Two Mountains

Search through the Bible. Hunt into every last corner, every nook, every cranny. You might, perhaps, stumble across Obadiah.

Obadiah is a small book- a minor prophet- only 21 verses long.

If required to expound upon the main points of Obadiah, what would you say? What illustrations might you use? What would be your findings?

At our Church’s Bible Class, we have been teaching through the minor prophets. Each Sunday we look at a different prophet and see who they were, what they taught and how it applies to us. It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride: Gomer ran away from her husband, Jonah ran away from God, Amos measured Israel with a plumb line, Nahum prophesied Ninevah’s flooding, Joel promised the Holy Spirit and Micah vowed to trust God even while  starving.

Last Sunday, it was Obadiah’s turn.

Anyone know anything about the man himself? Who was Obadiah?

There isn’t actually much to know. His name means ‘Servant of Yahweh’ (Yahweh is the Hebrew name for the Lord God, or Jehovah as translated in English). Apart from that, the history books are surprisingly empty about Obadiah (suggesting that he was a good servant indeed!).

Obadiah was prophesying to the Edomites (the descendants of Esau, and thus distant relatives of Israel who descended from Esau’s younger brother-  Jacob).

“The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rock,
in your lofty dwelling,
who say in your heart,

“Who will bring me down to the ground?”

Though you soar aloft like the eagle,
though your nest is set among the stars,
from there I will bring you down,
declares the Lord.”

_{Obadiah verses 3 and 4}

 

Why does the prophet describe the Edomites as living in clefts of the rock? Why are they in lofty dwellings? How do they soar aloft like the eagle?

Edom was a mountainous nation. Have you ever visited the ruins of Petra? I would dearly like to (my secret honeymoon is soon approaching…!).

Petra is a city truly built into the ‘cleft of a rock’. Archaeologists think that is was constructed around 400BC and have suggested that they have only uncovered 15% of the total city, the remainder still being hidden deep underground.

Although Petra wouldn’t have been the capital city of Edom when Obadiah was writing, it still shows just how mountainous and rocky a civilisation Edom really was.

 

It is no wonder then that Obadiah calls the Edomites a lofty people: they literally lived really really high up!
In fact, the prophet describes the nation as ‘Mount Esau.’

As we read through the book, we quickly discover that the Edomites had betrayed their brothers and sisters in Israel and Judah. The Babylonians had invaded Palestine and captured the Israelites, taking them into exile across the far reaches of their new empire.

As their relatives were being murdered and captured, the Edomites stayed up in their mountains sarcastically boasting ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’

In fact, once the Babylonian army had left, they came down from their mountains and plundered the remains of Israel, hunting down any survivors and selling them into captivity. They even gloated over the wreck of Israel.

The Lord, quite rightly and justly, tells the Edomites (through Obadiah) that judgment will be made on them for their crimes. He condemns ‘Mount Esau’ to invasion and destruction.

Interestingly the prophet goes on to mention another Mount- this time it is Mount Zion.

 

“But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy…”

“Saviours shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau,
and the kingdom shall be the Lord's.”

_{Obadiah verses 17a and 21}

 

Where is Mount Zion and why is it so special?

Zion is the special name given to describe Jerusalem (capital of Israel) in the Old Testament. But Zion doesn’t speak purely about bricks and mortar- the name Zion refers specifically to the place where the Lord God dwells with His people. Psalm 48 says,

 

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.”

_{Psalm 48 verses 1, 2 and 3}

 

The great King is God himself. If Jerusalem is His palace, then the Temple is His throne room, where he meets and talks with His subjects. Zion refers to the City and Temple where God dwells.

But Jerusalem and the Temple were both destroyed in the first century AD. Where does God dwell now?

Shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus claimed to be the new temple (place where God lives and communicates with us from). Now that Jesus had come, the old bricks of the Temple building were no longer required.

