| Phil's blog |
| Phil's blog Post Date 46 Months 8 days. (Aug 13th 2010) |
|
Our daughter returned from New Zealand last month and instead of us ringing there to talk to her, she has been ringing New Zealand to talk to her friends. I overheard a bizarre conversation, in which she was talking one evening to those in New Zealand. She was saying she was concerned about the next day, to which the reply from New Zealand was, "Don't worry Sally, it's a fine day, we're already enjoying it!" In one sense they were quite right, the next day was good because they were already living it, 11 hours or so ahead of us. But in another sense they were wrong. The actual time they were experiencing was and is exactly the same as our time, but the clock time given to each is different! Your computer is showing you the time and date, but you can right click on it and a box pops up called "Time and Date settings", and with that you can change the time on your computer to New Zealand time, or any other in the world, which made me think what time is it on God's clock? The scientists tell us that the further out in the universe we go, (except we can't ever go there, the laws of physics make that utterly impossible!), time bends! Time is warped, time changes....it speeds up!! Take that beyond where science will ever go, to the edge of the universe, (or as Buzz Lightyear would say, "to infinity and beyond!")and outside that universe time doesn't exist as we experience it. Which is why the Bible says, "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." (2 Peter 3v8) And if we let that thought into our minds, all sorts of thoughts follow:-
I enjoy the holiday period more because of the way it slows down the frantic pace of life, whether we go away or stay at home. And in slowing time down a bit maybe we do have more time to consider God, and his love to me in Jesus, and to ask for His Holy Spirit to come and full my life. |
| Phil's blog Post Date July 5th. |
|
There is something really unnerving about the Christian communion service. However we "do it" - and that can range from the very high church ceremonial approach, to the informal round the supper table approach - the fact remains we are getting involved with something that defies our normal human senses. The essence of what happens is that we are going back to the night before Jesus' crucifixion, and we are hearing Him say, "take and eat this is my body......this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many". (Mark 14v23f) And we are agreeing that God, in Jesus, died, to give his life up for us. But how could God die? Was it really God, hanging on a criminal's cross, totally exposed to ridicule and condemnation by everyone? How could Jesus sacrifice 2,000 years ago make any difference to me today? We are in an unnerving time economically in our nation. The country is told it must make sacrifices for the next generation. We cannot let them inherit so much debt. We, (i.e. the government) have to pay back the debt, so that means we have to stop spending so much money on other things, and we will have to take the consequences of those spending cuts. We may not like it but we can see that the debt has to be paid, somehow. Paying debts is painful. So who is to pay the debt? The government says all of us. Maybe those with more resources should pay more than those with least resources? But then the rich complain that isn't fair, as it isn't their fault we are in debt! And the middle income Britain complains that it wasn't their fault either, so why do they have to suffer? Nobody likes paying debts. When it comes to communion we are talking paying debt. But not money debt, this is life debt. We have a life sentence over us, as humanity, for rejecting God's blue print for life, and choosing to live it our way. You may say, that's not my fault, it's Adam's fault! But we are all in Adam, we all have the same "wanting our own way" mentality. The life sentence stands. But then God comes and pays it. That's the cross. Painful, costly, not just a little of God, but all of God. And communion? I get to share in the benefit! My debt is paid. I am free. I have life again with God. Letting someone else pay the countries debt is a great idea. Letting God pay our life debt is much harder. I have to admit failure. I have to admit I cannot pay it. I have to admit I need God. That's why communion is unnerving. Simply I need God. Have you taken your place recently at the table of God's debt paying? |
| Phil's blog Post Date 42 Months 19 days. |
|
And in case you're new to the blog that's May 22nd 2010 in current dating. This has been another long gap between posts: not because I have been too busy but because I haven't had anything to write. I thought of writing at Easter, my theme for the day being "Easter Day is every Day" but then there was plenty on that on the recorded messages. I thought about writing about the election, which occupied most of April and the start of May, but then everyone was writing about that, and I had nothing original to say. At the end of day the result we have is one to be positive about, a government elected by more than half of those who voted, and which will have to be very careful with their decisions, not doing things for party sake, but genuinely for the country's sake. Let's pray they keep to their task. There will be a June programme on the web soon. June for us has a great deal to offer. The climax of the Freedom in Christ course will be in the first two weeks, and later we have a 10 day special with guest speakers and opportunity for celebration for all ages. I'm looking ahead to July and August; and even further to themes for September. Which lead me to the thought that has been stirring for a while. How can we realistically keep to the wisdom of Jesus who said, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself"? (Matthew 6v34) I believe the problem is we have lost hold of the thought that each day is a gift. It is a new day full of the possibility of God working goodness in our lives and through our lives, whatever happens. It is a day that comes with grace included for the day, if only we will welcome that grace. "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118v24) The word is an invitation to us to receive the day and God's gift live it as such. Now be still my soul, for the Lord you God is with you. Do not fear, he is watching you today. Know his love know his care For the Lord your God is faithful and unchanged from beginning to end. One of the frustrations of buying toys or gadgets is that often come WITHOUT BATTERIES. So what seems reasonable, somehow gets doubled in price by the time you have bought 8 AA's, and then you find they only last a day and need replacing!! The truth we need to realise is that today comes to us from God as His gift, and GRACE IS INCLUDED. All the power and resource of God's love is freely available for today, if only I will, as a child of God, receive the day like this. The secret is coming in trust to God, who has come to us in Jesus, and given life for us. And as we do today can be good and tomorrow can be left to worry about itself, because when tomorrow becomes today it will come as God's gift with His grace included. May today be grace filled for you Phil |
| Phil's blog Post Date 40 Months 17 days. |
|
A rather long silence since the past blog. Some people manage silence better than others. You might enjoy the peace and quiet it offers, the empty space, the time to catch up. There's a favourite verse of mine in Psalm 18 which says:- "he brought me out into a spacious place" But sometimes silence is frustrating, you are waiting for an answer, you are hoping for a reply, you are longing for a response and....nothing. Nobody calls, nobody says anything, you are left wondering what's going on. In relationships silence can be both precious, a place of peaceful trust between you, and infuriating, the sort of silence where nobody is willing to make the first comment, to say sorry, to sort things out. Back to that verse in the Psalms: it sounds such a positive place of quiet, even silence: just me and God, in the quiet. But it might be that you are in a place of silence with God that is frustrating you. You want to hear from God, but nothing! You are hoping for an answer but instead, silence. It strikes me that the truth is God is always present in the silence: and we have to trust that when he is saying nothing, that doesn't mean he has forgotten us, (impossible for God) or is neglecting us (God says he never will do that), rather it means that right now there is nothing to be said. As another Psalm, Psalm 46, says: "Be still and know that I am God" Be still and let God's presence be with you: rest in His unfailing love, trust in his absolute goodness, and know He is with you. Next week, as we think about Jesus' death and resurrection over the Easter period, we will have time to be still, and consider those moments of silence for Jesus, when our life rescue took place. I pray you will know that wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, whatever challenges you are facing, God is with you, even in the silence and His salvation is yours today. NOW SOMETHING DIFFERENT! I am posting below the Topical Teach from March 17th which was on life and death issues, especially abortion and assisted suicide. It is on the recording as well but I promised to put the notes on the blog so here they are. TOPICAL TEACH MARCH 21ST ISSUES OF LIFE AND DEATH It would be very easy to launch into this subject with some of the wealth of material that I have collected, from various Christian and secular bodies, with many statistics, plenty of arguments, and a range of opinion on these very challenging issues. But, and it is a very important but, for me the whole debate needs to be handled with huge humility. Because it is all about the life of human beings like you and me. And for us as Christians, there is something inherently precious about this gift of life. It is not just the pinnacle of some evolutionary process over billions of years, it is the intentional creative work of God. So I want to begin by reading Psalm 139v1-18. Reading that Psalm doesn't answer all our questions, or deal with all the issues we are going to raise in a moment but it does sound a faith note, that we need to keep hearing. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
The word "fearfully" is derived from a Hebrew word that has nothing to do with what we mean by fear. It encompasses a larger meaning of awe, reverent respect, and honour. It appears in the Hebrew Bible as a synonym for love, attraction, and commitment. A better translation of the word in verse 4 might be "reverently." It is saying we are made for a relationship of awesome connection with God.
The word "wonderfully" comes from a Hebrew word which means to be different, striking, remarkable - outside of the power of human comprehension. What you see when you look at someone, is something that we can never make ourselves! If you get anything from this evening I hope you will receive the truth that you are an incredible being, a human being, made by God to connect to God. That s our fundamental starting point. I want to look mainly at the issues of abortion, and assisted suicide, as the two issues that are currently under legal scrutiny by our parliament, (though obviously not with any immediate effect given the impending election). I will touch on the issues of genetic engineering, and euthanasia as well, as they both come into the same arena of life and death issues. There are three ways to explore these issues. The first is the ethical or moral approach. What we or society considers right and just. The second in the biblical approach. What does the Bible say on these issues? The third is the pastoral approach. What is this saying to those who are personally involved? You can read books which focus on one of these three, but few that take all three together: that for me is the weakness of much of the arguing that we hear. To me the strength of our Christian perspective is in being able to consider all of these together. Let me take the issue of abortion first and then the issue of assisted suicide. And then we will look briefly at two other issues. 1. ABORTION a) The ethics of abortion The debate has been whether or not it is ever right to terminate a pregnancy. For all of history this has been an issue and women in desperate situations have sought to find a way to end the predicament in which they found themselves. So back street abortionists were plentiful for centuries. And not only that they were pretty awful procedures and many women lost their lives because of the unhygienic conditions. Even today in the so called developing countries, there are a minimum of 50,000 to more like 150,000 deaths of women each year. What drove them to this? Often poverty, or the shame of having a child out of wedlock. Before we enter the debate about today's situation it is surely right that we, Christians, and especially church leaders recognise that we were often in the forefront of the blame women felt , and also the injustice of poverty in which so many found themselves.
In 1967 the Abortion Act legalized abortion under certain circumstances, and amendments were made in 1990. Currently the Act permits termination of pregnancy if two doctors are of the opinion in good faith:-
In the case of severe medical conditions in the mother or baby this time can be extended to full term. In practice most abortions (90%) are carried about before the 12th week. 97% are carried out under a). And one final piece of information, there have been 5.5 million abortions carried out in England and Wales between 1968 and 2006. The annual rate is around 200,000. So it is fair to say that in the mind of the society we live in and the parliamentarians who we elect abortion is ethically right, and legally permissible. I do believe that we need to consider the motives of those who passed this law. It has always been a free vote in parliament. There is no party politics on this issue. The argument in favour was the terrible pain and injury being caused to women especially from poor backgrounds, because of the back street abortion trade. If it was going to happen we should let it happen properly. The intention of the law was for it to be only for those with real concerns over their physical or mental well being. In reality this clause has been used to virtually allow abortion on demand. Anyone woman can say that the pregnancy is a threat to her mental well being, simply by saying she doesn't want the baby. There have been attempts to modify the law both ways. Some want to make abortion simply a procedure on demand by any woman at any time. Their ethical argument is that it is the right of the woman to choose whether or not she carries the baby to full term. The unborn baby has no choice in the matter because it is not a separate individual, and has no living rights. Some want to abolish this right to abortion altogether on the grounds that the unborn baby the moment it is conceived, (or for some the moment it implants in the womb (about 8 days after fertilisation) is a living being with a right to life. We have no right to end its life prematurely. These two ethical arguments are totally opposed, and consequently, the law has remained as it is, inspite of much lobbying.... In theory far from abortion on demand But in practice very much that The two opposing ethical positions are quite understandable, the one based on the rights of women, and the need for their well being, the other based on the rights of the unborn child. Worldwide is it evident that the majority of governments support a pro abortion law, and yet there remains a deep unease about it. b) So what about the Biblical perspective on abortion? The word abortion is not used in Scripture, though it does occur in the writings of the early church, a document called "the didache" and another called "the epistle of Barnabus" from the beginning of the 2nd century, about 90 years after Jesus, where abortion is spoken against. What the Bible does say though is always positive rather than negative..... Rather than speak of ending life, it speaks of the value of life. Matthew 6v26 "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" And clearly in the Bible there is an understanding that life does begin before birth. Psalm 139 we have already read. v15-16. Again the word for womb is not used, but the thought is clearly there of the preciousness of life pre birth. Job makes it so clear that life is God's gift. And so is the end of life in God's hand. Job 1v21 "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised." The birth stories around Jesus. When Mary the mother of Jesus came to her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist, Luke describes how "the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." (Luke 1v41) v45 says "leapt for joy".
John Piper writes "The beginning of human life is a magnificent thing. It is the work of God. It is the forming of a human person in God's own image who will live forever. Let there be a joyful grateful reverence of the gift of human life from conception to eternity. Never cease to be amazed at the gift of life - the gift of children."
