Today the news headlines round much of the world proclaim: '147 killed at Kenyan university'. The dead were mostly students at a university in Garissa, Kenya. They died at the hands of gunmen who reportedly selected Christians to kill.
As I am a Christian and live on the campus of another university in Kenya, albeit many miles from Garissa, it is understandable that people who know me worry about my safety at times like this.
Such news reminds us - if we need reminding - of the dangers of the world in which we live.
Although such news is both shocking and tragic, I believe that we mistake where the greatest danger lies, fearing bullets and bombs, but being oblivious to the much greater dangers that affect our eternal destiny.
Do not get me wrong, I do not seek to die at the hands of any gunman, and will review again my already tight security. However, as I believe God called me to live and work here, I have no intention of moving to somewhere that might look more secure, if by so doing I am being disobedient to my God.
Today also happens to be Good Friday, the day on which Christians remember that Jesus was killed in the most gruesome manner possible, in order to take the punishment for the sin of mankind. But I look forward to two days’ time, when we will celebrate Easter - Jesus’ resurrection! - and so know that his promise of eternal life to all who will accept him as Lord is true.
It was Jesus who said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10v28)
I am much more secure here, doing the work that God has given me to do, than living in some quiet corner of the world just minding my own business.
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Friday, 3 April 2015
Thursday, 19 March 2015
The profit motive
I watched a series on TV a while back about various influential economists and their differing theories.
Although they had very different ways of understanding economic systems, and disagreed with each other over many fundamentals, it struck me that the profit motive - both at an individual and corporate level - was taken for granted by all of them. But then, they were economists!
Our western economies rely on the same assumption. Businesses exist to make a profit, pay grades are structured so as to motivate the successful, and individuals aspire to raise their income and thus their spending power. (Even thieves and the corrupt share the motivation, but look for short-cuts for all the hard work that is normally involved.)
There is no denying that this profit motive has led businesses to innovate and increase their market share, to amazing advances in science and technology, and individuals to work hard to move up the ladder. In this way, the theory goes, civilisation advances, the human lot improves and the world goes round.
And so it does seem!
But, considering the centrality / ubiquity of the profit motive, as a Christian I find it surprising that it seems to be completely absent from the teaching and lifestyle of Jesus!
Ah, we may think, he lived and taught in a pre-industrial age, in a simple hand-to-mouth society; what could he know about the profit motive? Yet a closer reading indicates that he was indeed acutely aware of the profit motive - and he wanted nothing to do with it!
Jesus and the Bible speak very plainly against the love of money. For example:
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matt 6v24)
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ “ (Hebrews 13:5)
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10)
(However, the Bible also makes clear that there is nothing wrong with money per se: we are to work to earn our living, we are to pay taxes, we are to have honest dealings in trade.)
But what is the ‘love of money’? It is precisely the profit motive - for without the love of money there is no motivation!
So, how does Jesus expect civilisation to advance and the world to go round, if we are not to be motivated by money?
He poses a clear choice: love God or love money. So the alternative is to love God - and love our neighbour as ourselves (Matt 22v39). If we were to choose to love God and our neighbour, that would motivate us to seek the good of others, for they are also God’s creation. Thus we are motivated to educate, to find new remedies for illness, to work to address poverty, to be good stewards of the world for the good of all people, and to share God’s love to all people. And in so doing it is reasonable to earn one’s living - for “the worker deserves his wages.” (1 Timothy 5:18.)
But would the world still go round, would civilisation advance? It would look different, for sure, but I believe it would!
In fact there would be less inequality, less pollution, less corruption, less meaningless ‘stuff', less waste, less destruction of the environment - for these are also the results of the profit motive. And there would be more time, better relationships and a greater sense of community, better care for the sick, the poor, and the disabled - for these are all cast aside by the profit motive.
But, for now, as most people assume the profit motive is an unquestioned good, those of us who disagree must live in such a way that demonstrates Jesus’ radical alternative. I think that this way of living is called ‘being in the world but not of it’.
Although they had very different ways of understanding economic systems, and disagreed with each other over many fundamentals, it struck me that the profit motive - both at an individual and corporate level - was taken for granted by all of them. But then, they were economists!
Our western economies rely on the same assumption. Businesses exist to make a profit, pay grades are structured so as to motivate the successful, and individuals aspire to raise their income and thus their spending power. (Even thieves and the corrupt share the motivation, but look for short-cuts for all the hard work that is normally involved.)
There is no denying that this profit motive has led businesses to innovate and increase their market share, to amazing advances in science and technology, and individuals to work hard to move up the ladder. In this way, the theory goes, civilisation advances, the human lot improves and the world goes round.
And so it does seem!
But, considering the centrality / ubiquity of the profit motive, as a Christian I find it surprising that it seems to be completely absent from the teaching and lifestyle of Jesus!
Ah, we may think, he lived and taught in a pre-industrial age, in a simple hand-to-mouth society; what could he know about the profit motive? Yet a closer reading indicates that he was indeed acutely aware of the profit motive - and he wanted nothing to do with it!
Jesus and the Bible speak very plainly against the love of money. For example:
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matt 6v24)
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ “ (Hebrews 13:5)
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10)
(However, the Bible also makes clear that there is nothing wrong with money per se: we are to work to earn our living, we are to pay taxes, we are to have honest dealings in trade.)
But what is the ‘love of money’? It is precisely the profit motive - for without the love of money there is no motivation!
So, how does Jesus expect civilisation to advance and the world to go round, if we are not to be motivated by money?
He poses a clear choice: love God or love money. So the alternative is to love God - and love our neighbour as ourselves (Matt 22v39). If we were to choose to love God and our neighbour, that would motivate us to seek the good of others, for they are also God’s creation. Thus we are motivated to educate, to find new remedies for illness, to work to address poverty, to be good stewards of the world for the good of all people, and to share God’s love to all people. And in so doing it is reasonable to earn one’s living - for “the worker deserves his wages.” (1 Timothy 5:18.)
But would the world still go round, would civilisation advance? It would look different, for sure, but I believe it would!
In fact there would be less inequality, less pollution, less corruption, less meaningless ‘stuff', less waste, less destruction of the environment - for these are also the results of the profit motive. And there would be more time, better relationships and a greater sense of community, better care for the sick, the poor, and the disabled - for these are all cast aside by the profit motive.
But, for now, as most people assume the profit motive is an unquestioned good, those of us who disagree must live in such a way that demonstrates Jesus’ radical alternative. I think that this way of living is called ‘being in the world but not of it’.
Saturday, 6 December 2014
The Western church smorgasbord
Setting: Jesus, dressed as a waiter, talks to a new convert to Christianity.
Jesus: "Congratulations on becoming a Christian, sir; an excellent choice if I may say so! Are you ready to order your choice of church?"
New convert: "Yes, I think so. What have you got?"
Jesus: "Well, we have small friendly churches, standard churches, or you could go large and join a mega-church."
New convert: "I think I'll have a small friendly church please."
Jesus: "Now, what style of preacher would you like to go with that? We have pastors, ministers, priests, and bishops, and each is available as a wooly liberal, middle-of-the-road, or a Bible-thumper, and with or without women. We can also prepare them in anything from jeans to cassocks, to your taste."
New convert: “Well what I'd really like is a pastor who explains the Bible, but without too much thumping. I'm not sure about women, though. But I’d like mine with a jacket and trousers, but no tie."
