown), bring St. Paul’s Cathedral to a halt, trigger the resignation of two of its senior staff and leave the Church of England in a position of acute embarrassment because of its less than decisive response to the issues being raised. Even now I wonder whether the Archbishop of Canterbury who advocates the introduction of the Tobin Tax (a tax on currency transactions) and the Bishop of London who has been ‘flown’ in to run St. Paul’s in the wake of these resignations, are actually singing from the same hymn sheet.
I say this, not to add to the plight of the Church of England with whom I have some sympathy, but to demonstrate that even the small, insignificant voices of the general public can, in fact, have world-changing consequences – and why not? Decades ago, the sight of Robert Lindsay dressing up as Citizen Smith and raising his revolutionary fist in the air with the cry of ‘power to the people’ was seen by many as an out dated and hopeless figure. But, is ‘people power’ seeing a resurgence?
The Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has secured the unanimous backing of his cabinet for a referendum on the eurozone debt rescue plan, leaving other European heads of state in fits of fury after they negotiated long and hard to secure a bail-out package which is now in jeopardy. But why shouldn’t the people of Greece have their say? Why should the financial gurus tell the Greek people what hardships they should face in the future when they, along with many other highly paid executives, see their salaries increase by around 50%?
This all begs the questions, ‘have the common people got it right?’ Can we leave the big questions in the hands of so-called experts any longer? Has it all come home to roost for the financial institutions who plunged us into this crisis in the first place. Has the great institution of the Church of England found itself unable to answer the question ‘what would Jesus do?’ for fear of losing its financial backing from the very people being criticised by the motley bunch of protesters camped on its doorstep? Is the axe hanging over the great institutions which have underpinned so much of society for so long?
Maybe we are seeing something for which Christian people should rejoice. Perhaps this is a sign that God has had enough and his Spirit is sweeping across the globe in an unprecedented way. Didn’t Joel prophecy that God would ‘pour out his Spirit on all flesh’, even the lowest of the low? Is this the moment when the Spirit fans the flame into an inferno? I remember that 2,000 years ago the religious and political establishment were rocked by an uneducated, Galilean peasant who eventually met his fate on a cross. However, the movement he founded, which has little to do with the erection and maintenance of large buildings in big cities, has grown ever since in the hearts of his followers – people upon whom the Spirit has been poured out as prophesied.
The Greek debt crisis will no doubt rumble on for some weeks now with the world’s financial markets cascading out of control and the politicians losing sleep. They will be asking themselves if it is right to use their taxpayers’ money to bail out a country which has consistently overspent. But with Ireland, Portugal, Spain and now Italy perilously close to melt-down, why don’t they simply give in and cancel everybody’s debt and be done with it? After all, that’s what Jesus did! (Isaiah 53:6, Luke 15:22-24, 1 Corinthians 6:20)
As the staff of St. Paul’s and the European leaders try and dig themselves out of these messes, I am reminded of the parable which Jesus told of a rich man who sat in his luxurious house, seemingly oblivious to the plight of the beggar at his gate (Luke 16:19-31). The point of this parable is that in God’s Kingdom roles will be reversed. It was the poor beggar who was favoured by God while the rich man faced eternal torment, pleading for the poor beggar to bring him relief.
It seems to me that the staff of St. Paul’s have missed an amazing evangelistic opportunity when they could have presented the true message of the gospel, not only to the protesters outside, but to the world’s media.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Spending time with God
"I will meditate in thy precepts." -- Psalms 119:15
There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on his Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon thethings of God, because we thus get the real nutrient out of them. Truth is something like the cluster of the vine: if we would have wine from it, we must bruise it; we must press and squeeze it many times.The bruiser's feet must come down joyfully upon the bunches, or else the juice will not flow; and they must well tread the grapes, or else much of the precious liquid will be wasted. So we must, by meditation,tread the clusters of truth, if we would get the wine of consolation therefrom. Our bodies are not supported by merely taking food into the mouth, but the process which really supplies the muscle, and the nerve,and the sinew, and the bone, is the process of digestion. It is by digestion that the outward food becomes assimilated with the inner life. Our souls are not nourished merely by listening awhile to this,and then to that, and then to the other part of divine truth. Hearing,reading, marking, and learning, all require inwardly digesting to complete their usefulness, and the inward digesting of the truth lies for the most part in meditating upon it. Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their 'quiet times', and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord, and be this our resolve this morning, "I will meditate in thy precepts." C.H.Spurgeon
There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on his Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon thethings of God, because we thus get the real nutrient out of them. Truth is something like the cluster of the vine: if we would have wine from it, we must bruise it; we must press and squeeze it many times.The bruiser's feet must come down joyfully upon the bunches, or else the juice will not flow; and they must well tread the grapes, or else much of the precious liquid will be wasted. So we must, by meditation,tread the clusters of truth, if we would get the wine of consolation therefrom. Our bodies are not supported by merely taking food into the mouth, but the process which really supplies the muscle, and the nerve,and the sinew, and the bone, is the process of digestion. It is by digestion that the outward food becomes assimilated with the inner life. Our souls are not nourished merely by listening awhile to this,and then to that, and then to the other part of divine truth. Hearing,reading, marking, and learning, all require inwardly digesting to complete their usefulness, and the inward digesting of the truth lies for the most part in meditating upon it. Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their 'quiet times', and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord, and be this our resolve this morning, "I will meditate in thy precepts." C.H.Spurgeon
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
The Economics of Death and the Sanctity of Life
I just had to copy this one....from LICC. George is SO right. :
Strangely, the global economics crisis has done a disservice to campaigners for the legalisation of euthanasia. As we knuckle down for a worldwide recession, facing the misery of slashed public services, rising unemployment and flat-lining growth figures, it’s difficult to imagine political leaders telling us to cheer up because they’ve made it easier for us to kill ourselves.
That really tells us all we need to know about the mindset of those who favour voluntary euthanasia, or ‘assisted dying’ as it’s now branded. Their motivation is less about compassion than consumerism. In a booming economy, in which consumption and instant gratification are the motors of growth, we worship at the altar of Choice. We can buy our lifestyles and satisfy all our material needs with unbounded credit. And if we can buy the way we live, why should we not order the way and time that we die?
Now that the consumerist harvest is withering on the vine, we’re re-assessing all kinds of ethical standards. Among these is the nature of what really constitutes human life and its validation. People of faith – not just Christians – feel instinctively that there is something disordered in helping or encouraging another human being to die. We seek justification for that instinct in the rather vague phraseology of ‘the sanctity of life’, an expression that is thrown back by euthanasia lobbyists, who have also misappropriated the word ‘dignity’.
So we must say what we mean. And it is this: we believe that everyone, without exception, is made in God’s image – which means that no life, however physically diminished or materially deprived, is worth less than another. That principle enjoys its recognition in the way we nurture, cherish and comfort those who have come to depend utterly upon the able-bodied.
Furthermore, we reject morally the notion that those who are frail, elderly or terminally ill in some way have elected to suffer if they reject an assisted death. That is why it is not only virtuous for a society, but also holy for human beings, to pour all their efforts and resources into the loving work of palliative care rather than the concept of death as a clinical treatment.
These articles of faith are too precious to fail; we need them to live on in the hearts and minds of our legislators. They define us as a people and as a civilisation.
George Pitcher
George Pitcher is an Anglican priest and author of A Time to Live: The Case Against Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia (Monarch, 2010).
Strangely, the global economics crisis has done a disservice to campaigners for the legalisation of euthanasia. As we knuckle down for a worldwide recession, facing the misery of slashed public services, rising unemployment and flat-lining growth figures, it’s difficult to imagine political leaders telling us to cheer up because they’ve made it easier for us to kill ourselves.