Did back street abortion happen in Jesus time? Most certainly. Why wasn't it spoken against? I believe the reason is that those who suffered this were women who were rejected by their society. And what was Jesus attitude to women rejected by society? To welcome them. And so it should be with the church. Whatever attitude we take, we must never turn women away who have had an abortion, and make them feel they are somehow unwanted, as they felt their baby was. More of that in a moment. The Bible is certainly in favour of life. Taking life in any way is considered wrong. But as we remember the commandment you shall not kill, we also need to think of Jesus interpretation of it, which was:- "I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment". Matthew 5v22. Without undermining the foundational value of life, and the wrong of taking life, Jesus wanted to say that those who have angry judgmentalism in their hearts are just as guilty. There was a trial in America in January this year of Scott Roeder who admitted killing Dr George Tiller as he left church one Sunday, because Dr Tiller carried out abortions. Roeder's defence was that of voluntary manslaughter, "the unreasonable but honest belief that force was necessary". The jury convicted him of murder in just 37 minutes. I believe there is no justification for angry reaction against those who take a view different from ours on this. c) The pastoral perspective on abortion. I am going to limit my comments very simply to the effect of abortion on the mothers involved. If there have been over 5 million abortions in the UK since 1968, (albeit some of those being overseas visitors) there are a great number of woman alive who have had an abortion. I know some of those, and I have talked with some of those. And that is my heart ache. There has been a very caring response to the need to counsel women, especially young girls, who find themselves pregnant and are considering abortion. Pregnancy counselling is something that Christians have often wanted to be involved in. There are two main areas of concern in counselling those considering abortion. The first is the physical danger to their long term health of abortion and the second is the emotional effect of abortion. There are good grounds for these concerns, and the medical profession itself is recognising this. Medical News Today quotes the Royal College of Psychiatrists as saying that "good practice in relation to abortion will include informed consent. Consent cannot be informed without the provision of adequate and appropriate information regarding the possible risks and benefits to physical and mental health." Many young women especially do not get this opportunity. Many who have had abortions were never told of the possibility of their own mental health being affected later in life. My deep concern is that we as Christians are ever ready to provide support for these woman, not condemnation, and to seek to share with then the grace of God that alone can deal with the inner feelings that they experience through this traumatic event in their lives. How do we become a community that responds like this? Hopefully by being a place where people know that they are being brought into the presence of their Heavenly father who cares deeply for them, and whose compassion NEVER FAILS. I have some very emotional stories that speak of the challenge of this on the women concerned. I have no intention of reading any of them: they can all too easily be used to stir up an emotional response. Our response must come from the compassion of God and that is where I hope to run to, and come from in all of these conversations. 2. ASSISTED SUICIDE a) Ethical perspectives Let's just define what we are talking about first. Euthanasia is usually taken to mean "mercy killing" and is the ending of someone's life where a patient is suffering severely or terminally. It is illegal in this country, and the latest survey of Doctors suggest at least 2/3rds are opposed to any change in the law, even for terminally ill patients. For those who are not terminally ill the figure rises to over 80%. Suicide is the taking of ones own life, for whatever reason. It is not illegal, and someone who attempts to take their own life and fails, and so continues to live cannot be prosecuted. Assisted suicide is when a third party aids and abets someone in the taking of their own life. This is illegal under present law and remains punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Guidelines given in law in January this year have not changed the law but have suggested that the law does give room for prosecutors not to pursue a charge under certain quite specific circumstances. CARE makes the following point:- It is not euthanasia or assisted suicide when:- Treatment is discontinued because the burden of treatment outweighs the benefits. Treatment is given to relive pain, even when that treatment may carry some risk of shortening life. Generally speaking in this arena, the law and the medical profession are resisting what can often be portrayed in the media as public opinion. The law and the profession are aware that the media has often used high profile cases and celebrities like Sir Terry Pratchet to stir up public opinion which is often not well informed. The ethical argument in favour of assisted suicide, (and euthanasia) is based around the sense of compassion to someone who is suffering. It is better morally to let them die than to force them to continue to live in pain and distress. The argument is also that is it part of our human right to be able to choose when we die. And finally it is argued that we, society can control this and safeguard vulnerable people against being talked into ending their life. The ethical argument against this is that there is a clear alternative to euthanasia and that is palliative care, the relieving of symptoms of pain by medication and environment to make the end of the journey quiet and comfortable. There is also a strong argument that in spite of assurances controlling such a practice would be impossible and it could so easily be that people either are killed without their agreement or that they are pressurised into having their life ended. Doctors above all believe they should never have imposed on them "a duty to kill". Leaving aside any biblical consideration for the moment I am well persuaded that the arguments for euthanasia or assisted suicide do not outweigh the arguments against. The reason so many people seem to support the idea of assisted suicide is because of the high prolife cases, published trips to "Dignitas" in Switzerland. It plays on people's fear of dying. It seems to offer an easy way out. But it's implications are just far too serious. b) Biblical considerations. The key here is to be found in two areas. First there is the bible's affirmation that our life span is God's to determine, not ours. Psalm 139 again. "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of the came to be". Proverbs 16v9 "In his heart a man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps." The problem this raises for us is that if God knows how long we will live then does taking our own life, or someone else's upset God's plan? The theological answer is no, God knows what will happen before we are even born. But the fundamental principle remains that it is not our right to decide how long our life is. People speak of a right to life of an unborn child, but that right is not something they choose. It is God given. Equally people speak of the right to choose to end their life, and God's reply is no, that is in my hands. Without a faith in God, this doesn't make sense! But second there is the Bible's understanding of death. The Bible teaches us that death is an enemy, and that is why we are afraid of it! But it also teaches that Jesus came to deal with this. 2 Timothy 1v9-10. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Hebrews 2v14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. There is a fear attached to death which is quite understandable. It is a journey into the unknown. The process is one you cannot practice! And most people find that frightening. So people want to take some control over death, and hence the attraction of assisted suicide. Isaiah 43v1-2 But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." But it is not just the process that is frightening, it is what happens next. And that is far deeper. Some people are content to take the point of view that there is nothing else, and leave it at that. But many are not. And if there is more have I done enough? Am I good enough? The spiritual problem as or Freedom in Christ session 1 taught is that we have lost our connection with God, and so the devil holds in dear of death as our being eternally separated from God, from meaning, from life. But Jesus life and death and resurrection give us an entirely new perspective! I would love to read you the whole of 1 Corinthians 15! But here's just a taste of it. "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a human being. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But in this order: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. v20-26 These Bible verses and the whole Gospel of Jesus is about breaking the power of death and that is the Bibles answer to those who want to take control of dying into their own hands. c) Pastoral considerations For me this follows on from what I have just shared. As Christians we need to continually re-affirm our faith in Jesus victory over death. Death is an enemy, and we are rightly concerned to protect people from death. But ultimately we all have to die. And when that happens, whether we are of a ripe old age, or in the prime of life, or have hardly begun life, we have a faith that says death does not have the last word; nor the sins of this life, but Jesus does. And in him there is both forgiveness and the hope of eternal life. As we shall sing this Easter "Because he lives, because he lives, we have a hope that will remain, Because he gives eternal life to those who call upon his name." We need to be in the forefront of support of proper palliative care for the dying. It is no surprise that the hospice movement began among Christians. And before that a special lady called Mother Theresa became a celebrity for no other reason than she cared for the dying. If we can show people how we can die well, in the faith and love and hope of Jesus that will help enormously in the fight to prevent people believing that we can be the masters of our own life and death. Other Issues And that last comment is in so many ways the nub of the other very challenging medical ethical issues that society faces and will go on facing. In 2007 a controversial proposal was suggested publicly, to form animal human hybrid embryo's for the purpose of embryonic stem cell research. In 2008 parliament approved this proposal, but just one year later all finding for research involving animal human hybrids was refused. Not on moral grounds but on scientific grounds, because it had become apparent that this avenue of research was not getting anywhere. On the other hand there is more potential emerging from collecting stem cells from the umbilical cord blood. There are two basic principles at work in all these issues. The first is a desire to find effective treatments for diseases. Such a desire has in history been driven by people of compassion and care, often with deep religious motivation. We must be careful not to dismiss all medical research as tampering with nature when those involved are sincerely seeking the wellbeing of you and me. But the second principle is the one that says life, given by God, created in the womb is sacred. And whatever we do we must retain the sanctity of life. Life is not ours to take at will, and do with as we choose. We abhor the evil involved in the physical and mental abuse of people especially the vulnerable, whether old or young. We must also honour the gift of life and seek to uphold the value of human life in each and every individual. So we will resist anything that seeks to create life for our own purposes, as a tool for our ends, rather than as a special individual in its own right. The line may not always be clear. These issues are all very complex and challenging. But for me the deepest thing is that I value people. R t Kendall, a Christian leader and writer of great experience says this:-
When the triune God said 'Let us make man in our image' it was His way of irrevocably separating man from the rest of creation; from plants, animals, fish, the sky, stars, planets; it was His way of distinguishing man from the rest of creation; it was His way of elevating man above the rest of creation. What makes man different? It is that man is made in the image of God. Nothing of creation but man is imprinted with the irrevocable image of God.
He goes on Well, there may be someone who feels that abortion is wrong but doesn't know why. There may be someone who feels that experimentation with the embryo is wrong, but doesn't know why. This should tell us why. It is the image of God in man that some are tampering with. They are not only tampering with human life, but God's own image. This is why we take our stand. It is a humanitarian issue, yes. It is an emotional issue, yes. It is a political issue, yes. But it is pre-eminently a theological issue. It is a Biblical issue. It is because we are Christians. It was an uphill climb for William Wilberforce over 150 years ago. He had a pastor John Newton, the author of the hymn Amazing Grace, who said to William Wilberforce, 'Go for it'. And Wilberforce stuck to his guns and he won, and slavery was abolished in this country. We too must be unashamed and unafraid, for history is on our side. The Bible is on our side, God is on our side. "And if God be for us who can be against us." |
| Phil's blog Post Date 39 months 5 days. |
|
A rather longer blog than usual, in fact this is the script of the Topical Teach on the subject "Science, the Stars or Scripture, which do you trust to tell the future?"
Introduction The Christian message of God's love is powerful enough to deal with the fear that so often rules in people's lives, regarding the future. FEAR is a powerful force. It an be good but is so often a crippling control over our lives, especially with regard to the future. God wants his children to live lives free from the power of fear, of the future and of death, which is placed there by uncertainty and insecurity and ultimately by Satan! Hebrews 2v14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." Romans 8v15 God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, 1 John 4v16-18 I am going to explore three ways we might look ahead, and see what the motivation is and how helpful this is. 1. The stars! Astrology and other forms of fortune telling, are everywhere making predictions for example for 2010. There are web sites offering you predictions from the stars about your future. Many people actually pay for that stuff! And then there are the newspaper horoscopes, and those who consult the dead. Many people will say it's only a bit of fun, but it's not. It's two things.....
What force is that? 'Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19v31 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 18v10-13 Chapter 18 of Deuteronomy brands the nations ways of seizing control of the future as an "abomination" in God's eyes. It contrasts this use of soothsaying with the very different way of Israel, the way of faith. We are to trust God who knows the future and not try to grasp it from him by our own devising. See also Galatians 5v20 and Acts 19v18-20 Such practices come from the enemy who would draw people away from God, who alone holds the future. There is an evil force at work that is deceiving people by pandering to their fear about the future. The enemy uses these means to get us interested, fascinated, hooked on fear and then dependent upon these things. And by so doing we are being kept away from God. In Isaiah the prophet speaks to these forces and exposes their real fault, they have no power to do anything to help us whatever! Isaiah 47:12-14 The OT looked at God's prophets to speak God's word and looked for the day God would raise up "a prophet like me from among you" Deut 18v15 The motivation for occult future gazing is demonic and is totally unhelpful. 2. SCIENCE How much can science tell us? The big issue for many people recently has been climate change and the weather. People have been confused by the science because they do not understand, (or haven't been told) that science actually is based something else, very important... Probability. Scientific predictions are based on probabilities and that is fine, as long as we allow for the fact that it will always be probability Here's a quote from an article by Roger Harrabin, Environment analyst, BBC News "Matt Huddlestone, who deals with public understanding at the Met Office, told me that the media constantly over-simplified the forecasts to remove the probabilities. "I actually think the public are capable of understanding probabilities much more than some of the papers think," he said. Whether it is the media or the forecasters, the fact is we need to understand probability when we are engaged in scientific predictions, and that goes for climate, for economics, for life expectancy, for social trends or any other of the ways in which experts in their field seek to tell us what is going to happen. But don't dismiss such exploration. Jesus once said this:- The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. Matthew 16v1-3 The motivation for scientific exploration is reasonable forward planning and preparation. But remember it is probably...... So can we know anything with certainty about the future? 3. THE SCRIPTURES Does the Bible tell us what is going to happen in the future? Yes and No!! Take the No first.....An American book called 2012 and the Bible deals with a growing speculation that the end of the world will happen in 2012. (apparently based on ancient Mayan texts) The book actually dismissed the prediction because it finds a better one in the Bible and proceeds to give details of the timetable of God's future. I want to say to you that is not how I read the Bible, which to me is Scripture, Holy writing, God's Word and something to be listened to with great care and humility, and not to be picked over like some quasi scientific journal. I believe in the Truth of God's word, and I trust God's Word on the future. What do I mean? Start with Jesus. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." Mark 13v32-33 He does say certain things will happen.
What about the Bible book of Revelation? Most predictive words about the future come from this book, but the question is "is that what Revelation is about?" And the answer is no. Revelation is about God's people living in an ungodly world. Jesus said that in Mark 13 and Revelation is a commentary on Mark 13. It speaks in picture language, using a huge amount of metaphor, especially number metaphor. It is not a sequence of historical events but a revelation of God's big plan. And in the end the plan is fulfilled in the new heaven and the new earth that God has promised. Now some of the language is clearly applicable to the historical context of the book. So the army of Rome is clearly being spoken if here and there. But there is indication that that is not the whole story. The whole story is not just the empire of Rome being overthrown; there is more. And indeed there has been more! Throughout history people have found things in the book of Revelation that say, that's us! That's what happening now. I am sure the Holy Spirit used this big plan of God to enable each generation of his people to find themselves in God's plan. BUT, and it is a big but, no one event or era in history is the one that is being talked about so nobody can claim we alone are in the last times. The truth is we are all in the last times as our forefather in the 1stC and 16thC and every century since have been. God's big plan. This is my YES answer to the question, does the Bible tell us what is going to happen in the future? The Bible is in many ways like a series of signposts, all pointing to the next part of the journey. What is the destination? "Back home" Genesis begins with creation, and man who is placed among creation, is placed in the garden of God. (garden assumes house!) However man's sin against God, his disobedience, caused him to cast out of the garden into the big wide world. The rest of the Bible is the story of God seeking to bring us back home....not to a physical Eden, there is no such place on earth, but to God's house, God's home, God's garden. And at the end of Revelation the garden city of God comes down for God's people to live with Him once more. In between there are signposts, each pointing the way forward. (See Separate sheet for references) The Exodus of the people from Egypt points to the deliverance from sin that Jesus is going to bring to us The Old Testament people of God points to the family of God from every tribe nation and tongue that is brought together by Jesus The Old Testament prophets point forward to the SAVIOUR, the Messiah to Jesus. Jesus come sand points to His Father, and calls us to come to know him The Early church points to the Holy Spirit and the power He brings to change our lives The letters of the Christians point to the Mission of God to bring the gospel of Jesus to the whole world And the book of Revelation points to the return of Jesus, to gather his people back home. Every part of the Bible points the way ahead..... From the beginning in the old to the Story of Jesus in the new And the new to the end which is back at the beginning. Now these pointers are to be seen as markers on a journey rather than periods of time on a clock. I do believe we are in the end times but the end is still to come. I believe that the Gospel is going to be seen to be at work in all the world, which it is now far more than ever before. I believe that there will be an increase in both persecution for the church, and trauma in the world, which is happening AND THEN I BELIEVE THAT JESUS WILL RETURN. It will be unmistakeable. Every eye will see him. I believe that at that point there will be no more time as we know it. There will be the final judgment, which will lead everyone to face Jesus, and the reality of His Lordship. And for those who have trusted Him as Lord there is the fulfilment of the Life God has already placed in their heart, life in the Garden city of God. For those who have not trusted this Lord, there is only the promise of hell. What matters is that we are prepared for his return, acknowledging Him as Lord now. And when we do, the truth we started with kicks in The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." Romans 8v15 God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, 1 John 4v16-18 We become those who live free from the fear of the future because the future is entirely in Christ and we are in Him. Conclusion For me the stars are only a demonically motivated false trap into fear Science is a valuable but limited means of exploring probabilities in this physical world But the Bible is precious in giving me a guide for life, through life, into eternity. It is not there to give us timetabled events in history, but it is there to guide us through God's big plan. And on the journey there are so many signposts to read and follow. It is for me a living guide book, and I need it. I treasure Scripture to guide me through all of life. Because I HAVE FAITH IN JESUS THE LIVING WORD, and trust him for the future! |
| Phil's blog Post Date 38 Months 15 days. |
|
So 2010 is going to be significant. What was that all about? (For those who haven't read it, scroll down to my previous blog entry!)
Let me first say what it is not about. It is not about pretending that I have inside information into future events this year. I don't. And neither do I believe does anyone else. If you want to hear more about why I am saying this, come to the Topical Teach on the 31st. January at 6.00pm. (or read it later on this blog space). We have already had a massive international disaster, that nobody predicted - the earthquake in Haiti. I hope you have been stirred to give. I commend www.tearfund.org.uk if you need a channel for your response. None of us knows what other events may touch the world or us in 2010. It's not that sort of significance I am speaking about. And neither is this about some secret plan I have hatched to take over Biggleswade, or to turn our building into a theme park. In fact this is not about my plans at all. It's about living more in the reality and speciality of this moment. The world is an uncertain place, and uncertainty is going to increase. Church as it has been is also uncertain. I've just read an article called "theology after google", which talks about the reality of the internet, iphone, facebook world in which then younger generation live, and the rest of us are slowly entering. Because of that the way people meet and react is changing. And that is bound to affect church as well: Church will look different, more events like Tea Time Church, and Church on Wednesday, and Church outside of the box. (the four walls!) The significance of this is not so much the things that change, but our confidence in what is unchanging, the promise of Jesus to be with us, always. That promise needs more than ever before, to grab your heart. Today is a special day because Jesus is coming to live it with you. You are not alone, you are never alone. Today will be transformed by his presence. Today will become the day the Lord has made. Today will be the day of rest. Today will be the day to bring salvation to others, as we love them with God's love. Today is THE DAY. Does that make any sense to you? Let me know! I'd love to hear from you. And having mentioned the Facebook route, I am on Facebook if you would like to use that. And if you're really old fashioned there's good old e-mail phil@bbchurch.org.uk May God fill your today with His love Phil |
| Phil's Blog Post Date 37 Months 9 days. |
|
Dates can be confusing! My blog post date for example bears little resemblance to the actual date. (though in fact it is absolutely determined by the actual date! To find out why, you may have to go to the beginning the these blogs!)