Jesus: “No problem; we can do that, sir; if you decide about the women, just let me know. Now which sauce would you like? We have Evangelical, Catholic, Pentecostal and Middle-of-the-road - and these can come with or without the Spirit."
New convert: “I think I'll have Evangelical, and not too much Spirit, please."
Jesus: "And what kind of music would you like on the side? We have 19th century hymns accompanied by an organ, a gospel choir, a band with all the latest effects, or a choir in purple robes. May I commend the choir, which is particularly good today."
New convert: "A difficult choice. I’m sure the choir is excellent, but I think I'll have the band with a range of effects. But I don't like drums, so can you prepare the music without the drums?"
Jesus: "No problem, sir. And to drink? May I recommend the house Ribena, which will go well with your church, but we do have red wine if you prefer."
New convert: "Well, if you recommend the Ribena, I'll try that. I think that will be all, thank you."
Jesus: "So that will be a small friendly church, with a pastor who explains the Bible, but without too much thumping, in a jacket and trousers but no tie, Evangelical sauce but not too much Spirit, the band with effects but no drums, and the house Ribena. That's an excellent choice, if I may say so, sir." [For all well-trained waiters say your order is ‘an excellent choice’.]
Is this really how we are to think about choosing a church?
Jesus: "Congratulations on becoming a Christian, sir; an excellent choice if I may say so! Are you ready to order your choice of church?"
New convert: "Yes, I think so. What have you got?"
Jesus: "Well, we have small friendly churches, standard churches, or you could go large and join a mega-church."
New convert: "I think I'll have a small friendly church please."
Jesus: "Now, what style of preacher would you like to go with that? We have pastors, ministers, priests, and bishops, and each is available as a wooly liberal, middle-of-the-road, or a Bible-thumper, and with or without women. We can also prepare them in anything from jeans to cassocks, to your taste."
New convert: “Well what I'd really like is a pastor who explains the Bible, but without too much thumping. I'm not sure about women, though. But I’d like mine with a jacket and trousers, but no tie."
Jesus: “No problem; we can do that, sir; if you decide about the women, just let me know. Now which sauce would you like? We have Evangelical, Catholic, Pentecostal and Middle-of-the-road - and these can come with or without the Spirit."
New convert: “I think I'll have Evangelical, and not too much Spirit, please."
Jesus: "And what kind of music would you like on the side? We have 19th century hymns accompanied by an organ, a gospel choir, a band with all the latest effects, or a choir in purple robes. May I commend the choir, which is particularly good today."
New convert: "A difficult choice. I’m sure the choir is excellent, but I think I'll have the band with a range of effects. But I don't like drums, so can you prepare the music without the drums?"
Jesus: "No problem, sir. And to drink? May I recommend the house Ribena, which will go well with your church, but we do have red wine if you prefer."
New convert: "Well, if you recommend the Ribena, I'll try that. I think that will be all, thank you."
Jesus: "So that will be a small friendly church, with a pastor who explains the Bible, but without too much thumping, in a jacket and trousers but no tie, Evangelical sauce but not too much Spirit, the band with effects but no drums, and the house Ribena. That's an excellent choice, if I may say so, sir." [For all well-trained waiters say your order is ‘an excellent choice’.]
Is this really how we are to think about choosing a church?
Monday, 15 September 2014
Inside you and me
The world seems a particularly violent and evil place at the moment - brutal force, savage wars, beheadings - and I am shocked. Not especially shocked that people can act in such a manner, but shocked to realise that this is merely a reflection of what is inside you and me.
Most of the time I am fooled by the thin veneer of 'civilisation' and 'decency', and so too easily think of myself as 'respectable', even 'good'.
But in some of the actions we've seen on the news, we observe the raw power of satan working in people, and then I remember that there is no difference at all between me and them - except the saving work of Jesus! For without Jesus, my destiny was in the hands of that same evil power we see so clearly uncloaked just now.
And in all the decent people I know, who have never deliberately gone out of their way to seriously harm another, let alone to maim or kill them - and yet have no time for Jesus - I am aghast that they would entrust their destiny into that same hideous and evil power.
All praise be to Jesus, whose goodness and light far outshines the evil and darkness of satan - and was willing to die to save me - and all who will call on him - from those evil clutches.
Most of the time I am fooled by the thin veneer of 'civilisation' and 'decency', and so too easily think of myself as 'respectable', even 'good'.
But in some of the actions we've seen on the news, we observe the raw power of satan working in people, and then I remember that there is no difference at all between me and them - except the saving work of Jesus! For without Jesus, my destiny was in the hands of that same evil power we see so clearly uncloaked just now.
And in all the decent people I know, who have never deliberately gone out of their way to seriously harm another, let alone to maim or kill them - and yet have no time for Jesus - I am aghast that they would entrust their destiny into that same hideous and evil power.
All praise be to Jesus, whose goodness and light far outshines the evil and darkness of satan - and was willing to die to save me - and all who will call on him - from those evil clutches.
Saturday, 22 March 2014
Setting our sights far too low
On the first occasion I visited Africa I was advised not to carry any expensive belongings, for example, not to wear an expensive watch in case it was stolen. My 30-year old Seiko didn't seem like an obvious target, but I did as I was told and instead wore a very cheap black rubber Casio watch, and I survived, unthreatened, unscathed; in fact I felt welcomed and accepted wherever I went.
But it set me thinking about what thieves steal. I remember when DVD players were first available, they were expensive and few people had one - and they were targeted by thieves; then mobile phones, then laptop computers, now smart phones and tablet computers are common targets.
But why do we set our sights on such minor things?
We probably only see the things that are just one or two steps beyond our reach, instead of those items which are beyond our comprehension entirely. While a thief looks at my watch or camera, I look at my neighbour's slightly newer car and slightly bigger house and think how nice it would be to have such things; however, I don’t pay any serious attention to a 'super-car' or a mansion, as these will clearly never be within my reach.
But there are things that are much, much more valuable than any such possessions and are readily within our reach and to which we pay little or no attention.
Perhaps we assume, wrongly, I am convinced, that being able to have an abiding sense of peace, to have good relationships, to have a sense of purpose and fulfilment in life, and to not worry about current circumstances - are all well beyond our reach? They may even be beyond our comprehension, as we perhaps assume 'life is stressful; that is just how it is'! So we grasp for the tiny things that appear to offer some momentary respite, a fleeting happiness; trinkets of little value, and are taken in by ‘jewels’ made of glass, which are worthless and easily shattered!
Yet we covet that bigger house, and plan and scheme for how we can earn a little more or save a little harder, or hope that we may win the lottery, or find out whether the building society will give us a mortgage based on a higher than usual multiple of earnings… And then we don’t know whether the mortgage rate will go up and make the payments impossibly high, or whether the price of houses will go down instead of up, leaving us trapped in negative equity. So, if we do acquire that desired house, we find ourselves worrying even more!
The disabled man in the Bible (Acts 3 v1-10) was not only unable to walk, but was an outcast from his society. But when Peter and John came along, all he asked for was money! But looking at him they saw his real needs - to be able to walk, to be accepted by God and to be restored into society. And that was what they gave him in the name of Jesus - not money! And he leapt to his feet, went into the Temple and praised God.
Why do we set our sights so low? Why covet one thing or another, when what we really need is peace and to be restored? These are available in Jesus name!
