Gravitational Cognisance:

Anyone who has watched cartoon will be familiar with characters walking off high places and continuing their progress in mid-air until they realise solid ground has gone as, looking down, the begin to plummet to the ground. We may find a parallel between Wile E Coyote and those who have lost the solid ground of their Christian faith. They continue walking as if they're on solid ground until something causes them to look down and then . . .  Whoosh . . .  Satan-like they plummet out our sight and are lost forever.

Some manage to never look down, they keep plodding on in the hope that they will have one of those Damascus road experiences or be hit by a bolt of lightning and so live out their lives of obedient drudgery when all it needs is for them to encounter and engage with their doubt! It is this that makes me think that doubt is one of the most excellent things we have in the arsenal of our faith.

And if doubt is one of our greatest gifts then one of the greatest curses has to be the loss of meaning that has been supposedly gifted to us by postmodernity. I say 'supposedly' because it has always been with us throughout all the ages. Those generations who have known the price of everything and the value of nothing, the many good men who have failed to act (regardless of the reason) and the valueless faith that imposes no standards to demands that we keep - this I that of which we speak.

The tension between getting all the good stuff (forgiveness, approbation, affirmation. acceptance, etc.) without having to believe 'all the ****!'* (absolutes, commandments, rules, standards, etc.) is an ever present reality. This is the bottom line for many and shapes and makes their faith life. No surprise because, when it comes down to it for we are like little children who want the sweeties but baulk at having to eat the cabbage (or whatever your dread vegetable happens to be), aren't we?

It is here that some cling to religion (rules and absolutes) whilst others turn to ritual (bells, smells and tat) and others still turn to inclusivity and freedom from restrictions (the 'God wants you to be happy' approach).

Whenever I encounter this area, personally or in others, I find myself coming back to Matthew 21.44 and the words that 'Whoever falls upon this rock will be broken and those upon whom it falls will be crushed.' Doubt needs to be be broken by recognising the thin air upon which the doubter is standing and, having acknowledged it, addressing and remedying it. Denial of doubt is death (spiritual and sometime physical too) and has no place in the Christian faith - we need to encourage doubt, for otherwise we push it underground to creep, cancer-like, behind the scenes just before we notice the weight-loss (and there are many emaciated Christians out there) that heralds the slide into being departed. Early prevention comes through checking for the signs and responding when they are found.

Have a look at your feet and see whether they are are solid ground or about to lead you into the plummet that is terminal decline.

Remember: Christianity demands that you do not leave your brain at the door! 


*A quote from one of those trendy clerics with which we are so blessed with these days!

Vain Philosophies - Dodgy Teachers

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high- sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
Col 2.8

Here we have a passage from Paul, a bloke what gave the world - especially the Christian world - a rather large collection of stuff that some would claim are naught but a bunch of philosophies! And this is where, if we are to try and live as Christians, that our problems begin!

Problem? What problem (I hear some ask)?

The minute we try to live as Christian we are saying that we want to live 'like Jesus' - this is the time when someone will pop up and say, 'All you need is Jesus to do that. He is God's living word. There's no need of the Bible, or of rules, or trying to be what you're not for God's Grace is sufficient and because Grace is always sufficient you just need to be free and live within it.'

And you know what? They are right!

There's no need of rules and regulations, for these merely tie you down and condemn. Yes indeedy folks: There's no need to do anything other than live in the freedom that being 'Christian' brings because, at the end of the day, 'God just wants you to happy' and doesn't it say that, 'God so loved the world that He gave His only son (nothing about things Sophia-like or female here I'm afraid) to set it free - not tell it that it is wrong (AKA condemn).'

So let's write that down:
1. There's no need to write anything down you just need Jesus and to love and be loved and live in God's Grace and be happy!

Oh! perhaps we need to scrub that out as we've just broken our first rule - which of course we shouldn't have anyway because there are no rules, regulations or philosophies (are there?).

And this is where the problems all begin, for everyone I have encountered starts off by telling me that Rule One applies and then they break it by telling me that this applies to everyone else's Rule One, not theirs! we don't need anything but Grace and we can't out sin Grace so why try to keep Paul's philosophical scribbles and rules? Be free and happy and live in the knowledge that that's enough (and buy my books, sermon videos, CD and other merchandising because 'a workmen is worthy of his wage' and of course you mustn't criticise me because you must never act against the Lord's anointed either!

This is the root of all the error in the Church today. The feeble-minded, seeking blessing that should come from the labour of their own hands, instead seek God's anointing and blessing and prosperity and health and status and positions of authority ('I want to be up the front and be applauded and feted') and power and everything that Jesus died to bring us.

But that's where it goes wrong, isn't it?