That really tells us all we need to know about the mindset of those who favour voluntary euthanasia, or ‘assisted dying’ as it’s now branded. Their motivation is less about compassion than consumerism. In a booming economy, in which consumption and instant gratification are the motors of growth, we worship at the altar of Choice. We can buy our lifestyles and satisfy all our material needs with unbounded credit. And if we can buy the way we live, why should we not order the way and time that we die?
Now that the consumerist harvest is withering on the vine, we’re re-assessing all kinds of ethical standards. Among these is the nature of what really constitutes human life and its validation. People of faith – not just Christians – feel instinctively that there is something disordered in helping or encouraging another human being to die. We seek justification for that instinct in the rather vague phraseology of ‘the sanctity of life’, an expression that is thrown back by euthanasia lobbyists, who have also misappropriated the word ‘dignity’.
So we must say what we mean. And it is this: we believe that everyone, without exception, is made in God’s image – which means that no life, however physically diminished or materially deprived, is worth less than another. That principle enjoys its recognition in the way we nurture, cherish and comfort those who have come to depend utterly upon the able-bodied.
Furthermore, we reject morally the notion that those who are frail, elderly or terminally ill in some way have elected to suffer if they reject an assisted death. That is why it is not only virtuous for a society, but also holy for human beings, to pour all their efforts and resources into the loving work of palliative care rather than the concept of death as a clinical treatment.
These articles of faith are too precious to fail; we need them to live on in the hearts and minds of our legislators. They define us as a people and as a civilisation.
George Pitcher
George Pitcher is an Anglican priest and author of A Time to Live: The Case Against Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia (Monarch, 2010).
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
GET BACK
“Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner, but he knew it couldn’t last. Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona, for some California grass. Get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged.” These were the opening words of the last chart-topping Beatles hit in the late 1960s. Having seen their popularity slump somewhat and their divine right to reaching the number 1 slot in the week of release questioned, they stormed back with what I believe was their best single. The zany lyrics which seemed to capture the spirit of the age and the syncopated rhythm stuck in my mind for years. I know there are baby-boomers out there taking issue with me but …
The theme ‘get back’, however, was nothing new. The Bible contains a number of ‘get back’ incidents which can reveal a great deal about human nature and the will of God. As Elijah sulked in his cave after being hounded out of Israel by Queen Jezebel, God told him to ‘get back to where he once belonged’ (1 Kings 19:15). Devoid of the faith which had routed the prophets of Baal and gripped by a sense of self-righteousness, Elijah was a mere shadow of his former self. Thinking his career was over and that he had nothing more to offer God and the people, he needed this wake-up call from God.
After the resurrection when the disciples of Jesus were crouching fearfully in Jerusalem, the word came through Mary Magdalene for them to ‘get back to where they once belonged’ – in this case Galilee, where Jesus would meet them (Mark 16:7).
Two disciples of Jesus were crestfallen as they walked to Emmaus only to be met by the risen Jesus. After an electrifying supper they could not contain their excitement any further and they went back to where they had come from – Jerusalem (Luke 24:33).
The Lord spoke to the church at Ephesus reprimanding them for having lost their ‘first love’. He urged them to return to their earlier ways with a stern warning of the consequences of disobedience (Rev 2:4,5).
Do you ever feel like that? Are the pressures getting to you? Do you feel everyone is against you and there’s no point struggling on? It’s not uncommon to feel this way, especially when your main concern is the welfare of others and little or no appreciation is given in return. Sometimes in these situations our minds play trick on us. The opposition seems larger than it actually is and our sense of self-worth is diminished. We don’t actually become worthless overnight believe it or not. It’s also when we feel at our weakest that our God-given strength shines through in a new and more powerful way (Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 1:25 & 2 Corinthians 12:9). Indeed, too much self-confidence can be a dangerous thing, especially in the Christian life (Psalm 138:6 & Proverbs 21:4).
The ‘examen’ is a form of meditation attributed to Ignatius of Loyola (1491 – 1556), a Spanish soldier who, during a period of convalescence from a serious injury, turned to Christ and later founded the Jesuit movement. The idea is to reflect at the end of each day on the things which have happened, how you responded and what God would have you learn from your experiences. It is good for us also to take stock of where we are in life. A useful exercise in times of stress is to look back over your life and identify the times you have been successful and happy. Ask what contributed to those situations – what were you doing that worked well and what gifts did you bring to the situation? Sometimes we forget how gifted we actually are and the many blessings which God has showered upon us.
Perhaps during those periods of quiet over the summer, on the beach or up in the hills, taking a look back over your life would be a useful and therapeutic exercise. Take time to offer your hurts and disappointments to God in the assurance that his love longs to heal you. Ask God what robbed you of your inner peace and let him show you the hidden secrets which only he can see. But don’t forget at the end of the holiday period to ‘get back to where you once belonged’.
(thanks to Roger Johnson for this)
Friday, 17 December 2010
Come
"Come unto me."
-- Matthew 11:28
The cry of the Christian religion is the gentle word, "Come." The
Jewish law harshly said, "Go, take heed unto thy steps as to the path
in which thou shalt walk. Break the commandments, and thou shalt
perish; keep them, and thou shalt live." The law was a dispensation of
terror, which drove men before it as with a scourge; the gospel draws
with bands of love. Jesus is the good Shepherd going before his sheep,
bidding them follow him, and ever leading them onwards with the sweet
word, "Come." The law repels, the gospel attracts. The law shows the
distance which there is between God and man; the gospel bridges that
awful chasm, and brings the sinner across it.
From the first moment of your spiritual life until you are ushered into
glory, the language of Christ to you will be, "Come, come unto me." As
a mother puts out her finger to her little child and woos it to walk by
saying, "Come," even so does Jesus. He will always be ahead of you,
bidding you follow him as the soldier follows his captain. He will
always go before you to pave your way, and clear your path, and you
shall hear his animating voice calling you after him all through life;
while in the solemn hour of death, his sweet words with which he shall
usher you into the heavenly world shall be-"Come, ye blessed of my
Father."
Nay, further, this is not only Christ's cry to you, but, if you be a
believer, this is your cry to Christ-"Come! come!" You will be longing
for his second advent; you will be saying, "Come quickly, even so come
Lord Jesus." You will be panting for nearer and closer communion with
him. As his voice to you is "Come," your response to him will be,
"Come, Lord, and abide with me. Come, and occupy alone the throne of my
heart; reign there without a rival, and consecrate me entirely to thy
service."
CHSpurgeon
-- Matthew 11:28
The cry of the Christian religion is the gentle word, "Come." The
Jewish law harshly said, "Go, take heed unto thy steps as to the path
in which thou shalt walk. Break the commandments, and thou shalt
perish; keep them, and thou shalt live." The law was a dispensation of
terror, which drove men before it as with a scourge; the gospel draws
with bands of love. Jesus is the good Shepherd going before his sheep,
bidding them follow him, and ever leading them onwards with the sweet
word, "Come." The law repels, the gospel attracts. The law shows the
distance which there is between God and man; the gospel bridges that
awful chasm, and brings the sinner across it.
From the first moment of your spiritual life until you are ushered into
glory, the language of Christ to you will be, "Come, come unto me." As
a mother puts out her finger to her little child and woos it to walk by
saying, "Come," even so does Jesus. He will always be ahead of you,
bidding you follow him as the soldier follows his captain. He will
always go before you to pave your way, and clear your path, and you
shall hear his animating voice calling you after him all through life;
while in the solemn hour of death, his sweet words with which he shall
usher you into the heavenly world shall be-"Come, ye blessed of my
Father."
Nay, further, this is not only Christ's cry to you, but, if you be a
believer, this is your cry to Christ-"Come! come!" You will be longing
for his second advent; you will be saying, "Come quickly, even so come
Lord Jesus." You will be panting for nearer and closer communion with
him. As his voice to you is "Come," your response to him will be,
"Come, Lord, and abide with me. Come, and occupy alone the throne of my
heart; reign there without a rival, and consecrate me entirely to thy
service."
