“The question of how to connect with that generation is a primary question of the church and has been for a number of years,” said Troy Messenger, who teaches at Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan and focuses on the use of media in worship. “Biblical texts are in such another time and culture, it can be very difficult to translate to our life. A two-minute movie clip can do so much more than two minutes of sermon.”
From here
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/nyregion/26journey.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3&ref=nyregion
Is this true? Should I just play video clips and then go .. 'well there you go' that says way more than anything I could ever say'? (And is there more than just a little irony in the guy who teaches media in worship a Mr Messenger?) So many questions, but no answers. Can you help me?
Monday, October 27, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
A little worrier
Over dinner our family has been reading through Matthew. Last night we read in Chapter 6
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 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? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Now Emily has a routine where she lays out her clothes for the next day before she goes to sleep. And being 3 1/2 it can be stressful as to what to wear (I can't imagine what this is going to be like as the years go on!). She is my little worrier in so many ways. So, we were trying to get her to realise that it is good to trust God - she doesn't have to worry about her clothes or lots of the other things she concerns herself with. There was much nodding of the head on her behalf and we prayed as a family, Em, then Mum, then Dad and the family said AMEN.
Immediately then,
Emily: "What can I wear tomorrow?"
Will continue to pray.....
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 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? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Now Emily has a routine where she lays out her clothes for the next day before she goes to sleep. And being 3 1/2 it can be stressful as to what to wear (I can't imagine what this is going to be like as the years go on!). She is my little worrier in so many ways. So, we were trying to get her to realise that it is good to trust God - she doesn't have to worry about her clothes or lots of the other things she concerns herself with. There was much nodding of the head on her behalf and we prayed as a family, Em, then Mum, then Dad and the family said AMEN.
Immediately then,
Emily: "What can I wear tomorrow?"
Will continue to pray.....
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The good, the bad, the ugly and the very good
What a terrible thing it is to be under the curse of God. Genesis 3 paints a picture of a transition from blessing to curse as mankind is punished for their rebellion against their loving Creator who had created a good world. ‘Cursed are you….I will increase your pains……cursed is the ground’. So bad is the situation and such is the power of this action that it will take a great blessing for it to be undone. Yet it was in God’s plan.
The great blessing begins in Genesis 12 where the word ‘bless’ occurs 5 times. Those promises to Abraham are hefty and lofty in their content yet God is faithful. The story of the Bible is of the one unfolding plan of God. All these promises find their fulfilment in Jesus Christ. As 2 Cor 1:20 says, ‘For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ’. God’s plan was designed to show his glory through his one and only Son. Yet it was ugly, it was through the death of an innocent man on a cross – this is ugly no matter how nicely you try to put it.
Our small group has been studying Revelation over the last little while and on Tuesday night we finished it! There was a verse that rung in my ears, especially in light of what is written above – ‘No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him’ (Rev 22:3). No curse! The curse is finally over; the slavery to sin – OVER! The presence of sin – GONE! The power of sin – VANISHED! This is better than good, this is very good.
What a great and glorious kingdom that Christ has won for us!
What a magnificent God we have who has worked this out since the beginning of time!
What a wonderful new creation!
What a hope we have!
What joy we have in being assured of our place in heaven!
What an immense thing to have every spiritual blessing in Christ!
With such a breathtaking vision of the riches and splendour of the new creation, it is no wonder that the book finishes with a plea for Jesus to return: ‘Come, Lord Jesus’. I don’t often pray for Jesus to return but I have been encouraged to this week and into the future.
The great blessing begins in Genesis 12 where the word ‘bless’ occurs 5 times. Those promises to Abraham are hefty and lofty in their content yet God is faithful. The story of the Bible is of the one unfolding plan of God. All these promises find their fulfilment in Jesus Christ. As 2 Cor 1:20 says, ‘For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ’. God’s plan was designed to show his glory through his one and only Son. Yet it was ugly, it was through the death of an innocent man on a cross – this is ugly no matter how nicely you try to put it.
