When Rights Clash - Part the Second

The Prooftext

Being human the reality is that we all make choices and have our own positions on a number of issues. Some Christians, naively it seems, think that the Bible is the source of concord and yet, many of us know that it can also be the source of discord thanks to the way we read it, interpret it or make it support our own position.

We have the heresy that is prooftexting whereby passages are taken and used to support our position and, having done this, make our righteous stand on the basis of the 'warrant of Scripture'. The problem is that all too often we find the passage used is taken out of context and so the reality is that we make it say what it never intended to say! Let me give you a safe example (i.e. I'm not using the Bible and I'm avoiding any of the amazingly contentious subjects that cloud our otherwise sunny days!):

One of our children once comes to me and asks if they can go outside and play in the park. My first response is to ask what Mum has said on this issue, for wisdom comes with experience ;-). The reply for said child is that, "Mum said I can go and play." Assured that I am acting in agreement with 'the Mummy', I (the'Not the Mummy') let them go.

The Mummy returns from somewhere or other and asks where number n child is. I reply, feeling assured that I am on safe ground, that they have gone into the wilderness to encounter adventure. The Mummy vanishes for a moment and them returns to tell me that they weren't allowed to go until the bedroom has been tidied (and of course it has not been).

When child is retrieved from the park they tell me that indeed the Mummy did say they could go out and when I point out that the words 'after you have cleaned your bedroom' were omitted, they merely answer, "But she did say I could go out!" Now she did use the Mummy's words, but they were presented out of context. Had the Mummy not returned before the child had been, gone and returned to the bedroom all would have appeared well, but of course would not have been. This is the curse of the prooftext and sadly, it is not restricted to children and playgrounds but can be found in the actions and theologies of many on all sides of many issues.

So here is a little plea on behalf of my employer:

1. If you want to hold a view that is contrary to that which appears to be Biblical please feel free to hold it, just don't twist the words to justify your decision for it confuses the sheep, and don't expect everyone to approve - they won't!

2. When you make a point please make sure that when using any source you do so with integrity and should you rely upon some form of 'having fixed the hermeneutic' (this means looking at the when, who it was written to, why it was written to them (and why then), the sociological, historical, political and any other reality in place at the time of writing, the intended audience and the authority of the person what writ it!) please make sure that it is not skewed to assist your own argument.

3. If you find something with which you disagree then engage with the words and dialogue with the writer (or speaker). Look at what they say and judge their sources and supporting material. Our society engages with ad hominem far too willingly (I know, I do it as well - I might be trying to be physician here but I recognise that I am also a sufferer). Issue a rebuttal and hope that a surrebuttal returns through the ether. This is dialogue and is healthy, constructive and Christian. (well it should be - if you can do wit you can also opt for the wonderful world of rejoinder and surrejoinder, which is much more fun but also potentially more barbed).

Happy Saturday

Daily Office - Mar 3

Psalm 59
Rescue me from my enemies, O my God; set me high above those that rise up against me. Save me from the evildoers and from murderous foes deliver me. For see how they lie in wait for my soul and the mighty stir up trouble against me. Not for any fault or sin of mine, O Lord; for no offence, they run and prepare themselves for war. Rouse yourself, come to my aid and see; for you are the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel. Awake, and judge all the nations; show no mercy to the evil traitors. They return at nightfall and snarl like dogs and prowl about the city. They pour out evil words with their mouths; swords are on their lips; ‘For who’, they say, ‘can hear us?’ But you laugh at them, O Lord; you hold all the nations in derision. For you, O my strength, will I watch; you, O God, are my strong tower. My God in his steadfast love will come to me; he will let me behold the downfall of my enemies. Slay them not, lest my people forget; send them reeling by your might and bring them down, O Lord our shield. For the sins of their mouth, for the words of their lips, let them be taken in their pride. For the cursing and falsehood they have uttered, consume them in wrath, consume them till they are no more. And they shall know that God rules in Jacob, and to the ends of the earth. And still they return at nightfall and snarl like dogs and prowl about the city. Though they forage for something to devour, and howl if they are not filled, yet will I sing of your strength and every morning praise your steadfast love; For you have been my stronghold, my refuge in the day of my trouble. To you, O my strength, will I sing; for you, O God, are my refuge, my God of steadfast love.