Jesus came to take on the role of Christ. To reconcile each of us, by name, to God the Father by that one atoning act of dying (in our place) upon the cross. His words, which we need to read and learn and learn to live by, are important and valid and lively - you cannot be a Christian without the Bible (Old and New Testament) and you need to look at the words written and ask yourself how you might live by them.

And this is where the error is to be found. For taking the truth and adding just a little deviation from that which Jesus calls us to be; to write off paul as 'vain philosophy' or to call Christians to live without the Bible is akin to telling Vegetarians that eating meat doesn't deny your vegetarian beliefs.

You cannot live as a Christian without love or Jesus
BUT
You cannot live as a Christian without writing things down, reading the Bible, and seeking to live by them.

The laws and written codes that stood (and continue to stand to this day) opposed to God's solution for the world's ills (Jesus), the condemnations and accusations, the powers and authorities (Col 2) have been trampled underfoot: They are a laughing stock.

And this we know because Jesus (God's living Word - Logos) lives in our hearts by faith supported by the written word (logos) and the ways in which we are shown how to respond to this amazing act of love.

It is so very simple - it isn't rocket science now, is it?

So let's turn off the TV and stop going to the Christian cabarets; let's toss the CDs, DVDs in he bin; let's stop pouring money into all the miraculous ministries (because the only miracle to be seen is the fact that you spend what you don't have to fund someone who already has more than is right or proper).

Go to your local church and celebrate being Church.

Get yourself a job and earn your living and pay your tithes and make sure that none who are without because they cannot work or because life has dealt them a bit of a blow can survive.

Read your Bible and meet with the other Christians and discuss what you have read - write what you have learned down and share it - weep with the proven, pray for the sick, rejoice with the joyful and herald in the Kingdom of Jesus, God made man, saviour, healer, redeemer, teacher and coming King.

And now I've put the world to rights I'm off to a Scottish Episcopal church service to rejoice at being Church and celebrate the fact that Jesus

HE IS RISEN :-)

Walking a fine line

One of the many important challenges of the pastoral role is that of 'protecting the flock'! No simple task for there are many wolves out there waiting to devour the sheep, many shepherds who are looking to steer the faithful away from the truth and loads of well meaning people who have simply got the wrong end of the stick or been sucked into error.

The potential for people to slip into error is great for that which, at first glance, appears to be sound can easily turn out not to be. The sadness is that many who follow, error more often than not, genuinely believe they are following the truth and this is where the problems begin, Problems because of the options before us when this happens:

i. Sigh and walk away having said nothing - AKA 'keeping the peace'

ii. Engage with them, find out more, and issue a caution - AKA 'making trouble for yourself'

iii. Teach and preach orthodoxy and hope people spot the errors themselves - AKA 'Living in hope'

Option i  is the oft preferred method of choice because silence is golden and peace, however uneasy, reigns. This has been my option of choice at times because it's simple and avoids all that nasty conflict. But while it removes the frustration of dealing with people who refuse to even consider that they might be wrong it leaves them on the wrong track. Now as much as the 'leave them to their own ends' approach is compelling, The Bible tosses a spanner into the works in so many places (which we will cover shortly).

Option ii is fraught with problems because those who hold a different position will beat their breasts and complain to any who will listen (and there's always many of them) about you being negative. They will go on about how you oppose the things of God and are quenching the Spirit and, best of all, proclaim (loudly) how you, as an accuser of the brethren, are the very spawn of satan. It is this that 'encourages' so many of us to adopt the first option. After all, as a survivor of such an engagement last year put it: 'They aren't going to listen, their idiot friends make your life hell, what's the point, best leave them to it!'

I love option iii because it is the thinking shepherd's approach. You look at what's going on and then you see where it deviates from that which is right and then you teach that which is right in the hope that those under your care will, like the Alien toys in Toy Story emit a loud 'Oooooh!' as the penny drops - job done. Well that's the idea - but whilst some will make the connections, many require the explicit approach of option ii. if you're really going to do the job properly.

Attempting to counter error is fraught with bumps, potholes and rubble designed to knock you off your bike. The minute you engage with any suspected error the same old responses appear. It's like playing Sonic as you pass through familiar levels in pursuit of that final goal.

Next instalment will take a look at the response you get and some biblical responses (which will be great because there are so many unbiblical to choose from)

Here's a thought from 2 Tim 4.2 to be going on with:

'Tell everyone God’s message. Be ready at all times to do whatever is needed.
Tell people what they need to do, tell them when they are doing wrong, and encourage them. 
 Do this with great patience and careful teaching.'

Happy Wednesday

(perhaps) Clergy ARE a bit bumbly - Part two

Wonderful story emailed in to me - which I will share here.