But it set me thinking about what thieves steal. I remember when DVD players were first available, they were expensive and few people had one - and they were targeted by thieves; then mobile phones, then laptop computers, now smart phones and tablet computers are common targets.
But why do we set our sights on such minor things?
We probably only see the things that are just one or two steps beyond our reach, instead of those items which are beyond our comprehension entirely. While a thief looks at my watch or camera, I look at my neighbour's slightly newer car and slightly bigger house and think how nice it would be to have such things; however, I don’t pay any serious attention to a 'super-car' or a mansion, as these will clearly never be within my reach.
But there are things that are much, much more valuable than any such possessions and are readily within our reach and to which we pay little or no attention.
Perhaps we assume, wrongly, I am convinced, that being able to have an abiding sense of peace, to have good relationships, to have a sense of purpose and fulfilment in life, and to not worry about current circumstances - are all well beyond our reach? They may even be beyond our comprehension, as we perhaps assume 'life is stressful; that is just how it is'! So we grasp for the tiny things that appear to offer some momentary respite, a fleeting happiness; trinkets of little value, and are taken in by ‘jewels’ made of glass, which are worthless and easily shattered!
Yet we covet that bigger house, and plan and scheme for how we can earn a little more or save a little harder, or hope that we may win the lottery, or find out whether the building society will give us a mortgage based on a higher than usual multiple of earnings… And then we don’t know whether the mortgage rate will go up and make the payments impossibly high, or whether the price of houses will go down instead of up, leaving us trapped in negative equity. So, if we do acquire that desired house, we find ourselves worrying even more!
The disabled man in the Bible (Acts 3 v1-10) was not only unable to walk, but was an outcast from his society. But when Peter and John came along, all he asked for was money! But looking at him they saw his real needs - to be able to walk, to be accepted by God and to be restored into society. And that was what they gave him in the name of Jesus - not money! And he leapt to his feet, went into the Temple and praised God.
Why do we set our sights so low? Why covet one thing or another, when what we really need is peace and to be restored? These are available in Jesus name!
Monday, 17 February 2014
Jesus: the Shepherd-King
There are two common pitfalls into which Christians may fall.
First, there are many good Christians who know Jesus as their Lord and King. They know that the Bible is God’s Word and is to be obeyed, and they know about the seriousness of God’s judgement. They know that God is the Lord and King who commands – and they are to obey. And when they read ‘Do not be afraid!’ they hear this as a stern rebuke. So they grit their teeth and go and try to do what God has commanded - in their own human strength.
Second, there are many other good Christians today who revel in God’s love for them, feel his personal touch, His loving caress (as it were), they know his voice, and are familiar with him saying “Do not be afraid for I am with you” and they know these are the words of the Good Shepherd and lover of their soul. They enjoy being in his presence, loving and adoring him. But they may miss his command to obedience, to strike out beyond their comfort zone and be obedient to his command.
The first group know Jesus as Lord and King, but may know much less of Jesus the Shepherd and about staying in His presence as He comes alongside them to put His arms around them; they may have little experience of His presence close to them and His touch deep in their lives and how He can work in and through those who rely entirely on Him.
The second group know Jesus as the loving Shepherd, but they know much less about Jesus’ as the Lord and King who expects to rule in their lives and commands obedience.
What does a King do? He commands and rules, and expects to be followed, to be obeyed; he is a judge, and is all-powerful, and is to be feared …
What does a Shepherd do? Guides, leads, feeds, protects, gathers together, holds close, goes looking for the one loved, lost sheep …
If you just know Jesus as Lord and King, you don’t know him fully. If you just know him as Loving Shepherd, I’m sorry to say you don’t know him fully either. He is both! You cannot separate these characteristics or choose the facet that happens to suit your inclination or preference. If we hold to one facet without the other, we are worshipping nothing more than a man-made creation, not Jesus of the Bible; one without the other is unbiblical(1). Jesus is the Shepherd-King!
For those who do know Jesus as their Shepherd-King, when he calls them to do something quite outside their normal experience, in obedience to their calling they may move well outside what is comfortable, but all the time they remain in the familiar arms of their loving Saviour who says: "I have commanded you to do this, but do not be afraid, for I am right here beside you; I can accomplish this through you even though you cannot do it yourself!”.
However, even when we are submitted to God's will, this does not mean that we are immune from difficulty, for he leads us through, not around such experience. But we can pray that most difficult of prayers, “I put myself into your hands, with no preconditions, trusting that wherever you lead, and whatever happens, you will be there with me.”
---
(1) If you are unsure about the Biblical basis for this, here are some references to get you started:
If you are a person who knows Jesus primarily as Lord and King, go and do a study on all the references to Jesus as Shepherd. And if you are a person who knows Jesus as your Shepherd, go and do a study on Jesus as Lord and King. See how often the two appear, and how often they appear together, side by side!
---
I am grateful for hearing a talk on this subject from Ellel Ministries, and acknowledge their input into this post.
First, there are many good Christians who know Jesus as their Lord and King. They know that the Bible is God’s Word and is to be obeyed, and they know about the seriousness of God’s judgement. They know that God is the Lord and King who commands – and they are to obey. And when they read ‘Do not be afraid!’ they hear this as a stern rebuke. So they grit their teeth and go and try to do what God has commanded - in their own human strength.
Second, there are many other good Christians today who revel in God’s love for them, feel his personal touch, His loving caress (as it were), they know his voice, and are familiar with him saying “Do not be afraid for I am with you” and they know these are the words of the Good Shepherd and lover of their soul. They enjoy being in his presence, loving and adoring him. But they may miss his command to obedience, to strike out beyond their comfort zone and be obedient to his command.
The first group know Jesus as Lord and King, but may know much less of Jesus the Shepherd and about staying in His presence as He comes alongside them to put His arms around them; they may have little experience of His presence close to them and His touch deep in their lives and how He can work in and through those who rely entirely on Him.
The second group know Jesus as the loving Shepherd, but they know much less about Jesus’ as the Lord and King who expects to rule in their lives and commands obedience.
What does a King do? He commands and rules, and expects to be followed, to be obeyed; he is a judge, and is all-powerful, and is to be feared …
What does a Shepherd do? Guides, leads, feeds, protects, gathers together, holds close, goes looking for the one loved, lost sheep …
If you just know Jesus as Lord and King, you don’t know him fully. If you just know him as Loving Shepherd, I’m sorry to say you don’t know him fully either. He is both! You cannot separate these characteristics or choose the facet that happens to suit your inclination or preference. If we hold to one facet without the other, we are worshipping nothing more than a man-made creation, not Jesus of the Bible; one without the other is unbiblical(1). Jesus is the Shepherd-King!
For those who do know Jesus as their Shepherd-King, when he calls them to do something quite outside their normal experience, in obedience to their calling they may move well outside what is comfortable, but all the time they remain in the familiar arms of their loving Saviour who says: "I have commanded you to do this, but do not be afraid, for I am right here beside you; I can accomplish this through you even though you cannot do it yourself!”.
However, even when we are submitted to God's will, this does not mean that we are immune from difficulty, for he leads us through, not around such experience. But we can pray that most difficult of prayers, “I put myself into your hands, with no preconditions, trusting that wherever you lead, and whatever happens, you will be there with me.”
