Man on the radio talking about baptism
Bishop on the telephone
Chap in the studio
All wanting a baptism that works
Words need to be right or it doesn't work
Well that's what they say
Elsewhere
Two thousand years ago
Two thousand miles away
There are two men standing in a river
No worry about words
Or Accessibility
Or Indices of Multiple Deprivation
Or Cultural attitudes
Just the call to 'Come'
Come and repent
Come and renounce evil
Turn away from our sins
Choose God not the Devil
But that was then and so today
Here and now
They are
Words that are rejected
And in their rejection there's rejoicing
But not from God
But back to the river
It's not about the words used
It's about the Word made flesh
It's not about the christening gown
Nor the cake the Grandmother's made
Nor the party that's waiting
Nor being popular with those outside the door
It is so simple really:
It's all about repentance - turning from sin
(Never been popular)
It's all about belief
(Not that popular - nothing new here either!)
It's all about submission
(Can we say that?)
It's all about obedience
(Which is good if others obeying I guess)
About joining
Joining in - signing up - being part
(Discipleship comes later)
Receiving the Holy Spirit
(Equipped, enables, released to be who we were made to be)
Showing posts with label submission. Show all posts
Showing posts with label submission. Show all posts
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Vocations - Looking at language
One of the consistent things that I find occurring when it comes to helping people discern their calling to ministry is the use of language.
People will often come in speaking of 'authority', a word that will cause many to immediately harbour doubts about the reason for the calling that is being claimed, when what they mean is perhaps more correctly labelled as 'testing, submission and of having been approved'.
On my journey, one of the important things in ordination was the fact that those who are ordained are:
i. Have been tried, tested and approved
ii. Are in submission to those above.
On the first day at that place one of the staff asked us who the greatest leader was. Being in the big concrete sleeping bag that bears the name of a certain great leader theirs was the first name out of the bag, quickly followed by many others until, exasperated the Colour Sargeant asked where the padres were and who was it they worked for?
yes, the answer was 'Jesus'! Someone regarded by as a great leader because He came to serve. This is the true nature of authority - submission and service.
I hope this helps clarify some of the thinking around vocations
Pax
*Those who were not selected (this is not 'rejected'*) will be offered help in discerning their vocation and may return to a BAP at a later date or find their calling fulfilled in a different area of ministry. This is not the end of 'calling' (of which our baptismal calling is the greatest calling we have).
People will often come in speaking of 'authority', a word that will cause many to immediately harbour doubts about the reason for the calling that is being claimed, when what they mean is perhaps more correctly labelled as 'testing, submission and of having been approved'.
On my journey, one of the important things in ordination was the fact that those who are ordained are:
- Recognised as having a 'calling' to something within their own fellowship,
- Are approved by that fellowship and sent to the DDO (Diocesan Director of Ordinands) or vocations adviser,
- Are examined and, perhaps after additional elements (readings groups, etc.), are sent to a selection conference (BAP),
- At the BAP the person is engaged to help clarify the nature of the calling and the best way it can be developed,
- Having been selected, training tales place and once this is completed the person is offered to the wider church (sending diocese having first choice if there is a suitable 'title post') and ordained.
i. Have been tried, tested and approved
- The selection process
- The training experience
- The Title post
ii. Are in submission to those above.
- It is here that, taking the model of Nehemiah, that we can see that those ordained have authority because they submit to authority.
- Just as an officer in the forces is saluted because they hold a commission, it is the queen (whose commission they hold) who is being saluted, not the person - this is devolved power through submission to the monarch.
- Are 'primus inter pares' (first among equals). This doesn't make them the 'Daddy' but makes them someone who is collaborative and supportive of others - true authority.
On the first day at that place one of the staff asked us who the greatest leader was. Being in the big concrete sleeping bag that bears the name of a certain great leader theirs was the first name out of the bag, quickly followed by many others until, exasperated the Colour Sargeant asked where the padres were and who was it they worked for?
yes, the answer was 'Jesus'! Someone regarded by as a great leader because He came to serve. This is the true nature of authority - submission and service.
I hope this helps clarify some of the thinking around vocations
Pax
*Those who were not selected (this is not 'rejected'*) will be offered help in discerning their vocation and may return to a BAP at a later date or find their calling fulfilled in a different area of ministry. This is not the end of 'calling' (of which our baptismal calling is the greatest calling we have).