We find out in the New Testament- in the book of Hebrews- that the final ‘Mount Zion’ will be Heaven- that is where God will live with mankind,

 

“…you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…”

_{Hebrews 12 v 22 (pt)}

 

Having explained what and where Zion is, lets come back to Obadiah. How does Obadiah compare these two mountains- Esau and Zion?

Mount Esau is the place where men and women trust in their own strength and power for safety. Mount Zion is where men and women trust in the Lord God for their safety.

The Israelites may have lost their homes and possessions to the Babylonians, but their eternal souls and their new bodies (God promises all believers transformed perfect bodies) were safe. The Edomites thought their bodies were safe (although they would soon be found wrong), however their eternal souls were not. 

Did you notice verse 21 which I quoted earlier? “Saviours shall go up to Mount Zion…” That verse is talking about Jesus Christ who died on the side of the Mount of Zion- besides the city of Jerusalem. It was because Jesus died to pay the penalty for my sins that I can now live and communicate with God. I am one of those people who ‘escaped’ judgment for my wrongdoings, because Jesus was punished on my behalf.

The wonderful thing is that Obadiah’s prophesy still stands- Jesus’s offer of free forgiveness and a home in the Heavenly Mount Zion still stands.

Which Mountain do you choose?

A Poor Man Cries

 

  I’ve recently been reading through the Psalms each morning. The Psalms in the Bible are basically the inward songs of a man’s heart. They are the longings and cries which are tough to verbalise and explain.

  This morning Psalm 34 particularly stuck a chord with me, and I wanted to share it with you.  

 

“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.”  

 

   Thus speaks David the shepherd (the man who would one day become arguably the greatest King Israel ever enjoyed) while on the run, caught between a jealous master and an enemy King eager to crush him once and for all.

   Psalm 34 gives us the amazing testimony of a man who has experienced God’s rescue.

   Why does David refer to himself as poor?

   It probably is fair to say that he was in a bad situation: having driven King Saul to a jealous rage he was forced to flee the Royal Court at night while guards came to arrest him, he lost his wife (the King’s daughter) and he was named the Number One Enemy-of-the-State. Having taken refuge inside the Philistine city of Gath, he was spotted by the Abimelech (Philistine King) who couldn’t believe his luck (David was after all his chief enemy). Our poor fugitive was thus forced to act crazy- the Bible describes the spittle running down his chin- in order to make good his escape.

  Left without home or income, David was indeed poor. Perhaps it’s a good job then that the Lord delights in helping the poor and weak and lame. Psalm 34 goes on to say,

“The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” 

  The Bible never hides the truth. We all face afflictions. I have no idea of what you might be facing, but I do know that everyone faces their own battles; whether it be financial, health related, in relationships or even spiritual. David faced some major afflictions and yet he did the right thing,

“I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”  

    David actively was seeking God even in the midst of his poverty and woe. In Psalm 34, he encourages us to do exactly the same thing,

“Oh taste and see the the Lord is good!”

“Oh magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together!”

“Oh fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!” 

    How can we truly seek God? Surely that is a question being asked across this planet and the answers come back thick and fast and almost always totally contradictory. Yet David has a series of answers ready- God has answered his own cry and therefore he is well placed to help us out.

“Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?” 

   You might be a future King but surely that is a stupid question David?! Obviously we all want life and many days to see good things!

  Right, says David, and now I’ll tell you how to get them…

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth…
Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.” 

     As our friends the Meerkats say ‘Simples’:

    Just be good. Don’t do evil. Don’t lie. Don’t deceive. Speak nice things. Don’t hate others.  

   If you are anything like me, you will have picked up a problem there- sure, we can be good, sure we don’t do anything evil (after all, we aren’t Moriatti or Lex Luther!) but what about don’t Lie? I’ve done that more than once or twice. And don’t hate others?! Is that even possible? My heart is full of hate and distrust and suspicion and jealousy.

  Eh oh. Double Eh oh.