CHSpurgeon
Friday, 24 September 2010
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe.” Mark 9:23
This man’s son was demon possessed…..and he was dumb. The father, having seen the futility of the attempts by the disciples to heal his child, had little or no faith when Jesus turned up, and so, when he was called on to bring his son to him, he said to Jesus, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” Now there was an “if” in the question, but the poor struggling father had put the “if” in the wrong place.
Jesus, without demanding that he retract the “if,” kindly puts it in its right place. It’s as though Jesus was saying: ‘There should be no ‘if’ about my power, no ‘if’ about my willingness, the ‘if’ lies somewhere else.” “If you can??”. “No, friend, it’s ‘if’ you can believe…..all things are possible to those who believe.” The man’s trust was strengthened, he offered a humble prayer for an increase of faith, and instantly Jesus spoke the word, and the demon was cast out, never to return.
There is a lesson here which we need to learn. We, like this man, often see that there is an “if” somewhere, but we are perpetually blundering by putting it in the wrong place. “If” Jesus can help me-“if” he can give me grace to overcome temptation-“if” he can give me pardon-“if” he can make me successful? No, “if” you can believe, he both can and will. You have misplaced your “if.” If you can confidently trust, just as all things are possible to Christ, so all things will be possible to you.
Faith stands in God’s power, and is clothed in God’s majesty; it wears the royal apparel, for it is faith the King delights to honour. In the power of the Holy Spirit, faith becomes mighty to serve, to dare, and to suffer. All things, without limit, are possible to those who believe. Can you believe today?
adapted from C.H Spurgeon
Jesus, without demanding that he retract the “if,” kindly puts it in its right place. It’s as though Jesus was saying: ‘There should be no ‘if’ about my power, no ‘if’ about my willingness, the ‘if’ lies somewhere else.” “If you can??”. “No, friend, it’s ‘if’ you can believe…..all things are possible to those who believe.” The man’s trust was strengthened, he offered a humble prayer for an increase of faith, and instantly Jesus spoke the word, and the demon was cast out, never to return.
There is a lesson here which we need to learn. We, like this man, often see that there is an “if” somewhere, but we are perpetually blundering by putting it in the wrong place. “If” Jesus can help me-“if” he can give me grace to overcome temptation-“if” he can give me pardon-“if” he can make me successful? No, “if” you can believe, he both can and will. You have misplaced your “if.” If you can confidently trust, just as all things are possible to Christ, so all things will be possible to you.
Faith stands in God’s power, and is clothed in God’s majesty; it wears the royal apparel, for it is faith the King delights to honour. In the power of the Holy Spirit, faith becomes mighty to serve, to dare, and to suffer. All things, without limit, are possible to those who believe. Can you believe today?
adapted from C.H Spurgeon
Monday, 24 May 2010
Spurgeon at his best!
These are powerful words from 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon.....
"He led them forth by the right way."
-- Psalm 107:7
Changeful experience often leads the anxious believer to enquire "Why
is it thus with me?" I looked for light, but lo, darkness came; for
peace, but behold trouble. I said in my heart, my mountain standeth
firm, I shall never be moved. Lord, thou dost hide thy face, and I am
troubled. It was but yesterday that I could read my title clear; to-day
my evidences are bedimmed, and my hopes are clouded. Yesterday I
could climb to Pisgah's top, and view the landscape o'er, and rejoice with
confidence in my future inheritance; to-day, my spirit has no hopes,
but many fears; no joys, but much distress. Is this part of God's plan
with me? Can this be the way in which God would bring me to heaven?
Yes, it is even so. The eclipse of your faith, the darkness of your
mind, the fainting of your hope, all these things are but parts of
God's method of making you ripe for the great inheritance upon which
you shall soon enter. These trials are for the testing and
strengthening of your faith-they are waves that wash you further upon
the rock-they are winds which waft your ship the more swiftly towards
the desired haven. According to David's words, so it might be said of
you, "so he bringeth them to their desired haven." By honour and
dishonour, by evil report and by good report, by plenty and by poverty,
by joy and by distress, by persecution and by peace, by all these
things is the life of your souls maintained, and by each of these are
you helped on your way. Oh, think not, believer, that your sorrows are
out of God's plan; they are necessary parts of it. "We must, through
much tribulation, enter the kingdom." Learn, then, even to "count it
all joy when ye fall into divers temptations."
"O let my trembling soul be still,
And wait thy wise, thy holy will!
I cannot, Lord, thy purpose see,
Yet all is well since ruled by thee."
****************************************************
"The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me."
-- Psalm 138:8
Most manifestly the confidence which the Psalmist here expressed was a
divine confidence. He did not say, "I have grace enough to perfect that
which concerneth me-my faith is so steady that it will not stagger-my
love is so warm that it will never grow cold-my resolution is so firm
that nothing can move it; no, his dependence was on the Lord alone. If
we indulge in any confidence which is not grounded on the Rock of ages,
our confidence is worse than a dream, it will fall upon us, and cover
us with its ruins, to our sorrow and confusion. All that Nature spins
time will unravel, to the eternal confusion of all who are clothed
therein. The Psalmist was wise, he rested upon nothing short of the
Lord's work. It is the Lord who has begun the good work within us; it
is he who has carried it on; and if he does not finish it, it never
will be complete. If there be one stitch in the celestial garment of
our righteousness which we are to insert ourselves, then we are lost;
but this is our confidence, the Lord who began will perfect. He has
done it all, must do it all, and will do it all. Our confidence must
not be in what we have done, nor in what we have resolved to do, but
entirely in what the Lord will do. Unbelief insinuates- "You will never
be able to stand. Look at the evil of your heart, you can never conquer
sin; remember the sinful pleasures and temptations of the world that
beset you, you will be certainly allured by them and led astray." Ah!
yes, we should indeed perish if left to our own strength. If we had
alone to navigate our frail vessels over so rough a sea, we might well
give up the voyage in despair; but, thanks be to God, he will perfect
that which concerneth us, and bring us to the desired haven.
We can never be too confident when we confide in him alone,
and never too much concerned to have such a trust.
"He led them forth by the right way."
-- Psalm 107:7
Changeful experience often leads the anxious believer to enquire "Why
is it thus with me?" I looked for light, but lo, darkness came; for
peace, but behold trouble. I said in my heart, my mountain standeth
firm, I shall never be moved. Lord, thou dost hide thy face, and I am
troubled. It was but yesterday that I could read my title clear; to-day
my evidences are bedimmed, and my hopes are clouded. Yesterday I
could climb to Pisgah's top, and view the landscape o'er, and rejoice with
confidence in my future inheritance; to-day, my spirit has no hopes,
but many fears; no joys, but much distress. Is this part of God's plan
with me? Can this be the way in which God would bring me to heaven?
Yes, it is even so. The eclipse of your faith, the darkness of your
mind, the fainting of your hope, all these things are but parts of
God's method of making you ripe for the great inheritance upon which
you shall soon enter. These trials are for the testing and
strengthening of your faith-they are waves that wash you further upon
the rock-they are winds which waft your ship the more swiftly towards
the desired haven. According to David's words, so it might be said of
you, "so he bringeth them to their desired haven." By honour and
dishonour, by evil report and by good report, by plenty and by poverty,
by joy and by distress, by persecution and by peace, by all these
things is the life of your souls maintained, and by each of these are
you helped on your way. Oh, think not, believer, that your sorrows are
out of God's plan; they are necessary parts of it. "We must, through
much tribulation, enter the kingdom." Learn, then, even to "count it
all joy when ye fall into divers temptations."
"O let my trembling soul be still,
And wait thy wise, thy holy will!
I cannot, Lord, thy purpose see,
Yet all is well since ruled by thee."
****************************************************
"The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me."