---
(1) If you are unsure about the Biblical basis for this, here are some references to get you started:
- Isaiah, prophesying of Jesus, said: "‘Here is your God!’ See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. … He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart...” (Isaiah 40 v9-11)
- David is the prime ‘type' of Jesus in the OT, and he was a shepherd-king. In 2 Samuel 5v2 it says: "All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, ‘We are your own flesh and blood. … And the Lord said to you, “You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall become their ruler.”’
- Matthew and Luke tell us about the birth of Jesus. There were only two groups of people who came to see the baby Jesus: they were shepherds from the hillside and the Kings (or Magi). Is that just a coincidence? (Matt 2 & Luke 2)
- Jesus, who made it clear in many places that he had come to bring in the Kingdom of God, also said “I am the good Shepherd” (John 10v11).
- Jesus is described in many places as Lord or King, but he is also described as the ‘Chief Shepherd’ (1 Peter 5v4)
If you are a person who knows Jesus primarily as Lord and King, go and do a study on all the references to Jesus as Shepherd. And if you are a person who knows Jesus as your Shepherd, go and do a study on Jesus as Lord and King. See how often the two appear, and how often they appear together, side by side!
---
I am grateful for hearing a talk on this subject from Ellel Ministries, and acknowledge their input into this post.
Saturday, 18 January 2014
God's way of having us deal with change
The secular psychological approach to helping people to handle change is generally to say "take small steps, don’t get ahead of yourself; graduated exposure; get in plenty of practice and you’ll improve; then you’ll be able to tackle the new task or situation in your own strength as your ability and self-confidence grow."
If only God saw it that way!
If you look at the examples in the Bible of God commanding people to do something, these were frequently radical and well outside the person’s ‘comfort zone’. It seems that often God’s way is to hurl us headlong into the unknown and unfamiliar, well outside our comfort zone or human competence.
So is God unfeeling? Does he not know that we are frail humans and are not good at doing things right outside our experience?
Yet, God’s strategy, again and again, is to command someone to do something quite outside of their ability, even outside their experience. But in each case He follows up his command by saying “Do not be afraid, for I will be with you”. For his purpose is not cruel, but steeped deep in love, teaching us to trust in Him alone and see what he can accomplish when we let him work though us - which is far greater than any of our puny human skill or effort.
As Lord and King, Jesus expects obedience; but as a Shepherd he says he’ll stay close beside us. "You will do this task I have commanded, but not by relying on your own ability; rather, you will need to rely on Me!”
It’s not self-confidence that matters, but confidence in Jesus.
If only God saw it that way!
If you look at the examples in the Bible of God commanding people to do something, these were frequently radical and well outside the person’s ‘comfort zone’. It seems that often God’s way is to hurl us headlong into the unknown and unfamiliar, well outside our comfort zone or human competence.
So is God unfeeling? Does he not know that we are frail humans and are not good at doing things right outside our experience?
Yet, God’s strategy, again and again, is to command someone to do something quite outside of their ability, even outside their experience. But in each case He follows up his command by saying “Do not be afraid, for I will be with you”. For his purpose is not cruel, but steeped deep in love, teaching us to trust in Him alone and see what he can accomplish when we let him work though us - which is far greater than any of our puny human skill or effort.
As Lord and King, Jesus expects obedience; but as a Shepherd he says he’ll stay close beside us. "You will do this task I have commanded, but not by relying on your own ability; rather, you will need to rely on Me!”
It’s not self-confidence that matters, but confidence in Jesus.
Sunday, 17 November 2013
Plotting a course
Imagine a person in a small boat plotting a course. Ultimately, their desired destination is across the great ocean, which would involve navigating by charts and the stars, and risking unpredictable weather and currents. They may decide this is too daunting, and decide instead to follow the coastline, staying within reach of the familiar coves should storms arise.
Which course to plot?
We each plot a course for our lives, making choices between felt safety and reaching our destination on the other side.
If we plot a safe course, we can take 'day excursions' which offer a taste of the ocean but never leave the sight of land. In this way we can steer from one familiar harbour to the next and so may gradually, one step at a time, travel some distance.
But the ultimate destination can never be reached except by setting sail across the deep ocean, relying on the charts, a compass and the stars, accepting that this also involves a greater sense of danger.
So, which course do we plot in life? Do we keep to the shallows and the familiar landmarks, assuming that this keeps us safe? Or do we set sail across the great oceans, trusting our charts and risking the storms, and so head for a destination that can never be reached by any other course?
In my experience, it is only by trusting the ‘chart’ that is the Bible, and trusting ourselves into the hands of Jesus to protect us when the inevitable storms come, that we can find the one truly safe haven on the other side.
Which course to plot?
We each plot a course for our lives, making choices between felt safety and reaching our destination on the other side.
If we plot a safe course, we can take 'day excursions' which offer a taste of the ocean but never leave the sight of land. In this way we can steer from one familiar harbour to the next and so may gradually, one step at a time, travel some distance.
But the ultimate destination can never be reached except by setting sail across the deep ocean, relying on the charts, a compass and the stars, accepting that this also involves a greater sense of danger.
So, which course do we plot in life? Do we keep to the shallows and the familiar landmarks, assuming that this keeps us safe? Or do we set sail across the great oceans, trusting our charts and risking the storms, and so head for a destination that can never be reached by any other course?
In my experience, it is only by trusting the ‘chart’ that is the Bible, and trusting ourselves into the hands of Jesus to protect us when the inevitable storms come, that we can find the one truly safe haven on the other side.
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Doing what is legal, or doing what is good?
We human beings seem naturally inclined to push boundaries, to explore the limits of what is feasible or is allowed. On the one hand this means that we push the limits of our abilities - to prove ourselves stronger, faster, cleverer, or tougher than our peers. It also means that if a speed limit is set at 50, we want to go 55. In fact, if we learn that the police won't pay attention until we break the limit by a certain margin, then we exceed the limit by exactly that margin … or by just a little more! We expect to 'get away with it'.
The Government works full-time to set the rules for society by enacting more and more detailed legislation about every aspect of life. In this way, rather than setting out what is good, just and honest, they set out in ever-increasing detail what is illegal and punishable.
As the law becomes ever more complex and detailed, people employ lawyers to help explore and exploit the limits and loop-holes of what is legal.
But this is not the same as doing what is good or right or ethical!
It is has been said that "the Lord's Prayer has 59 words, the Ten Commandments have 297, the American Declaration of Independence has 300, and the [EU Food Supplements Directive] has 10,038" *
You cannot make people good by telling them what they must not do, for this just leads to legalism - at best merely observing the letter of the law, or more likely exploiting its outer limits.
Jesus asserted that all the law is summarised in these two short sentences, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind', and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself'" (Luke 10v27). Although he knew full well that our hearts are evil, yet, surprisingly, he set down the law as the good for which we are to strive.
What is legal, and what is good, are two different things. So when people justify their behaviour by saying that what they are doing is legal, it seems very unlikely that they are aiming for what is good!
-----
* Hansard, 20/1/2003, vol. 398, c99
The Government works full-time to set the rules for society by enacting more and more detailed legislation about every aspect of life. In this way, rather than setting out what is good, just and honest, they set out in ever-increasing detail what is illegal and punishable.
As the law becomes ever more complex and detailed, people employ lawyers to help explore and exploit the limits and loop-holes of what is legal.
But this is not the same as doing what is good or right or ethical!
