Kingdoms: I like them

I never took much interest in political debates. I found them boring, strangely depressing, and I didn’t know enough about the subject to offer anything serious to a discussion. I knew my vote was important, and gave what little attention I could to make my vote marginally worthwhile. I’m not really a party supporter, through and through, but if there are key things I disagree with I move away from supporting them each time a vote comes round. In the last election, as the Lib Dems gave the impression they were gaining ground, I couldn’t help but feel cheated that they prioritised lower taxes (more money for everyone) over abortion rates (increasing the period a child can be killed while in the womb) – I didn’t vote for them. Who in their right mind would think money is more important than life? Well, we have seen that the Lib Dem banner is as confused as a flamingo in a board meeting; distinctive colour and following whoever will let them into number 10.

Anyhow, a kingdom is vastly different. It isn’t about voting but about choosing. Those who are recognised are chosen to have more responsibility. The “King” (I would say monarch but I’m not talking about a monarchy) has close council; friends and advisors who help him do the best job he can do. I’m currently reading through Exodus and Moses was asked to stop taking all the responsibility on himself and to share it with those who he thought could lead, and that they in turn would choose who could lead thousands, hundred, and tens. The whole idea of this kind of organisation is responsibility. Taking responsibility for people and actions, and seeking help when you’re not sure what to do. It’s about a humble, servant heart, to get the best out of all people. This is how a kingdom can truly operate.

Although it isn’t perfect, the example of English monarchs, who had knights, barons, and other people watching over areas of the country shows a veering towards a kingdom that reflects what is truly best for the people. The blame culture we live in today creates a massive gap between truth and responsibility. With enough information, the blame for any bad news can be shifted from person to place to event to object to city to thought to book etc… until the actual point being made is lost. Responsibility can be taken by those unafraid of losing their position because they have been chosen, incredibly privileged because they’ve been given responsibility, and incredibly humble to see that they cannot do what they are asked without the help of others.

This is the form a true church government should take, and a kingdom on a larger scale would make this be something entirely different.

I am an idealist, and kingdoms are a long way off, if at all possible. But they are what I see as the way to see this country (and any other with a mind to put things right) take governmental structure in the right direction.

 

Thought for the Weekend

Church, like a train journey, should be an experience of continual updates of where we are, where we’re going, and where we’ve stopped to let people off and let new people on. Unless the committed core of a church knows exactly where they are headed as a community, new people will feel lost and unsettled.

 

Ministries of Mercy

I’ve read nearly all of Tim Keller’s material. And what I haven’t, I intend to. He is full of wisdom for today’s church. I first found his outlook on the gospel in 2005 and have followed a lot of what he’s done since. I recommend all of his teaching.

This book (Ministries of Mercy) is his first publication, from back in 1995. A lot of what he addresses is as a result to the facts of American poverty. He lays out a picture showing how many people are truly in poverty despite appearances. It isn’t just about the homeless undesirables, like the man on the tube this morning ripping up free newspapers but being ignored by the commuters; it’s about the elderly who can barely get by on their state pension, single parents in communities permeating with drug dealers; it’s about the families who’s father has just lost his factory job due to the economic downturn and is not skilled for anything else. Mercy is the undeserved ministry to these people.

Keller paints a picture in the first half of the book of what it would look like if we were merciful, challenging our individual perceptions, and presenting Jesus to bring us to a place of repentant faith to live a life of mercy. It begins with the story of the good Samaritan, expounds some key parts, works through the individual, then moves onto the church.

It is theological and practical in it’s presentation. There are some excellent guidelines for starting up ministries of mercy through the church. This especially resonated with me, as it gave a positive view to the eventual equipping of churches to show mercy, rather than guilt tripping those into action.

He shared his definitions and applications of justice and mercy. He showed how these work together; and how mercy ministries and evangelism are two sides of the same end, bringing the lordship of Jesus into all of life. It’s balanced in it’s approach but very positive in it’s conclusions.

I highly recommend this book. It’s challenging and gives a grand vision for what the church is capable of, but always brings it back to the ultimate ministry of mercy: Jesus on the cross.

 

Jonathan Edwards on Revival

I read this in the summer last year. It was great to read and covered three main periods of the Great Awakening of the 18th century. It was an enlightening read as the pages told of similar occurrences as are found in Acts; hearts burning with conviction to repent, all manner of people coming to know Jesus, the poor being ministered to, the generosity of the rich.