   By David’s standards in Psalm 34, I deserve to be slain by affliction, or to put it another way I deserve to have broken relationships, empty bank accounts, problems with the authorities and ultimately… death.

   Thankfully Psalm 34 doesn’t leave it there. David ends with these words,

“The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”

    No condemnation. If we have been redeemed by the Lord then we are innocent and righteous. No longer does the threat of affliction and death loom over us.

   Only two weeks ago my granddad passed away after several years of degrading Alzheimer's – as a Christian he wasn’t free from disease or death but he was never afraid of the grave because he knew that he didn’t have a guilty soul. He had taken refuge in the Lord decades ago and knew that his saviour had heard his cry. He knew that the only thing he faced after death was an eternity with the most wonderful and loving God.

   What does David mean when he mentions the Lord redeems the life of his servants? What does a redeemer do? They pay the price to buy something back (much like a ransom). We come with a vast and heavy ransom- who can afford to pay off the price for all the stupid lies I’ve told? For all the hatred and malice in my heart? Who could possibly afford to buy back my soul? There can only be one answer- Jesus Christ- God gave himself up on a cross, the worst form of execution known to mankind, to pay off the ransom demanded by my sins.

  It is that same saviour which David is so keen so rejoice about! That is why he starts off the Psalm by saying:

 

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!”

Crimes ‘gainst the King

 

A beautiful garden, a tranquil delight,
a haven, a house and a home.
Rocks dripping honey and rivers of milk,
fountains of fruit flowing forth.

Twas here that a King walked and talked
with his friends- his people, his citizens and folk.
Down the sweet lanes and beside the green meadows
a Monarch and his nation did dwell.

But, swollen with pleasure, each ego did grow
and tempted with empire of own,
the devious sower a seed of dissent
placed in heart and in mind and in eye.

Forgetting their liege and his grace and his favour,
and the law of treason and crimes ‘gainst the King,
the people bore arms and fought for the victory,
seeking freedom from deemed tyranny.

Their hope was ill founded and their cause a delusion:
they strove without knowledge or brains.
For the sower was twisted and led to disaster
his blind flock with the vilest glee.

They looked in their mirth at the land they had stole,
and with joy cried ‘Safety’ and ‘Peace’.
‘This civilisation,’ they proclaim, ‘is firm and safe, to be true.’
A great mistake, these fools are deluded:

One Kingdom only shall remain,
and it is unlike any other earthly domain.
Its King is eternal and glorious above,
and first in His Court: a great message of love.

For this King sent his son- His Prince and delight-
to pay the great penalty his enemies did owe.
Their treachery is forgiven and their debt He repaid
at the cost of his firstborn their sin was assuaged.

Yet still some choose to fight,
and a bitter war they do rage.
Until, beaten and guilty, they find the gates slammed firm shut,
and lament their decisions and fear the dark grave.

An Amen to Christmas

   If you are reading this post, then, like me, you are a lucky survivor of The End of the World 2012. Having lived through the Mayan’s end-times, it is easy to become arrogant and cannibalistic- after all, we still have our physical bodies and aren’t floating around in an ethereal ‘higher plane of existence’ (nice though that might have been).

  The Mayan Civilisation may have discovered an awful lot of things by looking to the stars, but the final trumpet call of this world was not one of them. The Bible, on the other hand, tells us that no man can know the when or how of the end-world scenario. Unlike atheists or many scientists, who view the end of the world as a cosmic disaster -the failure of human endeavour- Christians eagerly await the day when their Saviour and Lord will return, bodily, to this world. Culture may preach an apocalyptic finale when all good and kindness and ingenuity is wiped out to give way to a desolate wasteland. God, however, promises a new creation- physical, with all the senses: touching, hearing, smelling, tasting, seeing and thinking. And rather than all good being destroyed, all evil shall be utterly destroyed. Suffering will end, injustice will end, hatred will end.

  The book of Revelation (the final book of the Bible) gives us many clues or hints about the end of this world and the start of the next. The grand plan, however, God has rightfully kept to himself.