Thursday, 14 July 2011
See how these Christians loathe one another
Talking about church and the business of factions, politics and division a while back with other church people recently, one of them came up with an interesting, yet earthy, summation of the business of church business meetings:
I don't often include such terminology because I don't want to offend, but having heard of some meetings, the collateral damage, the wounding of non-combatants and innocents this does appear to be an accurate and perhaps kind summation of some of the goings!
Too often we find people who engage in stuff that just isn't Church! Put any bunch of people together and we will find control freaks, tradtionalists, movers and shakers (they shake people up and they move away!) and more besides. Ordinary humans who need to be dealt with with grace and humility and need to be taught to do the same to others (by example, not just words).
Church needs to live within the Law of active Churchmanship (whoo hoo, kept the acronym LOAC) in that we remember in all our dealings with each other, these few simple rules:
Proportionality: We make the point but we don't kill the innocent, or the guilty, when we encounter a problem within our church setting. It appears that all too often the response of some in church is to make the punishment exceed the crime rather than fit it. Then again, having discovered what e consider error we are called to forgive (70*7?) not to crucify - only needs one act of crucifixion to redeem the whole world!
Collateral damage: If one innocent is taken out, the whole world dies. Now if Islam can get this right (although don't see it preached that often) how much more should those who claim to be Christians take note of, and live within, this? If by our actions, attitudes or responses we cause others to stumble then their blood (or lack of salvation in this case perhaps) is on our hands. We don't shoot their wounded and we most certainly don't shoot our own (despite the church's billing.
Restoration: Brothers, if you find someone doing it wrong, those of you who are spiritual should restore them 'gently' because if you don't then you have caused yourself to sin as well. What's the point of being right and making yourself wrong so that neither of you learn and the relationship is broken?
God calls us to live in relationship with each other, taking joy in the image of the unseen God made visible in the brother (or sister) who stands before you as a reflection of Christ, God incarnate. Words of peace and correction for errors made show us to be in possession of Christlike characteristics, for who is there to condemn others when we are told to go and sin no more?
Humility, justice and mercy are the hallmarks of a person who knows, loves and serves God and these, tinged with thanks that God doesn't treat us as we treat others, make for a body that accepts the weaknesses and errors in others, leads them from them into something better and builds a Church of living stones brought together by Grace and held together by Love.
I'll be extra careful next week when we have our Church Council meeting - can't preach it without practising it, can i?
Pax
Open in prayer - Close in prayer - Shit in between!
Too often we find people who engage in stuff that just isn't Church! Put any bunch of people together and we will find control freaks, tradtionalists, movers and shakers (they shake people up and they move away!) and more besides. Ordinary humans who need to be dealt with with grace and humility and need to be taught to do the same to others (by example, not just words).
Church needs to live within the Law of active Churchmanship (whoo hoo, kept the acronym LOAC) in that we remember in all our dealings with each other, these few simple rules:
Proportionality: We make the point but we don't kill the innocent, or the guilty, when we encounter a problem within our church setting. It appears that all too often the response of some in church is to make the punishment exceed the crime rather than fit it. Then again, having discovered what e consider error we are called to forgive (70*7?) not to crucify - only needs one act of crucifixion to redeem the whole world!
Collateral damage: If one innocent is taken out, the whole world dies. Now if Islam can get this right (although don't see it preached that often) how much more should those who claim to be Christians take note of, and live within, this? If by our actions, attitudes or responses we cause others to stumble then their blood (or lack of salvation in this case perhaps) is on our hands. We don't shoot their wounded and we most certainly don't shoot our own (despite the church's billing.
Restoration: Brothers, if you find someone doing it wrong, those of you who are spiritual should restore them 'gently' because if you don't then you have caused yourself to sin as well. What's the point of being right and making yourself wrong so that neither of you learn and the relationship is broken?
God calls us to live in relationship with each other, taking joy in the image of the unseen God made visible in the brother (or sister) who stands before you as a reflection of Christ, God incarnate. Words of peace and correction for errors made show us to be in possession of Christlike characteristics, for who is there to condemn others when we are told to go and sin no more?
Humility, justice and mercy are the hallmarks of a person who knows, loves and serves God and these, tinged with thanks that God doesn't treat us as we treat others, make for a body that accepts the weaknesses and errors in others, leads them from them into something better and builds a Church of living stones brought together by Grace and held together by Love.
I'll be extra careful next week when we have our Church Council meeting - can't preach it without practising it, can i?