I would highly recommend reading it, and I’m not a particular fan of church history. To entertain this tangent, the excitement people get for church history is lost on me. There are many amazing things that were done through the centuries in the name of Christ, and there are amazing theologians who carry much weight in today’s understanding of scripture. But, there is a lot of reliance on practices and interpretations that aren’t the Bible, and whether they agree with scripture or not, there is far more emphasis on something that is not authoritative, or apostolic in the way the Bible is. It is my firm belief that to depart from historical Christianity is not to depart from scripture. Sometimes it is necessary to do so to remain faithful to scripture. However, church history can teach much, raise faith, and ultimately confirm much for the future of the Christian expression. Rebuilding orthodox belief from the ground is always to be encouraged, but we are influenced in many ways, the are kept in check by historical theology from the like of Calvin, Luther and, in this case, Edwards.

The story that stuck in my mind after I put the book down was of a young girl convicted by the spirit of her sin, and, in exploring and seeking for redemption would be found missing for much of the day where it later turned out she had found a secret place to pray and seek God. She wouldn’t entertain children’s ministry as she wanted to hear Mr. Edwards preach. The story is a wonderful picture of revival. In each narrative given by Edwards, the variety of God’s spirit settling on whomever He chooses is most obvious, and young and old, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, spoke especially into where my wife and I are called in Islington.

I would recommend this book, however archaic the language, for the sheer relevance an awakening of the spirit is in all generations. We apply the revival in Acts to ourselves. Why not join in Edwards experience, and even have our own to boot?

 

Thought for Saturday

Unless you’re in a church you’re pretty much out the loop of what God is up to.

 

Bell’s Hell

Rob Bell has caused a stir. I haven’t read the book.

“Love Wins” has become the latest topic of debate among Christians on Twitter, Facebook, the Christian blogosphere, and anything else that allows freedom of speech and those that believe in Jesus (primarily on the internet). I could wait for the book to find it’s way into my library, but after reading preliminary reviews I don’t think I want to own my own copy. Giving money to the cause won’t help it disappear, will it?

Of course, I shouldn’t have anything to say until I’ve read it, but my reaction has caught me off guard as I read prominent evangelicals discuss the impact this book could have. This isn’t another “The Shack” moment, where, regardless of the wobbly theology, the heart seems to be in the right place, and it is about helping people understand and improve their relationship with God, even though we have seen the trinity explained better using an egg. This is an individual with a MASSIVE following, asking questions (and providing his own answers) about a doctrine that is fundamental the Christian message.

Rob Bell is single-handedly, in the western Christian church, causing a shake up that is not dissimilar to what is happening in Japan right now.

This isn’t restoring the true message of Jesus and the Kingdom of God, this is removing the foundations and watching what happens.

As much as I’ve tried to stay out of it, it brings me close to tears as I watch this gifted individual, who has upset people, but remained faithful to Jesus, to suddenly rubbish the work of the Cross, take the God of Justice we know and love and cripple Him. The heaven and hell he is talking about is not the same as that of the bible. The future of every individual he describes is his own construction.

Rob Bell has got a lot to do to show me how it is possible the teaching of this book is not heresy.

Kevin De Young puts it well in his comprehensive review: If he’s right, most of church history has been wrong. If he’s wrong, a staggering number of people are hearing “peace, peace” where there is no peace.

 

The Church Meal

The Church Meal

I love food. Food is a wonderful thing. It shows what a culture is really made of. And eating together is by far the best way to enjoy culinary delights of any nation. I certainly don’t like eating alone, and it becomes an activity alongside something else. I can’t simply eat. I have concluded eating is a group activity. Best enjoyed in community.

That is, enjoyed by the people eating. It can be somewhat ruined from the preparation and serving end by those eating the food. Tables get moved, other customers are exacerbated, dietary requirements are magnified, all by a group who are larger than the average family.

So church, in all it’s diversity and life, tends to intensify this whole experience by nature. On more than a few occasions it becomes almost painful to watch as the church, being as close as a family by nature, enter an eatery and, requiring to sit together, cause immense disruption for the whole venue.

When Christians go for a meal they aren’t a great witness.

Self-awareness plays a large part to the fact that all these people want desperately to be a part of each others lives. No matter where we are there is a necessity to be together. This inner-city London church causes disruption and chaos as true community is trying to be worked out.

But when Christians go for a meal it’s not a good witness.

Just as the western church struggles to show how food and community work, so in Jesus’ time, the Corinthian church were doing no better. However, for them, the eating together had gotten pretty out of hand. They would set up a feast in someones house, and all the rich and wealthy would arrive first and eat all the food. By the time the poor had arrived all the rest of the church were drunk and stuffed and there was nothing left for the rest of the church. They were instructed as a new community, to ensure the logistics of eating together worked well, to eat before hand so they weren’t starving when they arrived. Then, those that had little or no food of their own, would have plenty.