Christmas as a date is also confusing. Why December 25th? Certainly not because it is absolutely the date when Jesus was born. It almost certainly wasn't December 25th. And which year? We're not completely sure! Historically 0 AD, or perhaps 1 AD, if there wasn't a zero AD between I BC and 1 AD! For us as Christian the date is irrelevant. That Jesus was born is the truth we celebrate, but we surely don't want to leave it, or him, there. It has to be more about celebrating our faith that God has come to be with us, and by the Holy Spirit bringing Jesus into our heart, he is still with us, and always will be! But if dates can be confusing so can expectations? We live in a culture where the expectation of Christmas is all towards its commercial gift spending, it's over the top party festivities, and it's one jolly happy family image. These are all too unreal for most people. And not just that, the reality is that for some people every year it cannot be like that. What do you do if Christmas coincides with a tough time in your life; bereavement, a tragedy, a personal difficulty, or an illness? Christmas 1967 was like that for me. My mother had been unwell in the summer and after surgery had a colostomy. On about December 23rd (it might have been the 22nd) she went back to hospital to have the colostomy reversed, just in time for Christmas. But something went wrong. She never recovered from that surgery, and 3 months later died in hospital of Pneumonia. I remember that Christmas far more than others. We spent Christmas day at very short notice with a friend of my Dad's from the church, who in fact we didn't know very well at all. Boxing day we were home, but dad was at hospital all day, and we were allowed in just for a few minutes. It was so different. Not Christmas as we expected. But Christmas maybe as taught us the deepest truth of all. God is with us, whatever we are going though. When I hear on the news people deeply upset because something bad has happened to them "just before Christmas" my heart goes out to them to say, the real Christmas is possibly nearer your grasp right now than it has ever been. He has come, He is here, reach out to Him. Begin to talk to Him as one who wants to be your friend. Don't tell him what you want, just tell him how you feel and allow His Spirit to speak into your heart. My prayer for you all is a very happy God-with-you Christmas, wherever and whatever you are doing. And as for 2010, well I have some growing conviction that this is going to be significant. I need to take some time thinking more about this and will write again before long... but no date is promised!! Phil |
| Phil's Blog Post Date 36 Months 20 days. |
The careful readers of this blog will realise
I want to now offer to you a teaching that I gave last Sunday evening called Why do bad things happen to good people? It is quite long but I hope you will find is worth reading. Do let me know what you think and please e-mail me with any questions or issues you have. (phil@bbchurch.org.uk) INTRODUCTION Before his death June 29, 2001, at the age of 64, due to Pulmonary Fibrosis, Ronald Dunn had an extensive itinerate ministry of Bible teaching and preaching and served as the Minister-at-Large for the MacArthur Blvd. Baptist Church in Irving. During his time as pastor there, the church doubled in size and began a unique 24-hour Intercessory Prayer Ministry. This Prayer Ministry has become the model for similar ministries in churches and Christian organizations around the country. Ron Dunn is the author of many books including DON'T JUST STAND THERE-PRAY SOMETHING (Thomas Nelson ). In 1993, the British edition of DON'T JUST STAND THERE-PRAY SOMETHING was on the UK Christian Bestsellers list for a year and a half, outselling every other Christian book in the UK. His wife, Kaye, is the President of LifeStyle Ministries and lives in Flower Mound, Texas. They have two children, Stephen and Kimberly. Their first child, Ronald Jr., died in 1975 at the age of 18. Ron Dunn wrote a book that wasn't on the list in his biography, called "When Heaven is silent." It is the most honest book I have ever read not just about the problem of bad things, but the question why do bad things happen to good people. He wrote this:- "When the casket was lowered into the earth I buried it with a lifetime of easy answers and unasked questions - except one. Why? I am still trying to bury that one." We'll come back to Ron Dunn later. The question why is powerful because it raises some massive issues for us....people want answers THE ISSUE OF UNDERSTANDING We live in a "right to know" generation. Everyone has the right to know everything, or so it seems. The media are full of this, championing all sorts of issues and demanding that politicians, bankers, celebrities, executives, police, tell us what we want to know. But then we expect we have a right to know everything, we expect the doctors to always tell us what is wrong, and the scientists to explain everything in the universe. We are far less good at accepting mystery than we used to be. There's nothing wrong in knowing, what can be known. But there is also a place for accepting the mystery of what cannot be known. But that's something people find much harder. Isaiah 40v27-28 "Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. " THE ISSUE OF FAIRNESS When a tragic death is announced, maybe a murder, or a house fire, or a road accident, you will nearly always hear people say something like "he didn't deserve that!" Underneath that comment is an assumption that in this life we ought to get what we deserve, and if we have lived a good life we deserve not to suffer. On the other hand if someone has done something really bad, they definitely deserve to suffer, and the more the better. Badness deserves punishing, and suffering is the way that happens. In other words the assumption is that this life ought to be controlled by some cosmic power that makes sure everything in life is fair. Isn't that what people expect God to be? "I will proclaim the goodness of the Lord. Oh praise the greatness of our God! He is the rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." Deuteronomy 32v3-4 Let's imagine we are a school class. New piece of software has arrived that enables us to speak into the machine and the computer then writes what we say on the screen. There are 5 computers with this facility and 20 of us in the class....the teacher has to decide who is going to use it first, and for how long. And we accept that the teacher will try to be fair, and give everyone a fair share of the time to experiment with the new software. We want the teacher to control us with fairness. But then we're going home, and before we do the teacher says, right who has some pocket money with them and intends to buy some sweets or crisps or chips or anything else on the way home? Imagine the teacher can know exactly what we have whether we declare it or not. And then the teacher says, now I am taking some of what you have and giving it to him, or her, because they don't have any. And I am giving more to them because they have behaved better than you. We would be upset. You have no right to do that! You don't own me! What I do with my money in my time is up to me. In other words we want the teacher to control us with fairness when it suits us, in the classroom, but not when it comes to our own lives, and our own possessions. Many people want a God who will deal with them fairly when it suits them, but no way do they want God to control their lives! In fact they adamantly believe they have a right to live as they want to, (whatever is happening to others across the world!) AND GOD HAS GRACIOUSLY LET US HAVE THIS SO CALLED FREEDOM! He remains the God of Justice: What HE does is just but what WE do is often not just! And because of what we have done, this whole world is broken, and behaves with injustice. But His promise is that in the bigger reality called eternity all the unfairness of this world will be righted. "Here's my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight....in faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth." Isaiah 42v1,3-4 and quoted by Matthew speaking of Jesus in Matthew 12v18, 20-21.) Meanwhile in the here and now reality of 2009, he leaves us in the world where selfishness and greed, and anger and misfortune, tragedy and accident, undeserved suffering and pain ALL HAPPEN....not as punishment for sin but because the world is broken. And it is not fair! SO ULTIMATELY WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH GOD IF WE ARE TO FIND AN ANSWER. It is God who is behind it all "I am the man who has seen affliction, by the rod of his wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light." Lam 3v3 What is God doing about it? So let's make a few thing clear
1. Bad things happen to everyone
John 16v33 "In this world you will have trouble." This world as it is, is broken, and the effects of the brokenness of the world are felt in nature, in society and in each of our hearts. There is natural disaster, there is social disorder and there is personal anguish. Everyone suffers, you cannot buy your way out of suffering though the unfair distribution of wealth has led to many more people suffering. Jesus told us the world is a tough place to live and we agree. God made the world good but there has been a breakdown of the relationship between the maker and his creation. "The creation was subjected to frustration not by its own choice but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." Romans 8v20-21
2. Things happen indiscriminately, to good and bad alike
Matthew 5v45 "This is what God does. He gives his best-the sun to warm and the rain to nourish-to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty." (The Message) Luke 13v1-5 "About this same time Jesus was told that Pilate had given orders for some people from Galilee to be killed while they were offering sacrifices. Jesus replied: Do you think that these people were worse sinners than everyone else in Galilee just because of what happened to them? Not at all! But you can be sure that if you don't turn back to God, every one of you will also be killed. What about those eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were worse than everyone else in Jerusalem? Not at all! But you can be sure that if you don't turn back to God, every one of you will also die." (CEV) It is so important we hear that Jesus says this. Things happen without any distinction on the good and bad. A tsunami wave overwhelms all in its path whoever they are. A virus infection can pass from one to another irrespective of how that person has behaved. So it cannot be punishment specific to sin. And yet the Bible wants us to hear that God is behind all of it.
3. Some bad things happen because people behave badly but not all bad things happen for this reason
There are consequences of our bad behaviour, which are often quite logical. First there is the law of the land that tells us if we disobey we will suffer punishment, and then there is natural law that says for example if we mistreat our bodies we are liable to suffer illness. The packet says "smoking can damage your health" but people still smoke. However this just isn't the whole story. People's bad behaviour can cause innocent people to suffer and much illness has nothing to do with someone's bad behaviour. Roy Castle died from lung cancer caused by passive smoking: he himself never smoked in his life. In Bhopal in India 100.,000 people today are suffering serious sickness because of an industrial accident which was caused by severe negligence on the part of the Union Carbide chemical company. Even more so being born with some illness, caused by a deficient gene or some difficulty in the child birth is in no way that person's fault, NOR THEIR PARENTS! So why does this badness happen?
4. It is also the case that the wicked can prosper when the righteous perish.
Jeremiah 12v1 "You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? Job 21v7,13 "Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace" Ecclesiastes 7v15 "I've seen it all in my brief and pointless life-here a good person cut down in the middle of doing good, there a bad person living a long life of sheer evil. So don't knock yourself out being good, and don't go overboard being wise. Believe me, you won't get anything out of it. But don't press your luck by being bad, either. And don't be reckless. Why die needlessly?" (The Message) The fact that good and bad alike suffer doesn't stop us getting upset when good people suffer and bad people don't. It still causes us to ask why!
5. And it is certainly true that followers of Jesus are going to suffer
1 Peter 2v19-21 "For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." In Matthew 24 Jesus says that before the end comes there will be wars and rumours of wars, and famines and earthquakes, indiscriminate suffering affecting innocent victims, and he said that those who believe would suffer because they believed. That is what we shared this morning as part of "Persecuted Church Sunday". So why do bad things happen to good people? Three possible answers..... 1. FATE! It is simply the will of God, Allah, Karma: or just life!! Good luck or bad luck, the throw of the dice; the hand of cards you are dealt. But to this idea that it is just fate, we cry NO! Not fair! Undeserved! We recognise a moral problem here and one that we cannot just dismiss. And the only person we can properly go to is God, the author of everything. If we are going to get an answer to the question, then either we do not believe in God, and we say it's simply how it is. (In which case people who believe that shouldn't go around blaming a God they don't believe in!) Or we are going to complain it is not fair and THEN WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH GOD! 2. IT IS WHAT WE DESERVE, WHETHER WE THINK IT OR NOT! In other words we may not think we are a bad person, we may not be as bad as others, but we are not perfect so we have no right to complain, whatever happens. Summary of story of Job and his comforters. Job 1v1 "In the land of Uz there lived a man who name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil." Job is set up as a good man, to whom bad things happen! His children are kidnapped; his flocks of sheep burnt up in a volcanic eruption, his camels stolen, and then his children are killed in a tornado. Finally Job is struck down with leprosy and driven out into the desert: natural disaster, criminal wickedness, and personal tragedy, all in one story. Three friends then come and visit him and try to tell him why bad things have happened to this good man. Eliphaz says: Job 4v7 "Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed, those who plough evil and those who sow trouble reap it. At the breath of God they are destroyed; at the blast of his anger they perish." We could stop there and say that's the answer! The Bible says so, but it simply shows the danger of reading a verse out of context and not hearing the whole word of God. Job's friends were giving conventional wisdom, that ultimately suffering is caused by sin, so everything bad that happens must be our fault somewhere down the line, end of story. But Job is having nothing of it!! Job 16v2 "I have heard many thing like these, miserable comforters are you all!" Job 21v34 "Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood" Job accepts that he is far from perfect, but he knows that he has sought to keep his heart pure, he HAS lived a good life, and he HAS trusted in God. The wicked around him have ignored God, despised God, acted cruelly to others and yet the calamities that have come to Job, haven't touched them. The simply answer, Job, it's your fault just won't wash! And Job wants to have it out with God. Job 23v3 "If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling; I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments." There is an answer to the question why bad things happen to good people which does say actually none of us is that good! And it says that evil is a result of the rebellion of man against God. Romans 3v23 "All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 15v22 "As in Adam all men die" We are all part of a world separated from God by sin and the consequence of that is we are in a broken world. So it is all our fault, but it is not yours and mine specifically. This in the end is part of the answer Job comes to. He won't agree it is HIS SIN specifically but he agrees he is part of the sinful world. and he "repents in dust and ashes". Job 42v6 But his repentance is not for the sin that caused his tragedy. His repentance is for his doubting that ultimately God is in charge and God's ways are beyond our understanding. So that takes us to the third answer...... 3. IT IS THE ROAD DOWN WHICH WE WILL FIND GOD. Here's something amazing.....bad things happen to good people, (and to bad people as well, but sometimes to good people in particular,) to take us down the road where we will find God. Romans 5v3-5 "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (The word sufferings here is the same word as trouble in John 16v33) This is what we are going to explore a little now, the simple idea that when bad things happen to good people it is a road down which we will find God. George Matheson as a bright young man, engaged to be married, lost his eyesight. His fiancée broke off the engagement and Matheson was heartbroken. But out of that he wrote a poem that has become a classic of Christian faith... O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be. O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain, That morn shall tearless be. Here is someone realising that the pain can be a way of finding God. Sam Storms wrote:- One thing that I've never heard said is that people profit the most from those who suffer the least. The most profound and lasting encouragement typically emanates from people who've experienced the deepest trials and greatest loss. When I'm hurting or wallowing in self-pity, I don't instinctively turn to those who've been insulated from pain or who've never tasted the bitter dregs of disappointment and heartache. People who've walked through "the valley of the shadow of death" and bear its scars are a greater inspiration to me than all the collective wisdom of those who remain safely isolated on the mountain top of spiritual triumph. TRUTH BEST ILLUSTATED BY PEOPLE 1. THE BIBLE STORY OF JOSEPH illustrates this: Very simply he is treated unfairly by his brothers, and by his employers wife, and by fellow prisoners. He suffers a great deal for it. But eventually he is brought into a better place and ends up Prime Minister of Egypt. The brothers come to Egypt ion a famine to seek food, and they are presented to Joseph. When eventually they discover it is their brother they are dealing with they are terrified he will want revenge for their treatment of him years ago. But he says "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives," Genesis 50v19-20. Joseph had met God on his road of suffering and it changed his life. 2. JEREMIAH WRITER OF LAMENTATIONS The book of Lamentations comes out of the pain of the people of God, suffering exile from their land, and terrible horrific genocide at the hands of their enemies. God's people of Israel have in history suffered so much, and in our lifetime as well, with the events of the holocaust still hugely topical. Out of their pain there always comes this pattern of grief and anguish, and yet faith and hope. Lamentations is a remarkable piece of writing. a) Raw emotion! 1v3-4 "After affliction and harsh labour, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress. The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed festivals. All her gateways are desolate, her priests groan, her young women grieve, and she is in bitter anguish. 1v11-12, 16 "All her people groan as they search for bread; they barter their treasures for food to keep themselves alive. "Look, LORD, and consider, for I am despised."