Pax
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Living (and working) to rule
No, I'm not trying to organise industrial action, I'm trying to get people to realise that they need a rule of life and once they have one, to live by it!
When one is ordained there are a number of facets on the gem that is Christian ministry, namely:
We accept the Holy Scriptures as being the source of everything we need to know about eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
This means that the Bible is not a second thought and puts paid to all the universalist tosh that gets peddled. We preach Christ, and Him crucified, risen and alive and teach obedience to the word of God (written and living, logos and Logos!).
We will be active and consistent regarding prayer and in reading, and studying, the Bible and other stuff that will deepen our faith and help us to be witnesses to the truth of the gospel.
If we can't, won't or don't do this then we should never have taken the shilling. Without this we are not 'fit for role' and should remove ourselves from ministry. We are all called 'to stir up' the gift of God that makes us the living witnesses spoken of later - living in holiness and grace.
Believing the doctrine of the Christian faith as received (and practised) by the Church of England and teaching it.
Amazing how many people (many with dog-collars and some in purple) struggle with this.
Being a living witness, a type of Christ in the place you find yourself, living through teaching and example to make Christ's love and life known.
Amazingly, there are many who fall down on this one too!
Caring and serving those 'in the household of God' in the same way Christ came, as a servant, not the dog-collar whom must be served and have status.
Caring and serving, living in and running our own families as an example and as a discipline.
An old Vicar once told me that if you couldn't run your own life and the life of your family, you had no chance with a church!
Working together for the building of the whole Church, making disciples and displaying the unity of the Church across denominations and groupings.
We need to seek where we can share and be united rather than look for the things that separate us for being Church. Too many people taken up with their piddling little gatherings at the sake of a wider, and more effective, Church unity (which if present builds ALL the churches by making disciples and setting the conditions for growth).
Submit to those in authority.
This is a key point and makes sense of the fact that we need to be careful whom we entrust leadership (at all levels) to. Some of those who disregard all the above elements make themselves extremely difficult to obey or respect, for some are (sadly) barely Christian! Yet, there is still the question of rightly placed authority to be considered then!
There we are - everything that the ordinal (the ordaining rule book) requires from Christians not just for ordination but for those who truly wish to live their baptismal calling too!
Pax
When one is ordained there are a number of facets on the gem that is Christian ministry, namely:
We accept the Holy Scriptures as being the source of everything we need to know about eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
This means that the Bible is not a second thought and puts paid to all the universalist tosh that gets peddled. We preach Christ, and Him crucified, risen and alive and teach obedience to the word of God (written and living, logos and Logos!).
We will be active and consistent regarding prayer and in reading, and studying, the Bible and other stuff that will deepen our faith and help us to be witnesses to the truth of the gospel.
If we can't, won't or don't do this then we should never have taken the shilling. Without this we are not 'fit for role' and should remove ourselves from ministry. We are all called 'to stir up' the gift of God that makes us the living witnesses spoken of later - living in holiness and grace.
Believing the doctrine of the Christian faith as received (and practised) by the Church of England and teaching it.
Amazing how many people (many with dog-collars and some in purple) struggle with this.
Being a living witness, a type of Christ in the place you find yourself, living through teaching and example to make Christ's love and life known.
Amazingly, there are many who fall down on this one too!
Caring and serving those 'in the household of God' in the same way Christ came, as a servant, not the dog-collar whom must be served and have status.
Caring and serving, living in and running our own families as an example and as a discipline.
An old Vicar once told me that if you couldn't run your own life and the life of your family, you had no chance with a church!
Working together for the building of the whole Church, making disciples and displaying the unity of the Church across denominations and groupings.
We need to seek where we can share and be united rather than look for the things that separate us for being Church. Too many people taken up with their piddling little gatherings at the sake of a wider, and more effective, Church unity (which if present builds ALL the churches by making disciples and setting the conditions for growth).
Submit to those in authority.
This is a key point and makes sense of the fact that we need to be careful whom we entrust leadership (at all levels) to. Some of those who disregard all the above elements make themselves extremely difficult to obey or respect, for some are (sadly) barely Christian! Yet, there is still the question of rightly placed authority to be considered then!
There we are - everything that the ordinal (the ordaining rule book) requires from Christians not just for ordination but for those who truly wish to live their baptismal calling too!
Pax
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
I'm just not called to do that!
Part of the dialogue that started this thread was surrounding someone who had been approaching ordination and realised that the role would mean that they would have to do stuff that they "Just didn't feel called to do it!"