This is preparation at it’s best:
• This is what we want to do
• This is the issue we come up against
• This is what we’ll do to make sure we don’t have that issue when we get round to it

Maybe in our church we need to sort out seating arrangements before we arrive. Maybe we need to humble ourselves and let the restaurants efforts be good enough. Maybe the importance of family should take a new form of being together as we are mixed around and moved that we don’t let our preferences of who we are near mean that it takes an extra hour for the food to be ordered.

Maybe we can still show London what it is to do life together at every opportunity.

I think we can.

 

Simultaneous Contemplation & Practice

The Christian faith has been described as contemplation and practice simultaneously. There is a line drawn when we get over 2 misrepresentations of Christianity. Christians are disciples. Anyone that tells you otherwise is probably selling something. And disciples are the one following Jesus.

At our Well Group on Tuesday the word disciple came up. What is a disciple? Are you one? Why/why not?

The term “disciple” was seen as the hardcore, sackcloth and ashes, humble, prayer machine. So focused on Jesus the wake they leave gives those around them the shivers. But if we watch the disciples in the gospels from when they first begin to when they open up the worldwide ministry of the Church, the contrasts are vast. All hinges on the Holy Spirit. And yet, the contrast is the growing into the faith. You don’t arrive at preaching and seeing 3000 saved. You grow into the miraculous ministry. All Christians are disciples.

So Christians are not the well behaved model citizens, ticking the boxes and keeping out of hell. And being a Christian is not ticking the single ‘faith’ box to get into heaven. A Christian is a disciple. Contemplation and practice simultaneously. The contemplation is the working out of salvation through prayer, scriptural study, community involvement of praying and encouraging one another in the discover of God and His character; and practice of faith. Raw, real, behavioural change of a life that is committed to bring the Lordship of Jesus to the fore.

Ministry is more than learned progression, it is acts of mercy, being a citizen of heaven on earth. Truly loving and caring for the lost and downtrodden.

Contemplation and practice faith make the essence of discipleship. Being and doing Christianity.

 

This is one great prayer

It wouldn’t surprise most of you, if when I say this is a great prayer, it’s found in the Bible. In Acts 4:24-30, the church gets together to pray. Peter and John have just been beaten up for making a lame man walk and attributing the signs and their general lifestyle to Jesus the Christ, who is risen and doing all sorts of things to confirm their testimony. When the apostles were finally released they told their friends. A fairly normal thing to do in my opinion. Though what is a little interesting is the fact that they are documented to all pray it together. The complexity of the prayer leads me to believe it is more likely one person prayed and everyone said amen. Here it is:

24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’-
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,
30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Amen! It stirs me each time I read it of the fervent call for Jesus to stretch out His hand into Islington and change the town and the city it’s a part of.

Amen!

 

Looking forward to heaven?

If the majority of Christians new what heaven was really like they’d need a lot of heart change in order to look forward to it. Someone said to me the other day that she had always dreamt of having a thatched cottage with views over mountains and fields and a garden full of flowers of all colours. She had promptly come to the conclusion that if she wasn’t able to attain it in this life, God would have it all ready for her in heaven.

I felt like crushing her dreams right there: You’re in no place to decide what God will give you, and heaven is a city, not some leafy suburb with no one but you and Jesus.

I didn’t, but when she went on to quote ‘delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart’ I had to jump in and correct her simple theology to tell her if everyone’s desires were given to them it would be a pretty awful place to live in. Desiring a thatched cottage is not a bad thing, desiring children isn’t a bad thing, but if God becomes the means instead of the end of your existence you’ll be either very disillusioned, or even end up in hell.

To be fair, I know of far too many people who are so wrapped up in the world of Christianity that they cannot function with those who have written God off. They cannot cope if things aren’t going well. They cannot cope if God is not so close to them they can’t properly move.

Christendom of the past half century has deteriorated leaving a generation of 40-somethings in a rut of not knowing why people either don’t get them, or don’t do what they think is right. I’ve noticed middle-aged (no offence mum or dad!) Christians looking on, bemused at an excitable younger generation, gunning full pelt for the advance of the Kingdom of God. The looks on their faces is as if to say, “they’ll grow out of it.” I for one am certainly hoping the zeal increases, instead of waning under pressures we don’t need to have.

Roots in the river, the church of Jesus Christ is standing on it’s foundations, not buffeted by the wind, or scorched by the heat, but firm in it’s convictions as generations unite in the Spirit of our living God. Our heaven is right now, and at the close of the age it comes to earth, a city out of the heavens for God to make His dwelling forever amongst his Bride, the church.