-- Psalm 138:8
Most manifestly the confidence which the Psalmist here expressed was a
divine confidence. He did not say, "I have grace enough to perfect that
which concerneth me-my faith is so steady that it will not stagger-my
love is so warm that it will never grow cold-my resolution is so firm
that nothing can move it; no, his dependence was on the Lord alone. If
we indulge in any confidence which is not grounded on the Rock of ages,
our confidence is worse than a dream, it will fall upon us, and cover
us with its ruins, to our sorrow and confusion. All that Nature spins
time will unravel, to the eternal confusion of all who are clothed
therein. The Psalmist was wise, he rested upon nothing short of the
Lord's work. It is the Lord who has begun the good work within us; it
is he who has carried it on; and if he does not finish it, it never
will be complete. If there be one stitch in the celestial garment of
our righteousness which we are to insert ourselves, then we are lost;
but this is our confidence, the Lord who began will perfect. He has
done it all, must do it all, and will do it all. Our confidence must
not be in what we have done, nor in what we have resolved to do, but
entirely in what the Lord will do. Unbelief insinuates- "You will never
be able to stand. Look at the evil of your heart, you can never conquer
sin; remember the sinful pleasures and temptations of the world that
beset you, you will be certainly allured by them and led astray." Ah!
yes, we should indeed perish if left to our own strength. If we had
alone to navigate our frail vessels over so rough a sea, we might well
give up the voyage in despair; but, thanks be to God, he will perfect
that which concerneth us, and bring us to the desired haven.
We can never be too confident when we confide in him alone,
and never too much concerned to have such a trust.
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Like your steak well done?
Let me tell you a story....it’s a true story, this one. Well....I might have embellished it a bit.
Elijah decided enough was enough. The evil king Ahab had reigned for too long. The wicked priests of Baal were teaching the people of Israel do do all sorts of wrong things, deeply immoral things, even murder.
‘Why did you do that?’
‘Baal told me to.’
Worshipping Baal was an excuse to do what you like.
‘Forget God, he’s just a spoilsport.’
Sound familiar?
Now Elijah was just an ordinary man from Tishbe, might just as well have been Roxby. But God had appointed Elijah to change things and the time was now. So came the famous contest on the top of a mountain, big crowd, TV crew, the lot. The odds looked stacked against Elijah from the start. He was God’s only prophet. And there were 450 priests of Baal. But we know something they didn’t. When God is with you anything’s possible.
A big lorry rolls up: ‘Delivery for Mr Elijah: 2xdead bulls. 2xfelled trees. 2xspades. 2xaxes. 2xmeat cleavers. 3000xbottles of spring water.’ You could see the crowd were puzzled. Could it be an early Masterchef? But no matches. And what’s with the bottled water?
‘Now all you 450 wicked priests of Baal come here,’ said Elijah.
‘Listen all you people who’ve come to watch. Get this on TV. If Almighty God is the Boss then do what HE wants. If Baal is the Boss then do what HE wants.’
Huh?
Right.. Two separate barbecues. Recipe for each: Dig a trench. Chop up trees. Place in trench. Chop up bulls. Place on wood. Cook bulls.
Problem……no matches....can’t light fire!
But that was Elijah’s plan, ‘This barbecue says God’s the Boss, that one says Baal’s the Boss,’ he said. ‘No matches. If Baal lights his fire, he’s the real one. If God lights his fire, he’s the real one.’
Ready, Steady, Sacrifice.
OK so the wicked priests of Baal got cracking with their favourite fire-raising dance:
‘Come on Baal
Don’t make us wail
We really musn’t fail
Fire this bull from his nose to his tail.’
2 hours later: ‘Come on Baal’ etc x 3
And what happened?
Nothing, zilch, nicht
Not even a singed eyebrow.
Where’s Baal gone then? On a journey? To the loo?
Now all this time Elijah had been sitting by his chopped up bull apparently doing nothing.
‘Right you 450 wicked priests of Baal come here and watch. Now you wondered what the bottled water was for didn’t you? Pour them over my bull and wood.’
‘Right…..do you think this lot will burn?’ No answer.
Now Elijah didn’t do any fire-raising dance, no happy-clappy-lets-see-if-we-can-get-God-going, no headbanging or anything like that. He just waited until all eyes were on him and then said ‘Almighty God, please do it.’ And God did.
Total cremation. Zap. Bull, tree, water all gone. Just a hint of steak in the air….rather well-done.
Impressed? So you should be. Our God can do the impossible…..have you discovered that for yourself?
He really is God Almighty…. NO BULL !
(PS…it’s in the Bible: 1 Kings Ch 18)
Friday, 15 January 2010
Does God believe in me?
Doesn’t it feel good when someone loves you…. believes in you?
Someone once said, ‘Ask not “ Do I believe in God?” but instead…..ask “Does God believe in me?”
That’s a question I explored a few weeks ago, with Trinity Chapel full of 11 and 12 year olds. We considered Billy Elliot and the huge sacrifice his father made to get him into Dance School. Brilliant film.
As we launch into a New Year, it is a mind-blowing question to think about.
Because if God DOES believe in me that means His infinite resources are there for me! Wow!
‘This is love…..not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son….’ 1 John 4:10
If, then, God believes in me it is always ‘and’ and never ‘but’.
‘But’, you say……
‘And’, God says…..
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid…….Matthew 10:30
And underneath are the everlasting arms. Deut 33:27
And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God. Romans 8:28
May you have enough faith to grasp this truth. It will take you through 2010 and beyond.
God believes in me!
Someone once said, ‘Ask not “ Do I believe in God?” but instead…..ask “Does God believe in me?”
That’s a question I explored a few weeks ago, with Trinity Chapel full of 11 and 12 year olds. We considered Billy Elliot and the huge sacrifice his father made to get him into Dance School. Brilliant film.
As we launch into a New Year, it is a mind-blowing question to think about.
Because if God DOES believe in me that means His infinite resources are there for me! Wow!
‘This is love…..not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son….’ 1 John 4:10
If, then, God believes in me it is always ‘and’ and never ‘but’.
‘But’, you say……
‘And’, God says…..
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid…….Matthew 10:30
And underneath are the everlasting arms. Deut 33:27
And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God. Romans 8:28
May you have enough faith to grasp this truth. It will take you through 2010 and beyond.
God believes in me!
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Links to my most recent sermon...see other blog
I received this the day after delivering the 'more of my cup overflows' message of 1st October...see my Sermons blog.... then the item below it (Spurgeon) was received on 6th October. Both came by e-mail. Read them alongside the sermon. Mike
When I read the book of Acts, I see the church as an unstoppable force. Nothing could thwart what God was doing, just as Jesus foretold: “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The church was powerful and spreading like wildfire, not because of clever planning, but by a movement of the Spirit. Riots, torture, poverty, or any other type of persecution couldn’t stop it. Isn’t that the type of church movement we all long to be a part of?
So much of what we see today is anything but unstoppable. It can easily be derailed by the resignation of a pastor or an internal church disagreement or budget cuts. Churches we build only by our own efforts and not in the strength of the Spirit will quickly collapse when we don’t push and prod them along. I spent years asking God to be a part of whatever I was doing. When I read the book of Acts, I see people privileged to play a part in what God was doing.
Recently we held a discussion about how to solve some of the evident problems in our church. One of our pastors spoke up and said, “I think we’re trying too hard.” He went on to share of the supernatural things that had taken place through his prayer life. At that point, we decided to stop talking and thinking. The next hour was spent intensely in prayer. We never got “back to business” that day.
While there is a time to brainstorm and think and act well using the gifts God has given us, far too often we never get to prayer (much less start, end, and allow it to permeate all that we do). Let’s pray that God would build his church, an unstoppable force, empowered and sustained by the Holy Spirit.
Francis Chan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall
never thirst."