The whole point of offering oneself for ordination is that you offer yourself to the whole Church, not just the place you want to go to or to the style that you want. Ordination is about calling and obedience. It is about submission and a willingness to go into the role prepared to learn and to explore.
It is not about just going to do what you want to do.
It is not about deciding that you are only going to do whatever style of church rings your bell. This is something that many suffer from and manifests itself in New Wine types who only want to do church in one particular way. It can be seen in the high church types who moan that the evo's don't understand their churchmanship (hence so many evo's being made to 'experience' high church on the road to selection and yet none of the high church go the other way!). Too many people offer themselves conditionally - they want ministry on their terms and if those terms are not met, then they threaten to take their bags and leave.
Well, here's a bit of a shock for those who think that way, goodbye and to be honest, good riddance. I'm sure there's a place in Vineyard or one of the trendy groupings for those who are led that way. The same is true of the high church types, Rome has opened its arms and it doors - swan off and be blessed where you will be happy. Again, for those who want a libertarian church, there are plenty out there, leave the CofE alone and go be Episcopalian or ******* (see, didn't name them) and, again, be happy and leave us to be happy where we are and for you where you are.
Ordination is more than just 'playing the game and jumping the hoops' it is about being willing to explore, and find God, in BCP or choral tradition and music groups and Taizé and even in the dressing up and clomping around in chasubles with burning handbags flying!
Offering yourself and being willing to submit to and explore what is Church is part of the calling and the enabling. It is almost like being cast adrift and waiting to see what shores you will drift on to and be blessed by before you sail off again. It is about developing a maturity and a depth of religious experience that is often so obviously lacking in those who offer themselves conditionally.
Try taking this twice a day until the condition clears up:
Father God, thank you for calling me to serve others.
Help me to seek and find you in the people I meet,
To minister your love, grace and mercy to all I serve,
To not limit your power by my own piddling and limited experience,
Or silence your worship by my thinking I know what is the 'only' way.
Father, if I am called, then I am called to all that preaches your word,
To all that praises your name,
To everything that makes disciples.
May I never dishonour you name or disobey your word.
Keep me on the right path so that those I shepherd, following me, realise that I am merely following you,
My Saviour, Master and friend. Amen
The whole point of offering oneself for ordination is that you offer yourself to the whole Church, not just the place you want to go to or to the style that you want. Ordination is about calling and obedience. It is about submission and a willingness to go into the role prepared to learn and to explore.
It is not about just going to do what you want to do.
It is not about deciding that you are only going to do whatever style of church rings your bell. This is something that many suffer from and manifests itself in New Wine types who only want to do church in one particular way. It can be seen in the high church types who moan that the evo's don't understand their churchmanship (hence so many evo's being made to 'experience' high church on the road to selection and yet none of the high church go the other way!). Too many people offer themselves conditionally - they want ministry on their terms and if those terms are not met, then they threaten to take their bags and leave.
Well, here's a bit of a shock for those who think that way, goodbye and to be honest, good riddance. I'm sure there's a place in Vineyard or one of the trendy groupings for those who are led that way. The same is true of the high church types, Rome has opened its arms and it doors - swan off and be blessed where you will be happy. Again, for those who want a libertarian church, there are plenty out there, leave the CofE alone and go be Episcopalian or ******* (see, didn't name them) and, again, be happy and leave us to be happy where we are and for you where you are.
Ordination is more than just 'playing the game and jumping the hoops' it is about being willing to explore, and find God, in BCP or choral tradition and music groups and Taizé and even in the dressing up and clomping around in chasubles with burning handbags flying!
Offering yourself and being willing to submit to and explore what is Church is part of the calling and the enabling. It is almost like being cast adrift and waiting to see what shores you will drift on to and be blessed by before you sail off again. It is about developing a maturity and a depth of religious experience that is often so obviously lacking in those who offer themselves conditionally.
Try taking this twice a day until the condition clears up:
Father God, thank you for calling me to serve others.
Help me to seek and find you in the people I meet,
To minister your love, grace and mercy to all I serve,
To not limit your power by my own piddling and limited experience,
Or silence your worship by my thinking I know what is the 'only' way.
Father, if I am called, then I am called to all that preaches your word,
To all that praises your name,
To everything that makes disciples.
May I never dishonour you name or disobey your word.
Keep me on the right path so that those I shepherd, following me, realise that I am merely following you,
My Saviour, Master and friend. Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)