It is has been said that "the Lord's Prayer has 59 words, the Ten Commandments have 297, the American Declaration of Independence has 300, and the [EU Food Supplements Directive] has 10,038" *
You cannot make people good by telling them what they must not do, for this just leads to legalism - at best merely observing the letter of the law, or more likely exploiting its outer limits.
Jesus asserted that all the law is summarised in these two short sentences, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind', and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself'" (Luke 10v27). Although he knew full well that our hearts are evil, yet, surprisingly, he set down the law as the good for which we are to strive.
What is legal, and what is good, are two different things. So when people justify their behaviour by saying that what they are doing is legal, it seems very unlikely that they are aiming for what is good!
-----
* Hansard, 20/1/2003, vol. 398, c99
Sunday, 7 July 2013
The abiding desire for healing
I find it interesting that in Jesus' day the most common request from those who believed in his having supernatural power was for healing. We can easily put that down to the poor understanding of physical medicine at that time, for physicians were both expensive and not then very good at treating diseases; the possibility of healing from a passing prophet was too good an opportunity to miss!
But things have changed, haven't they? Now we have a modern health system: some health problems have been eradicated, many others can be treated and yet others can be controlled; not all, but a very great many.
So why is it that nowadays one of the most common requests for prayer is still for healing? Listen to any time of prayer, and it will include prayers for people who are sick.
What is it about healing that we still lack and so turn to God Almighty?
Perhaps it is when we are unwell that we recognise the truth that we are frail and mortal beings, a fact we quickly like to forget when we are well? Perhaps we know that there is a significant difference between the healing of body, mind and spirit that God deals in, and the treating of physical disease that our doctors deal in? Perhaps illness quickly brings us up against our ignorance and impotence, our lack of power and control, and so we reach out to the All-powerful, who alone holds life and death in his hands?
We instinctively know that in God's Kingdom there will be no more sickness or pain, and yearn for that time now. But, of course, we live in the 'now and not yet': we do see God at work but await to see life in all its fullness. That time will come for all who will accept Jesus' loving offer.
And in the mean time, despite all the advances of modern medicine and science - for which we praise God - we still look to God for healing.
But things have changed, haven't they? Now we have a modern health system: some health problems have been eradicated, many others can be treated and yet others can be controlled; not all, but a very great many.
So why is it that nowadays one of the most common requests for prayer is still for healing? Listen to any time of prayer, and it will include prayers for people who are sick.
What is it about healing that we still lack and so turn to God Almighty?
Perhaps it is when we are unwell that we recognise the truth that we are frail and mortal beings, a fact we quickly like to forget when we are well? Perhaps we know that there is a significant difference between the healing of body, mind and spirit that God deals in, and the treating of physical disease that our doctors deal in? Perhaps illness quickly brings us up against our ignorance and impotence, our lack of power and control, and so we reach out to the All-powerful, who alone holds life and death in his hands?
We instinctively know that in God's Kingdom there will be no more sickness or pain, and yearn for that time now. But, of course, we live in the 'now and not yet': we do see God at work but await to see life in all its fullness. That time will come for all who will accept Jesus' loving offer.
And in the mean time, despite all the advances of modern medicine and science - for which we praise God - we still look to God for healing.
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Doubt: the growing edge of faith
All people of faith are familiar with doubt. Yet we may well feel some sense of shame or guilt for doubting, as if we should not. The very existence of doubts seems to indicate a feeble faith rather than a clear conviction.
I see it differently.
Doubt is not the same as unbelief; it is a time of being unsure whether we believe or not; it is a potential turning point. Although doubt is not a sin, it is important to pay it careful attention, because there can be consequences for all eternity.
Look back at the things you now believe. Wasn’t there a time, maybe long ago, that you doubted them? Praise the Lord that he has brought you through those doubts to greater faith. Every advance in our faith was preceded by doubt, out of which grew conviction. Through doubt, in time, comes greater faith - doubt is the growing edge of faith.
But of course doubt can also be the turning point at which we lose our faith - hence its seriousness and potentially eternal consequences. So what makes the difference? When does doubt turn to faith, and when to unbelief?
I think it depends on what do you do when you doubt.
Do you dwell on your doubts and try to rationally work them out by yourself, probably getting stuck in the process? Do you pretend to have faith, but inwardly harbour doubt? Do you turn away from God, doubting that he will help? Do you stop going to church because you are not sure what you believe? If so, that way lies disbelief, discontent, disillusionment, and ultimately death.
Or do you take your doubts to Jesus?
There are many famous doubters in the Bible. Here are a few:
Why do I still doubt? Because my faith is still growing; because He still has more to do in me!
And if you are really struggling with doubt and wonder whether you can carry on as a Christian, do not suppose that you will resolve your doubts by giving up your faith. Do you really think that non-Christians and atheists don’t have doubts: What if there is a God? Perhaps Christians are right? What am I here for? Surely there is more to life than this?
So the answer to doubt is not atheism, but honestly taking your doubts to God. God can use doubt to grow our faith!
There is nothing that God wants better than to increase your faith, so that you know Him better and to make you more useful to Him. In every case I quoted – Abram, Gideon, John the Baptist, Peter, Thomas – it was through their doubt that God brought about greater faith! If we take our doubts to Him, He can use them to grow our faith.
Doubt is the growing edge of faith - when we take it to Jesus!
I see it differently.
Doubt is not the same as unbelief; it is a time of being unsure whether we believe or not; it is a potential turning point. Although doubt is not a sin, it is important to pay it careful attention, because there can be consequences for all eternity.
Look back at the things you now believe. Wasn’t there a time, maybe long ago, that you doubted them? Praise the Lord that he has brought you through those doubts to greater faith. Every advance in our faith was preceded by doubt, out of which grew conviction. Through doubt, in time, comes greater faith - doubt is the growing edge of faith.
But of course doubt can also be the turning point at which we lose our faith - hence its seriousness and potentially eternal consequences. So what makes the difference? When does doubt turn to faith, and when to unbelief?
I think it depends on what do you do when you doubt.
Do you dwell on your doubts and try to rationally work them out by yourself, probably getting stuck in the process? Do you pretend to have faith, but inwardly harbour doubt? Do you turn away from God, doubting that he will help? Do you stop going to church because you are not sure what you believe? If so, that way lies disbelief, discontent, disillusionment, and ultimately death.
Or do you take your doubts to Jesus?
There are many famous doubters in the Bible. Here are a few:
- Abram, who doubted God would give him the promised land, in Genesis 15v8
- Gideon, who doubted whether he was hearing from God, in Judges 6v17
- John the Baptist, who doubted whether Jesus was the Messiah, in Matthew 11v2
- Peter, who doubted he could walk on water when Jesus told him to, in Matthew 14v29
- and Thomas, who doubted whether Jesus had risen from the dead, in John 20v25.
Why do I still doubt? Because my faith is still growing; because He still has more to do in me!
And if you are really struggling with doubt and wonder whether you can carry on as a Christian, do not suppose that you will resolve your doubts by giving up your faith. Do you really think that non-Christians and atheists don’t have doubts: What if there is a God? Perhaps Christians are right? What am I here for? Surely there is more to life than this?
So the answer to doubt is not atheism, but honestly taking your doubts to God. God can use doubt to grow our faith!
There is nothing that God wants better than to increase your faith, so that you know Him better and to make you more useful to Him. In every case I quoted – Abram, Gideon, John the Baptist, Peter, Thomas – it was through their doubt that God brought about greater faith! If we take our doubts to Him, He can use them to grow our faith.
