Thanks to Wiggy and Julie for your recent comments. I do - increasingly - believe that was is desperately needed in our churches is a new sense of community. We need a body of Christ who actually like each other and want to spend time together, and I agree that the community life of the other faiths around us puts us to shame!
I loved Wiggy's idea of upending the church and tipping us all out into the community (where we should be), so that we can find new ways of coming together rather than trying to discover new ways of doing mission.
There was a report in the Guardian last Saturday about why people go to the gym. And a study has suggested they do it because they find community there. When even the local gym is offering a better sense of community than the church, we really have got it very wrong indeed.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Left Behind
A complete set of the 'Left Behind' novels suddenly appeared on the church bookshelf. I have quietly removed them (not because I want to control what people read in their own homes, but because their presence on a church bookshelf indicates our - and my - condoning of the contents) and I'm waiting for someone to claim them. (Although leaving them there might have been the best way to be sure no one would read them!)
I did read the first one in the series - a couple of years ago - to see what all the fuss was about. I concluded that the God portrayed therein bears little relation to the God I worship. But just because Tim La Haye quotes the Bible, people believe what he writes!
I might now read the rest and let you know how I feel about them.
Viv Lassetter (of the BUGB) made this comment in the Baptist Ministers' Journal (July 2002):
"In his 'Left Behind' series La Haye is so sure, so uncompromising. The good are godly and go to be with the Lord, the bad are wicked and will go to hell to be tortured forever. What are Christians in our congregations reading? Who or what is influencing them? ..."
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Consumer Christianity: or what do I want from a church?
John Smulo (http://johnsmulo.com/) has written a challenging post on Consumer Christianity, and there are loads of interesting comments. Thanks, mate.
In response, I am increasingly of the opinion that by looking for (or by providing) great worship music, comfortable seating, a good children's programme, etc., we have lost touch with what being the church is all about. We need to find new ways of connecting faith with our children than simply 'doing Sunday School better. We need to find better ways of worshipping God than just singing the latest Matt Redman (or whoever's trendy now) songs. We need to rediscover a way of being church than takes us out of our comfort zones, pushes us beyond the four walls of our institutions, and takes the Good News to the not-yet-believers in our communities. I don't know how we do it - but I might try to think of what I might be looking for in a new church myself (or what I might be aspiring for my current church to be like). Watch this space!
In response, I am increasingly of the opinion that by looking for (or by providing) great worship music, comfortable seating, a good children's programme, etc., we have lost touch with what being the church is all about. We need to find new ways of connecting faith with our children than simply 'doing Sunday School better. We need to find better ways of worshipping God than just singing the latest Matt Redman (or whoever's trendy now) songs. We need to rediscover a way of being church than takes us out of our comfort zones, pushes us beyond the four walls of our institutions, and takes the Good News to the not-yet-believers in our communities. I don't know how we do it - but I might try to think of what I might be looking for in a new church myself (or what I might be aspiring for my current church to be like). Watch this space!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Jesus' (step-)grandfather?
Luke 3 vv 23-24: Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli. Heli was the son of Matthat. Matthat was the son of Levi. Levi was the son of Melki. Melki was the son of Jannai. Jannai was the son of Joseph.
While preparing for a carol service this coming Sunday, I was looking at Jesus' 'family tree', and noticed the name of Heli. Heli was the father of Joseph, and presumably prepared the way for Jesus himself by passing on the story of faith to his children. Heli is as important in this genealogy as king David!
Perhaps it's more important simply to pass on what we know about God than it is to do something impressive. If Heli had not passed on his faith to his son, Joseph would not have had the faith to trust that God was doing something new and wonderful. And if we do not pass on our faith, our Christian family tree will die with us …
Those of us in the established churches who look for something new to emerge could do worse than take Heli as a model and example ... or Matthat, or Levi, or Melki, or Jannai ...
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Advent Blog
I’ve been invited to contribute to this Advent ‘group blog’
(http://hopefulimagination.blogspot.com),
and will be doing so (indirectly) on 19th and 21st December.
I’d be doing it directly if I could get Blogger to do what I’m reliably informed I should be able to get it to do!
Anyway. Check it out!