...... "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see. Is any suffering like my suffering that was inflicted on me, that the LORD brought on me in the day of his fierce anger? "This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed." 2v11,18 "My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city. All your enemies open their mouths wide against you; they scoff and gnash their teeth and say, "We have swallowed her up. This is the day we have waited for; we have lived to see it." The probability is that Jeremiah wrote this piece, Jeremiah the prophet of God who was so badly treated by not only the enemies but also his friends! His life was pretty tough right through! And this emotion comes from his heart. And yet what comes out too is this:- b) Quiet and Deliberate confidence in God The book itself is incredibly ordered. Chapters 1-4 consists of 22 verses each starting with a letter on the Hebrew alphabet in order. Chapter 3 has three lines in each verse each starting with the same letter. Only chapter 5 is not in order but it still has 22 verses. In the centre of chapter 3 the heart of the poem are lines like these, paraphrased to give you the idea of the order... Lamentation 3v19-33 (Adapted) For men are not cast off by our Lord for ever For though he brings grief he will show compassion For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men God is good to those who hope in him God is there for those who wait for his salvation God wants us to know this, and to find it out while we are still young His compassions never fail His faithfulness is so great He is totally for me and I will wait for him I may remember the bitterness and the pain I may feel down in the depths but I will nevertheless bring God to mind and live in hope. 3. JOB Ron Dunn's book "When heaven is silent" speaks of his own stumbling journey down the road marked with suffering towards the God of great mercy and love. He talks of how as all this worked out, he had to learn that You can trust God and still get hurt. And the reason is that you trust God has finished with you yet. In other words the journey goes on. He talks a lot about Job's story and he says that the real story in the book of job is not between Job and God but Satan and God. It is Satan who comes to God and asks permission to make Job suffer so Job will denounce God. God gives him permission. And the story is whether or not Satan is right. Job's wife thinks he is, she tells Job to "curse God and die." But Job replies, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble." Job 2v10 His attitude is summed up in this "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of he Lord be praised." Job 1v21 Job is willing to stick with God even though he doesn't understand. He won't curse God, but he longs for the day when he knows God will put things right. Ron Dunn spoke of his journey through the darkness of his grief, of the tragedy of his son's death, of the unhelpfulness of some Christians trying to explain it all to him, and of the grace of other Christians willing to stand with him through it all. And his strongest comment about how he kept going? "When you don't know what to do, do what you know to do." Come to God, worship God, tell God and above all Lean on God. He talks about the most unbelievable verse in the Bible. Romans 8v18 "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him." It's unbelievable because it doesn't often seem to be happening. But faith says it is, and faith will not be deterred by what we cannot understand. Faith is putting out trust in God's word, when we can't understand. If we understood it would not be faith. So faith is hanging on in there, believing God is at work for good in this. The book ends with a chapter called "I may be Dunn, but I'm not finished." 4. JESUS Joni writes this:- "Nothing is lacking when it comes to what Christ did on the cross. It is finished just as he said, But something is lacking when it comes to showcasing the salvation story to others. Jesus isn't around in the flash but you and I are." Joni is looking at the Christian faith that Jesus death is absolutely central to our understanding of this problem. Jesus death is God sharing in our suffering; more than that it is God taking our suffering on himself, he who was not sinful. There was nothing in Jesus to deserve anything bad, but he chose to come to this suffering world, share it's pain, and then take the worst it could throw at him and die. And in his death he experienced what we experience, "My God my God why have you forsaken me". Matthew 27v46 That is such a powerful moment. Jesus is not just quoting a Psalm that does indeed go on to hold on to faith, he is also expressing his heart, that feels God forsaken: God forsaken by God: God torn apart: God heart- broken. This is our God!! But that cannot be the end. Something was happening there to tell us that suffering and pain and death are not the end. "It is finished" (John 19v30) is a TRIMUPHANT CRY OF FULFILMENT. And Easter is the demonstration of that fulfillment. For at Easter death is reversed, pain in undone, suffering is rolled away and Jesus walks again, alive and well, no pain, no suffering, no more death. That's the end of the road! But we haven't got there yet. We still walk the road marked with suffering, but Jesus walks it with us and he says, let me be your hope. Before I show you the final story I want to just try to sum up what I have been saying. The question we began with, is one that is so often asked, but to which we do not have the full answer. If we dismiss the notion of God and of meaning in life then we have no answer other than that's life. But that goes against all our moral senses: we want there to be a meaning and so we turn to God and blame God. It's not my fault it's yours! God, it seems to me, answers in this way... "Yes" he says "that's right. I made you to be my friends, but I also made you with the possibility of choosing to go your own way, and you, humanity, have done just that. So the perfect order has been broken, and the result is a chaotic world, in which you suffer, sometimes for your own fault, but very often for the fault of the sin in the world. But I haven't left it there. I have been seeking to rescue you, and bring you back to me. And so I came in my Son Jesus and walked your road. I walked through the pain and suffering with my Son until he took the path on his own to death and we were torn apart. But as he did that, he broke the curse of sin and made a pathway back to me. We were restored in the joy of heaven. And now our heart is for you to join us. The path may still be tough, and the suffering beyond your comprehension, but if you trust me, I will be with you, and I will lead you along that path and you will find me. And as you find me you will see Jesus my son, and in him you will have hope. And the day will come when your journey will end and for you as for him all sorrow and pain will be over and there will be no more death. So be brave..... I do not give you full understanding of this, but I give you something better, my presence to be with you. And remember I see the glorious end that you can't at this time. But you will! One guy who has found that to be true is called Nic Vujicic. You can watch his story of YouTube and also on his own web site. www.livingwithoutlimbs.org Here's guy who can say that the road marked with suffering is a road that leads to glory. He hasn't got to the end of the road yet but he believes he will. At the end of the Lord of the Rings stories, Sam Gangee discovers that his friend Gandalf was not dead as he had thought but alive. He cries, "I thought you were dead, but then I thought that I was dead myself! Is everything sad going to come untrue?" The answer of Christianity is YES! One last quote from C S Lewis, a hero for me of faith in the real world. "They say of temporal suffering (that is suffering in this world) ‘no future bliss can make up for it,' not knowing that heaven once attained will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory." |
| Phil's Blog Post - 21/09/09 |
|
A Christian Response to Homosexuality
Introduction Over my years in ministry I have come across individuals who have faced in their own lives the challenge of homosexuality. I think of Bob, who was a member of the Boys' Brigade leadership and who came on several Youth Camps that I organised. Some years after I left the church I was told that he was a homosexual and had left the church. Jim was a deacon. Sometime after my arrival he came to me and confided that he was gay. He had a relationship with a young man overseas and was going over to see if this relationship was going to become permanent. He is still on the leadership team of that church, now married to a delightful lady whose first husband had died. Peter came to Alpha and was deeply affected by the Gospel. He was a practicing homosexual, but under the conviction of God sought to overcome his homosexual desires, and live a celibate life. He was baptised, and shared worship with the rest of the church. Sometime later though, he reverted to his former lifestyle, and eventually left the church. However I kept in touch and knew more than most the deep struggles he was going through, emotionally and spiritually. All these are real people, though I have changed their names. Why? Because they are all alive, and as far as I know seeking to work out their life and faith, for the most part with little support and without most people around them knowing their deepest issues. The likelihood is that within our community here there will be a Jim or a Bob or a Peter, struggling often alone with their feelings. And not just men. I have also been aware of Ladies who have faced similar issues. It seems to me we have a God given responsibility to respond to these people in a better way than we have. Generally speaking the church's response to homosexuality has been unsympathetic, and uncaring, and has led to a very strong antagonism from the Gay Community. Given that there are somewhere around 5% of the population who would identify themselves to some degree or other as gay, and another 5% who would find themselves veering towards homosexual desires as well as heterosexual desires, we have between 3 and 6 million people to be concerned for. And one of them is probably someone you know. I have collected a lot of resources over the past weeks to help me prepare for this. The two most recent and therefore accessible for you as well are:- Andrew Marin who writes as "straight white conservative Bible believing evangelical male" who found himself called by God to work with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community in Chicago. (Commonly called the GLBT) It led him to start the Marin Foundation (www.themarinfoundation.org) The Marin Foundation educates, equips and provides the GLBT community with wholistic spiritual training, scientific research and clinical counseling. We seek to make available a transparent environment that does not force change, but rather fosters spiritual and religious growth ... David Peterson leads the Oak Hill theological training college in London which prepares men and women for Christian ministry especially overseas. He has edited a series of essays in the book "Holiness and sexuality", including contributions from Martin Hallett, a non practising homosexual who started the True freedom trust (www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk), and from Dr Peter Saunders General Secretary of the Christian Medical Fellowship. In the introduction to the book David Peterson writes, "Our concern is not just academic, but also pastoral. We want to challenge one another to holiness of life....we want to promote a better understanding of the nature, power and diversity of sexual sin, refusing to allow homosexuality to be isolated from other distorted expressions of sexuality.....and we want the comfort and hope of the gospel to be heard by all who struggle to be faithful in this aspect of their lives." Behind those I have some older books that I have found nonetheless very helpful, Richard Lovelace, (who has written books on revival and spiritual renewal) wrote in 1978 "Homosexuality and the Church: crisis, conflict compassion." Tony Campolo wrote in 1988 "20 Hot Potatoes Christians are afraid to touch". And John Piper, whose many book have blessed me hugely, wrote in 2003 about his own churches response to homosexuality. (Link to site) I mention these now because I am very aware that in the rest of this talk I can only touch on some aspects that these guys have covered far more thoroughly. You have some web sites and links on your notes that will give you access to these tools, or you may choose to borrow the books I have here. So let's get into the meat of all this, and I am going to use a question and answer style. 1. "What has been the position of the Church historically on homosexual practice? Until very recently there was no debate in the church about homosexual practice. It was seen as a sin, and anyone who practiced homosexual acts was considered unfit to be a Christian. So anyone who had homosexual feelings either kept them completely to themselves, or if they were foolish enough to make them known faced complete condemnation by the church. When in the 60's and 70's the issue began to be debated in the secular world, movements like the Gay Liberation Movement became very prominent. The church seemed to be on a collision course with them. Clifford Hill who leads the Contemporary Christian Movement at Moggerhanger Park said last week that when he was a young lecturer at the London School of Economics in 1972, the Gay Liberation Movement announced "The family as the source of our oppression has to be destroyed." Such a position remains within some of the secular Gay movement but by no means represents the opinion of all who find themselves dealing with homosexuality. But it is that reaction that has led to a counter reactive stance by some in the church, denouncing the homosexual lobby. In other words there has been a state of conflict between the church and homosexuals. 2. "What new data from biology, psychology and sociology shed light on our response to homosexuality within the church? The simple answer to this is that all these disciplines have made us think more carefully just what we are dealing with when we talk of homosexuality. It has been too easy to say we know what it means and it is wrong. Now we have to ask a little more carefully what it is and how it relates to other forms of sexual expression. Biology and especially genetics has been searching to see if there is some variation in chemical, hormonal or genetic makeup that leads to homosexual orientation. In 1993 a geneticist called Hammer announced he had found the gay gene, called Xq28 on the female chromosome, but subsequent research has found no such conclusive genetic component. We are discovering that personality traits have a hormonal and genetic aspect to them, but this is not as precise or predictable as say the genetic basis for colour blindness, or Sickle Cell disease; or the hormonal reason for diabetes. What psychology has been studying is the degree to which homosexuals choose their orientation or are reacting to something that is within them already there. And the strongest evidence is that although the reason the orientation is there may have as much to do with the nurture of the child as anything biological, the fact remains that for most homosexuals, in particular men, their orientation comes to them as a given and not a choice. That is something we need to hear. Whatever the cause of this situation, for many who find themselves with homosexual feelings, this is not their chosen orientation, it is something they have found in them. Sociology has been studying the factors that may lead to this. And the research continues strongly seeking to understand this behaviour. Looking back to past cultures it is apparent that in cultures where homosexual practice is accepted and even encouraged the number of those involved grows significantly. Whereas when the practice is not encouraged, indeed it is rejected, the number of those involved seems to grow smaller, though never is it eliminated. But of course that may simply be a result of people hiding or not their real feelings, depending on what society around them is thinking. There is also in this field a lot of exploration as to how the family background of a child affects them in their sexual orientation. There is strong case for seeing that the lack of a strong father figure can lead to a boy seeking out other males to replace the missing father. And similarly the absence of a close mother role, may lead to a girl seeking such a mother figure in another female. However much these things may well have a part to play, on their own they do not explain the whole situation. Peer group pressure can play a big part in the development of homosexual behaviour: where someone feels left out, or rejected by their same sex peers and so forms a close bond with a group of the opposite sex and takes on their gender mentality. So a boy who finds himself pushed away by other boys forms close bonds with a group of girls, identifies with their gender and then finds himself, like them, attracted to boys. And vice versa for girls. All of this leads to the conclusion quoted from the British Journal of Psychiatry in 1994 and agreed by Dr Peter Saunders from the Christian Medical Fellowship in 2004 "It remains difficult on scientific grounds to avoid the conclusion that the uniquely human phenomenon of sexual orientation is a consequence of a multi-factorial development process in which biological factors play a part but in which psychosocial factors remain crucially important." What I take from that is that whatever follows by way of our convictions about homosexuality, we must bear in mind that people who face this personal issue in their lives are not simply choosing something evil, like the person who chooses to steal, or the person who chooses to lie, or the person who chooses to commit adultery, they are responding to something in them for which they may very well not be at all personally responsible. Now please listen carefully! That last statement does not say that it's OK to practice homosexuality. Nor does it say that someone who engages in homosexual practice is not responsible for their actions. It does say however that we need think very carefully before we heap judgement on people who are in this situation. The root reason for their situation may well lie outside of themselves. So let's ask another question 3. What does the Bible actually say about homosexuality? There are only four direct references to this in the Bible. Let's read them Leviticus 18v22 and 20v13 Romans 1v26-27 1 Corinthians 6v9-11 1 Timothy 1v9-11 In addition there is an incident in the Old Testament picked up twice in the New Testament, where the men of a town called Sodom hear of some visitors to Lot's house and come demanding that he surrenders the visitors to them so they can have sex with them. Lot refuses, offering instead to give them his daughters. (Genesis 19v1-29) That sin has become known as sodomy, the act of a man having sex with another man. In 2 Peter 2 and Jude this incident is referred to, the residents of Sodom being called "ungodly" in 2 Peter 2v6 and as those who gave themselves up to "sexual immorality and perversion" in Jude v7. Let me make three comments about these passages:- 1. They are quite clear that homosexual practice is in the category of behaviour that is against the way God made us to live. 2. They are all cited in the context of a much wider recognition of behaviour that is sinful. This is especially so in the wider context of sexual immorality. The Greek word for this, "porneia" (from which we get pornography) in the days of the early Christian, covered any form of sexual activity outside of the covenant of marriage. 3. The recognition that homosexuality is sinful is an aside to the main teaching of the Bible that monogamous marriage is God's way place for sexual relations, leading to procreation. I believe that our condemnation of homosexuality is often woefully ignorant of the way the Bible equally and at the same time condemns sexual immorality of all sorts; and not just immorality. Romans 1v26-27 is followed by this: Romans 1v28-32. Can you see that homosexual practice is in the same category of all sinful behaviour that goes against the way God made us to live. The unholy mess of our society is by no means just about homosexuality, but greed and arrogance, and disrespect and strife just as much. As for the use of the word "sodomy", look at what Ezekiel the Old Testament prophet had to say about Sodom. Ezekiel 16v49-50 Richard Lovelace wrote "Sodom was not destroyed because it specialised in homosexuality, but because it was a plague centre of every kind of depravity including pride, sensuality and injustice." It may well be fait to say that although the Bible is clear in its references to homosexuality that this is behaviour against God's way for humans, the Bible is far more frequent in its comments about other forms of behaviour that go against God's ways. Jesus doesn't mention homosexuality, but he has a lot to say about greed, about lack of love, and unforgiveness. 