"My training incumbent was one of those people who thought they were a legend in their own lunchtime. Everything that did was perfect and everything they said was without need of correction. Wee that's what they thought anyway.

One day they had volunteered to do something for one of the diocesan training events and were going to speak on one of their many pet subjects, this one being that of 'all-member ministry'. Accordingly they set off for a church at the other end of the diocese where they would be sharing the platform with diocesan staff and the bishop. This was the beginning of something really big as it meant a major stage and the right people seeing them.

They had been working on their piece for ages and had powerpoint, handouts and an all-sing, all-dancing question and answers session. This was for them their night on 'The Diocese Has Talent' and were at last about to be discovered as the talent that they were.

So off they went and about half way into the journey realised they had forgotten their laptop and so they returned for it and sped off for a second time. Arriving at the place they couldn't find a parking spot near and so, having finally managed to park, rushed into the church building and took a seat. They were a little surprised to see no screen or projector but undaunted by this they sat and waited for the start of the thing. After about fifteen minutes someone appeared and ask them to introduce themselves and looking at my incumbent, invited them to start by introducing themselves, which they did. The next person stood up and introduced themselves and to a round of applause announced that they hadn't had a drink for two weeks.

Only then did they realise that they'd joined the local alcohol and drug user's support group - the meeting they wanted was in the parish hall behind the church!

Mind you they did make an impression because by the time they'd managed to explain their error and slip out they were some thirty minutes late :-)"

Thanks for this - I know a few who have arrived at the wrong place - will have to tell you a few Elim Pastor's stories later!

Catholics and Child Abuse

I was saddened to hear a Catholic priest discussing the child abuse issue on the radio this morning. When asked whether he would report, or encourage the penitent to report, any incident of child abuse, he issued a categorical 'No'. According to him, the Catholic church has, within its own ranks and mechanisms, all that is necessary to deal with such issues!

Sadly, this doesn't seem to marry up with reality and only enflames others against the Catholic church and therefore, by association, the universal Church as well. The priest said that he couldn't tell someone that they could be forgiven but needed to turn themselves in, this wasn't the nature of absolution. Funny that, but I thought the question was, "Who is there that condemns you?" and the instruction was, "Go and sin no more!"

Following on from the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and his words regarding the Cloyne report, the Church of Rome needs to get its act together and deal openly and honestly with its problems. After all, when the head of a (presumed Catholic) nation says things like:

"This is not Rome. This is the Republic of Ireland 2011, a republic of laws . . .The Cloyne Report excavates the dysfunction, disconnection, elitism, the narcissism -- that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day," and in closing voiced the opinion that the actions of the Catholic Church were, "Absolutely disgraceful."

It's all well and good standing behind the sanctity of the confessional but when I was training the group I was in was told by a senior police officer that in reality this did not exist and that we needed to take care over issues such as child abuse and the like lest we become complicit! Interestingly, this was in the late eighties! Enda Kenny laid down the gauntlet to Benedict and those who form part of his church - seems that, if today's priest is a voice of that organisation, it will not be taken up :(

We do need to be able to hear each others' confession but we also need to discharge our duty towards the innocents and to Christ, whose body we are, faithfully and i a way that restores and also honours God's laws and those laws that are also natural and national (which of course reflect God's law more often than not too!).

Pax

Harold Camping - Prophet or Prune?

Following on from one of the comments regarding the prophetic utterances of Harold Camping I thought I'd take a look at the man and see whether he's a force to be taken seriously or a foll who needs to be taken away and locked up.

Well, having read about him, I think he's well qualified to tell us when the rapture is going to happen, after all in 1992 he spake forth, saying:

“The results of this study indicate that the month of September of the year 1994 is to be the time for the end of history” (1994, New York: Vantage Press, p. 531).

He's appears to consider that “The work of the church is finished and that those who remain in the church, during the time of the on-coming “tribulation will be destroyed!" A further word of advice from the chap is that if you find a church where “It appears that each and every doctrine they hold is faithful to the Word of God, it should be avoided!" I find this odd as Jesus speaks of believers being one as He and the Father are one. This being one is called 'Church' and it seems to me that Harold is trying to pull this unity down by the application of a skewed mixture of OT Bible and eschatalogical witterings.

The more I read of the man, his words, and his predictions of the rapture the more I get the feeling that there is something awry with him and his teaching. He's into numerology (nothing wrong with that, it's cleaner and tidier than tea leaves), an inexact and pretty flawed practice when used to discern one's future.

He's also an annihilationist, which does away with the concept of hell (and so eternal separation from God for eternity goes out of the window) and therefore makes him just a little more suspect.

So, when all things are added together, my overall assessment is that he's a:

Mind you, if the Rapture does happens on the twenty-first of May, then I will of course be happy to reconsider that view!

Pax