(http://hopefulimagination.blogspot.com),
and will be doing so (indirectly) on 19th and 21st December.
I’d be doing it directly if I could get Blogger to do what I’m reliably informed I should be able to get it to do!
Anyway. Check it out!
Blog Silence
Sorry about the blog silence! I've been trying to get nativity and carol services prepared. Normal service should be resumed shortly!
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Tough God Questions
Some really tough God Questions from http://www.emergentkiwi.org.nz/
- Why do kids suffer?
- Why did God invent cancer?
- What about Buhddists, they seem ok to me?
- Why do you priests fiddle with kids?
- Does God have an ego problem?
- Why do Christians fight each other?
- Would God forgive Hitler?
- What about all the killing in the Old Testament?
- In the same sense that a heroin addict only has an illusion of choice over taking some heroin that is in front of him, does a child born to Fundamentalist Muslims in Saudi Arabia ever really have a choice to follow Jesus?
- If we really have free will, how come it's impossible for us to choose to not sin at all tomorrow?
- If a devout Christian gets true amnesia and forgets who they are and stop being a Christian, then was he ever saved? And which begs the question of, if our soul is clearly not attached to memory, for memory is an aspect of the brain, what knowledge will we take to Heaven?
- Does a Christian still go to heaven if he/she commits suicide?
- If a Christian converts to another religion, are they still saved?
- What happened to people before Jesus? Did they all go to hell? If not, where did they go?
- Did God create life in the universe outside of earth (i.e. aliens)?
- Who made God?
- Why does God chose to condem some people to hell?
- When Jesus died for your sins, so that your sins were removed, when you backslid away from God, did Jesus "undie" for your sins?
Any Answers?
The Annunciation
Another great post. This one’s from http://www.sanctus1.co.uk/blog/:
"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"Sorry, you lost me at the 'highly favoured' bit," Mary said.The angel repeated, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"No hold on," said Mary. "What happens first? I get pregnant. Then what?"
"You are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High--"
Mary replied, "You haven't got this in the Message version, have you? That's all a bit NIV to me, and that's so seventies, it's wack."
"Okay then," frowned Gabriel. "Ahem... Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.' The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob's house forever — no end, ever, to his kingdom."
"Nah, I prefered the first one."
"Oh shut up and wear something blue, we need you to pose for a luminous statuette."
(Luke, chapter1)"
"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"Sorry, you lost me at the 'highly favoured' bit," Mary said.The angel repeated, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"No hold on," said Mary. "What happens first? I get pregnant. Then what?"
"You are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High--"
Mary replied, "You haven't got this in the Message version, have you? That's all a bit NIV to me, and that's so seventies, it's wack."
"Okay then," frowned Gabriel. "Ahem... Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.' The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob's house forever — no end, ever, to his kingdom."
"Nah, I prefered the first one."
"Oh shut up and wear something blue, we need you to pose for a luminous statuette."
(Luke, chapter1)"
Time to ‘come out’: I am not straight!
Great post from http://hopefulamphibian.blogs.com/:
"… it is time for all Christians to cease to refer to themselves as 'straight'.
Why?
Because to describe oneself as straight, in light of the dominant discourse of our culture and the history of the use of that term, carries with it the implication that 'I am normal' (whereas others are not), 'I am sorted' (whereas others are not), 'I have got it right'.
And I'm not, no I'm not, and I haven't.
I am not straight. Nor, I would suggest, is any Christian I know.
My sexuality has a brokenness to it, a part of that going back to childhood, a lot of that discovered or accumulated along the way. My sexuality contains veins of selfishness, of wilfulness, of the capacity to hurt another. When I bring my sexuality out of the dark and into the light of God's presence these things become apparent, alongside the capacity to give and receive delight, to make love... And by the grace of God, who is transforming me into the likeness of Christ, I am (being) made a new creation (sanctified).
Not straight. Broken - but being restored - like all my brothers and sisters in Christ.
That has to be the starting place for any discussion. I will not claim to possess a superior sexuality to any of my brothers or sisters - I will not speak with them under the illusion that they are broken and I am not. And I will trust that the Lord can heal and transform them as he is healing and transforming me.