Our small group has been studying Revelation over the last little while and on Tuesday night we finished it! There was a verse that rung in my ears, especially in light of what is written above – ‘No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him’ (Rev 22:3). No curse! The curse is finally over; the slavery to sin – OVER! The presence of sin – GONE! The power of sin – VANISHED! This is better than good, this is very good.
What a great and glorious kingdom that Christ has won for us!
What a magnificent God we have who has worked this out since the beginning of time!
What a wonderful new creation!
What a hope we have!
What joy we have in being assured of our place in heaven!
What an immense thing to have every spiritual blessing in Christ!
With such a breathtaking vision of the riches and splendour of the new creation, it is no wonder that the book finishes with a plea for Jesus to return: ‘Come, Lord Jesus’. I don’t often pray for Jesus to return but I have been encouraged to this week and into the future.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Grappling with marriage
The debate over whether to legally recognise gay relationships with a marriage continues in todays Sydney Morning Herald. Read the article here http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/gay-unions-accepted-but-not-symbolism/2008/05/07/1210131061925.html
There are a number of interesting points
1. He continues this stream of thought that there should be a wall between church and state and that the two should never cross paths but remain like train tracks. He needs to read Andrew Cameron's lecture on this topic. Read it here http://www.newcollege.unsw.edu.au/fileadmin/user_upload/pdfs/NCLs05Cameron1.pdf
2. He struggles to see that marriage is a institution that is for all people but was given to us from God for the proper expression of a man and woman's relationship. This objective reality of marriage continues to hamper those who want to make it something it isn't. They have not grasped the purpose of marriage. Those who want to change it want it to be something that it is not - how could a chair be used as a microphone? A chair's purpose is for sitting! The purpose of marriage is for a man and a woman.
There are a number of interesting points
1. He continues this stream of thought that there should be a wall between church and state and that the two should never cross paths but remain like train tracks. He needs to read Andrew Cameron's lecture on this topic. Read it here http://www.newcollege.unsw.edu.au/fileadmin/user_upload/pdfs/NCLs05Cameron1.pdf
2. He struggles to see that marriage is a institution that is for all people but was given to us from God for the proper expression of a man and woman's relationship. This objective reality of marriage continues to hamper those who want to make it something it isn't. They have not grasped the purpose of marriage. Those who want to change it want it to be something that it is not - how could a chair be used as a microphone? A chair's purpose is for sitting! The purpose of marriage is for a man and a woman.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
On the issue of relationships
There is an interesting article in today's herald about families being strangers to there teenagers by not seeing them for a year while they are at boarding school. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/families-becoming-strangers/2008/05/05/1209839554193.html
A quote from the article
'The problem was not PLC's alone but shared among schools throughout Sydney and around the world, he said. "To earn enough money to make it, we haven't stopped to think what we are losing to do that," he writes. "If we are losing family values and community welfare, something needs to be done about that.'
It is a great thought, what are we prepared to lose to make it in the world? We are sacrificing relationships in order to be successful in the eyes of the world! It begs the question of who we are trying to please in the world? It also reminds me of a verse - What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul? (Mk 8:36) Relationships are not the only thing that are being left by the roadside, it seems the soul has been trodden on and run over by the Range Rover!
A quote from the article
'The problem was not PLC's alone but shared among schools throughout Sydney and around the world, he said. "To earn enough money to make it, we haven't stopped to think what we are losing to do that," he writes. "If we are losing family values and community welfare, something needs to be done about that.'
It is a great thought, what are we prepared to lose to make it in the world? We are sacrificing relationships in order to be successful in the eyes of the world! It begs the question of who we are trying to please in the world? It also reminds me of a verse - What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul? (Mk 8:36) Relationships are not the only thing that are being left by the roadside, it seems the soul has been trodden on and run over by the Range Rover!
The Environmental Divorce Rate
Having dinner with some friends on the weekend and we were talking about global warming and climate change and he commented, 'if we spent as much time trying to fix the climate as we did trying to repair relationships, in particular the divorce rate, that would be a better world to live in.' True, true...