4. What does the Bible teach about God's pattern of sexuality? This is perhaps one of the most helpful things we can explore in this debate. In Romans 1 Paul says that in the practice of homosexuality there is "the exchanging of truth of God for a lie", and the "worshipping and serving of created things rather than the creator who is for ever praised." To Paul the homosexual act is a vivid illustration of the problem of sin. It takes something God has made that is good and instead of seeing it as a reflection of God's character, it sees it as something that fits what we want, and therefore can be changed as our wants are changed. To Paul, marriage, and the covenantal act of sex within marriage is a reflection, an illustration of the love God has for us, and the self giving of Jesus to the church. "Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Ephesians 5v25. Sex in marriage is not about getting what I want but giving what I have for the blessing of another. If we fail to see it like this sex becomes something in which I get what I want, and if it suits me I can get it from whomsoever I want, another woman apart from my wife, a prostitute, or another man, or even an animal. To Paul the marriage of one man to one woman represents a "profound mystery", and anything that challenges that challenges God's purpose for us. It wasn't just Paul. Jesus spoke so highly of marriage and affirmed it so clearly as God's way. And the Old Testament speaks into the one man one woman relationship of Adam and Eve and seeks to uphold it, being very clear again that breaking it breaks God's heart. If marriage is so important then perhaps it becomes clear why for example the Gay Liberation Movement of the 70's speak of the freedom to practice homosexuality as a challenge to what they called "the oppression of the family." There is in other words a spiritual conflict going on around this issue which most people whether homosexual or heterosexual are quite unaware of. On the one hand we have a broken world that does what it wants and on the other a holy world that seeks to conform to God. The Bible paints the holy world of God's place, with words like beauty and grace. It is not oppressive and restrictive but joyful and liberating. Psalm 93v5 "Holiness adorns your house for endless days O Lord." It is that world we are called to inhabit as Christians. Two more questions: 5. Can someone who is homosexual change their orientation? If we have followed so far then we have two things to deal with here. The first is that most of those who find themselves with homosexual desires, have not chosen that deliberately. They have that as part of the broken world they belong to, in the same way other things belong to the broken world. If homosexuality is a sign of the sinful world so is all physical and social disorder. We can take something like war and blame it onto sinful leadership, but not all those caught up in war are therefore to be condemned. (Story of my aunt whose family were caught up in the second world war as German citizens.) But the second thing we have found is that homosexual practice is not just contrary to God's holy way it is a repudiation of the beauty of how God intends us to relate. From these two things it seems to me that a) As Christians we can never encourage those who are homosexual to engage in homosexual practice. b) But neither can we simply tell them to change! Indeed without faith and an understanding of salvation they are unlikely to want to change. Unless we are going to force everyone to believe in God, and believe in salvation (which clearly we are not) then we cannot force them to see this as we see it. c) The only way they will respond to the biblical truth is by acknowledging the spiritual dimension to their situation. d) Those who do, may well find themselves then caught in a dilemma. Part of them wants to change but they find the desires in them so deep that they do not just go away when they become a Christian. I know such people. Some choose to remain single, and enjoy friendship with Christians both male and female without entering into any sort of intimate partnership. Some find the best way to cope is to accept a one to one faithful partnership with another of their own gender but without the intimacy of intercourse. Where that is the case we would do so well not to quickly judge and condemn them, but to seek to understand and support them. Some find they cannot deal with their sexuality without giving it expression. That so often bars them from normal Christian life and so not surprisingly there are now communities of Christian life where the majority are gay. One such is the Metropolitan Church of Christ of which there is a community in Poole where I came from. And some by a process of dealing with unresolved past issues find they can enter into meaningful heterosexual partnerships. I have one such friend, now happily married. 6. What then is a Christian attitude to homosexuality? First it may be obvious but a Christian attitude to homosexuality will be different from the secular world's attitude. A report in the Times in June 2009 shows that a growing number of the population support the right for gay men and women to have civil partnerships and for that to be called marriage. (now 61%) 51% want their children taught that homosexual partnership is of equal validity to heterosexual marriage. Nearly 70% believe that gay people should have exactly the same rights as others, and no job should be excluded from them. We have a big problem here. I can see the need to positively deal with the homophobia of society by the steps that have been taken. I can see that for those with homosexual orientation an acceptance of a faithful one to one partnership is a very appealing state, and one that will help society move away from its biased and prejudiced attitude towards homosexuals. There should be no bar on people's work because of this. But when it comes to teaching children, there is much room for concern. It is clear that at that very vulnerable age, sexuality for the most part is not determined; it can be that what happens in childhood and adolescence that moves a child into homosexuality. If we are teaching it as a good alternative we are going to find more and more taking up that way, and then later regretting it as they find themselves with deep emotional conflict over it. What we do need is an attitude in the adult world that can talk about it honestly and caringly. Sadly that attitude is not always present. But movements like TfT and the Marin Foundation are doing much to help. But when we come to the church as a body of believing people we do take issue with the world's view. What we believe is different. I want to read to you the position that John Piper came to with his church back in 2003, which I find I whole heartedly agree with. 1. We believe that heterosexuality is God's revealed will for humankind and that, since God is loving, a pure and faithful expression of this orientation (whether in singleness or in marriage) is the ideal to which God calls all people. 2. We believe that a homosexual orientation is a result of the fall of humanity into a sinful condition that pervades every person. Whatever biological or familial roots of homosexuality may be discovered, we do not believe that these would sanction or excuse homosexual behaviour, though they would deepen our compassion and patience for those who are struggling to be free from sexual temptations. 3. We believe there is hope for the person with a homosexual orientation and that Jesus Christ offers a healing alternative in which the power of sin is broken and the person is freed to know and experience his or her true identity in Christ and in the fellowship of his Church. 4. We believe that this freedom is attained through a process which includes recognizing homosexual behaviour as sin, renouncing the practice of homosexual behaviour, rediscovering healthy, non-erotic friendships with people of the same sex, embracing a moral sexual lifestyle, and in the age to come, rising from the dead with a new body free from every sinful impulse. This process parallels the similar process of sanctification needed in dealing with heterosexual temptations as well. We believe that this freedom comes through faith in Jesus Christ, by the power of his Spirit. 5. We believe that all persons have been created in the image of God and should be accorded human dignity. We believe therefore that hateful, fearful, unconcerned harassment of persons with a homosexual orientation should be repudiated. We believe that respect for persons with a homosexual orientation involves honest, reasoned, nonviolent sharing of facts concerning the immorality and liability of homosexual behaviour. On the other hand, endorsing behaviour which the Bible disapproves endangers persons and dishonours God. 6. We believe that Christian churches should reach out in love and truth to minister to people touched by homosexuality, and that those who contend Biblically against their own sexual temptation should be patiently assisted in their battle, not ostracized or disdained. However, the more prominent a leadership role or modelling role a person holds in a church the higher will be the expectations for God's ideal of sexual obedience and wholeness. We affirm that both heterosexual and homosexual persons should find help in the church to engage in the Biblical battle against all improper sexual thoughts and behaviours. Pastor John I have here also an article written by Stuart for his current studies, on how the church needs to be engaged in anti-oppressive practice. He deals specifically with the way the church might have been guilty of oppressive practice towards those with a homosexual orientation. His conclusion is that whilst he has never been aware of anti gay oppression in the church, he is equally unaware of any positive attempt to help and support those who have such an orientation. The very silence of church on this issue itself may well be oppressive for those concerned, to the point where they feel they cannot share their challenges with anyone. He speaks of the need for the church to talk more openly of this issue. Perhaps tonight is a start of that. My final comment comes from John Stott, whose "Issues facing Christians today" has been the handbook of such topics for several generations of students, since it first was written in 1984. In is chapter on this topic he writes this:- "At the heart of the homosexual condition is a deep loneliness, the natural human hunger for mutual love, a search for identity. And a longing for completeness.. If homosexual people cannot find these things in the local "church family", we have no business to go on using that expression. The alternative is not the between the warm physical relationship of homosexual partnership, and the pain of isolation in the cold. There is a third option, namely a Christian environment of love, understanding, acceptance and support." That is not to say anyone with homosexual struggles has to be identified for that, indeed it would be wrong to make such a disclosure. But it does mean that there will be the few who do know as trustworthy friends, and who seek to provide strength and encouragement; and a church that doesn't condemn, but seeks to understand and care and share the welcome of Jesus to one and all. This is then about the whole church having a heart to reach out to others, whatever their background, struggle, race, behaviour issue, or anything else. We can never pride ourselves on being church like that, the enemy will always use that pride to trip us up. But we an aspire to be like that, and pray to be like that, and by the grace of the Lord Jesus, we will be like that! |
| Phil's Blog Post Date 33 Months 20 days. (25/08/09) |
|
What do you value most, justice or compassion? Maybe we would rather not give an answer. Both are crucial to any good society. Both are characteristics of God.
If someone has stolen your credit card details, you are probably keen that the police do their utmost to find who is behind the same, and that the thief is brought to justice. But supposing you steal some time that rightly you had promised to your wife or children or best friend, and then spent on yourself or someone else. When the matter is brought to light, as surely it will be, you will be hopeful that the one you have stolen from will have compassion on you, and forgive you. The difference between justice and compassion is this: justice is bringing wrong to the light, compassion is our reaction when that wrong is brought to light. The aim of both is restoration of a broken relationship, which is why they are both fundamental to the nature of God. He desires for us to be restored into relationship with Him. The recent case of the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, has brought this matter into sharp focus. Many have raised their voices in protest at the decision to release him on compassionate grounds, because of his terminal illness. And yet compassion is just what we hope from others, and above all we need from God. His release didn't change the verdict, and doesn't change his guilt before God, who alone knows the deepest truth, which is something he has to face, as we all do for ourselves. But it does show a compassionate face, and for that I for one am profoundly grateful. Having said that, one can understand the distress of the families whose loved ones died, in the bombing, and who feel their voice has not been heard. And certainly we could feel their pain when they saw the reaction to his return in his own country. But that doesn't alter the basis of the decision to release him, a justice system which allows for compassionate release. Our world needs more compassion not less. Of course we need more justice, so that wrong is brought to light, but we so need compassion in our reaction to those who have wronged us, so this broken world might be mended. God is compassionate towards us who have wronged him. He doesn't hide the truth, or pretend we haven't done wrong, but he comes in Jesus to forgive us and restore us. "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3v22-3 Thank God for that, and help us Lord to let Your Spirit move us towards that as our heart too. |
| Phil's Blog Post Date 32 Months 16 days (July 21st 2009) |
|
Sometimes you get a feeling that something has to be said. That's how I felt this week, and then to my surprise I had an e-mail from a Christian leader asking us to pray for him as he was doing a Broadcast this weekend on BBC1 TV on the theme of "Can Marriage Fix Broken Britain?"
What I have felt this week that needs saying is simply that marriage is God's way for humans to manage their lives, individually and as a collective group, and we need to stand up and fight for marriage. There are some people who are single and will always be single. That according to the Bible is a special gift of God, by no means easy to cope with, but wonderfully releasing to enable those who are single to focus more completely on using their life and their gifts for God. That doesn't mean as ministers or missionaries but as whatever you are doing with your life. But not all those who are single are called in this way to be single, and many would prefer not to remain single. (That's another issue and one we are also concerned to respond to!) There are other people who have been married and now are on their own. Some have suffered the death their partner, and that is a very painful experience. The Bible speaks tenderly of caring for widows, and widowers, and so we should. Others are now single because of the divorce of their partnership. That too is a cause of sorrow and support, and not of judgement and condemnation. Everything God has made for us, and given to us is subject to the power of this evil world, and marriage is no exception. In fact it is a prime target for the powers of darkness. But many are still married, and considering marriage! We have a hugely positive message to offer this broken world. Marriage is God's way for us to manage, and it is excellent!! I love the world of nature. In the natural world there are all sorts of examples of bonding between the genders. Some birds, swans and geese and eagles for example, share the same mate their whole lives. They are totally faithful. Others on the other hand, like Dunnocks and Blue tits, are ruthlessly promiscuous; the males will kill the offspring of one female who has mated with a rival, so he can now have her for himself; the females will mate with more than one male. Why this wide variation? The answer is simple. The bird's sole purpose is to procreate. And each species has its own best way for them to survive and breed. Is that all we are about, procreating for the survival of the species? Even if it is, we are not doing too well right now! In fact we're doing a pretty good job of self destruction. Certainly we may question whether the loose knit bonding of current behaviour, living together, having various partners, is leading to a generation of emotionally and spiritually strong offspring. BUT SURVIVAL OF THE SPECIES IS NOT THE MAIN ISSUE! You see the Bible has shown us so clearly that God's purpose for human marriage is MUCH MORE THAN PROCREATION. In fact from the beginning it is primarily a source of mutual support and comfort and encouragement and help. It is primarily a matter of love, which is not the romantic feeling that attracts us, but the committed decision to share our lives together come what may. And it is primarily a SPIRITUAL COVENANT, a reflection to us of God's own love for us. I have spent many many hours listening to those who are struggling with their marriage. I cry for them and with them, and seek to show them how God's love is for them first of all, and would fill them with grace to grow love in their marriage. Sometimes the result has been a restoration of that marriage, but not always. We as human beings don't always make it, and I have no magic formula to make marriage work. But these things I do know for sure. God never gives up on us, whatever happens. And God never gives up on marriage. It is His best way and we need to fight for it. |
| Phil's Blog Post Date 32 Months 1 Day. (July 6th 2009) |
|
How powerfully do you rate forgiveness?
Of course it depends what you are comparing it with. If forgiveness is a way of resolving a dispute, then there are certainly plenty of other methods. Here are the main four alternatives:- Force, taking matters into our own hands, literally The law, seeking retribution through the courts. Doing nothing and hoping the problem will go away, (the preferred method of many!) Face to face confrontation and argument, reasoning things out, mediation. Generally speaking governments make a great deal of use of force, having armies and navies and air forces for just that purpose. They also put a lot of store by their legal systems, both national and international, and spend huge amounts of money on these; (but nothing compared to the amount spent on the previous option!). Governments are good at doing nothing sometimes because it is the cheapest option, but the trouble is it solves nothing! The option of mediation is a very poor relative of the first two, and few people have much faith in it. Forgiveness is rarely seen as an option. It's just not strong enough! But what power has brought the changes in Northern Ireland? Certainly force didn't achieve it. Nor did the courts. Nor did hoping the problem would go away! But mediation played a big part, unseen listening and talking, and sharing, and far greater than that, forgiveness played the biggest part. It was the courage and bravery of individuals who chose to forgive that I believe had the deepest impact in that situation. The same goes for South Africa. Why doesn't the world see that and believe in forgiveness? The answer I believe is that forgiveness is the most expensive of them all. God's forgiveness of us cost Jesus his life. Yet because of it we can have peace in our hearts, and freedom from the chains of guilt! That's the gift of God for those who trust in Jesus. And when we forgive it costs us massively. It hurts and it feels like something in us dies, but the result of forgiveness is new life. Christians need to go on speaking and living and practicing and believing in forgiveness. It is the most powerful way of coping with life, here and eternally. |
| Phil's blog Post Date 31 months 3 days |
|
What do you think about all the political stuff going on at the moment?
In a recent fairly typical media presentation of the current political scene, the reporter was asking for opinions from the general public. No doubt they gathered more footage than they used in the report, but one of the three opinions they did broadcast simply said, "They are all as bad as each other, I think we should get rid of them all." That comment no doubt raised a few cheers from the watching public, but it gets us nowhere! If we get rid of elected representatives and elected government, we open the door to the alternatives, like military dictatorships or authoritarian one party States, or anarchy. The Bible suggests a very different way of thinking. The early Christians lived at a time when they were ruled by the empire of Rome, an unelected, one party State, which imposed its rule by military might! Yet Paul wrote to the Christians in the Roman Capital city and said, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established". (Romans 12v1) Jesus said to Pilate, the representative of Roman power in Jerusalem, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." (John 19v11) It's perhaps a challenge to work out what this means. I suggest that First it means God is the source of all authority. And therefore all authority, good or bad is accountable to God! That helps those who feel that they suffer under evil authority. That authority will be dealt with ultimately by God. Second it means that the role of authority is always to bring the goodness of God to the people. That is hard to accept when an evil authority is for example persecuting Christians! But without any authority, evil would have even more of a free hand to cause chaos. Third it means that as Christians our response is to pray for our leaders whoever they are, rather than to demand that they be changed. If we have been given the opportunity to have a say in who leads us then we prayerfully take that opportunity. But at the end of the day our concern is to submit to and pray for our leaders. It is possible to suggest that we do not believe in democracy, but theocracy, God's rule. And God's rule always begins with me, and my obedience to Him. So the question that we ought to be asking is not so much about whether we like our leaders or not, but whether we are truly submissive to our God? This God who came to be our Father, our Saviour and our Friend, and seeks a relationship with us of trust and love, one in which we know that he always seeks our good. And so one in which we always seek to do His will. Our prayer for us first is "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Seeking His will is the biggest challenge for us. It applies to how we behave each day, how we view other people, how we use our resources, and most important of all, whether we truly reverence Christ as Lord, and seek to draw near to Him, and listen to Him, and be touched by His love. As one of our songs says, Reign in ME Sovereign Lord, Reign in me, Captivate my heart, let your Kingdom come, Establish there your Throne, let Your will be done. |
| Post Date 30 Months 7 days (12.05.09) |
|
I'm reading a book that I can highly recommend, (it was recommended to me by Andrew Wilson, the author of another great book, "Incomparable!") Before I give you the title, let me tell you what has challenged me about it.
