A good conversation brings context and confusion

A conversation which started off with the topic of setting a static date for Easter ended up with some interesting insights. Now this won't please Conservatives and it won't please liberals and I'm sure there\s someone in the middle who won't like it either.

It all began with the words that it would be 'nice' if the Church can set a fixed date for Easter at this would make it easier to plan school terms and other diary events. "The problem is that the Church keeps on changing the date each year. It would be so good if they could get in step with the world," said my companion.

"The problem is," said I, "That the Church has been doing Easter using the formula of Easter Sunday falling on the Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring equinox (March 21) for longer than anyone can remember. What we have is the society being out of step with the Church!"

The conversation continued and, as might be expected, it came around to the Primates gathering and 'that' subject. Once again the comment was made that the Church needed to get up to date and realise that people weren't bothered about 'all that stuff'/. The problem is that the Church appears to have had a spot of difficulty with it for a couple of thousand years since Jesus arrived on the scene and another 1400 (ish) before that.

The reasons for this conflict today stems in a desire then, as I understand it, to be counter-cultural, the same for tattoos. How interesting that once again both issues are back in the foreground and drawing comment (tattoos of course less so, but still crops up on a regular basis). I have sat through many a lecture where concubines, prostitutes and the like were prevalent and the action was both hetero and homo - sexual - and the people of God distanced themselves, and were seen as being different, because of their values and standards.

 The people of God (the Jews) were called by their God (YHWH) to live differently and be different from the people around them then - and (dare I say it) still are now! And this difference continued and became to some extent as 'being Christian' was more popular - and then the world moved on, moved away, became different (decide which you like to use) and bit by bit the Church stayed where it was and the world moved out of step.

NOTE: Society didn't move forward, nor did Church become backwards, society merely moved such that it became out of step with the Church and its teaching and values and standards and beliefs. But then, being in a different place, society complained that Church was no longer relevant and this is where some of the problems became made flesh! The problem is that some who saw themselves as Church were hardline and harsh and acted wrongly against those who were living outside those things which the Bible appeared to be demanding. The pill and the sexual revolution led to freedoms (and excesses) for women - this was soon followed by another revolution and suddenly that which would have seen people imprisoned (never a right step I fear) became suddenly acceptable, and then a fashion statement.

But of course the Church stayed where it had been for over three thousand years.The world, being rooted in the 'now' has this amazingly arrogant view of those whom it considers to be 'primitive' - we act with surprise that the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Romans and other historic people groups could do complex surgery, create amazing buildings and understand a darn sight more than the average person today, often working from 'first principles' (meaning from scratch) rather than by use of calculators, the internet and other people's work.

Good, kind-minded people, seeking to make Church relevant and to overcome the spiteful and absolutely wicked oppression of those whop differed from that which had stood for so long sought to revise the Bible to say something different. This was a genuine act of kindness born out of a (right belief in my book) that nothing separates us from God's love. The problem is that which they, and I, believe that the Church is an inclusive body - I would seek self-restraint and hope that I could submit to a life of obedience  - but I am aware that I am also all too frail and hope does not always end up as reality.

But the problem exists in the form of a resolute Church and a revisionist people - two bunches of generally kind, caring and well-meaning people - diametrically opposed and yet honestly seeking the same aim. The one vilified by people who see things as being about rights whilst the other resisted because their action and aims fall outside of that which has for a few thousand years been the dividing line. And that's what this is: Division - cold, heartless and bitter division!

Secular society calls for 'rights' to be recognised and afforded to everyone it seems except the Church! Those seeking to make Church popular with the non-theist world are keen to stand with them in the hope that rights with be afforded, wrongs also righted and Church will become popular with this who stand outside of it because they're all on the same side. But of course those who oppose the Church because of all and any perceived ills have no intention of coming onside - and to be honest, that's the work of the Holy Spirit to bring them in rather than PR and political clergy!

So here we are, sitting behind the desk with a brew and a five minute splurge from the brain onto the screen and now, if I've posted it, it's now appeared on your screen.

Despite the protestations what we have is about fidelity and integrity and the talk of second-class citizens (and I know the pain of that) provides nothing but vinegar for the wounds rather any salve. In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that those who lived as peacemakers were Blessed - and that the kingdom of God was theirs. Don't see many of those people around at the moment!

So here we are, I still support Justin and the work he did this week. I am still saddened by sad people who accuse folk of being unloving without knowing the person or their views (before I was a Christian I'd call them a 'something or other'' idiot for doing such) - and to be honest, there is nothing that excuses the behaviour of many since the Primates packed their bags and issued their agreement.