-- John 4:14
He who is a believer in Jesus finds enough in his Lord to satisfy him
now, and to content him for evermore. The believer is not the man whose
days are weary for want of comfort, and whose nights are long from
absence of heart-cheering thought, for he finds in religion such a
spring of joy, such a fountain of consolation, that he is content and
happy. Put him in a dungeon and he will find good company; place him in
a barren wilderness, he will eat the bread of heaven; drive him away
from friendship, he will meet the "friend that sticketh closer than a
brother." Blast all his gourds, and he will find shadow beneath the
Rock of Ages; sap the foundation of his earthly hopes, but his heart
will still be fixed, trusting in the Lord. The heart is as insatiable
as the grave till Jesus enters it, and then it is a cup full to
overflowing. There is such a fulness in Christ that he alone is the
believer's all. The true saint is so completely satisfied with the
all-sufficiency of Jesus that he thirsts no more-except it be for
deeper draughts of the living fountain. In that sweet manner, believer,
shalt thou thirst; it shall not be a thirst of pain, but of loving
desire; thou wilt find it a sweet thing to be panting after a fuller
enjoyment of Jesus' love. One in days of yore said, "I have been
sinking my bucket down into the well full often, but now my thirst
after Jesus has become so insatiable, that I long to put the well
itself to my lips, and drink right on." Is this the feeling of thine
heart now, believer? Dost thou feel that all thy desires are satisfied
in Jesus, and that thou hast no want now, but to know more of him, and
to have closer fellowship with him? Then come continually to the
fountain, and take of the water of life freely. Jesus will never think
you take too much, but will ever welcome you, saying, "Drink, yea,
drink abundantly, O beloved."
Spurgeon
When I read the book of Acts, I see the church as an unstoppable force. Nothing could thwart what God was doing, just as Jesus foretold: “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The church was powerful and spreading like wildfire, not because of clever planning, but by a movement of the Spirit. Riots, torture, poverty, or any other type of persecution couldn’t stop it. Isn’t that the type of church movement we all long to be a part of?
So much of what we see today is anything but unstoppable. It can easily be derailed by the resignation of a pastor or an internal church disagreement or budget cuts. Churches we build only by our own efforts and not in the strength of the Spirit will quickly collapse when we don’t push and prod them along. I spent years asking God to be a part of whatever I was doing. When I read the book of Acts, I see people privileged to play a part in what God was doing.
Recently we held a discussion about how to solve some of the evident problems in our church. One of our pastors spoke up and said, “I think we’re trying too hard.” He went on to share of the supernatural things that had taken place through his prayer life. At that point, we decided to stop talking and thinking. The next hour was spent intensely in prayer. We never got “back to business” that day.
While there is a time to brainstorm and think and act well using the gifts God has given us, far too often we never get to prayer (much less start, end, and allow it to permeate all that we do). Let’s pray that God would build his church, an unstoppable force, empowered and sustained by the Holy Spirit.
Francis Chan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall
never thirst."
-- John 4:14
He who is a believer in Jesus finds enough in his Lord to satisfy him
now, and to content him for evermore. The believer is not the man whose
days are weary for want of comfort, and whose nights are long from
absence of heart-cheering thought, for he finds in religion such a
spring of joy, such a fountain of consolation, that he is content and
happy. Put him in a dungeon and he will find good company; place him in
a barren wilderness, he will eat the bread of heaven; drive him away
from friendship, he will meet the "friend that sticketh closer than a
brother." Blast all his gourds, and he will find shadow beneath the
Rock of Ages; sap the foundation of his earthly hopes, but his heart
will still be fixed, trusting in the Lord. The heart is as insatiable
as the grave till Jesus enters it, and then it is a cup full to
overflowing. There is such a fulness in Christ that he alone is the
believer's all. The true saint is so completely satisfied with the
all-sufficiency of Jesus that he thirsts no more-except it be for
deeper draughts of the living fountain. In that sweet manner, believer,
shalt thou thirst; it shall not be a thirst of pain, but of loving
desire; thou wilt find it a sweet thing to be panting after a fuller
enjoyment of Jesus' love. One in days of yore said, "I have been
sinking my bucket down into the well full often, but now my thirst
after Jesus has become so insatiable, that I long to put the well
itself to my lips, and drink right on." Is this the feeling of thine
heart now, believer? Dost thou feel that all thy desires are satisfied
in Jesus, and that thou hast no want now, but to know more of him, and
to have closer fellowship with him? Then come continually to the
fountain, and take of the water of life freely. Jesus will never think
you take too much, but will ever welcome you, saying, "Drink, yea,
drink abundantly, O beloved."
Spurgeon
Monday, 10 August 2009
Brokenness
'The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.' PSALM 51:17"
A world that celebrates success doesn't see value in broken things. But God brings beauty out of brokenness. For a plant to rise from the soil the seed must be broken. For a baby chick to experience larger life the shell must be broken. Even a thoroughbred horse must be broken; it must learn to respond to the tug of the rein and the sound of the master's voice.
Getting the idea?
After a humbling encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road, Paul re-evaluates all the religious activity he once boasted about and calls it 'dung' (Philippians 3:8). And you don't brag about dung, you're repulsed by it.
Brokenness is the work of God by which He strips us of self-sufficiency so that the character of Christ may shine through us. Now don't misunderstand; being broken doesn't necessarily mean experiencing some tragedy. Many people suffer tragedy without drawing closer to God or even acknowledging Him. Indeed, the same sunshine that melts the butter hardens the clay. The issue in brokenness is not so much our circumstances, but our response. What is God trying to teach us? True brokenness is when He strips us of self-sufficiency to the extent that we've no strength left to fix ourselves. When God blocks every exit we try to take and we come to see that He alone is our answer, we make a life changing discovery. 'And what's that?' you ask. When God is all you have - God is all you need! Bottom line: God's power is reserved for those who have given up trying to do it in their own strength or to accomplish it for their own ends!
Paul writes: 'Now may...God...sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord' (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NAS).
This word 'sanctify' means to be 'set apart,' to be used exclusively for God's purposes. Paul describes it as 'the high calling of God' (Philippians 3:14). And it happens from the inside out! Notice, our fleshly body comes last in order of transformation for a very simple reason. The problem with a thief isn't his hands, it's in his mind or spirit, which tells him stealing is okay. His mind tells his hands what to do. So if you transform his spirit his hands will follow suit. Otherwise you can handcuff him and take him off to jail, but he's still a thief inside. Too many of us want to get victory over bodily sins without being truly transformed within. But God starts with our spirit because that's the part of our being that makes us conscious of God; that 'connects' with Him. When God sets us free in our spirit, then our emotions and our body begin to fall in line. If you're a parent you know how differently your children respond to discipline. One child will collapse in tears, whereas another will stand up and defy you. God will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to break us of our self-sufficiency so that the life of Jesus can be demonstrated through us. And we determine how long the process takes, by our submission or resistance. Paul prayed, 'Lord, what do You want me to do?' (Acts 9:6 NKJV). Today, make that your prayer!
Sometimes God allows us to hit the bottom in order to discover that He's the rock at the bottom. Gideon faced an army of 135,000 troops with just 32,000 men. And 22,000 of them left the battlefield and went home when he offered them the chance. Do the maths. Gideon's thinking, 'There's no way we can win!' Then God explains: 'The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, 'My own power has delivered me' (Judges 7:2 NAS). There it is again, the age-old battle of ego that we all fight daily. It's why the Lord's Prayer ends with: 'Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen' (Matthew 6:13). Where does our power come from? God! Who should the glory for our accomplishments go to? God! How long does this arrangement last? Forever! God had to break Jacob of self-sufficiency so the 'Israel' within him could come out. Sometimes God has to take you down before He can raise you up. Moses was called the meekest man on earth. But it took forty years of living as a shepherd in the wilderness to detoxify him of pride and get him submitted to God. Only then was he ready to stand before Pharaoh and perform miracles that demonstrated God's power - and vindicated Moses! Brokenness doesn't mean being a wimp, suffering from an inferiority complex or having a case of low self-esteem. No, brokenness means praying, 'Lord, if this job is going to get done, and done right, You're going to have to do it through me. So my trust is in You.'