It faces REALITY. It's easy to pretend about reality. Reality TV does that all the time, imagining that by filming someone or a group of people we are finding out the reality of their life and situation. We may be seeing some of the reality of it, but we are not really there, we are only spectators to the things the editor of the programme decides we should see or hear. Reality belongs to our own hearts. And if we are honest, that reality is often not that pleasant. Donald Miller, the author of the book I am talking about says, "the facts of reality stink!" Reality is about how difficult we find relationships, how we struggle with our thoughts, how we battle to keep up appearances when inside we are feeling like blowing our top; reality is trusting God with our words of faith but inside wondering whether God really does care; reality is worshipping with joy and gladness and then struggling to find peace in the middle of the night; reality is loving and being loved, and yet feeling sometimes very empty and lost and alone. But what Donald Miller says is this: If that is reality for us, then maybe, just maybe, God is in that reality as well, rather than in the formulas for a wonderful Christian life, for a successful church and for perfect families that we so often are offered. Maybe the wonder of life is in the reality rather than in the imaginary make believe world where everything is perfect. And he bases his thoughts on Jesus, and the reality of his life. If that's how God chose to show himself to us, then we need to accept that He is with us in the realities of life as it is! I could say a lot more but you need to read the book to catch all he is saying. However what I can say is that in this reality, the real life we live, what helps the most is to be able to be real with someone else. Start with God, and tell this awesome Creator, who is so great we cannot conceive His majesty, what you are really thinking and feeling and going through. And then try to share it with someone, someone you can trust, who will not judge or condemn or give you a formula answer, but listen and accept and maybe even without knowing it breathe the grace of God into your heart. And if you have no-one else to share with, I'm happy to listen. You could start with an e-mail to phil@bbchurch.org.uk By the way the book's title if you are interested is "Searching for God knows what" by Donald Miller, published by Nelson and available on the internet from various suppliers. Two little extra thoughts..... be very careful how you react to all the latest revelations about MP's expenses. There's a great danger in dismissing all politicians as unworthy of office, which is surely unfair. And there's a great danger of then choosing either to opt out of the political process, or to consider voting for other parties without very careful scrutiny of their agendas. And second if you put "Belgium railway station dance" into Google you will find a U Tube video that is very worthwhile watching. I imagine the church like that, just being there among the world, and then coming together to display something of the joy of faith in the Lord Jesus, and then being back again among people. If you do watch it, let me know what you think! |
| Post Date 29 months 11 days |
|
Almost a month since the last blog. Much has happened. It always does. In fact every second of every minute much is going on. If we added up all the words being spoken, e-mails sent, texts written, miles driven, paces walked, things bought and sold, meals eaten and so on......
Some things stand out as significant world events, (but even these last months' G20 talks and the earthquake in Italy are soon forgotten), others stand out as personal events, births marriages deaths etc. But at the end of the day here we are just insignificant people going about our lives.....and who cares? And does it matter? God cares Everything we do and see, say and suffer, is noticed regarded, and felt by our Creator. And it matters! Nothing is lost to God, good or bad. And one day we will face the reality of all that has happened. I have been so struck this Easter by the Resurrection as the key event in time, that takes us out of time into God's presence. You can hear more of this on the Easter Sunday morning service recording. But it has also led me to considering the whole issue of eternal life. So added to this blog is a long article, given at a teaching session at BBChurch on Sunday April 19th. You can listen to it on the usual recordings, but you can also read it here. I do hope it stirs you with the truth that life does matter and God does care. Thank Jesus for His eternal love!! Phil |
| Post Date 28 Months 11 days. |
|
My schoolboy German came back to me the other days when I watched a news report of the shooting of teenage kids at a college in a town near Stuttgart. The usual pile of flowers was being shown, at the gates of the place where the atrocity was committed, and on one of them the handwritten message "Warum?"
Last week I shared in the sorrow of two families who were suffering bereavement following the death of one of their own, one still a teenager and one in her middle years. There is a book in the Bible called "Ecclesiastes" which means "The Preacher" in Hebrew. That refers to King Solomon the author of these gathered sayings. It talks in very realistic down to earth terms about "life under the sun", i.e. life as we know it. But it also hints at, and draws us to long for more of, the eternal life that God has in mind for us. Life "under the sun" is full of the question "Why?" Solomon writes, "As it is with the good man, so with the sinner; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them. This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun. The same destiny overtakes all." (Ecclesiastes 9v2-3) The only answer to the question of "why?" is that in the end we are all going to face the same destiny, whether after a short life or a long life, a good life or a bad life. The real question we need to ask is is "what then?" And to answer that Solomon says, "Remember your creator in the days of your youth." (Ecclesiastes 12v1) This month there has been a lot of talking about the work of Charles Darwin. What has pleased me most is that in the majority of words I have read or heard broadcast on this subject there is a recognition that Darwin and the science of evolution is not answering the questions "Why?" or even less "What then?" The concern of the scientific work is to explore a little the question "How?" It is looking at a process within the timescale of our understanding of the existence of matter. But it is not addressing the questions about why we are here, or what happens next. I have no problems with letting science explore "how?" I find the exploring fascinating. But I do not expect science (or journalists), to tell me why I am here, or to help people cope with the deep pains of this world, and to find hope that goes beyond the grave. For that I turn to the one who has shown us life, as God meant it to be: Jesus. Which is why we celebrate Jesus as Lord, and over the next month will again take time to declare unashamedly that Jesus died for us, rose again - conquering the power of sin that nailed him to the cross -, and lives forever with the Father, breathing the life of His Spirit into us as we believe in him. Now there's the beginning of wisdom as Solomon sought it, and there's the beginning of the answer to the German "Warum?" or the English "Why?" If that interests you, then listen to some more on the recorded services elsewhere on this web site. Or if you would, like e-mail me with what you think. phil@bbchurch.org.uk |
| Post Date 27 Months 12 days. (Feb 17th 2009) |
|
If you have tried to read any of the newspapers reports on the credit crunch you may have come up with some strange terms......
Stagflation Toxic financial instruments (Nothing to do with poisonous tweezers!) Hedge funds Libor Quantitative easing (which apparently means printing money!) Sonia (The Sterling overnight interbank average rate!) I want to introduce another one....or two or three! Mammon (that word already exists, in the Bible and elsewhere!) Mammonised society Demammonisation! Mammon is the word that Jesus uses to describe the power that enslaves people if we do not worship God. He said very simply you cannot serve, or be a slave to God and mammon, either you will love the one and hate the other or be devoted to one and despise the other. The words are found in Matthew 6v24. Mammon is a word the Greeks used not just to describe money but also to define the power of money. On the TV series "The Simpsons" the wealthy Montgomery Burns lives on Mammon Lane. And in the sinister film "Constantine" Mammon is the name of the anti-Christ, the son of Satan. The world is full of blame in this situation, pointing fingers at politicians, bankers, regulators, investors, borrowers, in fat at everyone but me! But our hand is so designed that you cannot point a finger at someone else without three fingers pointing back at yourself. The real culprit of the credit crunch and all the turmoil is human worship of mammon and not of God. Elsewhere on the web site you will find a link to a teaching on this subject that I shared with our church on the 15th February. There you can read a lot more about all this. But the real issue for me is where our trust lies. Nowadays people feel they cannot trust anyone, the politicians, the banks, the markets. To us as Christians that should come as no surprise. Do not trust in people, the word of God says, they will let you down. Trust in the Lord. For us that it is deeply personally thing: not words we say but a lifestyle to live by. Our trust is based on the revelation of God in Jesus, as the God of grace and mercy, and of a powerful love that o overcomes evil, sin, and ultimately death. In Jesus' name we nee to demammonise our lives, and our society! And instead to worship the Lord, joyfully, totally, confidently, and extravagantly! Now there's something to go for!! |
| Post Date 26 months (Jan 5th 2009.) |
|
This Sunday I began a series of sermons from the letter to Titus. I want to give a brief summary of the message here. Titus was written by Paul probably around AD 64. Titus has been sent by Paul to oversee the new church plant at Crete. The letter is therefore about issues that are vital for a new growing church.
The letter begins, ends, and is centred on the theme of God's grace. And in the centre Paul gives a powerful summery statement about God's grace, in verses 11-14. Here they are in full:- For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self- controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. We have taken two phrases from this passage as our 2009 Church Text. They are:- Our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ and A people that are his very own The first phrase is about God. Who or what is God? How can we know God? Is God personal? The answer the Bible gives is that God is our Mighty, Almighty, Supreme Saviour, who is to be known in the person of Jesus Christ, who came to gather us together to be His people. The second phrase is about us. Who are we? What are we here for? And how can we cope with life? The answer is we are here to belong to this God, to be His people, and as such to live for Him, with His power of goodness filling our lives by His Spirit. The two statements or truths belong together. We can talk about and study the idea of God without it affecting our lives. Indeed theology separated from real living can become dangerous fanaticism. We can equally talk about how we are to live and try to get it right without reference to God, and the sad reality is we will fail. We will end up like the rest of the world in the chaos of broken relationships. Christianity brings theology and human life together, in the person of Jesus, God made man. And followers of Jesus are enabled both to know God and to discover how to live. But there is something else here. Paul is warning us against letting our faith become an internal personal matter, that is so private you don't see any point in sharing it with others, or being part of the faith community, which is called the church. The truth is that God who is our great Saviour has made you part of his own people. Church can be challenging, (and it certainly is that, if you're leading it!) But it remains the expression of God's very own people. And as such I need to honour the church and seek to be part of it by the power of His Spirit. And this is the message of Paul to Titus, the Pastor of the church in Crete in the 1st Century AD. Let me then look a little more closely at these two phrases. 1. Our great God. Three things to notice about what Paul says here, a) He identifies Jesus as God. The Christians are sure that the life of Jesus was the life of God with us. Jesus is not just a man who shows us a good way to live, He is God sharing God's love with us personally. Christians are not the same as any other religion, because we believe that God has made himself known in the person of Jesus which is why we need to understand that we are followers of Jesus. b) He calls God our SAVIOUR because God has saved us! The phrase he uses is that God in Jesus has "redeemed us from all wickedness." That is a market expression, he has bought us at a price, from the ownership of wickedness. Wickedness is not simply a way of describing bad behaviour, it is a powerful force of ownership on people. When we see wickedness at work in the world it is not difficult to believe this! We see whole groups of people caught up with evil behaviour and almost trapped in it. We can say to them it's your fault, you are responsible for your actions, and we would not be wrong, but there is more to it than that. Evil gets its talons into people so they find themselves unable to stop. Unless that is someone comes and releases them from that wickedness. That is salvation, but it is not just giving us something, it is setting us free from sin's ownership and bringing us into God's ownership. c) God has a heart for us, and desires that we find ourselves as His people. "A people for himself". That sounds rather selfish! "I want them for myself"..... that was the sin of King David who saw Bathsheba, the beautiful wife of Urriah, bathing on her sun roof while her husband was out fighting David's wars. I want her for myself! And he took her, disposing of her husband in the process! Is God like that? No, God wants us for himself in the sense that God made us for himself. Being with God, belonging to God, is what we were designed for, and so for God to want that is for God to want the best for us. Now that is what we believe, that is the Christian faith, God in Jesus, giving his life as the price of saving us, and restoring us into relationship with God. Believing it is vital. It is what matters. But it is not all that matters!! The second part of the message is just as vital.... 2. As God's people, owned by Him, we are here to do good. We'll look more at this next week, but the little phrase in 2v14 "eager to do what is good" is repeated no less than 7 times in the letter. Paul says that the grace of God, which is about God loving us and giving Jesus to die for us, is a power that now needs to work in us, much as wickedness used to work in us before we knew Jesus. Grace is now our teacher, (v13). God's love, God's goodness, God's Holy Spirit is to control our lives, and determine how we live. We are not our own, we are not here for ourselves, but for Him. And he has a simple command to us......be good! That takes me back to where I began, that our Christian faith cannot be a theory in isolation from how we live. And our way of life needs to be under the control of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. What we believe and how we live go together. I read an article this week by the writer Matthew Parris. It has a fascinating headline...."As an atheist I truly believe that Africa needs God." He had made a visit to Malawi, which was the base for the Times Christmas appeal. His article is honest enough to acknowledge that for all his avowed atheism, he sees in Africa that it is the Christians who are in the forefront of really changing the nation. He contrasted the Christians, most of them Malawians, or from Zimbabwe who he met out in the bush, with the Western NGO's that he met in the hotels. This is what he wrote about these dedicated men and women. "It would suit me to believe that their honesty, diligence and optimism in their work was unconnected with their personal faith. Their work was secular, but surely affected by what they were. What they were was, in turn influenced by a conception of man's place in the Universe that Christianity has taught." Here is a man who wants to be convinced that Christianity is all nonsense, finding himself seeing the evidence that it is not. And the evidence he sees is Christians who have faith, and because of who they are, live out their lives differently. God is calling for the same distinctive living out of faith. In this little letter to Titus, Paul speaks into the lives of ordinary people; older men and women, younger men and women, slaves, (or perhaps we would say employees), and citizens of the community. And to Titus he says over and over, "teach what is good, set an example by doing good, love what is good, be ready to do whatever is good....." As a people, a community, a group of believers we are to be known for doing good. Of course the community, the church is composed of each one of us.....this is where the concept of membership needs careful thinking, because to the people of the world, it's the people who are here, who meet together and worship together who are the church......if you speak ill of God, or behave in a way that puts down the Christian gospel, the people around you don't ask, Is he a member or not? They just see someone who is part of the church. And our doing good needs to come not from our own goodness, but from the grace of God, poured out on us by the Holy Spirit. I have been reading about how this has been very evident in the church in Zimbabwe. If you would like to read more about that go to www.newfrontiers.xtn.org and follow the links to Zimbabwe Crisis. But I believe God wants it to be evident in Biggleswade too, through us, his people. Next time i will explore more how that can happen, but for now, we assured about God, who he is and all he has done for you in Jesus, And be assured about yourself, that you are part of his very own people! What a privilege and what a cause of celebration! |
| Post Date 25 months (Dec 5th 2008) |
|
Anyone reading these blogs for the first time will no doubt be confused by the Post Date they contain. To explain, this is simply the time I have been in the "post" here at BBChurch as the leader. I started on November 5th 2006. It is a time or date relative to when I began here.