The words of Galatians six come to mind again here: "Be careful how you seek to correct others in case you fall into sin yourself". A problem just for the Conservative alone? No, of course not - I'm seeing as much (perhaps more) sin from other camps - and that means that all sides are doing it wrong, this is not an endorsement of any one viewpoint or position over the others!

Perhaps the first step for all those well-meaning people from all sides is to stop being self-serving and sinful: Be good to be able to see Jesus in some of the utterances, wouldn't it?

And the Church? It will probably be found standing in the word whatever happens, that's what it's called to do, innit? Some might leave, others will come but the Gospel will continue unabated at the end of the day - and if the world speaks well of you? Woe unto you when that happens :-)

How Christians SHOULD be living

I saw this and thought it was one of those 'spot on' things to remind me and anyone else who happens to pass by about the way in which Christians should be living:

Don't copy the attitudes, behaviours and customs of this world - BUT let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

Romans 12 (Revised Vic Version)

Christians - 21st Century Revolutionaries

this is what we are called to be

this is why we are counter-cultural

this is why why don't want Church to look like the world!

CHRISTIANITY - TELLING THE TRUTH

EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT WHAT SOME WHAT TO HEAR!

Church - Looking like the world!

I have had a rather interesting conversation regarding 'the Church' being more accessible and acceptable to those outside it. Their claim is that the more we become welcoming and accepting the more it will grow. They used as their evidence to support this the changes made in the Episcopalian church which they claim is now inclusive and therefore more acceptable to those outside who no longer find it to be 'phobic' or fundamental. They tell me that this is the way that Church will grow!

Now I had to admit that the more we move ourselves from the old values and standards in terms of lifestyle, attitudes and actions, the more we look like the world and remove the 'counter-cultural' elements that have been the hallmark of the Church since the Old Testament origins *when of course it was Judaism); not only that but the orthodoxy that once existed is lost. The end result of this is not an open and growing Church but a liberal, revisionist and declining one.

Now my viewpoint caused a bit of a kerfuffle as what the other person heard was something akin to the Phelps-like attitudes of Westboro, which was neither intent nor reality. What I heard from the other person was that anything goes and that we should realise that the Bible has to be re-written to work in the society we now live in - the old needs to be put off and new attitudes and requirements need to be added. Inclusive Church is a growing Church because everyone can come in!

Now I don't like Church when it excludes people, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (not mine but Paul's words - Romans 3) and all are welcome because Christ died for them (NT everywhere). I believe that there are certain things that are contrary to that which the Bible calls us to be and do and that these things are consistent and should not be erased in the name of inclusive popularity. I also struggle with those who wish to use the Eucharist as a weapon as much as I do with those who consider universalism and all gods leading to the one true God!

To try and explain the folly in the belief that looking like the world and being 'more acceptable' and inclusive brings people into Church I turned to some statistics (thanks to Not Another Episcopal Church Blog) relating to the Episcopalian Church;

Net Change in Active Membership from Prior Year

       2006             2007         2008       2009         2010
     -50,804        -37,823     -59,457    -51,949    -54,436

ASA
       2006            2007         2008       2009         2010
    765,326       727,822    705,257   682,963    657,831

Change in ASA from Prior Year
       2006             2007         2008       2009         2010
     -21,945        -37,504     -22,565    -22,294    -25,132

So I'll let the figures explain what I was trying to say yesterday. Being 'inclusive' such that we look like the world is not the way to grow church numbers (thinking here of Episcopalian and CofE) - we need to be preaching the Gospel, living the Gospel and remain counter-cultural - why bother to come into a place that's the same as the place you are leaving?

I think the numbers reflect this quite well, don't you?

Pax

Israel, Egypt and the Lectionary

 So the new ruler of Egypt looked at Israel and saw in them a threat and decide to act against them before they became a threat. Of course this account tells of the increase of the Jews, the end of Joseph's era and the birth, and adoption, of Moses. But how interesting it is that on a day when the news focuses upon the rift between Egypt and Israel that we find this account.

Surely we must pray for Israel that God would indeed set His people free:
Free from the knee-jerk responses that see innocents killed,
Free from the secular state that causes so many good people to support what God surely couldn't,
Free to be a nation, not individuals within it who keep God's Laws and honour Him with their lips and their lives.