Now the difficult part - because what I am about to say may sound as though it contradicts all that has gone before. Believe me, I hope and pray that it doesn't.
I believe that to hear the word of God, the safest and best place to stand is within scripture (with all the care for context and literary form and openness to the Holy Spirit which must accompany that).
And as I do so, I have to say that boundaries are set for my sexuality - I do not have unlimited freedom in its expression. There are boundaries which all of us, without exception, with all the varying degrees of fluidity in our sexuality, find difficult at different times and in different ways. (Maybe not now, but in the past or in the future.)
And one of those boundaries is this - and there seems to be no way around this - that the given place for sexual expression at its fullest is within a lifelong marriage partnership between a man and a woman.
But I think that those who share this viewpoint should cease to pretend that any of us find this easy. (Such pretence has caused untold damage in the church.) If none of us are straight, if all of us are broken, then how could we?
To pretend otherwise is not only to do an injustice to my brothers and sisters who discover within themselves a sexual desire for the same sex, it is to do an injustice to those who never have (and maybe never will) discover a marriage partner, to those whose wife or husband is unable to have full sexual relations due to illness or disability, to the bereaved aching for the touch of their beloved, to the teenager whose sexual desire seems to consume their every waking thought, to the abused for whom sexual contact reawakens nightmares, to those called by the Lord to serve him in ways that actively prevent any hope of marriage - and to many others besides.
So, no pretence that this is easy, no pretence that this is something with which we can live without the help and support of the body of Christ, no pretence that any of us are straight.
"… it is time for all Christians to cease to refer to themselves as 'straight'.
Why?
Because to describe oneself as straight, in light of the dominant discourse of our culture and the history of the use of that term, carries with it the implication that 'I am normal' (whereas others are not), 'I am sorted' (whereas others are not), 'I have got it right'.
And I'm not, no I'm not, and I haven't.
I am not straight. Nor, I would suggest, is any Christian I know.
My sexuality has a brokenness to it, a part of that going back to childhood, a lot of that discovered or accumulated along the way. My sexuality contains veins of selfishness, of wilfulness, of the capacity to hurt another. When I bring my sexuality out of the dark and into the light of God's presence these things become apparent, alongside the capacity to give and receive delight, to make love... And by the grace of God, who is transforming me into the likeness of Christ, I am (being) made a new creation (sanctified).
Not straight. Broken - but being restored - like all my brothers and sisters in Christ.
That has to be the starting place for any discussion. I will not claim to possess a superior sexuality to any of my brothers or sisters - I will not speak with them under the illusion that they are broken and I am not. And I will trust that the Lord can heal and transform them as he is healing and transforming me.
Now the difficult part - because what I am about to say may sound as though it contradicts all that has gone before. Believe me, I hope and pray that it doesn't.
I believe that to hear the word of God, the safest and best place to stand is within scripture (with all the care for context and literary form and openness to the Holy Spirit which must accompany that).
And as I do so, I have to say that boundaries are set for my sexuality - I do not have unlimited freedom in its expression. There are boundaries which all of us, without exception, with all the varying degrees of fluidity in our sexuality, find difficult at different times and in different ways. (Maybe not now, but in the past or in the future.)
And one of those boundaries is this - and there seems to be no way around this - that the given place for sexual expression at its fullest is within a lifelong marriage partnership between a man and a woman.
But I think that those who share this viewpoint should cease to pretend that any of us find this easy. (Such pretence has caused untold damage in the church.) If none of us are straight, if all of us are broken, then how could we?
To pretend otherwise is not only to do an injustice to my brothers and sisters who discover within themselves a sexual desire for the same sex, it is to do an injustice to those who never have (and maybe never will) discover a marriage partner, to those whose wife or husband is unable to have full sexual relations due to illness or disability, to the bereaved aching for the touch of their beloved, to the teenager whose sexual desire seems to consume their every waking thought, to the abused for whom sexual contact reawakens nightmares, to those called by the Lord to serve him in ways that actively prevent any hope of marriage - and to many others besides.
So, no pretence that this is easy, no pretence that this is something with which we can live without the help and support of the body of Christ, no pretence that any of us are straight.
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