We don't always know the reason for our trials, but God revealed to Paul the reason for his 'thorn in the flesh.' It was to keep him from being 'exalted' (See 2 Corinthians 12:7). Success can be intoxicating, and intoxicated people aren't known for being too bright or trustworthy! What happens when you get a thorn in your flesh? It hurts. And you'll let everything else go while you focus on removing it. Three times Paul prayed for God to remove the thorn, but God had another plan. You see, God is at His strongest in us when we are at our weakest. When Paul discovered that God's power in his life was tied to the thorn that afflicted him, he responded, 'I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities...For whenever I am weak, then I am strong' (2 Corinthians 12:10 NRS). In other words, 'If it's for my good, bring it on, Lord!' If you've a thorny person in your life from whom you've prayed to be delivered and it hasn't happened, maybe God wants you to experience His grace and power through dealing with that person. But you won't experience this until you move from pain to praise.
The Bible speaks about 'the sacrifice of praise to God' (Hebrews 13:15). A sacrifice means that something has to die on somebody's altar. So if you want to experience God's grace and power in your life, you must be willing to die to self-interest, ego, and independence.
There's nothing wrong with asking God to remove your thorn. But when your prayer for deliverance turns to praise, you're on your way to power, because God is giving you grace.
Word for Today © 2009: This devotional is produced by UCB, free of charge available for the UK and Republic of Ireland at UCB Operations Centre, Westport Road, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, ST6 4JF. .
A world that celebrates success doesn't see value in broken things. But God brings beauty out of brokenness. For a plant to rise from the soil the seed must be broken. For a baby chick to experience larger life the shell must be broken. Even a thoroughbred horse must be broken; it must learn to respond to the tug of the rein and the sound of the master's voice.
Getting the idea?
After a humbling encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road, Paul re-evaluates all the religious activity he once boasted about and calls it 'dung' (Philippians 3:8). And you don't brag about dung, you're repulsed by it.
Brokenness is the work of God by which He strips us of self-sufficiency so that the character of Christ may shine through us. Now don't misunderstand; being broken doesn't necessarily mean experiencing some tragedy. Many people suffer tragedy without drawing closer to God or even acknowledging Him. Indeed, the same sunshine that melts the butter hardens the clay. The issue in brokenness is not so much our circumstances, but our response. What is God trying to teach us? True brokenness is when He strips us of self-sufficiency to the extent that we've no strength left to fix ourselves. When God blocks every exit we try to take and we come to see that He alone is our answer, we make a life changing discovery. 'And what's that?' you ask. When God is all you have - God is all you need! Bottom line: God's power is reserved for those who have given up trying to do it in their own strength or to accomplish it for their own ends!
Paul writes: 'Now may...God...sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord' (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NAS).
This word 'sanctify' means to be 'set apart,' to be used exclusively for God's purposes. Paul describes it as 'the high calling of God' (Philippians 3:14). And it happens from the inside out! Notice, our fleshly body comes last in order of transformation for a very simple reason. The problem with a thief isn't his hands, it's in his mind or spirit, which tells him stealing is okay. His mind tells his hands what to do. So if you transform his spirit his hands will follow suit. Otherwise you can handcuff him and take him off to jail, but he's still a thief inside. Too many of us want to get victory over bodily sins without being truly transformed within. But God starts with our spirit because that's the part of our being that makes us conscious of God; that 'connects' with Him. When God sets us free in our spirit, then our emotions and our body begin to fall in line. If you're a parent you know how differently your children respond to discipline. One child will collapse in tears, whereas another will stand up and defy you. God will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to break us of our self-sufficiency so that the life of Jesus can be demonstrated through us. And we determine how long the process takes, by our submission or resistance. Paul prayed, 'Lord, what do You want me to do?' (Acts 9:6 NKJV). Today, make that your prayer!
Sometimes God allows us to hit the bottom in order to discover that He's the rock at the bottom. Gideon faced an army of 135,000 troops with just 32,000 men. And 22,000 of them left the battlefield and went home when he offered them the chance. Do the maths. Gideon's thinking, 'There's no way we can win!' Then God explains: 'The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, 'My own power has delivered me' (Judges 7:2 NAS). There it is again, the age-old battle of ego that we all fight daily. It's why the Lord's Prayer ends with: 'Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen' (Matthew 6:13). Where does our power come from? God! Who should the glory for our accomplishments go to? God! How long does this arrangement last? Forever! God had to break Jacob of self-sufficiency so the 'Israel' within him could come out. Sometimes God has to take you down before He can raise you up. Moses was called the meekest man on earth. But it took forty years of living as a shepherd in the wilderness to detoxify him of pride and get him submitted to God. Only then was he ready to stand before Pharaoh and perform miracles that demonstrated God's power - and vindicated Moses! Brokenness doesn't mean being a wimp, suffering from an inferiority complex or having a case of low self-esteem. No, brokenness means praying, 'Lord, if this job is going to get done, and done right, You're going to have to do it through me. So my trust is in You.'
We don't always know the reason for our trials, but God revealed to Paul the reason for his 'thorn in the flesh.' It was to keep him from being 'exalted' (See 2 Corinthians 12:7). Success can be intoxicating, and intoxicated people aren't known for being too bright or trustworthy! What happens when you get a thorn in your flesh? It hurts. And you'll let everything else go while you focus on removing it. Three times Paul prayed for God to remove the thorn, but God had another plan. You see, God is at His strongest in us when we are at our weakest. When Paul discovered that God's power in his life was tied to the thorn that afflicted him, he responded, 'I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities...For whenever I am weak, then I am strong' (2 Corinthians 12:10 NRS). In other words, 'If it's for my good, bring it on, Lord!' If you've a thorny person in your life from whom you've prayed to be delivered and it hasn't happened, maybe God wants you to experience His grace and power through dealing with that person. But you won't experience this until you move from pain to praise.
The Bible speaks about 'the sacrifice of praise to God' (Hebrews 13:15). A sacrifice means that something has to die on somebody's altar. So if you want to experience God's grace and power in your life, you must be willing to die to self-interest, ego, and independence.
There's nothing wrong with asking God to remove your thorn. But when your prayer for deliverance turns to praise, you're on your way to power, because God is giving you grace.
Word for Today © 2009: This devotional is produced by UCB, free of charge available for the UK and Republic of Ireland at UCB Operations Centre, Westport Road, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, ST6 4JF. .
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
The Power of Negative Thinking
Roger Johnson writes:
I remember that back in the 1970s, many Christians were reading Norman Vincent Peale’s book “The Power of Positive Thinking”. Vincent Peale claimed to be a Christian but some critics suggested his book was strong on motivational psychology but weak on theology. However, there was a real need in those days to find something positive to say and think about life. There were many books written about spiritual depression and it seemed as though some Christians were struggling to cope.
I don’t think the situation has changed much since then and it may even have got worse as we square up to the realities of life with global warming, the credit crunch and many other depressing issues in the world. But do we realise what a powerful and crippling force is contained within our minds when we are beset by negative thinking?
It is not only Christians who suffer from negative thinking. A whole church fellowship can adopt a negative disposition, especially when numbers are declining to the extent that the fellowship is no longer viable. But is the remedy simply to adopt a new positive mindset or is that too simplistic an approach?
The New Testament has much to say about positive thinking. Jesus made some incredible claims in Mark 11:23,24 when he said
"Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
We may not have too much experience of mountains cast into the sea and therefore may conclude that Jesus was speaking metaphorically. But the notion that the answer to prayer is there for the taking as long as negative thoughts don’t creep in is quite stunning. It does help, however to read the next few verses because Jesus goes on to talk about the need for forgiveness. Undoubtedly, a spirit of un-forgiveness, resentment or bitterness can cripple our souls and lead us to negative thinking.