Reading Revelation Right
Last Tuesday night at Bible Study we read through the whole book of Revelation in one sitting. It was a really valuable exercise (well at least I thought so!). I'm assuming when the recipients of the letter received it they didn't sit down over 9 weeks to read it but read it out in one hit. It helps to give the big picture of the book even if you don't understand everything John is writing about. It is an exciting book that is aimed at giving great hope to anyone by unveiling, revealing to the reader a marvellous vision of Jesus Christ (Rev 1:1 'The revelation of Jesus Christ'). It is ONE revelation it is not the book of revelations (it bugs me when people ask about the book of revelations!). Why not take an hour to sit and read it? I promise you it will be a worthwhile time spent......
Sunday, May 4, 2008
I've lost something
And so ends an enormously frustrating day! Lots of people talking to me but alas I was unable to talk back, my voice resembling the Godfather gone wrong i.e. LOST, gone, vanished, nowhere to be found. It did show me just how valuable a resource my voice is in ministry and how important it is to take care of it. Not that I think I was abusing my voice by attempting to imitate a Jimmy Barnes or Chris Cornell scream or anything like that. It did also make me appreciate my voice in general and how much I take it for granted, I can only imagine what it would be like to not be able to speak for a lifetime and the constant frustration that must be - I mean I couldn't even go and order take away after church tonight!!
It also makes me appreciate that God is someone who does communicate to us through his Scriptures. He is not dumb, he SPEAKS! But not only does he speak but does so with clarity. After all he invented language and what God would he be if he was unable to communicate to us using the language he invented?
It also makes me appreciate that God is someone who does communicate to us through his Scriptures. He is not dumb, he SPEAKS! But not only does he speak but does so with clarity. After all he invented language and what God would he be if he was unable to communicate to us using the language he invented?
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Relationships and Work
I have been working my way through a series on relationships and work over the past 4 weeks at church. It has been tough but very rewarding. One of the great things about doing this is seeing the way in which the two topics overlap.
Firstly, we established that relationships are other person centred as we looked at how the Trinity relates to each other. Broughton-Knox's book 'The Everlasting God' was an enormous help for this section.
Secondly, we saw that work is sharing God's good gifts to promote communities that care for each other.
Work then became another opportunity for expressing our relationship. Work is an other person centred activity. Our work is an opportunity to contribute to society. There is not the sphere of our lives called relationships and another called work, they overlap and interlock with each other - we can't compartmentalise these two big topics.
Firstly, we established that relationships are other person centred as we looked at how the Trinity relates to each other. Broughton-Knox's book 'The Everlasting God' was an enormous help for this section.
Secondly, we saw that work is sharing God's good gifts to promote communities that care for each other.
Work then became another opportunity for expressing our relationship. Work is an other person centred activity. Our work is an opportunity to contribute to society. There is not the sphere of our lives called relationships and another called work, they overlap and interlock with each other - we can't compartmentalise these two big topics.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Marriage and the Christian life
Marriage is about leaving and cleaving. As Gen 2:24 says...
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
We leave behind our previous family unit and be united in one flesh to our spouse. Paul reveals in Eph 5 that this passage was ultimately talking about Christ and the church.
For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
As Christians we are part of the church, we are betrothed to Christ and await his return as the groom awaits his loving bride to come down the altar. But, I wonder whether this idea of being 'married' to Christ, that is cleaving to him, can also translate to the leaving part of the marriage idea. What is that we leave behind? Jesus' reassuring words to Peter when he wonders who then can be saved in Mk 10 say,
I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters of mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in the present age and in the age to come, eternal life.
For some, the calling of the gospel will mean leaving behind some family and cleaving to Christ.
For others it is leaving behind the pursuit of wealth (as the previous bit in Mk 10 says to the rich young ruler) and cleaving to Christ.
For others it is leaving behind promising careers and cleaving to Christ.
For others it is leaving behind destructive lifestyles and cleaving to Christ.
For others it is leaving behind unfulfilled sporting dreams and cleaving to Christ.