The BBC showed a documentary a few days ago about time. The question is, "what time is it?" And the answer is, "well that depends!" Apparently time is not so exact as we like to think! It bends and stretches, and speeds up and slows down, all relative to where you are in relation to everything else! Now that really is confusing! We spend a huge amount of time worrying about time. What time is it? What day is it? How long 'til Christmas? What is going to happen when the mortgage is reviewed? How are we going to cope when it really snows? Will they ever understand? So many of our worryings, and thinkings are time related. I sometimes meet and talk with wonderful people who have lost their sense of time. Through the illnesses usually of old age, they are incapable of living in real time. They never know what day it is, they may not know what happened a moment ago, and they certainly don't have any sense of the future. But they can remember and tell you lots about the past! That can be very distressing for those who are living in real time, but maybe for the one who has lost that sense of time there might be less anxiety. There are two things I hear from God that help enormously, if only we would listen. The first is the simple statement "my times are in your hands." It is part of Psalm 31 where David, the chosen leader of God's people way back in the 9th Century BC, is facing massive opposition and personal injury, and yet he chooses to say he trusts in God, for this one reason; his times are in God's hands. If we live our lives relative to God, then we can trust him for the time issues we so worry about. The second is Jesus encouragement to his followers, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matthew 6v34). Instead he invites us to pray "Give us today our daily bread" (Matthew 6v11). And he urges us to "seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness." (Matthew 6v33) In other words, relate to God today and He will care for tomorrow. As we approach another of those seasons where everything gets all squashed together, holidays stress parties fun loneliness spending overspending happy Christmas happy New Year fireworks economic gloom ahead , try to consider that time is relative to where you are at any given moment. And if you relate to God, closely, then time is in His hands, and He promises all you need today without worrying about tomorrow. And as for relating to God, well if you would like to know more about that, can I give you a personal invitation to Alpha? Look at the details elsewhere on this site and please come to the supper on Tuesday January 13th. That won't commit you to anything, but give you an insight into the Alpha course. You can then decide if you want to come to the rest of it! And have a happy, God relating, day by day December and January! Phil (P.S. Do feel free to contact me about any of this or anything that's bothering you. And let us know about Alpha. Just click the contact us button and send an e-mail now.) |
| Post Date 24 months 12 days (Nov 17th 2008) |
|
There's something I want to talk about, but I am not going to use the word for it. By the time you read the rest of this you will probably know what the word is, but in case you don't, I'll put in a link at the end.
The reason I don't want to use the word is that the word has so many different associations. For example it is linked to the EU, (which will put some people off for ever) to the AA and RAC (which sounds rather up market for some), to E Bay and Facebook, (which brings it a bit more down to earth), to Old Boys' Associations, Allotment Societies, The Women's Institute, Girls Aloud Fan Club, and Churches!! And that's the problem! When we use this word in association with church we will so quickly make an association with some other grouping, and that will colour, prejudice, shape our understanding of what this means. And more than that it has led churches to interpret this in such terms as well, turning church into just another organisation. For me there is only one association I believe that as a Christian I am to make between this word and church, and that is the link to the Bible. So here are some verses from the Bible to think about! They are all taken from the Contemporary English Version. 1 Corinthians 12v27 Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body. Romans 12v55 That's how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another. Ephesians 5v30 Because we are each part of his body. When the Bible teaches us about the church the clearest description that we find is the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ according to the Bible is not to be found in decayed remains in some tomb: (Jesus rose from the dead.) But neither is it limited to a specific place in Heaven, (which if we understand right is not a place at all in the physical sense of the universe.) The Body of Jesus is where His Presence is found, and on earth that is the Church! Not the building, not the organisation, but the community of believing people who meet together in Jesus name. Matthew 18v20 Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you. If you are someone who believes in Jesus, (not just a mental thinking that Jesus is a good idea, but believing in a sense of personal commitment to this man, who is God's Son, who lived and died and rose again, and through whom we find forgiveness of our sin, access to God as our Heavenly Dad, and life by His Spirit;) if you believe like that, then when you come together with others who believe you are in __________! Without thinking like that we are always going to struggle with this word. And even worse we are going to disagree and debate about what being a ______ of the church really means. But when we think like that, and understand that we are part of His Body, here on earth, sharing His love, showing His grace, and letting His Spirit work in us, then we will have no problems being in __________ with the local community of believers the church. It will never mean what it does in other cases. It will mean what it should, the amazing privilege of belonging to God's family in Jesus. And if you do not believe in Jesus, I guess one reason you may not, is because of the church, that can be so far from what it should. But don't blame Jesus for that. Find Him and then find His Body on earth, and you may be quite surprised. Yours as a part of His body Phil http://www.answers.com/membership |
| Post Date 23 Months 23 days (October 29th) |
|
My last blog was written from Romania, during my recent visit, which was about supporting and training men and women for Christian ministry in that country.
I have been to Romania many times. My early visits were long before the Communist Regime was overthrown in 1989, so I have been able to see a country change dramatically over a period of 30 years. But then as I think about it, our country has changed as well. 30 years ago Romania had few cars on the roads, and lots of horses and carts: today there are far too many cars on the roads, and only a few horses and carts! But in the same time our roads have become equally clogged with traffic. 30 years ago in Romania there was plenty of worthless paper money with which to buy goods, but nothing in the shops to buy. Today in Romania there is everything in the shops that we can buy in the UK, but not enough money, that now is a modern western currency, to buy them. But in the same time our income has gone up by at least a factor of 10 if not more. 30 years ago we had things to buy, but only bought them if we could afford to pay for them. Now we have more choice than ever before, but increasingly we don't have the money to pay for them or for the many things we bought on credit in the past 10 years. There are other changes though, far deeper than just the economic ones: social changes, changes in confidence, changes in happiness, changes in freedom. Generally speaking we are much better off than we were, but far less content than we were. That is generalising I know, but the reality is our society has changed. Then I thought about my reason to go to Romania; to support and train men and women for Christian ministry. And I thought, this hasn't changed over 30 years, either in Romania or here. What we all need, and I am included in that, is encouragement that our lives are significant these days, that we have a reason to live. And our Christian reason is that we are God's people and He has a ministry for us, of sharing the grace of God. There is nothing more fulfilling than knowing that. And if I can carry on encouraging you to live for Jesus, for just one more day, then I am content. Of course to live for Jesus you do need to believe in Him, and receive him. So this blog has to be for you to complete...... (P.S. .... do let me know at phil@bbchurch.org.uk how you've finished it!) |
| Post Date October 2nd 2009 Romania. |
|
I am writing this from my room, in the retreat house where we are staying, which is on a hillside, overlooking the central Carpathian mountains in Romania. Out of my window I can see slopes clad in pine forest, hillsides crawling with sheep, and mountain tops covered with snow. It's a beautiful place.
With me are 22 Pastors and leaders from two of the poorest parts of Romania, who have come together for four days of teaching and worship and ministry. I have been speaking with them in the mornings and evenings. For a couple of hours in the afternoon they have been out and about, some of them foraging for wild mushrooms in the forest, and encountering brown bears (really). Apparently earlier this year a brown bear mauled to death one of the shepherds in this valley, so they are particularly careful. (They told me that after I had been for a walk on my own in the woods!!) The sessions have been very challenging for me and them. We have been going through the book of Romans, and I have sought to show them how Paul is speaking about Life in the Spirit as the characteristic of the Christian, no longer under law but under grace. Among the group are three older Pastors who have been brought up in a very narrow, legalistic way, and they have been gracious enough to open their hearts to listen and respond. There are younger men who have been eager to grasp the love of God, poured out in Jesus. And there is one quite young Pastor, the only one who is college trained, who has been very quick to bring opposite opinions and share the "party line" that has been taught in the colleges in Romania. This line essentially says we are saved by grace but we live the Christian life by law. I have often come across Pastors like him, and spent many hours sharing with them. I cry for them, and I long so much for them to find the true freedom that Jesus wants to bring to us. Not a freedom to do what we want, but a freedom to live under the Spirit, with His grace and power controlling our lives. We have talked a great deal about mission. This Christians here are very eager for evangelism but need to understand more how to share with their lives as well as their sermons. This young Pastor, in spite of his debating, has I believe has seen that and is doing some excellent things among his group of village churches. At the final meeting I spoke about hope. I gave them the prayer of Paul in Romans 15 which says "May the God of hope with you with joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." As I explained the reality of Christian hope and the basis of that in our encountering Jesus, as Saviour and Lord, and then spoke of the power of the Spirit as the source of this hope, there was a real opening up to the message. It was like the sun came out! The young pastor was deeply touched and afterwards shared His testimony how God has really been softening his heart. We ended praying for the power of the Spirit in our lives, and that I am sure is not only the key for them but for us, for you. We cannot live the way of Jesus, the life of grace, in this tough world without the Spirit's power. Did you see the news story of the Swiss Pilot who crossed the channel by jet pack? There's o ay we can do that without power! And there's no way we are going to reach out with the Gospel, and effectively be the Church God has called us to be without the power. So let's keep asking God for His power. And then let's be willing to launch out, and use it for His Kingdom purposes. One more thing.....there is plenty more of the power available; which is just as well as I have to do the same teaching over again next week, with a different group of pastors! Phil |
| Post date 22 Months 17 days. (September 22nd 2008) |
|
I've just been listening to a radio programme talking about the financial crises of this past week. The opinion being expressed was that the way banks operate in the future will be changing very significantly, returning to the era of local banks, providing a personal service to local customers. "More like the days of the bank manager Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army!" There is a general acceptance that the way people have been allowed to borrow so much money has caused the current failure of the system.
I have two reactions to this. First righteous anger! (at least I hope it is righteous) Righteous anger is not directed personally aggressively against people, but is anger at the evil that is at work in the world. And my anger is that the victims of this borrowing bonanza are the poorest people. We've seen African countries brought to their knees because of foreign debt. Some of that (but by no means enough) has been wiped off. Now we see families brought to their knees for the same reason. The rich will weather this crisis with hardly a change in their lifestyle, but the poorest will suffer. It is so good that at this time, we as a church have believed God has called us to work with people with debt crises, through the agency of "Christians Against Poverty." Soon we will be opening for business and we will be happy to help you in any way we can. If you have personal debt problems please call the Christians Against Poverty free phone number 0800 3280006. If we can help in any other way a simple e-mail to office@bbchurch.org.uk will be enough. My second reaction is to remember something Jesus said, which may surprise you! "Give to the one who ask you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." Matthew 5v42. We have become such a society of private ownership that we have lost the sense in which to share what we have with others, especially with those who have less than us, is the right way to live. I believe we need to realise far more than we do, that what we have is God's gift to us, not our right, And if someone needs something we have then we should be willing to give it, no strings attached. The early Christians lived like that. When I think of needs around the world. I am ashamed at how selfish and possessive we are. So my challenge to myself in this crisis to find a way of sharing something I have with someone else. It may be money but it may be a car, or a house, or a meal. Don't go down the road of comparing the size of what you can share with others. We all have such different resources. But do go down the road of sharing what you have, very specifically with someone in need. After all God has shared His life with us. And without that we'd be in a far bigger mess than even the banks! |
| Post date 21 months 17 days (August 22nd 2008) |
|
One of the buzz words in business is "Networking". Perhaps one day there will be a university degree course in networking, and we will have professional qualifications of networking! (how about Fellow of the Networking Institute..... or F Nit!)
Two thoughts about this:- First I went for a ride this summer on the North Yorkshire Steam railway. It runs original mainline steam trains on the line from Pickering to Grosmont, and on special days right as far as Whitby! We were staying at a camp site in a small village called Sheriff Hutton some 9 miles North of York. Visiting the York Railway museum I found a map of the Rail network that used to exist in Yorkshire. Sheriff Hutton had a station, and so did nearly every other village in the county! The network was huge. Today there is virtually nothing left, except the part maintained as a tourist attraction over the moors. And yet the roads are clogged with traffic and crumbling with over use. Whose short-sightedness shut down that network? Well it has to be Dr Beeching, (except I dislike putting blame on someone I've never met and don't know!). But the reality is that networks matter and we loose them at our peril. Second thought is of the only networkers I can think of in the Bible story, the fishermen who were on the lake side, mending, (or working) their nets, when Jesus called them to be part of his team, catching men. The truth is that Christian are called to be networkers, reaching out, making connections, and drawing people to Jesus, by our love and care. Where a churches network is small it's influence will be small. We need to be a networking church, reaching out to many others; including anyone reading this blog. So if you are reading this blog and would like to make the connection more personal, please feel free to drop me an e-mail at phil@bbchurch.org.uk |
| Post Date 20 Month 17 days (July 22nd 2008) |
|
They say that beauty is only skin deep. Certainly we pay a lot of attention, not to say money, on looking good, far more than any previous generation of human beings. The question is whether or not we think that life is only skin deep, whether it's only about the superficial, the visible, the physical, or whether there is a depth to life, a depth to us as people that gets underneath the glitch and fashion and beauty treatment.
Ask some people whether life is deeper than "skin deep" and you will certainly get a positive reply: people whose skin-deep-life is threatened by disease, or whose skin-deep-possessions have been destroyed in a flood, or whose skin-deep-lifestyle has been stolen by credit. For them life is about pain, anxiety, distress and often fear; emotions and realities far deeper than skin-deep-appearances. But for many others these sort of things are just not to be thought about. There's a skin-deep-life to be enjoyed, so why spoil it with deep thoughts? Here's how one writer puts it, "Postmoderns live on the surface, not in the depths, and theirs is a despair to be tossed off lightly and which may be alleviated by nothing more serious than a sitcom." 1 And if the word "postmodern" is new to you, it is a way that writers express the culture of the Western World of the late 20th early 21st Centuries. But we are foolish if we only think and live on the surface! The very fact of our existence on the planet earth should itself tell us the deep things matter! We live on plates of rock that are between five and twenty five miles thick. Sounds a lot except that there are about 3,950 miles left before you get to the centre of the earth! Our crust is less than 0.5% of the thickness of the earth! A VERY VERY THIN SKIN!! Every now and again what is underneath, a molten mixture of chemicals bursts out onto the surface. What is deeper both sustains our superficial existence and at the same time threatens it! Deep things really do matter. Christian faith can be superficial as well, skin deep: the religious performance, the trying to be good, the singing of songs, and the saying of prayers. But there is a depth in our faith to be explored! The Bible encourages us to "keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience". 2 And when we keep hold to deep truths, we are not going to be affected by all the skin deep changes that happen in life. Instead when life's deep issues come we have a depth of trust in God to hold us. Of course getting deep down is an effort. The best vegetables on the allotment come from those gardeners who dug the deepest, (and that's not me!) Over the summer why not dig deep into the faith? Take time to really engage with God. Don't just say prayers, but have a heart to heart with the Father: tell him what is really going on and listen for his response. Don't just read a verse now and again, take a book of the Bible and eat it!! I am going to do that with the gospels in readiness for the Autumn series. And don't just listen to the latest episodes of Big Brother, why not listen to some deep stuff? I commend to you the web site www.newfrontiers.xtn.org. If you click on downloads, and then on the leadership international 2008 section, you will find scores of excellent talks. The 9 main sessions give plenty of food for thought, but there's loads more on the training tracks and seminars. This isn't about stressing ourselves with academic study, but it is about taking God seriously! And taking life seriously as well. You may not be culturally in with the crowd, but who said the crowd is right? Yours in deep digging Phil |
| Post Date 19 Months 27 days (July 1st 2008) |
|
Yes, that is the right date. The previous blog had the wrong post date on it....my fault for working to a different calendar! And if none of that makes any sense to you don't worry about it. The fact is I made a mistake.