Why hasn’t he come already? Because he is a God of compassion- he allows us each time to turn to him for forgiveness.

Why do we need forgiveness? Because if God is making a new creation which has no injustice or wrongdoing, then we don’t have a place in it. We each have failed God’s perfect standard, and without his forgiveness and remedy, we cannot expect to join him in Heaven.

  How can we be forgiven? Only through the sacrifice God made on our behalf. Jesus Christ- the son of God and also God himself- freely came to earth, humbling himself by becoming a baby boy in a manger. He grew up with the singular purpose of dying in a wicked and horrific manner to pay the penalty we deserve for our sins against the King.

  As a Christian, I celebrate Christmas because it is a reminder of my God sacrificing the splendours of Heaven to come down to the grit and dirt of earth to be born, live and die on my behalf.

1. Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becomes poor.

2. Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man.

3. Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.

But, praise God, my Saviour is no longer dead- oh no.

How can death contain the very creator of Life itself?

Answer: it cannot. Jesus broke the shackles of the grave and rose from the dead.

What an amazing thing to be able to write! Our Saviour lives! He doesn’t rot in a tomb in Israel, he lives and reigns by his Father’s side. Not only that, but we are promised that he will return to us.

   In Revelation, Jesus Christ is described as The Amen. Amen roughly means let it be so. Why- you ask- should Jesus be called ‘The Amen’? Here is your answer…

Because of Jesus’ death our sins have been defeated once and for all- Amen! Let it be so!  

Because of Jesus’ resurrection we can also be promised a resurrection from death and an eternal home with him - Amen! Let it be so!

Because of Jesus’ promised return we can live knowing that nothing can destroy us or separate us from his love for us- Amen! Let it be so!

 

  I hope you have a fantastic Christmas and that you can join me in saying a loud “Amen!” to the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord!

FaTo: Finding a Home III

  Forming a Theology around the purchase of a house.
  The Series thus far:

1. Should a Christian buy a house?

2. Buying or Renting- which is biblically correct? 

2. (Appendix) OT law regarding property sales

  Today’s post looks at the important issue of location- where should we live? This question is tied up with another crucial consideration- how should a Christian use their home? In order to  better understand the first, I have started with the later query.

3. How should a Christian use their home?

“An Englishman’s home is his castle.” Anon.

  “A Christian’s home is a drop-in centre.” Me.

 

a. Shelter. We should never ignore the obvious, after all, it is obvious for a reason. What is the definition of a house?

House, n., /Hous/
a  place for human habitation.

Of course, the primary purpose of a house is for shelter and protection from the harsh environment outside. I don’t think anyone will contend that statement- in case you were thinking of doing so however I shall remind you of one of the Lord Jesus’ parables:

    “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
(Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)

Jesus obviously thought that a house was to be used as protection against the winds and floods and rains we experience in our localised climates. Enough said on that topic, I think.

b. Church. A home is a precious resource, which can be harnessed for supporting your church fellowship. In Acts chapter 12 and verse 12 we find Mary holding prayer meetings in her home (Through the prayers of those saints, the Lord freed Peter from prison). Aquila and Priscilla are great examples of NT believers who regularly opened their home up for church meetings. Perhaps youth meetings or particular bible studies are in need of a venue? Perhaps something needs storing? I’m sure your church could use your home somehow! 

c. Support workers. Homes are also places to provide rest and support for traveling evangelists, speakers and missionaries. Martha opened up her home to the Lord Jesus. In Acts 21, Philip (himself an evangelist) provided a pit-stop for Paul and his companions. In 3 John, the apostle writes to Gaius, who, it seems, allowed many preachers to stop off and recuperate in his home.