This profound mystery of being 'one flesh' with Christ incorporates both leaving and cleaving. It is a verse for all Christians not just the married ones. And just like marriage relationships have an exclusive nature so it is with Christ, we are to remain faithful to him and not commit adultery.
I'm sure there is more that could be said about this typological relationship between Christ and the Church and marriage and singleness. Over to you......
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
We leave behind our previous family unit and be united in one flesh to our spouse. Paul reveals in Eph 5 that this passage was ultimately talking about Christ and the church.
For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
As Christians we are part of the church, we are betrothed to Christ and await his return as the groom awaits his loving bride to come down the altar. But, I wonder whether this idea of being 'married' to Christ, that is cleaving to him, can also translate to the leaving part of the marriage idea. What is that we leave behind? Jesus' reassuring words to Peter when he wonders who then can be saved in Mk 10 say,
I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters of mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in the present age and in the age to come, eternal life.
For some, the calling of the gospel will mean leaving behind some family and cleaving to Christ.
For others it is leaving behind the pursuit of wealth (as the previous bit in Mk 10 says to the rich young ruler) and cleaving to Christ.
For others it is leaving behind promising careers and cleaving to Christ.
For others it is leaving behind destructive lifestyles and cleaving to Christ.
For others it is leaving behind unfulfilled sporting dreams and cleaving to Christ.
This profound mystery of being 'one flesh' with Christ incorporates both leaving and cleaving. It is a verse for all Christians not just the married ones. And just like marriage relationships have an exclusive nature so it is with Christ, we are to remain faithful to him and not commit adultery.
I'm sure there is more that could be said about this typological relationship between Christ and the Church and marriage and singleness. Over to you......
Daylight Savings
What better way to spend my extra hour then to have a whinge about an extra hour.....
I am almost sure that Daylight Savings was not an issue in the Garden of Eden. God did not create us to mess around with time. I implore all of us to write to the Government to stop this great and grievous sin!
OK that may not work, here is another suggestion. Children should be programmed like my mobile phone - to automatically change with daylight savings.
Your choice, either is fine with me.......
I am almost sure that Daylight Savings was not an issue in the Garden of Eden. God did not create us to mess around with time. I implore all of us to write to the Government to stop this great and grievous sin!
OK that may not work, here is another suggestion. Children should be programmed like my mobile phone - to automatically change with daylight savings.
Your choice, either is fine with me.......
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Does ALL Scripture points to Christ???
I have been having a discussion with a friend about Luke 24 & John 5 about whether we can truly say that these popular passages are actually a mandate to take every passage of Scripture to Christ. There aren't many, if any, commentaries that actually see these passages saying that all Scripture points to Christ. It has been an interesting discussion! I have grown up thinking that to do Biblical Theology correctly passages need to be applied to Christ before being applied to us - however is this the case?
I have been encouraged to think about 2Tim 2:16-17 which says:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
The Scriptures that Paul is referring to is the OT. Paul thought it could be applied directly to us.
What are your thoughts? Can we apply the OT directly to us?
I have been encouraged to think about 2Tim 2:16-17 which says:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
The Scriptures that Paul is referring to is the OT. Paul thought it could be applied directly to us.
What are your thoughts? Can we apply the OT directly to us?
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Fooled...
Thanks to Luke for pointing out that to me that the article that got under my skin was an April Fool Joke....got me and got me good!!!
DOH!
DOH!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Getting under my skin.......
John Sandeman's article on sydneyanglicans.net has got under my skin! You can read it here - http://http://your.sydneyanglicans.net/indepth/articles/our_april_column/
I believe he is trying to get us to see a blind spot in our community amongst the rich - and I agree that this is a blind spot and yes the rich are hard to reach, but he should have stopped at that point!
He goes onto to make two massive understatements in my view about university ministry and private schools ministry.
Firstly, this is what he says about universities:
“Charles Simeon is a great example, a founder of the evangelical movement,” says one desperate parish nominator. “He did not just concentrate on visiting the poor and obscure villages. He also preached to the University as well. I wish we could get someone to do that, I am sure if someone tried we could plant a small church near one of the campuses”.