Doubt is the growing edge of faith - when we take it to Jesus!
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Buddhism is cool!
Buddhism seems to crop up in conversations in the most unlikely places these days. I work as a counsellor in a secular context. One of the growing buzz-words in counselling these days is 'mindfulness' - though actually this is usually introduced as "mindfulness, which originally comes from Buddhist practices'".
Also, in a training I attended recently, the trainer introduced a concept and similarly added, 'this is a Buddhist concept'.
I tried to imagine how this would have been received if the trainer had said about some point in the training 'this is a Christian concept', or, equally, 'this is a concept from Islam'. I very much doubt that either of the latter would have been accepted without challenge.
But, as Buddhism is currently cool, it's not just acceptable to introduce things as 'coming from Buddhism', but this seems to add to their cachet.
So I'm puzzled. What is it about Buddhism that is attractive and acceptable in our secular society, when other religions are carefully put back in their box?
Buddhist teachings on the nature of suffering and how to rise above it sound attractive; we all know what it is to suffer and we would rather that we didn't! So, it seems worth paying attention when a teaching claims to have something to say about this. Moreover, as Buddhism doesn't make a big play about any deity who should be obeyed, but rather extols a personal inward journey towards enlightenment, I suppose that this fits with our secular self-improvement society rather well.
Personally, having tried self-improvement of various kinds and made no headway - remaining as sinful as ever - I confess Jesus as my Lord. He specialises in rescuing sinners and requires only a simple prayer: "Have mercy on me, a sinner".
Being a sinner isn't cool, but Jesus offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who will accept His free gift.
That is a Christian concept. And daily lived experience.
Also, in a training I attended recently, the trainer introduced a concept and similarly added, 'this is a Buddhist concept'.
I tried to imagine how this would have been received if the trainer had said about some point in the training 'this is a Christian concept', or, equally, 'this is a concept from Islam'. I very much doubt that either of the latter would have been accepted without challenge.
But, as Buddhism is currently cool, it's not just acceptable to introduce things as 'coming from Buddhism', but this seems to add to their cachet.
So I'm puzzled. What is it about Buddhism that is attractive and acceptable in our secular society, when other religions are carefully put back in their box?
Buddhist teachings on the nature of suffering and how to rise above it sound attractive; we all know what it is to suffer and we would rather that we didn't! So, it seems worth paying attention when a teaching claims to have something to say about this. Moreover, as Buddhism doesn't make a big play about any deity who should be obeyed, but rather extols a personal inward journey towards enlightenment, I suppose that this fits with our secular self-improvement society rather well.
Personally, having tried self-improvement of various kinds and made no headway - remaining as sinful as ever - I confess Jesus as my Lord. He specialises in rescuing sinners and requires only a simple prayer: "Have mercy on me, a sinner".
Being a sinner isn't cool, but Jesus offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who will accept His free gift.
That is a Christian concept. And daily lived experience.
Sunday, 17 February 2013
Throwing the baby out with the bath water
Dirty bath water:
Baby: Jesus!
Cleansed water:
Don't throw the baby out with the dirty bath water!
- Christian denominational & theological divisions
- evil in our hearts, dressed to look smart in pews
- self-serving, proclaimed as protecting the truth
- traditions and unwillingness to change
- self-importance and hypocrisy
- keeping a safe distance from a troubled world
- sticking with people who are 'like us'.
Baby: Jesus!
Cleansed water:
- crossing the divides to bring Christian unity, under one Lord
- evil in our hearts, forgiven at the cross
- acknowledging Jesus as Lord, who is the Truth
- following wherever Jesus leads
- self-worth, bestowed at great cost on the cross
- working to bring peace to a troubled world
- loving those who are needy, in the name of Jesus.
Don't throw the baby out with the dirty bath water!
Saturday, 9 February 2013
Boiling frogs
It is said that a frog will not jump out of a pot of water if the temperature of the water is raised so gradually that the frog doesn't notice. Despite nothing stopping the frog from jumping out, it will stay there and be boiled to death - so long as the change in water temperature is very, very gradual.
This doesn't just apply to frogs! People who exert power know they can make changes very slowly, confident that those affected will gradually acclimatise to the changing circumstances and not notice until it's too late. This often occurs in abusive relationships; politicians and managers also use it to gradually introduce unpopular measures.
But there are at least two ways in which this applies to us all.
First, as we grow up in our increasingly materialistic and consumerist society, we gradually adjust to living more and more depersonalised lives in an increasingly polluted world, with run-away global warming and a rapid depletion of species. While we mutter about the degradation of life, we make no serious change of course, and it's not difficult to foresee a 'boiled frog incident' of global proportions coming.
Secondly, we also grow accustomed to the devil's pervasive lies which promote deceit as truth, greed as good, selfishness as self esteem, sex as love and desires as rights - and we just go with the flow. We call it 'progress' or 'modernisation' and see nothing particularly dangerous about such ideas!
Despite nothing stopping us from going back to the Author of Life - who is ever ready to rescue us, through Jesus, from a very unpleasant end - we gradually acclimatise to increasingly deadly ideas and ways of life without ever noticing - until its too late, and we are boiled to death.
In fact, I understand that experiments with frogs have shown that the 'boiled frog' story is a myth* - frogs do jump out when the water temperature gets uncomfortably hot.
So, it turns out that it doesn't work with frogs. But it does work with many humans.
* see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog
This doesn't just apply to frogs! People who exert power know they can make changes very slowly, confident that those affected will gradually acclimatise to the changing circumstances and not notice until it's too late. This often occurs in abusive relationships; politicians and managers also use it to gradually introduce unpopular measures.
But there are at least two ways in which this applies to us all.
First, as we grow up in our increasingly materialistic and consumerist society, we gradually adjust to living more and more depersonalised lives in an increasingly polluted world, with run-away global warming and a rapid depletion of species. While we mutter about the degradation of life, we make no serious change of course, and it's not difficult to foresee a 'boiled frog incident' of global proportions coming.
Secondly, we also grow accustomed to the devil's pervasive lies which promote deceit as truth, greed as good, selfishness as self esteem, sex as love and desires as rights - and we just go with the flow. We call it 'progress' or 'modernisation' and see nothing particularly dangerous about such ideas!
Despite nothing stopping us from going back to the Author of Life - who is ever ready to rescue us, through Jesus, from a very unpleasant end - we gradually acclimatise to increasingly deadly ideas and ways of life without ever noticing - until its too late, and we are boiled to death.
In fact, I understand that experiments with frogs have shown that the 'boiled frog' story is a myth* - frogs do jump out when the water temperature gets uncomfortably hot.
So, it turns out that it doesn't work with frogs. But it does work with many humans.
* see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog
Sunday, 20 January 2013
The one needed thing
Following a recent deluge in which some houses had been flooded, I heard the local politician saying on the radio that "they will do everything necessary to ensure this doesn't happen again". I'm sure he was well intentioned, but I'm also sure he had flood barriers and better warnings in mind, rather than addressing the root causes - changing planning regulations to preclude building housing on flood plains, or addressing the causes of climate change.
We go to great lengths to treat the symptoms, but won't address the root causes.
We will bankrupt the economy and enter recession, putting hundreds of thousands out of work, in order to save the big banks
... but we won't stop them gambling with other people's money.