St. Paul takes up the same theme in his letter to the Philippians. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil 4:8). He then goes on to conclude that “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)
I believe we need to sit down quietly from time to time and analyse whether our thinking has become negative and, if so, why that is. Let’s look at the challenges which are ahead of us and ask ourselves whether we fear them or relish them – can we see the mountains standing in the way or do we see opportunities waiting to be grasped?
I remember that back in the 1970s, many Christians were reading Norman Vincent Peale’s book “The Power of Positive Thinking”. Vincent Peale claimed to be a Christian but some critics suggested his book was strong on motivational psychology but weak on theology. However, there was a real need in those days to find something positive to say and think about life. There were many books written about spiritual depression and it seemed as though some Christians were struggling to cope.
I don’t think the situation has changed much since then and it may even have got worse as we square up to the realities of life with global warming, the credit crunch and many other depressing issues in the world. But do we realise what a powerful and crippling force is contained within our minds when we are beset by negative thinking?
It is not only Christians who suffer from negative thinking. A whole church fellowship can adopt a negative disposition, especially when numbers are declining to the extent that the fellowship is no longer viable. But is the remedy simply to adopt a new positive mindset or is that too simplistic an approach?
The New Testament has much to say about positive thinking. Jesus made some incredible claims in Mark 11:23,24 when he said
"Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
We may not have too much experience of mountains cast into the sea and therefore may conclude that Jesus was speaking metaphorically. But the notion that the answer to prayer is there for the taking as long as negative thoughts don’t creep in is quite stunning. It does help, however to read the next few verses because Jesus goes on to talk about the need for forgiveness. Undoubtedly, a spirit of un-forgiveness, resentment or bitterness can cripple our souls and lead us to negative thinking.
St. Paul takes up the same theme in his letter to the Philippians. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil 4:8). He then goes on to conclude that “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)
I believe we need to sit down quietly from time to time and analyse whether our thinking has become negative and, if so, why that is. Let’s look at the challenges which are ahead of us and ask ourselves whether we fear them or relish them – can we see the mountains standing in the way or do we see opportunities waiting to be grasped?
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
'my cup overflows' .....further thoughts
John Wesley in his Thoughts upon Methodism (1786): "I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist. However, I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of a religion without the power. That will undoubtedly be the case unless they holdfast to the doctrine, spirit and discipline with which they first set out."
We might have the 'doctrine', but what happened to the 'spirit' and 'discipline'?
I talked on Sunday about 'my cup overflows', Ps 23, and that we need to allow God to unblock the wells and release the flow of His Spirit once again in our lives, Church and society. This begins with allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal to us specific sins so that we may repent of them. (see link on right to my sermons)
These are the questions that you would be asked if you were in one of John Wesley’s Band groups:
What known sins have you committed since our last meeting?
What temptations have you met with?
How were you delivered?
What have you thought, said, or done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?
Have you nothing you desire to keep secret?
(Reference: John Wesley’s Class Meetings: a Model for Making Disciples, by D. Michael Henderson, Evangel Publishing House, 1997, pp. 118-9)
also:
John Wesley’s “Questions for Self Examination”
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression
that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a
hypocrite?
2. Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to
me in confidence?
3. Can I be trusted?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Bible live in me today?
7. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?
[ conversation starter questions ]
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience
is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as
the Pharisees who despised the publican?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a
resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about
it?
20. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
21. Is Christ real to me?
We might have the 'doctrine', but what happened to the 'spirit' and 'discipline'?
I talked on Sunday about 'my cup overflows', Ps 23, and that we need to allow God to unblock the wells and release the flow of His Spirit once again in our lives, Church and society. This begins with allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal to us specific sins so that we may repent of them. (see link on right to my sermons)
These are the questions that you would be asked if you were in one of John Wesley’s Band groups:
What known sins have you committed since our last meeting?
What temptations have you met with?
How were you delivered?
What have you thought, said, or done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?
Have you nothing you desire to keep secret?
(Reference: John Wesley’s Class Meetings: a Model for Making Disciples, by D. Michael Henderson, Evangel Publishing House, 1997, pp. 118-9)
also:
John Wesley’s “Questions for Self Examination”
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression
that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a
hypocrite?
2. Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to
me in confidence?
3. Can I be trusted?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Bible live in me today?
7. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?
[ conversation starter questions ]
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience
is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as
the Pharisees who despised the publican?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a
resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about
it?
20. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
21. Is Christ real to me?
Monday, 8 June 2009
be sure your sins will find you out’
Roger Johnson writes:
We went last night to see J. B. Priestley’s excellent play, ‘An Inspector Calls’ at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. For those who haven’t seen this, the play revolves around the shameful acts of a family being exposed by a bogus police inspector. Bit by bit the sordid tale of their seedy private lives is revealed leaving the family in a state of shock and shame. There is, of course, a nasty sting in the story’s tail as well as a sober warning to us all. I bumped into some old friends after the performance and wistfully mused, ‘be sure your sins will find you out’.
Afterwards I couldn’t help but think of the present turmoil in the House of Commons as some MPs are facing a similar agony over the way they have handled, or mis-handled, their expense claims. Today we will be casting our votes and no doubt many will be voting in reaction to what the Daily Telegraph has been exposing over the last few weeks. I have heard some MPs suggesting that what they do in their private lives has no relevance to their work as an MP. It seems now that we can all revert to pantomime mode and say emphatically, ‘OH YES IT DOES!’
But, is it true? Do our sins always ‘find us out’? The psalmist starts off by thinking not in Psalm 73:1-14. He (or she) was bemoaning the fact that he (or she) had lived a righteous life in vain. In contrast, when we read 1 Samuel 12:1-15 we find a man of some stature, King David, exposed by the prophet Nathan with regard to his adulterous affair with Bathsheba. Indeed David did suffer the consequence of his sin but had it not been for an Old Testament equivalent of the Daily Telegraph (Nathan), he may well have got away with it.
I suppose the current MPs expenses scandal raises serious questions about whether the Daily Telegraph has done us a service or disservice, bearing in mind the damage done to the country’s political reputation, but that’s for the historians to reflect upon. My hope and prayer is that those MPs who have embarked upon a political career for the right reasons will recover from this mess and that our democracy will be purified and strengthened as a result.
By this time tomorrow morning the news will tell us what effect this sorry mess has had upon our political life. We could end up with MEPs who are completely unrepresentative of the mainstream views of the British people, simply because they have filled the moral vacuum left by the traditional parties.
So let’s leave the last, and sobering word to the psalmist – “For lo, those who are far from thee shall perish; thou dost put an end to those who are false to thee” (Psalm 73:27). I wonder how much the psalmist was adding his (or her) own emotional veneer to these words.
We went last night to see J. B. Priestley’s excellent play, ‘An Inspector Calls’ at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. For those who haven’t seen this, the play revolves around the shameful acts of a family being exposed by a bogus police inspector. Bit by bit the sordid tale of their seedy private lives is revealed leaving the family in a state of shock and shame. There is, of course, a nasty sting in the story’s tail as well as a sober warning to us all. I bumped into some old friends after the performance and wistfully mused, ‘be sure your sins will find you out’.
Afterwards I couldn’t help but think of the present turmoil in the House of Commons as some MPs are facing a similar agony over the way they have handled, or mis-handled, their expense claims. Today we will be casting our votes and no doubt many will be voting in reaction to what the Daily Telegraph has been exposing over the last few weeks. I have heard some MPs suggesting that what they do in their private lives has no relevance to their work as an MP. It seems now that we can all revert to pantomime mode and say emphatically, ‘OH YES IT DOES!’
But, is it true? Do our sins always ‘find us out’? The psalmist starts off by thinking not in Psalm 73:1-14. He (or she) was bemoaning the fact that he (or she) had lived a righteous life in vain. In contrast, when we read 1 Samuel 12:1-15 we find a man of some stature, King David, exposed by the prophet Nathan with regard to his adulterous affair with Bathsheba. Indeed David did suffer the consequence of his sin but had it not been for an Old Testament equivalent of the Daily Telegraph (Nathan), he may well have got away with it.