John, we are doing this!!! Planting churches alongside the great work of AFES ministry in universities is a strategy that has been going on for some years now. Think about Crossroads church in Canberra (linked with ANU), Hunter Bible Church in Newcaste (linked with Newcastle Uni), Matthias (linked with UNSW), Barnies at Broadway (and its historic link with Uni of Syd), Cumberland Unichurch (linked with Lidcombe campus of Uni of Syd). And this is just in Sydney and off the top of my head but it is a pattern that is repeated across the nation.
Secondly, he then moves onto private schools:
Here’s an idea: why don’t we start a youth ministry especially targeting the private schools? Too radical you say. But I am a dreamer.
John, we are doing this!! Crusaders ministry has been around for at least 70 years. It has significant ministry in a lot of private schools. Your not a dreamer, but you could try being a researcher! What do you want the diocese to do John? It seems that stuff is happening
As I said, he got under my skin..........
I believe he is trying to get us to see a blind spot in our community amongst the rich - and I agree that this is a blind spot and yes the rich are hard to reach, but he should have stopped at that point!
He goes onto to make two massive understatements in my view about university ministry and private schools ministry.
Firstly, this is what he says about universities:
“Charles Simeon is a great example, a founder of the evangelical movement,” says one desperate parish nominator. “He did not just concentrate on visiting the poor and obscure villages. He also preached to the University as well. I wish we could get someone to do that, I am sure if someone tried we could plant a small church near one of the campuses”.
John, we are doing this!!! Planting churches alongside the great work of AFES ministry in universities is a strategy that has been going on for some years now. Think about Crossroads church in Canberra (linked with ANU), Hunter Bible Church in Newcaste (linked with Newcastle Uni), Matthias (linked with UNSW), Barnies at Broadway (and its historic link with Uni of Syd), Cumberland Unichurch (linked with Lidcombe campus of Uni of Syd). And this is just in Sydney and off the top of my head but it is a pattern that is repeated across the nation.
Secondly, he then moves onto private schools:
Here’s an idea: why don’t we start a youth ministry especially targeting the private schools? Too radical you say. But I am a dreamer.
John, we are doing this!! Crusaders ministry has been around for at least 70 years. It has significant ministry in a lot of private schools. Your not a dreamer, but you could try being a researcher! What do you want the diocese to do John? It seems that stuff is happening
As I said, he got under my skin..........
Monday, February 25, 2008
The sheer audacity of Jesus! I mean, really, hasn't he read funeral etiquette 101?
I was reading through Mk 5 today and every time I read it I am struck by the way in which Jesus conducts himself at the funeral of Jairus' daughter. She is dead, the narrative makes it crystal clear....
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.
People had begun to mourn for her
38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.
But then in walks Jesus,
39 And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping?
I'm sorry Jesus, it is natural to weep and have a bit of commotion at a FUNERAL!
The child is not dead but sleeping." 40 And they laughed at him.
Not sure if I would laugh or be outraged by this outrageous comment!
But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.
This incident is the climax of events that begins in 4:35 with Jesus' demonstrating his authority firstly over nature, seconldy over the supernatural in the curing of the many demons and finally here over death. It is no wonder that the question that reverberates through this part is the question -WHO IS JESUS? His actions around this dead girl are mind boggling....it is certainly not good funeral etiquette! A full revelation of his identity is not until ch8, but we the reader have already glimpsed his identity from the opening verse and his baptism.
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.
People had begun to mourn for her
38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.
But then in walks Jesus,
39 And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping?
I'm sorry Jesus, it is natural to weep and have a bit of commotion at a FUNERAL!
The child is not dead but sleeping." 40 And they laughed at him.
Not sure if I would laugh or be outraged by this outrageous comment!
But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.
This incident is the climax of events that begins in 4:35 with Jesus' demonstrating his authority firstly over nature, seconldy over the supernatural in the curing of the many demons and finally here over death. It is no wonder that the question that reverberates through this part is the question -WHO IS JESUS? His actions around this dead girl are mind boggling....it is certainly not good funeral etiquette! A full revelation of his identity is not until ch8, but we the reader have already glimpsed his identity from the opening verse and his baptism.