d. Hospitality. Connected with point c., hospitality is a major theme in the life of NT Christians. In fact, we are told that Christians will be particularly noticed by their love one for another. From personal experience, I know what a blessing it is to be invited out to a fellow believers home for a spot of Sunday lunch or dinner. It is especially beneficial to spend time in the homes of believers who have different family situations than yourself. As a young unmarried Christian, I find it a great joy to spend time with Christian parents and their families, or elder more experienced brothers and sisters. Romans chapter 12 verse 13 says “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Other examples can be found in Matthew 25 verse 35, Hebrews 13 verse 2, 1 Peter 4 verses 9 to 10, 1 Timothy 3 verse 2 and Titus 1 verse 8.

e. Family. A home should be a godly environment for the upbringing of children. Paul gives some advice to Timothy regarding the selection of elders and deacons, he says that both must have households honouring to God, where the children respect their parents. A child’s home is the place where he or she should learn about the Lord Jesus- both through scriptural teaching and worship, but also through the example of his earthly Father.

f. God’s Glory. Ultimately of course, every house must be used for the glory of the Lord God- as appose to the men at Babel, who built a great tower for their own praise and renown.  A home is a wonderful gift and must be treated with thanksgiving and praise to the gift-giver. I hope that points a through e all have Jesus’ glory at their heart.

4. Location, Location, Location: Biblical Principles for locating your home.

“Home is where the heart is.”

a. Get your priorities right. Wherever we finally settle down, we must remember that this is not our ultimate home. If home is where the heart is, then our hearts must be firmly fixed in Heaven! As we mentioned in an earlier post, we are merely ‘wanderers’ awaiting our home in heaven.  C.S. Lewis famously said:

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

Likewise, no home here on earth will bring us ultimate satisfaction. Whether in the run-down housing estate, or in a luxurious mansion, nowhere can bring satisfaction without Jesus Christ. 

b. Be prepared to move. It may be that God has other plans for you that involve upping sticks and heading into the unknown. Of course, as the next point suggests, perhaps you can best serve God exactly where you are. But don’t get too attached, okay? Examples of people who stuck around for some time, but then moved on, include Priscilla and Aquila, Timothy and Titus and even Paul (who stayed a  number of years in Antioch and Ephesus).

c. Serve a local Church. Church is where believers gather and encourage one another. If you live many miles away from your church then you cannot, in truth, support the work and people there. Remember our earlier suggestions regarding hospitality (specifically amongst your church) and using your home for church events.

d. Witness to unbelievers. God uses the lives and words of believers to touch the hearts of others. Moving to a new home is a great opportunity to get involved with your neighbours- throw barbeques and meals, share gardening tips, support local initiatives and fetes. These ideas are not stand-alone evangelistic things, rather they should be used to develop friendships and to show the love of Jesus Christ and thus providing opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ. If- like me- you are not the social type, then make neighbourhood friendships a real point for prayer! The passion and zeal shown by a family at my church has really challenged me- they were one of the first buyers in a large new development, and have shared their love of Jesus Christ with many of the new households springing up there. Now they are even now running one-to-one bible studies in their home. But none of this is possible if we live in a deserted area miles from other humans!

e. Fulfil other Commitments.  If the location of your new home causes you to be late to work, or to lose contact with family and friends who rely on you, then I suggest that you may have a problem. Colossians 3 tells us that ‘whatever [we] do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.’  It brings no glory to God if we are repeatedly late for work. It sounds obvious, but we must locate our house in a place which is thoroughly practical and doesn’t cause us to fail in our numerous commitments  towards others.

 

I hope that wherever you prayerfully decide to live, you will be able to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, remembering that the Lord Jesus Christ has granted you a joint inheritance with himself in Heaven.

Talking about Abel, Enoch, Noah and Abraham, Hebews 11 says this…

   “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”

(Hebrews 11:13-16 ESV)

FaTo: Finding a Home II (Appendix)

 
  In my earlier post FaTo: Finding a Home II, I spoke about how we should always be wise in our use of the money which the Lord has lent to us. I decided to enclose the below thoughts separately as they are not central to the issue which was at hand. 