I suppose the current MPs expenses scandal raises serious questions about whether the Daily Telegraph has done us a service or disservice, bearing in mind the damage done to the country’s political reputation, but that’s for the historians to reflect upon. My hope and prayer is that those MPs who have embarked upon a political career for the right reasons will recover from this mess and that our democracy will be purified and strengthened as a result.
By this time tomorrow morning the news will tell us what effect this sorry mess has had upon our political life. We could end up with MEPs who are completely unrepresentative of the mainstream views of the British people, simply because they have filled the moral vacuum left by the traditional parties.
So let’s leave the last, and sobering word to the psalmist – “For lo, those who are far from thee shall perish; thou dost put an end to those who are false to thee” (Psalm 73:27). I wonder how much the psalmist was adding his (or her) own emotional veneer to these words.
Friday, 22 May 2009
Our Common(s) Lot
Thanks to Nigel Hopper of LICC for this well thought out view of the matter of MPs' expenses:
'I think it is a dreadful example of the House of Commons as a whole - which as a whole is responsible for the mess we are in - trying to scapegoat one man who was trying to represent what he thought were their views on what should be done.'
Frank Dobson certainly isn't alone in detecting a whiff of hypocrisy in this week's tumultuous and historic events at Westminster, which saw Michael Martin become the first Speaker of the House of Commons in more than 300 years to be effectively forced out of office.
There is, however, another scapegoat in the current crisis over MPs' expenses, one on which everyone seems eager to lay their hands: the system. The applause that greeted Speaker Martin's later (and longer) statement to the Commons last Tuesday, in which he outlined interim changes to the parliamentary expenses claims system, is indicative of the honourable members' conviction that the system needs to change.
There is now cross-party agreement that MPs should no longer be able to claim for, among other things: mortgages that don't exist, homes they do not live in, and houses in which their ducks do.
This is tragic.
It is tragic because such things shouldn't have to be spelt out. The system, designed to ensure MPs aren't left out of pocket for legitimate expenses incurred in the course of their work, isn't the problem. The creation of such a system is good, very good. The problem is the selfishness and greed of those who abuse the system in order to fill their pockets. Justifying their actions with reference to the letter of the law, they wilfully disregard the spirit of the law.
In other words, the real problem here is what the Bible calls sin.
To cast the present scandal in terms of the words of Jesus, it is from within, out of the heart, that greedy expenses claims come (Mark 7:20-23). Making a scapegoat of the system may be to join the Pharisees in cleaning 'the outside of the cup and dish', but inside remaining 'full of greed and self-indulgence' (Matthew 23:25). The system, like the Daily Telegraph, can expose sin, but it can't do anything about it. Only Christ can do that. Ultimately, there is no solution to the scandal of MPs' expenses apart from the scandal of the cross.
Not that we should sit in judgement. The current crisis begs the question of our own integrity. Be it in regard to our own work expenses, or anything else, we must all contend with the truth that our actions betray our allegiance. As we do so, we might find we have more in common with the Commons than we thought.
'I think it is a dreadful example of the House of Commons as a whole - which as a whole is responsible for the mess we are in - trying to scapegoat one man who was trying to represent what he thought were their views on what should be done.'
Frank Dobson certainly isn't alone in detecting a whiff of hypocrisy in this week's tumultuous and historic events at Westminster, which saw Michael Martin become the first Speaker of the House of Commons in more than 300 years to be effectively forced out of office.
There is, however, another scapegoat in the current crisis over MPs' expenses, one on which everyone seems eager to lay their hands: the system. The applause that greeted Speaker Martin's later (and longer) statement to the Commons last Tuesday, in which he outlined interim changes to the parliamentary expenses claims system, is indicative of the honourable members' conviction that the system needs to change.
There is now cross-party agreement that MPs should no longer be able to claim for, among other things: mortgages that don't exist, homes they do not live in, and houses in which their ducks do.
This is tragic.
It is tragic because such things shouldn't have to be spelt out. The system, designed to ensure MPs aren't left out of pocket for legitimate expenses incurred in the course of their work, isn't the problem. The creation of such a system is good, very good. The problem is the selfishness and greed of those who abuse the system in order to fill their pockets. Justifying their actions with reference to the letter of the law, they wilfully disregard the spirit of the law.
In other words, the real problem here is what the Bible calls sin.
To cast the present scandal in terms of the words of Jesus, it is from within, out of the heart, that greedy expenses claims come (Mark 7:20-23). Making a scapegoat of the system may be to join the Pharisees in cleaning 'the outside of the cup and dish', but inside remaining 'full of greed and self-indulgence' (Matthew 23:25). The system, like the Daily Telegraph, can expose sin, but it can't do anything about it. Only Christ can do that. Ultimately, there is no solution to the scandal of MPs' expenses apart from the scandal of the cross.
Not that we should sit in judgement. The current crisis begs the question of our own integrity. Be it in regard to our own work expenses, or anything else, we must all contend with the truth that our actions betray our allegiance. As we do so, we might find we have more in common with the Commons than we thought.
Monday, 11 May 2009
Learning from Football
Without wishing to turn off all those who detest football, I have to say that I think the church can learn a great deal from the way a successful football team operates. It is fascinating to watch the post-match analysis and to see how the losing team’s defense has been torn to shreds by a well organized, well disciplined, attacking team. Defenders are left stranded in no-man’s land as attackers run into yawning gaps in the penalty area and pounce on the ball, slotting it home with precision accuracy.
Well it’s not just football teams that operate like this. Any athlete has to be focused, disciplined and in top shape if they are going to compete with their rivals. But with a team game like football, the secret is that every player knows what job they are there to do, they have trained tirelessly to perfect their particular skill and are totally focused upon the game plan for the match.
It is just as St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12 where he likens the church to a body. Each member of the body has specific gifts and each member relies on the others. The eye and the ear have different functions, as do the hand and the foot and the body simply won’t operate as a body if that were not so. The likes of Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez could not achieve their high goal-scoring records if they didn’t receive good support from their midfielders. No team would win matches if their defense was consistently weak.
Knowing your strengths
So, what does this say to the church? Again, with reference to St. Paul’s teaching, everyone in the church needs to know their strengths. They need to know what part God has called them to play in the work of the kingdom. Too often Christians look with envy at other high-profile colleagues and say, “if only I could be like them”. Take time with God and close friends to discover your own special calling.
Relying on others
We also need to learn how to rely on one another more. Too many Christian leaders suffer from stress because they take too much onto their own shoulders instead of allowing others to share that load. There are many willing volunteers in our churches who, if asked to take on a small role, would gladly agree – and probably do it far better than expected.
Having a Game Plan
Every church needs to review its mission in this rapidly changing society in which we live. If the church simply turns up on a Sunday to do the same things as it did 50 years ago, it soon loses touch with the community around it. We need to regularly look afresh at the needs of our communities, investigate mission opportunities, and to re-evaluate our strengths in terms of the people who are part of the church. I notice that a number of Fresh Expressions of Church, both in this district and further a field, have re-invented themselves. They have learnt lessons from the early years, adapted to the changing situation as new people have joined and redefined their goals accordingly. If a church remains static, it can vegetate.
Training
Just like the top footballers, every Christian plays a specific role and needs to work hard to hone their particular skills. God has not assigned each one of us gifts on a random basis. But we will only operate at peak efficiency if we practice our skills and make the most of who we are. Ambition can be unhealthy if it is pursued at the cost of those around us. But if we are ambitious to fulfill God’s calling, then everyone profits.
So, where is your church in all of this? Are you languishing in the lower leagues, turning up on a Sunday just to play the game? Or are you always seeking to make the most of the opportunities around you and re-shaping your mission in order to meet the challenges before you?
Roger Johnson
District Evangelism Enabler
Nottingham & Derby District of the Methodist Church
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