Giving up the drink .........
'Hi my name is Dave and it has been 6months since my last soft drink.'
It's true! On the 1st September 2007 I gave up drinking soft drink and I have not had one since. It started out as something to keep healthy and now I can't go back. Initially, It was a real battle and now temptations come in intermittently, especially when I'm tired and really want a Coke hit.
There is a similarity between giving up the 'drink' and sin. We as Christians have given up or to use Romans language, 'died' to sin. However, it is a constant battle to stay sober from sin. Temptation hits us when we are tired and frustrated and really want a hit of good old sin. However, it is in these times that we can recall Tit 2:6,
Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
The word 'self-control' is about thinking sensibly, about being wise and thinking who we are in Christ before 'losing control'. It sounds easy but we all know that giving up sin is a lifelong struggle and has more allure than a can of coke (even with their powerful marketing campaigns! Yes, i am aware that it is the real thing!). Combating this allure is to remember that sin has been overcome as 1Jn 2:14 says,
I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
It's true! On the 1st September 2007 I gave up drinking soft drink and I have not had one since. It started out as something to keep healthy and now I can't go back. Initially, It was a real battle and now temptations come in intermittently, especially when I'm tired and really want a Coke hit.
There is a similarity between giving up the 'drink' and sin. We as Christians have given up or to use Romans language, 'died' to sin. However, it is a constant battle to stay sober from sin. Temptation hits us when we are tired and frustrated and really want a hit of good old sin. However, it is in these times that we can recall Tit 2:6,
Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
The word 'self-control' is about thinking sensibly, about being wise and thinking who we are in Christ before 'losing control'. It sounds easy but we all know that giving up sin is a lifelong struggle and has more allure than a can of coke (even with their powerful marketing campaigns! Yes, i am aware that it is the real thing!). Combating this allure is to remember that sin has been overcome as 1Jn 2:14 says,
I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
I will decide ... OK! Got it! Good...
The censorship issue over games is on the cards at the moment. I was reading an article about it, see this link - http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/02/22/1203467345267.html. Apparently the gaming industry opinion on censorship is:
'The games industry has long argued that the censorship regime is unnecessarily draconian and prevents adults from making their own decisions as to the type of content they consume.'
Ah, there it is, the nugget in the middle, we are being prevented from 'making our own decisions'! I always new I was being held back by those 'draconian' bureaucrats! Get off my back would you!
This is just another example of people not wanting to be told what to do whether it is about gaming, sex, abortion or God, etc.. For who decides what is 'good' for us? Surely it is me, did you hear me, ME! The technical word for it is voluntarism. It represents peoples inner longing to be in control and if someone else invades my personal decision making process then WATCH OUT!
It is just as obvious when talking to people about Jesus being their King. Woh! Slow down there cowboy! Sure he may have died on the cross and rose again but who said anything about him being King of my life? Living with Jesus as King (he demonstrated his kingship by dying and rising again)means obeying Him and submitting to what he says is good for us, it means He is intimately involved in your decision making - in fact, decisions should be about honouring Jesus as King. I know that I want to obey God, who created us, because surely he would know what the 'good' is- not my sin stained desires.
'The games industry has long argued that the censorship regime is unnecessarily draconian and prevents adults from making their own decisions as to the type of content they consume.'
Ah, there it is, the nugget in the middle, we are being prevented from 'making our own decisions'! I always new I was being held back by those 'draconian' bureaucrats! Get off my back would you!
This is just another example of people not wanting to be told what to do whether it is about gaming, sex, abortion or God, etc.. For who decides what is 'good' for us? Surely it is me, did you hear me, ME! The technical word for it is voluntarism. It represents peoples inner longing to be in control and if someone else invades my personal decision making process then WATCH OUT!