Psalm 63
O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; my soul is athirst for you.My flesh also faints for you, as in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So would I gaze upon you in your holy place, that I might behold your power and your glory. Your loving-kindness is better than life itself and so my lips shall praise you. I will bless you as long as I live and lift up my hands in your name. My soul shall be satisfied, as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed and meditate on you in the watches of the night. For you have been my helper and under the shadow of your wings will I rejoice. My soul clings to you; your right hand shall hold me fast. But those who seek my soul to destroy it shall go down to the depths of the earth; Let them fall by the edge of the sword and become a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all those who swear by him shall be glad, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

Genesis 43:1-15
Now the famine was severe in the land. And when they had eaten up the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, ‘Go again, buy us a little more food.’ But Judah said to him, ‘The man solemnly warned us, saying, “You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.” If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food; but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, “You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.” ’ Israel said, ‘Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?’ They replied, ‘The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, “Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?” What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, “Bring your brother down”?’ Then Judah said to his father Israel, ‘Send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die—you and we and also our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; you can hold me accountable for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame for ever. If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.’ Then their father Israel said to them, ‘If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry them down as a present to the man—a little balm and a little honey, gum, resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the top of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. Take your brother also, and be on your way again to the man; may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, so that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.’ So the men took the present, and they took double the money with them, as well as Benjamin. Then they went on their way down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

Galatians 6
My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads. Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

The Collect
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save;through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Social Networking - a guide

I found this to be one of the best explanations of social networks and the way to get the best from it that I have seen.

Enjoy!

paedobaptism - You what?

During a recent conversation I inadvertently dropped the term 'paedobaptism' into the conversation, an act that resulted in the time honoured expression of something or other - 'you what?

I explained that this meant 'baptising babies' and foolishly said, "You know, the thing that Anglicans believe in and do!" I say 'foolish' because some of those Anglican clergy present indicated that they weren't paedobaptists by their muttering things about 'believer's baptism' being the Biblical model.

Now I know that I might be treading on a few sensibilities here but, as I understand it, the early Church practised paedobaptism and as I also understand it, this was the case from the earliest days of the Jewish sect that is Christianity. Reading the didache and taking references to the feeding of babies at the breast with regard to them receiving the Eucharist and adding many other bits of scribble which come together to make an interesting picture. A picture that places infant baptism into a position of greater worth, validity and orthodoxy than many of those who claim believer's baptism would ever assign.

Not only that, when considering the fact that the anabaptist position only came into focus in the early sixteenth century and the modern attitudes became hardened a couple of centuries later, I have to say that I think that the 'my baptism is more efficacious than yours' brigade (also known as anabaptist) might not only be a little wrong but might actually be acting contrary to the very book of writings that they claim to uphold.

Let's have a quick glimpse of Paul in Corinth (Acts 19):

"And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptised?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptised with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus."

So what would you like to take from this? As I understand it:

1. John the Baptist's baptism was that of repentance,

2. The only adequate baptism is that done in the name of Jesus,

3. There is but one baptism, we cannot be baptised again and again. It is a 'once for all-time act'

4. Assuming that any rebaptism is efficacious is to assume that we are enacting something greater than any previous baptism and yet, if this was done in the name of Jesus, this can not be anything other than a false assumption.

5. The only valid rebaptism indicated in the Bible is that where a person has been 'inadequately baptised' ie. NOT in the name of Jesus.

Draw your own conclusions - I await your responses- but am now in hiding ;-)

I get the feeling this topic is not quite finished (and I have a confession or two to make on the way).

Pax

Daily Office - Mar 2

Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, Missionary, 672

Psalm 22
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me, and are so far from my salvation, from the words of my distress? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; and by night also, but I find no rest. Yet you are the Holy One, enthroned upon the praises of Israel. Our forebears trusted in you; they trusted, and you delivered them. They cried out to you and were delivered; they put their trust in you and were not confounded. But as for me, I am a worm and no man, scorned by all and despised by the people. All who see me laugh me to scorn; they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying, ‘He trusted in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him deliver him, if he delights in him.’ But it is you that took me out of the womb and laid me safe upon my mother’s breast. On you was I cast ever since I was born; you are my God even from my mother’s womb. Be not far from me, for trouble is near at hand and there is none to help. Mighty oxen come around me; fat bulls of Bashan close me in on every side. They gape upon me with their mouths, as it were a ramping and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint; my heart has become like wax melting in the depths of my body. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd; my tongue cleaves to my gums; you have laid me in the dust of death. For the hounds are all about me; the pack of evildoers close in on me; they pierce my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; they stand staring and looking upon me. They divide my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing. Be not far from me, O Lord; you are my strength; hasten to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword, my poor life from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth, from the horns of wild oxen. You have answered me! I will tell of your name to my people; in the midst of the congregation will I praise you. Praise the Lord, you that fear him; O seed of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, O seed of Israel. For he has not despised nor abhorred the suffering of the poor; neither has he hidden his face from them; but when they cried to him he heard them. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; I will perform my vows in the presence of those that fear you. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord shall praise him;
their hearts shall live for ever. All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall bow before him. For the kingdom is the Lord’s and he rules over the nations. How can those who sleep in the earth bow down in worship, or those who go down to the dust kneel before him? He has saved my life for himself; my descendants shall serve him; this shall be told of the Lord for generations to come. They shall come and make known his salvation, to a people yet unborn, declaring that he, the Lord, has done it.