Psalm 124
If the LORD had not been on our side, let Israel now say;
If the LORD had not been on our side, when enemies rose up against us;
Then would they have swallowed us up alive in their fierce anger toward us;
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us and the torrent gone over us;
Then would the raging waters have gone right over us.
Blessed be the LORD! he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler;
the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
Our help is in the Name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.
Amen

Paul tells us:
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Once again we are called to live counter-culturally. Not an excuse to keep to old ways but to live in different ways to the world in which we find ourselves and if this is true for us, how true is it for the jews, those for whom the covenant was first made?

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

And may we rejoice in the different gifts, abilities and callings that are before us. May we refrain from ad hominem, name-calling and seek the image of the God made man, Jesus, in one another. For we know who he is and live because of His love and His atoning act upon the cross. For he is indeed, as Peter rightly says, "The Christ, the Messiah, the son of the living God'.

"When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah."

Pax

Exodus 1:8-2:10
Romans 12:1-8
Matthew 16:13-20

Counter-cultural - defence or offence?

In discussion with workmates yesterday we came round to the topic of being 'counter-cultural' (CC) and it led to my considering what being counter-cultural is really all about. I see CC as being something positive and extremely valid and value the fact that, in a Judeo-Christian construct, we are not of the world but in the world, sojourners and strangers in an alien land and that we live 'differently'.

Whether the issue is tattoos, a hard subject in today's multi-coloured (and later faded and sagging) world, or piercings (do they get bogeys on the nose wotsits) which leave me cold and extremely turned off or many of the other (then and now) issues - I can always find a reason for the proscription. What saddens me is that some look at Church and see the fact that we are different and scream for us to comply with the standards and legal instruments of the world at the expense of out 'otherness'.

Now before people reach for their stones, or words, which usually (despite the saying) do hurt more than stones (and take longer to heal), and set about me, I am not saying that we should practice discrimination. I don't want slavery to be re-introduced (we call that lay ministry where I am) or people to be burnt at the stake BUT I do want us to realise that we have a very powerful message in the otherness and difference that we live within.

My problem is that when others were having occultic tattoos the people of God were refraining from tattoos because they wanted to show their allegiance to one God and the absence of such things was a silent witness. A quick aside - one of my soldiers had a tattoo and when we went to a Chinese restaurant the waiter sniggered when he saw it. Asking the soldier what it was, he told me it was 'good luck - long life' - popping to the loo I asked the waiter and he said, "Western idiot' (or a ruder version actually) Seems that even today tattoos speak volumes about who we are and what we represent!

When everywhere else was into weird and wonderful sexual stuff, the people of God were into heterosexual, monogamous (eventually!), fidelity ridden marriage.

It is a shame that we have slipped into so many ways of the world that people rarely see us as being any different and in fact abuse us when we are different because it says something about them as well as us!

It is sad that when we had people come and lead a debate on the consecration of women that one spoke of scripture and orthodoxy whilst the other spoke of the Bible having nothing much to say todays as it was merely an archaic, patriarchal and irrelevant book for today. Seems that we need to toss it out because we live in a world where women are equal and even in the ascendency!

I'm not interested in being like the world. I am not interested in putting people down because of who they are but then again I do reserve the right to to accept or reject what people CHOOSE to do when it goes against the teaching of the orthodox Christian faith. I am not interested in the foolish people who want to believe that once we are approved of by the world and approve of all that they do the people will come flocking in. If there is no difference between what is to be found within a church building and what exists outside then the otherness and the reason to come in is lost.

Aha aha (I love that bit in the Bible) I hear you say, but we will be able to preach Jesus. Indeed you will, but you will able also to deny Him and His words and the basis of all that He is that is to be found in the Old Testament and so will issue forth only hollow words.

Otherness is supported by, and supports, a relationship with the one true living God won by the sacrifice of God made man, Jesus (the Christ) and lived out through the enabling of His Holy Spirit - all else if froth and dissipation. If we don't live as He commands then every day of our life is an act of rejection and living against Him, not for and not with!

Pax

Ministry as anarchy

One of the highlights of being Christian is that our (Judeo) Christian faith is, and has always been, counter-cultural. This means that we have generally been seen to be different from the culture we find ourselves. When those around the followed of YHWH has male and female courtesans to provide sexual release, they (and therefore WE) accentuated heterosexuality. Where cultic piercings and tattoos were to be seen, they (WE) had none.

When we move away from our counter-cultural position so that we can, by being no different from the rest of the world, we have nothing to offer for we have been evangelised by the world rather than it by the message of Christ crucified and risen.

When we take up God's call to be involved in the 'cure of souls' we take upon ourselves the otherness that is Christianity. May we never put it aside for popularity. May we proclaim, and live in the counter-cultural reality of Scripture, Reason, Tradition and acceptance too (and for) all.

Pax