It is just as obvious when talking to people about Jesus being their King. Woh! Slow down there cowboy! Sure he may have died on the cross and rose again but who said anything about him being King of my life? Living with Jesus as King (he demonstrated his kingship by dying and rising again)means obeying Him and submitting to what he says is good for us, it means He is intimately involved in your decision making - in fact, decisions should be about honouring Jesus as King. I know that I want to obey God, who created us, because surely he would know what the 'good' is- not my sin stained desires.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Understanding the times - doubt
To grab hold of and understand a biblical understanding of 'eschatology' is an enormously worthwhile exercise for Christians. The arrival and life of Jesus was an event that has no parallel in all of earth's history. It was unique in that the divine 'incarnated' himself to become flesh but also in that Jesus rose from the dead. This resurrection is described as the firstfruits of many in 1Cor15. Romans describes us as being united to Christ in his resurrection by faith. So, this means that we can say that we are NOW with Christ in heaven BUT our experience tells us that us that we do NOT YET know that this is not the case as we live in our earthly bodies struggling with sin. This helps us to understand the times we live in! Helps us to understand why we can say with Paul that we are dead to sin and also be exhorted to not let sin reign in our mortal bodies (Rom. 6).
This is particularly helpful in thinking about the issue of 'doubt'. Doubt is a common Christian experience and while there are many books that offer help there is little theological work done in understanding it. There is a tension that arises from our justification as based in our union with Christ and our fallen human nature. The tension is eased as we discover an 'eschatological' framework for understanding sin from Romans 6 (as seen above). It is from this perspective that we see doubt as a conflict between our justification and our sanctification. Doubt is the double mindedness; it is having a foot in ‘both-camps’, one in Christ and one in Adam. Having understood this we can avoid two theological errors of not taking doubt seriously enough or taking it too seriously. Not only does it help with these pastoral questions but this perspective aids in understanding the many Scriptural references to doubt that occur in the New Testament.
It is this divided-heart that underpins all the Scriptural references to doubt. James 4: 8 shows the double-mindedness of doubt. ‘Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded’ (James 4:8). You can see the internal division of a person when the resurrected Jesus confronts them. ‘And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts’” (Luke 24:38). You can see the divided heart so torn by its options that it cannot make up its mind. “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him (Mark 11:23).” You can see the double-mindedness of doubt in peoples’ reservations: ‘And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted’ (Matthew 28:17).
I haven't fleshed out some of the pastoral implications of this but the groundwork and framework for thinking about doubt has been laid and hopefully in the future I can post something fleshing out some more implications - but at the very least we can say that doubt is a common Christian experience.
This is particularly helpful in thinking about the issue of 'doubt'. Doubt is a common Christian experience and while there are many books that offer help there is little theological work done in understanding it. There is a tension that arises from our justification as based in our union with Christ and our fallen human nature. The tension is eased as we discover an 'eschatological' framework for understanding sin from Romans 6 (as seen above). It is from this perspective that we see doubt as a conflict between our justification and our sanctification. Doubt is the double mindedness; it is having a foot in ‘both-camps’, one in Christ and one in Adam. Having understood this we can avoid two theological errors of not taking doubt seriously enough or taking it too seriously. Not only does it help with these pastoral questions but this perspective aids in understanding the many Scriptural references to doubt that occur in the New Testament.
It is this divided-heart that underpins all the Scriptural references to doubt. James 4: 8 shows the double-mindedness of doubt. ‘Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded’ (James 4:8). You can see the internal division of a person when the resurrected Jesus confronts them. ‘And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts’” (Luke 24:38). You can see the divided heart so torn by its options that it cannot make up its mind. “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him (Mark 11:23).” You can see the double-mindedness of doubt in peoples’ reservations: ‘And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted’ (Matthew 28:17).
I haven't fleshed out some of the pastoral implications of this but the groundwork and framework for thinking about doubt has been laid and hopefully in the future I can post something fleshing out some more implications - but at the very least we can say that doubt is a common Christian experience.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
The Kingdom of God in Mk1:15
'The time has come', said Jesus. 'The kingdom of God is near.' (NIV) There has been much discussion about this verse and whether the kingdom arrives with Jesus or only at his death; the focus seems to always fall on time. I was reading 'Divine Government' by R.T. France and he puts it well (that is I agree with him and he says it better than I ever could!).....