And I've been thinking about that a lot recently. Making mistakes is part of life for all of us. The question is, does it matter? It mattered a lot for the guy who lost his lap top with sensitive personal information on it, it was extremely serious! It mattered rather less for our friend who lost her cardigan whilst walking around the RSPB reserve last Sunday. Especially as we walked back along the path and found it again. It mattered a lot for the French tennis player Gasquet who lost his serve against Andy Murray when two sets to love up, and serving for the match. Gasquet ultimately lost the match! It mattered a bit less when I was playing chess against the computer and put my queen on a square where the piece could be taken. All I had to do was reverse the move and try another! But that's the problem with mistakes, in the real world there is rarely the opportunity to go back and do it again. I said something that upset someone: I can't go back and say it again differently, what has been said, stays on the record. You make a mistake at work, and you can't go back and re-run the moment, you have to live with the consequences. And here's another problem with mistakes. The little ones are just as likely to cause us problems as the big ones; little errors of judgement, little mistakes of behaviour, a little loss of temper, a tiny glimpse at that pornographic internet site, just a little flutter, just a brief affair. These "mistakes" are actually something rather more serious. The word mistake literally means to wrongly identify something or someone. We mistake someone for someone else. We mistake what someone says, thinking they meant something different. However the word has come to mean more than that. A mistake means something wrong. And the Bible has its word for that, which is sin. The doing of wrong is not just wrong to someone else, or wrong to ourselves, it's wrong to God. And there is no such thing as a little sin, a trivial sin, a white lie, a minor offence, an "it doesn't matter" error. The word on the street is all too clear, "the wages of sin is death". (Romans 6v23) But I hope that you know there is another half to this verse, "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." That is the most powerful truth we Christians have to share. Mistakes do matter but there is a gift from God that gives us life again! God doesn't let us run the moment over again, and pretend it never happened, but He does allow the eternal consequences of that event to be taken by Jesus, and for us to go free. The gift comes "in" Jesus: no Jesus, no gift of eternal life. Accept Jesus, (which the Bible talks of in terms of repentance, turning from sin, and faith, turning with trust to Jesus) and you will have eternal life. When I do that I need never live under condemnation for my mistakes. But I do need to express my heartfelt apology, first to God, whose mercy forgives me, and then to those who I may have hurt, whether they forgive or not. But that's another issue for another blog! Never think you won't make mistakes: Never take mistakes lightly: But forever be grateful for the way God gives us His way of dealing with them. Yours in mistake-making, and grace-receiving, and Jesus-accepting, Phil |
| Post Date 20 Months 15 days. (June 15th 2008) |
|
The e-mail told me they were reminding me I had just 24 hours left to book a flight to Bordeaux for only £4.99 including taxes, (limited availability: terms and conditions apply). Who were they? This anonymous person irritating me with yet another reminder! I'd had at least four already, and no, I do not want to go to Bordeaux.
Why is it we are irritated by people who keep reminding us of stuff? Maybe you're not, but I confess I am! "Don't forget to put the bins out before you leave." "Don't forget to shut the windows." "Don't forget to buy a congratulations card." "Don't forget to phone your mother." And those notes..... "Bring in the washing if it rains." "Post the letters," and the things to do list! And maybe at work, some of you know what I mean, the endless e-mails from the boss, or the team manager; the constant reminders of targets, of customer interface protocol, (or some such terminology!); the welcomer in the supermarket coming over the p/a system and reminding me of the latest offers. Is it we don't want to be reminded, or is it we resent the thought that just maybe we have forgotten? None of us likes to admit to a faulty memory, but all of us suffer from a faulty memory! Memory is an amazing feature of our lives. Our brain stores millions of bits of information, and our memory retrieves them just like a "google" search. Oh that it were that simple! According to one scientific journal, "scientists have shown that even though you've had an apparent memory lapse, your brain never forgot what you should have done." The problem is not so much in the storage system as in the retrieval system, the search engine. As scientists explore the memory, they have demonstrated how exercising our memory plays a part in keeping the search engine working. Like any engine, both regular use and regular maintenance prolongs its life. It's good to keep our memory search engine working well. So we really ought to be grateful for all these irritating reminders!! There's a small letter in the Bible, it's Peter's second letter which has this great word in it.... "I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live." 2 Peter 1v12-13 And later he writes, "Dear friends this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders, to stimulate you to wholesome thinking." 2 Peter 3v1 The things he wants to remind them about are the things of our faith in Jesus, Jesus life among us, His death for us, and His resurrection and exaltation, and His presence with us now and always by His Spirit. Peter is saying I want to remind you JESUS IS AROUND! Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, He is with you. This reminder is so worth having. The danger is that we are irritated by it, just as with all the other reminders. But this one REALLY MATTERS. The reminder is no guarantee we will remember! But it really does help! So let me keep reminding you, here on the blog, when we meet, (which is one reason we need to meet!) and any way I can, that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that means he sees everything, cares about everything, and wants you to seek His strength and love in everything. And as a reminder why not read the second letter of Peter yourself? Yours in forgetfulness Phil |
| Post Date 19 Months. (June 5th 2008) |
|
Don't overplan!
Making plans is big business! If you want to start a business you need a business plan. If you have a business you have to keep planning ahead. Teachers have to make lesson plans. Salespeople have to make daily travel plans. Planning is part of life! I've been planning this week so far for....the coming weekend; the following weekend's teaching on the Old Testament, a dedication service later this month, a teaching series in the Autumn, a teaching programme for Romania in November; and that's just one part of the planning. I've also been planning visits to Denmark, Southampton and Wales to see family, plus a family get together next summer in Devon. We're trying to plan for at least 5 different people to come and stay this summer. And so it goes on. Many of you will have equally if not more complex planning going on. Imagine my surprise when I read this week "The life of Jesus it has been said, was absolutely planless." 1 The writer went on to talk about how Jesus never kept a five year diary, or booked appointments weeks in advance. How he was not dictated to by fixed agendas or daily things-to-do lists. But rather how he was "marching to the deep heartbeat of his Father's unwavering resolve." 2 The plan was a big plan, to give his life for the world. Everyday Jesus commitment was to be guided by the Holy Spirit as to where and how he was to give himself. So sometimes it was in time with His Father, worshipping and praying, sometimes it was in teaching his friends as they walked around, sometimes it was in talking with the crowds and healing the sick. But always it seemed he had time for people. He could stop, (which you can't do if you are plan driven) and deal with a need, a cry, a question, as it arose. Planning must have its place, and many people in their working lives have very little room to move outside that plan. But there is a truth we neglect at our peril. It is written in the book of James in the Bible and it says, "Now listen, you who say, 'today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'if it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" 3 Suddenly, something happens that throws all our plans into chaos. It maybe a traffic jam that holds you up for two hours on the motorway, or a storm that floods your house, or a sickness that keeps you in bed, or a family need that unexpectedly arises. (For me a text message, even as I wrote this blog!) What then? If everything hangs on the plan we are in deep trouble. But if we have found like Jesus, the secret of "marching to his Father's unwavering resolve" then no matter what happens we can maintain a sense of balance and ease. That unwavering resolve of the Father is for us to know him day by day, as the one who is with us, and to receive from him day by day the grace and strength we need for that day, and to give away day by day something of His love to someone else. That is a purpose worth getting up for. |
| Post Date 18 Months 16 days |
|
Fires that don't go out!
When a crowd hears the cry "Fire" everyone panics! And the first thought is how do we get away from here. We are conditioned from childhood not to play with fire, and rightly so, because fire is dangerous! So why does God choose to show himself in fire. In fact the Bible goes further than that it says, "our God is a consuming fire!" (That's in Hebrews 12v29) We too easily forget that without fire we would not be here! At the heart of the universe is fire... And our little planet earth only has life on it because of the fire in the sun. It is our taming of fire that has led to much of the so called development of mankind, our ability to use fire to our advantage... No fire, no hot meals, no internet, (needs electricity, produced by fire, mostly - well actually totally - because if it wasn't for the sun's fire there would be no solar energy or wind power, or a weather system that can produce hydro-electric power) no metal objects, no bricks... etc.! Fire has the ability to change things, to purify metals, to fuse substances together, to initiate and sustain reactions. My greatest delight at school was to sit in the chemistry laboratory with a Bunsen burner and some test tubes and play with the chemicals! (They were the days when that was what we did!!) And the reality is that God does all that sort of thing, with us. He changes us! The fire of his Spirit comes to purify us, to burn off all the rubbish, bitterness, anger, malicious talk, lies, addictive behaviour, selfishness and greed, pride, and rejection. But He also comes to fuse us together with Jesus, to weld us into an amalgam in which Jesus works in us and through us. We comes to join us together as a body of believers that can bring the life of God's goodness to this world. I believe church is where we should welcome the fire, and all the reactions it brings; but too often we cherish the fire extinguisher. OK we need a Fire and Safety policy, and around the building you will see notices about fire Escapes and Fire Extinguishers, but spiritually, I'm praying for more fire, and more reactions. |
| Post date 18 months 2 days. (May 7th 2008) |
Human beings live in a very very small temperature range. For most of us, we live no lower than from a few minus degrees Centigrade to no more than 30 degrees plus centigrade. Some humans live in extreme conditions, where they may live between temperatures of -40 and plus 50, but even that is only a range of 90 degrees. The universe has temperatures far in excess of that.
This Sunday the Christian community celebrates the festival of Passover! And it should be really hot! There are three great Jewish feasts, Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. The Christians adopted Passover for their celebration of Jesus' death and resurrection, and we call that Easter. Tabernacles has got mixed up with Harvest (but that's another story!) And the other great Christian Festival is Christmas! Easter eggs, Harvest suppers, and Christmas Pudding...... What about Pentecost! Pentecost fires! That's what it should be. But of course that's far too dangerous to ever be commercial. Think of it; a weekend when everyone is allowed to set fire to anything, fireworks, bonfires, wild fires. I suppose we could tame it all to candles, but that would miss the point! The point of Pentecost is fire. The fire of God's presence, coming in the Holy Spirit, setting fire to the Church, to make it burn with the heart of God's love, that can go out and melt the hard-heartedness of our world, and ignite people with the flame of grace that forgives their sin and remakes them as God's beloved people. And one other thing about Pentecost... Christmas and Easter are festivals for the world! And the world joins in, however much they misunderstand, with their presents and chocolate, and holidays. But Pentecost goes past the world unnoticed. Because it isn't for them it is for us, the church. This is the festival for us to catch fire again; and if really did, then the world would notice! Festivals are all very well to remind us, as long as we remember that Jesus came for every day, he died and rose to give us life everyday, and the Holy Spirit has come to set us on fire every day!! Don't miss it! (and I don't mean the festival, though it would be great to see you this Sunday) I mean the fire. (Next week I hope to add another blog, because there's more to this fire!) |
| Post Date 17 months 10 days. (April 15th 2008) |
|
Let me start with another apology from my first blog, a mistake pointed out by another sharp-eyed and knowledgeable Star Trek watcher. I gave Captain Kirk the wrong middle name initial.....he is of course Captain James T Kirk, (not C, as I erroneously wrote.)
Getting names right is a sign of good friendship. Friends know each other by name. And of course I cannot claim to be a friend of Captain Kirk so perhaps I can be forgiven for getting his name wrong! One of the challenges of getting older is that you have more and more people you have known over the years, and whose names you increasingly struggle to remember! I've been thinking a bit about friendship. What are friends for? There's song title if ever there was one, and of course there are hugely successful songs with that title! The vulture song from "The Jungle Book", and Stevie Wonder's song are just two of them. The classic sitcom "Friends" gained its appeal from touching something in everyone, about our experience of friendship. In the story lines the friends are forever falling in and out with each other, they upset each other, they frustrate each other, they lie to each other, and they cheat on each other, and yet they also help each other and encourage each other, and enjoy each other's company. So what's the secret? Let me share one thought with you, tell me what you think of it. The fundamental importance of friends is not that friends meet my every need, whatever that might be, but that friends make me count. As long as we look to our friends to meet all our needs we are heading for trouble. Nobody can do that. Some of our needs they may help with, and that's fine but there are others they can't and won't be able to meet. And if we expect them to we will get frustrated and fall out. But what they can do is simply to make us count. So often we feel we don't count, at work, in society, even sometimes at home. Friends, by being friends, simply say "You count". One of the most amazing statements is the Bible is Jesus saying to his followers "I no longer call you servants; instead I have called you friends." (John 15v15) As a Rabbi, or Teacher, those who followed him, who lived by his teaching, were called his servants. Many people think they follow Jesus, or try to live by his teaching, and they would be called servants of Jesus. But Jesus says, "I call you friends". That is something far more: Jesus counts us among his friends. He knows us by name and he will never forget us. "You are precious to me, I have chosen you, I have engraved you, (tattooed you) on the palms of my hands." (Isaiah 43v4, 41v9, 49v16) You may have at one stage in your life put a tattoo of a special friend on your arm or leg or somewhere else, only to find later on you lose that friend. The tattoo is then an embarrassment. God's tattoo of you is never an embarrassment to him; you are his friend. He makes you count. I suppose the challenge is do we accept his friendship and make God count? In a world where so many people use God as a swear word, he is waiting for us to make him count, and say "that's my friend you're talking about." (PS. I spotted a dating error in the Post-date! I believe the one above is correct, not the previous two!) |
| Post-date 16 months (April 5th 2008) |
|
One person at least has read the blog and commented on the date. Another pointed out a serious error in the first blog; I quote, "One fundamental reason why Star Wars is superior to Star Trek is that it acknowledges a need for a greater power, whereas Trek champions the idea of human progress as the answer." Some of you may guess who wrote that!
I won't rise to the bait of debate about the merits of my favourite Sci Fi, however I do believe that stories like Star Trek, Star Wars, and maybe even Dr Who, along with the epics of novels like Lord of the Rings, have a place in making us stretch our minds beyond what we can just see, to the bigger questions of ultimate importance. David Wilkinson (a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a fellow of Christian Apologetics at St. Johns College Durham) wrote, "X Files creator Chris Carter engages the imagination. He explores UFO folklore in a contemporary setting and he calls himself a person wanting to explore the realm beyond the rational." We have just celebrated Easter. Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians, a book in the Christian Bible, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." Of ultimate importance is this claim that Jesus died and rose again. Apparently many people in our society (different statistics give this between 40 and 70% of the adult population) actually believe this. But it is also apparent that very few of those who believe it see it as of first, or ultimate importance. If something really matters, then it is going to affect us at every level of our being, what we think, how we behave, our values and attitudes, our hopes and ambitions. The implication of the death and resurrection of Jesus is not simply as an interesting (religious) fact; it is that He, Jesus, is living with us today. There was a song I used to sing that began with the words, "He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me... ." Do you agree with that? That is the ultimate reason for being a Christian, to walk with God and talk with God, and presumably pay great attention to what he says. Jesus called his disciples to follow him. They spent time then walking with him, enjoying his company, sharing laughter and tears, and listening to his words about God and life. They were companions of Jesus. All the great Sci Fi stories have companions. Not being a Star Wars fan I can't name the Star Wars companions, but I am sure they had some; like Frodo had Sam, and Dr Who now has Catherine Tate! Our challenge is to be Jesus' companion. How about it? |
| Post-date 15 months 20 days. (March 25th 2008) |
|
Why Post-date? Sounds like Captain Kirk in Star trek (far superior to Star wars of course!) ..."this Captain James C Kirk Star Ship Enterprise, Star Date..."
Time is a strange thing. In Steven Hawkins book "A brief history of time" he offers his thoughts on the span of the universe's existence, the time scale from beginning to possible end. However his big question is not "how long?" but "why?" As he puts it in his book, "Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing?" We worry a great deal about time: how to fit everything we want to do in this week, for example, or how on earth we are ever going to finish the decorating we started last January. We make plans for the rest of the year, and plans for the rest of our lives, and then we get into a panic because we are late for a meeting today. But in many ways time is far less important than purpose. If we thought a little more about what we are doing, and why we are doing it, and less about the time it takes, we might be a little more content. The important things in life are not big plans and future prospects, they are relationships today, and the way in which we live today. The Christian Faith has a great deal to say about purpose, and far less to say about time. In fact when it comes to time the simple word is "my times are in your hands", where "your" is God! In other words we don't need to worry about time; every day is God's gift to us and He knows how many days he will give us. Jesus said we can't add to it by worrying about it. There is much more about purpose. Any maybe I'll say something about that another time, but there's that word again, time! When it comes to purpose, the Bible says the real purpose and point of life, if we understand it rightly, is to live for God every moment. It calls that an eternal purpose, a purpose that is good for today and tomorrow and everyday we have life, and then for ever beyond life as well. It doesn't depend on our circumstances, and it doesn't depend on our plans. To discover that purpose is to discover real contentment. Back to the post date... just read that as the date of this post... and why 15 months 20 days? I'll let you work that out. Phil |
| SUNDAY MEETINGS | ||
|
||
| WHAT'S HAPPENING? | ||
|
August Programme
Details are now available for services in August.
|
||
|
Coming your way July 26-30th. Please click here for a booking form.
|
||
|
|