Genesis 42:29-end
When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, ‘The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly to us, and charged us with spying on the land. But we said to him, “We are honest men, we are not spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan.” Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, “By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. Bring your youngest brother to me, and I shall know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will release your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.” ’As they were emptying their sacks, there in each one’s sack was his bag of money. When they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were dismayed. And their father Jacob said to them, ‘I am the one you have bereaved of children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has happened to me!’ Then Reuben said to his father, ‘You may kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.’ But he said, ‘My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should come to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to Sheol.’

Galatians 5:16-end
Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

The Collect
Almighty God, from the first fruits of the English nation who turned to Christ, you called your servant Chad to be an evangelist and bishop of his own people: give us grace so to follow his peaceable nature, humble spirit and prayerful life, that we may truly commend to others the faith which we ourselves profess; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Christian One-Liners

I've been looking at one-liners that have been used in services, sermons and wayside pulpits. Here's ten that I rather like (more welcome):

1. Give God what's right - not what's left.

2. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

3. Being 'almost saved' is to be totally lost.

4. Those who kneel before God can stand anywhere.

5. God grades on the cross, not the curve.

6. Don't put a question mark where God puts a full-stop.

7. Let God's love carry you into church before six strong-men do the job.

8. Plan ahead - It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

9. Caution - Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.

10. Many desire to serve God - in an advisory
position!

A Cold call from Hell!

The past couple of days has been fantastic! I've been enthused in a gathering of Missioners and blessed by doing Messy Church on the Bible (how fitting for 'World Book Day' - see photo below) with a bunch of brilliant children and amazingly committed volunteers ('Thank You').

Back in and starting to work out why the mail won't send when the telephone rings, so I pick up the telephone and the following conversation is had:

Hello, is that Mr Birch

It could be, who are you, what are you selling and how long will it take?

I am ringing from the support office of Windows computing

I don't use windows for they are indeed the work of the devil.

Your computer is showing as having a problem and . . .

Is this a windows computer you speak of?

Yes Mr Birch, we have detected a problem . . .

Of course you have for you are in league with the devil himself - begone foul spirit . . .

Hangs up!

Haven't had so much fun since the undertaker's man fell in to the open grave on a wet and slippery Autumn afternoon!

pax

Daily Office - Mar1

David, Bishop of Menevia, Patron of Wales, c.601

Psalm 42
As the deer longs for the water brooks, so longs my soul for you, O God. My soul is athirst for God, even for the living God; when shall I come before the presence of God? My tears have been my bread day and night, while all day long they say to me, ‘Where is now your God?’ Now when I think on these things, I pour out my soul: how I went with the multitude and led the procession to the house of God, With the voice of praise and thanksgiving, among those who kept holy day. Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul, and why are you so disquieted within me? put your trust in God; for I will yet give him thanks, who is the help of my countenance, and my God. My soul is heavy within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan, and from Hermon and the hill of Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the thunder of your waterfalls; all your breakers and waves have gone over me. The Lord will grant his loving-kindness in the daytime; through the night his song will be with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me, and why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresses me?’ As they crush my bones, my enemies mock me; while all day long they say to me, ‘Where is now your God?’ Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? and why are you so disquieted within me? O put your trust in God; for I will yet give him thanks, who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 43
Give judgement for me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; deliver me from the deceitful and the wicked. For you are the God of my refuge; why have you cast me from you, and why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresses me? O send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling, That I may go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy and gladness; and on the lyre I will give thanks to you, O God my God. Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul, and why are you so disquieted within me?O put your trust in God; for I will yet give him thanks, who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Genesis 42:18-28
On the third day Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here where you are imprisoned. The rest of you shall go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. Thus your words will be verified, and you shall not die.’ And they agreed to do so. They said to one another, ‘Alas, we are paying the penalty for what we did to our brother; we saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this anguish has come upon us.’ Then Reuben answered them, ‘Did I not tell you not to wrong the boy? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.’ They did not know that Joseph understood them, since he spoke with them through an interpreter. He turned away from them and wept; then he returned and spoke to them. And he picked out Simeon and had him bound before their eyes. Joseph then gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This was done for them. They loaded their donkeys with their grain, and departed. When one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging-place, he saw his money at the top of the sack. He said to his brothers, ‘My money has been put back; here it is in my sack!’ At this they lost heart and turned trembling to one another, saying, ‘What is this that God has done to us?’

Galatians 5:2-15
Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love. You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offence of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves! For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

The Collect
Almighty God, who called your servant David to be a faithful and wise steward of your mysteries for the people of Wales: in your mercy, grant that, following his purity of life and zeal for the gospel of Christ, we may with him receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.