But in so far as the debate has focused specifically on the kingship of God, it has too often proceeded on the basis of of the misconception we considered above, that the kingdom must refer to a particular situation or event within a chronological scheme. But when it is recognised that the NT is not talking about a thing called the kingdom, but about God reigning, the whole question loses its focus [...] The main point of Mark 1.15 is not the precise timescale, but the fact that it is in the coming of Jesus that we are to see God's revolution taking place. Indeed, it is in the Jesus that we are to see God coming as King.
But in so far as the debate has focused specifically on the kingship of God, it has too often proceeded on the basis of of the misconception we considered above, that the kingdom must refer to a particular situation or event within a chronological scheme. But when it is recognised that the NT is not talking about a thing called the kingdom, but about God reigning, the whole question loses its focus [...] The main point of Mark 1.15 is not the precise timescale, but the fact that it is in the coming of Jesus that we are to see God's revolution taking place. Indeed, it is in the Jesus that we are to see God coming as King.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Jumping on Jesus
Do we in Sydney have a problem? Has our preaching on the Old Testament left behind the original setting, culture, geography and meaning for those to whom it was originally written? Are we too quick to 'jump to Jesus'? It could mean that our Old Testament preaching in Sydney becomes all too predictable and boring! I totally agree that 'all Scripture points to Jesus', but what does this mean? Is it every sentence, every paragraph, every chapter or just the vibe of the thing? (The answer is another post altogether!) The question is one of methodology or hermeneutics (that is how we interpret the Bible). Biblical Theology is a hermeneutical tool and the man leading this charge is Graeme Goldsworthy. I was fortunate enough to do Hermeunitics subject with Graeme at Moore College and when asked whether he would go to Jesus for every sermon on say a series on Exodus he said, 'No'. However Graeme was quick to say that too often his work has led people to go too quickly to Jesus' death and resurrection or to focus on his work, not his person. The Scriptures testify to ALL of Jesus' life. I'm not saying that all preachers jump all over Jesus too quickly this but there are certainly some people out there who believe we have a slavish desire to go to Jesus and fail to explain the text in a rich and meaningful way - and I think they have a point! What do you think.....
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Real Tough Blokes
A strange thing happened to me the other week - I was taking my kids to the swings when a man walked by the his dog (a beagle). The dog came straight up to my 16mth old daughter and took the biscuit out of her hand! I was shocked, the man was very embarrassed and chastised his dog verbally. Later that day I was cleaning the car when the same man arrived in his car carrying a plastic shopping bag and apologised and said sorry for his dog's actions and gave us a whole bag of chocolates! But how does this relate to 'tough blokes'? I reckon it takes a huge effort to admit your fault and say sorry because it is a hit to your pride. Especially blokes! So, this man, who never told me his name, is a real tough bloke in my mind. He was able to swallow his pride and admit his mistake - I wonder whether he has done that before God yet? Yes, it is a hit to our pride to admit that we no longer run our lives and willingly submit to the will of God. It also makes me think of the cost of forgiveness for Jesus, chocolates for one hiccup, death for the other ......
Toy Story
A big part of my life at the moment is my 2yr old's obsession with the movie Toy Story (1 & 2). There is a moment in Toy Story 2 where Buzz asks Woody the philosophical question of the movie and it has to do with purpose - where Toys created to be played with or to live in a museum? Woody seems to have lost the plot thinking that the museum is his destiny but eventually sees the light. It reminded me of a conversation I had with an agnostic who has been coming to church lately. He has no problems with us being sinners, in fact he thinks that we were created sinners and therefore can lay the blame for all his wrong doings on God because that is how we were created! But this is not true - Gen 1 & 2 clearly show that sin was not part of the the original creation: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Gen 1:31). For how could God declare someting good if it was originally tainted with sin. Our purpose or telos is to be in perfect relationship with God, for this is 'good'. My friend fails to see that Jesus forges this relationship through his person and work and bears the punishment of our rebellion. It seems that the blame game should fall on us not on God.
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