We will tighten the benefits system and hamper the poor, increase tax on middle-income workers, and make public sector workers redundant
... but we won't tackle legal tax avoidance by the richest individuals or corporations
We will improve town-centre policing, train and employ more liver specialists, and introduce security measures at Accident & Emergency departments
... but we won't tighten alcohol licensing laws or ban it being sold below cost price.
In order to improve the nation's mental health, we will reorganise parts of the National Health Service, improve access to therapy and spend huge sums on researching new medications
... but we won't talk about the depersonalising impact of living a consumerist and materialistic lifestyle.
And in the personal sphere, we'll do anything to have peace. We learn meditation techniques, download the 50 most relaxing tunes, and reorganise our schedule in order to get a bit of 'me-time'
... but we won't put our lives into Jesus' hands.
We'll do anything to give life meaning. We work hard for years to gain promotion to earn more money to buy more things to seek fulfilment
... but we won't accept the Lord, the author of life.
How often we'll do anything ... everything ... except the one needed thing.
We go to great lengths to treat the symptoms, but won't address the root causes.
We will bankrupt the economy and enter recession, putting hundreds of thousands out of work, in order to save the big banks
... but we won't stop them gambling with other people's money.
We will tighten the benefits system and hamper the poor, increase tax on middle-income workers, and make public sector workers redundant
... but we won't tackle legal tax avoidance by the richest individuals or corporations
We will improve town-centre policing, train and employ more liver specialists, and introduce security measures at Accident & Emergency departments
... but we won't tighten alcohol licensing laws or ban it being sold below cost price.
In order to improve the nation's mental health, we will reorganise parts of the National Health Service, improve access to therapy and spend huge sums on researching new medications
... but we won't talk about the depersonalising impact of living a consumerist and materialistic lifestyle.
And in the personal sphere, we'll do anything to have peace. We learn meditation techniques, download the 50 most relaxing tunes, and reorganise our schedule in order to get a bit of 'me-time'
... but we won't put our lives into Jesus' hands.
We'll do anything to give life meaning. We work hard for years to gain promotion to earn more money to buy more things to seek fulfilment
... but we won't accept the Lord, the author of life.
How often we'll do anything ... everything ... except the one needed thing.
Saturday, 15 September 2012
It's not fair!
How often do we feel or hear someone say that something's not fair? Well, I want to add my voice too.
It's not fair:
Nor is it fair that Jesus found me and took me under His saving wing**.
It's not fair!
--------------
* See www.givingwhatwecan.org/ or www.globalrichlist.com to see where your income lies in the world rankings
** This last point, alone in the above list, is available to everyone. However, it's totally undeserved, and so is also not fair.
It's not fair:
- That I have clean water to drink
- That I have enough food to eat
- That I have a roof over my head and warmth when it's cold
- That I have felt safe within a reasonable rule of law
- That I have good health
- That I received a good education
- That I have a job which is fulfilling and interesting
- That my income puts me in the richest one or two percent in the world*
- That I have lived nearly 6 decades without experiencing war at first hand.
Nor is it fair that Jesus found me and took me under His saving wing**.
It's not fair!
--------------
* See www.givingwhatwecan.org/ or www.globalrichlist.com to see where your income lies in the world rankings
** This last point, alone in the above list, is available to everyone. However, it's totally undeserved, and so is also not fair.
Sunday, 26 August 2012
5 ways to well-being
Returning to the theme of wellbeing (see Seeking well-being rather than salvation), I have been very struck by a paper by the 'New Economics Forum' (NEF) who reviewed the evidence for what activities enhance wellbeing and also reduces the risk of mental health problems. The NEF is an independent think tank whose tag line is 'economics as if people and the planet mattered'.
As a counsellor I am impressed with the findings they present in this paper. Here is the simple summary, in the report's own words:
Five ways to well-being*
A review of the most up-to-date evidence suggests that building the following five actions into our day-to-day lives is important for well-being:
Connect...
With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
Be active...
Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
Take notice...
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
Keep learning...
Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.
Give...
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
But I am most struck as a Christian with how closely these mesh with values at the heart of the Christian gospel. Jesus told us 2000 years ago that:
Still, I suppose it's not a surprise that God knows what is good for us.
* The full Report is available from the New Economics Forum website.
As a counsellor I am impressed with the findings they present in this paper. Here is the simple summary, in the report's own words:
Five ways to well-being*
A review of the most up-to-date evidence suggests that building the following five actions into our day-to-day lives is important for well-being:
Connect...
With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
Be active...
Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
Take notice...
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
Keep learning...
Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.
Give...
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
But I am most struck as a Christian with how closely these mesh with values at the heart of the Christian gospel. Jesus told us 2000 years ago that:
- relationships matter greatly - with our Father in heaven, with our families, our neighbours and community; we are even to love our enemies
- our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are to take care of them
- we should notice with awe, praise and thanks the remarkable works of our amazing Creator
- there is always more to know of God our Father, and that we are to strive to become mature, the people that God intended and more clearly reflecting the image of Christ
- and that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Still, I suppose it's not a surprise that God knows what is good for us.
* The full Report is available from the New Economics Forum website.
Saturday, 4 August 2012
Love your neighbour as yourself
Jesus said that the second most important command was to "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 22 v39, quoting Leviticus 19 v18), as if loving ourselves was the most natural thing in the world and this clearly explained how we should go about loving our neighbours.
It's true that most people tend to eat when they are hungry, warm themselves when they are cold, seek security when they are fearful, etc. But is Jesus simply saying that loving our neighbour involves feeding or warming others when they're are hungry or cold, and offering security when they are afraid?
Moreover, working as a counsellor, I sometimes talk with people who self-harm, have eating disorders, or feel suicidal - people who appear not to know how to love themselves, let alone love others. Even those who don't struggle with such problems frequently behave in ways that are likely to leave them wounded - through the misuse of sex, alcohol or just leading an unhealthy lifestyle. In fact, when it comes down to it, all of us behave in ways that are selfish or self-damaging in various ways. And this isn't loving ourselves - it's love gone wrong, turned into greed or self-worship.
So do any of us really know what it is to love ourselves?
There is more to Jesus' command than simple advice to 'do as you would be done by', which, in the minds of many people is just seen as 'be nice to others in the hope that they'll be nice back', or is sometimes expressed as 'what goes around, comes around'.
Perhaps we need to understand more about love? What did Jesus mean when he said we should love both our neighbours and ourselves?
I drew a distinction between worldly and Godly views of love in one of my earliest posts - Whatever you do, don't love me - but we should look at that wonderful description of Christian love in the Bible to get a clear insight into what it is to love someone.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13 v4-7)
This is proactive love - actively seeking ways to do good to our neighbour; it is much more than merely being nice to people.
Perhaps it is also then an instruction into how we should go about loving ourselves as well as our neighbour? Are we patient and kind towards ourselves? Do we let go of our anger and our grudges - even those we hold towards ourselves? Are we honest with ourselves? Do we forgive ourselves, protect ourselves? Do we trust ourselves - or do we try to deceive ourselves? Do we keep hoping and persevering, trusting that God will bring his good work in us to completion?
If we actively love ourselves in this way - knowing God first loved us - we may also become better at loving our neighbour.
It's true that most people tend to eat when they are hungry, warm themselves when they are cold, seek security when they are fearful, etc. But is Jesus simply saying that loving our neighbour involves feeding or warming others when they're are hungry or cold, and offering security when they are afraid?