---

  The Old Testament offers a quite interesting development on our discussion about renting property. The civic laws given to the nation of Israel in the book of Leviticus are not entirely quiet on the subject:

  Simply put, the law said that land could not (for all intents and purposes) be sold- only rented- and every 50 years (on the year of Jubilee) it would return to its original owner.

   This law would have meant that, although one generation might come into some financial trouble, no family could be sent spiralling into poverty. Even if money and flocks and possessions had been bartered away, after 50 years the family would receive their land back and thus could continue to make a living. Unfortunately, the Israelites failed to keep the Jubilee year and, in the whole history of Ancient Israel, it only took place once. 

  I hasten to point out that this law only applied to land outside of city walls, i.e. agricultural land. Houses and buildings inside of a city would not provide the means to sustain a poor family, therefore there was no need for the law to protect the sale of it. Likewise, in the 21st century few people make a living ‘off of the land’ and therefore there is not need for such a law to stop the sale of land. It is also worth pointing out that the land owners in Biblical Israel would probably only have ‘leased’ their land away when they were in desperate need of cash (and this law stopped them from fully selling the land, thus protecting future generations from losing their inheritance) whereas modern day landlords are overwhelmingly better off than most of their tenants and are not in the midst of financial woe.

  I take the following principle away from this particular levitical law (although I don’t claim to have the definitive answer):

   In all activities surrounding the sale of property, efforts must be undertaken to ensure that no family or individual will make a dramatic loss which may lead to significant long-term financial difficulty.

  In practical terms, the above principle actually has quite a big effect. I know of one Christian family who decided to sell their property to someone whose life was in some turmoil out of the desire to offer some help, even when another offer looked like it might be completed quicker and easier. Perhaps if we do need to rent or buy a property, we should be looking for a vendor who could really do with the benefit, rather than rushing to buy from a property developer or big-shot? Again, this requires prayer. I also think that this principle resonates amongst the many people stuck with negative-equity at that moment. How can we ease their burden when looking for a house?

Whatever our individual circumstances, we should try to alleviate the financial burdens and worry of our landlords or vendors and act with the love that Christ shows us. 

FaTo: Finding a Home II

 
  In our earlier post, we discussed the biblical precedent and principles surrounding the question ‘Should a Christian buy a house?’. This time I would like to further examine the subject of buying versus renting.  I realise that this is a highly topical issue and perhaps not suited for everyone, however I think that many of the biblical ideas can be extrapolated for use in other situations.

2. Buying or Renting: which is biblically correct?

    It isn’t immediately obvious where in the bible we can find argument for or against buying/renting a property. However one theme which is no short supply, especially in the gospels, is the issue of money. Many evangelicals like to talk about Good Stewardship. For a long time I have accepted the idea that Christians should take care of the money in their possession, and try to avoid unnecessary waste, however this study has enabled me to actually examine the biblical call for such stewardship.

   Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
(James 1:17 ESV)

  Seeing the reference above - and similar ones to be found in Job 1 verse 21 and Ecclesiastes 5 verse 19 - we understand that our cash flow comes directly from the hand of God. Any money we posses is only ours through the generosity of God. 1 Timothy 6 verses 17 to 19 explains how a person’s wealth should be used:

    As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share…

  Jesus himself talked about being ‘good stewards’ of our finances as an illustration to picture the bigger truth that we need to be ‘good stewards’ of the gospel message (see Matthew 25).

  But you might be asking the question , ‘What relevance does ‘good stewardship’ have to do with buying or renting a house?’. I’m glad you asked. Good question. We must each decide, in our own situations, what good stewardship looks like. Here are two examples:

  a. Perhaps I am a potential student, wanting to go to a distant university. It probably isn’t going to help my already stretched finances to purchase a house near the uni, only to sell it for less money 3 years later when I leave. Temporarily renting a property is the obvious solution.

b. I might  be a someone employed full-time in Coventry, as well as being a member of a church there, and yet living with parents 50 miles away. If I had spent time in prayer and am convinced that Coventry is where I can best serve the Lord then it would make sense to purchase a house in the vicinity- not only would I save on travelling expenses, but it is likely that over the long-term my financial situation would be greatly enhanced by spending on a mortgage as oppose to paying rent.   