Moreover, working as a counsellor, I sometimes talk with people who self-harm, have eating disorders, or feel suicidal - people who appear not to know how to love themselves, let alone love others. Even those who don't struggle with such problems frequently behave in ways that are likely to leave them wounded - through the misuse of sex, alcohol or just leading an unhealthy lifestyle. In fact, when it comes down to it, all of us behave in ways that are selfish or self-damaging in various ways. And this isn't loving ourselves - it's love gone wrong, turned into greed or self-worship.
So do any of us really know what it is to love ourselves?
There is more to Jesus' command than simple advice to 'do as you would be done by', which, in the minds of many people is just seen as 'be nice to others in the hope that they'll be nice back', or is sometimes expressed as 'what goes around, comes around'.
Perhaps we need to understand more about love? What did Jesus mean when he said we should love both our neighbours and ourselves?
I drew a distinction between worldly and Godly views of love in one of my earliest posts - Whatever you do, don't love me - but we should look at that wonderful description of Christian love in the Bible to get a clear insight into what it is to love someone.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13 v4-7)
This is proactive love - actively seeking ways to do good to our neighbour; it is much more than merely being nice to people.
Perhaps it is also then an instruction into how we should go about loving ourselves as well as our neighbour? Are we patient and kind towards ourselves? Do we let go of our anger and our grudges - even those we hold towards ourselves? Are we honest with ourselves? Do we forgive ourselves, protect ourselves? Do we trust ourselves - or do we try to deceive ourselves? Do we keep hoping and persevering, trusting that God will bring his good work in us to completion?
If we actively love ourselves in this way - knowing God first loved us - we may also become better at loving our neighbour.
Friday, 1 June 2012
Why do we expect non-Christians to behave as if they were?
The world's gone mad!
How we long for those former days - quieter, more genteel, better mannered, more Christian! Why don't people behave like that nowadays? What has become of our Christian nation?
Oops! There's a lie of the devil in there somewhere. Just because (in our rose-scented memories) life was 'nicer' in the past, don't confuse that with Christianity, and don't confuse civilisation with sanctification. Whatever being 'civilised' means, it is not the same as being Christian. Civilised people just have more polite ways of expressing their sinful nature...
In fact, the Bible makes clear that such behaviour is not a new problem at all. Written in the 1st century AD, Paul says: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." (Galatians 5 v19-21)
Non-Christians are free to get on with doing things in whatever way they like. That, after all, is the definition of a non-Christian: they have chosen to do things their own way - not Christ's way.
Let's stop the pretence that we live in a Christian nation - we don't! Let us praise the Lord that as the world gets darker, Christians will stand out as more distinctive, with our counter-cultural Christ-centred ways. It's only in the dark that a light shines. Again, it is the Bible that says it well: "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt 5 v16).
So, instead of moaning about the signs of the times, maybe we will get on with the job of rescuing people from the clutches of the devil, through the power of Jesus who gives new life. This isn't about simply expecting people to conform to certain behavioural norms of decency - which isn't Christianity anyway.
By the way, there are still decent young people, couples who are faithful in their marriages, men and women who are honest, etc. And these are people who need the saving love of Jesus no less than the others.
In case you thought you were not part of the darkness all around, the Bible makes clear that each of us is sinful. It is God, by his grace, who has shone his light into our hearts. "For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ." (2 Cor 4 v6)
So we are not to condemn or look down on anyone, however unpleasant and evil they may seem; they are merely displaying our own true nature more clearly. Alexander Solzhenitsyn put it well: "The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being."
And for those of a nervous disposition, whatever is happening in society, there is no need to fear that Christ's light will be extinguished. Speaking of Jesus, the gospel writer John says, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it". (John 1 v5). Nor will it ever.
- Unruly youth
- Binge-drinking
- Drug addictions
- Corruption in high places
- Increasing divorce rates
- Growing sexual perversions
- Addiction to pornography
- Rioting in the streets
- Violence
How we long for those former days - quieter, more genteel, better mannered, more Christian! Why don't people behave like that nowadays? What has become of our Christian nation?
Oops! There's a lie of the devil in there somewhere. Just because (in our rose-scented memories) life was 'nicer' in the past, don't confuse that with Christianity, and don't confuse civilisation with sanctification. Whatever being 'civilised' means, it is not the same as being Christian. Civilised people just have more polite ways of expressing their sinful nature...
In fact, the Bible makes clear that such behaviour is not a new problem at all. Written in the 1st century AD, Paul says: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." (Galatians 5 v19-21)
Non-Christians are free to get on with doing things in whatever way they like. That, after all, is the definition of a non-Christian: they have chosen to do things their own way - not Christ's way.
Let's stop the pretence that we live in a Christian nation - we don't! Let us praise the Lord that as the world gets darker, Christians will stand out as more distinctive, with our counter-cultural Christ-centred ways. It's only in the dark that a light shines. Again, it is the Bible that says it well: "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt 5 v16).
So, instead of moaning about the signs of the times, maybe we will get on with the job of rescuing people from the clutches of the devil, through the power of Jesus who gives new life. This isn't about simply expecting people to conform to certain behavioural norms of decency - which isn't Christianity anyway.
By the way, there are still decent young people, couples who are faithful in their marriages, men and women who are honest, etc. And these are people who need the saving love of Jesus no less than the others.
In case you thought you were not part of the darkness all around, the Bible makes clear that each of us is sinful. It is God, by his grace, who has shone his light into our hearts. "For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ." (2 Cor 4 v6)
So we are not to condemn or look down on anyone, however unpleasant and evil they may seem; they are merely displaying our own true nature more clearly. Alexander Solzhenitsyn put it well: "The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being."
And for those of a nervous disposition, whatever is happening in society, there is no need to fear that Christ's light will be extinguished. Speaking of Jesus, the gospel writer John says, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it". (John 1 v5). Nor will it ever.
Friday, 6 April 2012
The difficult act of seeking forgiveness
Imagine two people...
The first has no thought of sin, treating it lightly and seeing little need for forgiveness. True, from time to time he behaves in such a way that even he is momentarily disgusted with his own behaviour and so makes excuses, or perhaps admits an to 'error of judgement' or even offers an oblique apology.
The second person knows she needs forgiveness but finds it so hard to accept. She knows that God has made a name for himself as being good at forgiving people. He's had plenty of practice and it appears to come easily to him; in fact he even seems able to forgive really nasty people. But where the problem arises is in her willingness to forgive herself. It's exactly here that she trips over God's apparently poor judgement in matters of forgiveness: she asks for forgiveness and Jesus looks her in the eye and gently says, "I can forgive you", but then she finds she cannot forgive herself! Forgiveness sought, offered, but not accepted...
The second person knew about the cross, but had not been there in person before. God may be very good at forgiving, she thought, but she found it so very hard! She had prayed for forgiveness, yet still held onto the guilt; she longed to be at peace, but remained deeply troubled; she longed to let go, but still chided herself for what she had done.
But then she looked up at the person on the cross and their eyes met. He seemed to be saying, "Is it really so easy for me to forgive? Do you really think my standards are lower than yours? Yet I do forgive you. Will you now forgive yourself?" And she is drawn to his outstretched arms, inviting her, and knew then that he had done all that was needed there on the cross. She knew she was loved, precious and that her sin had been completely dealt with; that she was forgiven!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)