   Of course, in practice this principle of ‘Good Stewardship’ is applied by the world at large. After all, who doesn’t want to preserve their monetary resources?! However, as Christians with an eternal perspective, we mustn’t base our decisions on the desire to grasp at material gain. 1 Timothy 6 reminds us that ‘we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.’ Therefore it cannot be prudent to place a Messianic expectation on money (as do lottery players). The pursuit of money, by definition, cannot be the aim of our lives because, at the end of our lives, we will lose it all anyway.

  Although the New Testament places some emphasis on being wise stewards of the money God has given us, it places much much greater emphasis on the hazard or misuse of money. In fact, Jesus goes as far as to say that money is the root of all evils. We must ensure therefore that our decision making is in line with what God wants for us. We must be prayerful about the issue of buying or renting a property because the best financial decision might not always be the best decision for our spiritual lives and relationship with the Lord.

In conclusion, I haven’t really answer the question! Ultimately, the bible offers no concrete answer to buying or renting a house. However, we should prayerfully examine our own situations to discover which option offers the wisest use of our money, without exposing us to temptation or a love of cash.

Please see FaTo: Finding a Home Appendix A (to follow) for a further discussion on the OT laws regarding land, and good principles for dealing with vendors/agents. 

FaTo: Finding a Home

  
   When one reaches a certain age, the dream of having a house of one’s own gets larger and much more real. The black and white images hidden away in the storerooms of the mind start to gain some colour and become more insistent. Each week I search through the local paper property section looking out for the perfect new home (with shed, garage, garden, games room etc. and yet still small enough not to have to clean very often!) and at the  absolute bottom price!

  It is easy to get carried away: what exactly am I looking for? Somewhere quiet and undisturbed? Well away from the main body of neighbours? Or somewhere in the middle of all the action and bustle? Do I need a spare room? What if I have guests? Where will I entertain? Is the sink big enough for 2 people to do the washing up simultaneously? Is there room for my pine pew and folding pool table?

  Realising that, in the excitement of the chase, I can easily lose sight of the larger picture (the eternal perspective which comes from studying God’s word, careful prayer and praise), I decided to spend some time studying what exactly the Bible says about finding a new house or home.

  In this post I will deal with point number 1. 

1. Should a Christian buy a House?

It seemed a good idea to start with the basics- is it right for a Christian to be looking to buy a house anyway?

a. Having posed the question, my mind instantly jumped to Hebrews and chapter 11.

    “By faith he [Abraham] went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”
(Hebrews 11:9-10 ESV)
 

  “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”
(Hebrews 11:13-16 ESV)

  You might think me a nit-picker, but the bible certainly says that we should ‘desire a better country’ (for these purposes is it fair to change country for house?). Abraham lived for his death. He lived because he knew that one day he would be arriving at his final destination: a Heaven occupied by the Lord himself. Abraham was described as an exile on earth- and yet he lived here for 175 years- Surely that makes us all exiles too?! According to the scriptures… yes. If we are living for Christ Jesus, then this world is only a waiting area really. Is it not logical to assume, therefore, that we shouldn’t be busy putting down roots here? After all, Hebrews 11 suggests that if we live as strangers then we make it really obvious to everyone else that we are eagerly waiting for our final home in Heaven.

b. Physical security can lead to a significant loss of trust in the Lord. See the Laodicean Church below:

   “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.””
(Revelation 3:15-17 ESV)

c. One obvious example of a NT character who focused on the ‘here and now’ too much is Martha. The Lord Jesus kindly reminded her that physical requirements, and housekeeping in particular, should not take the main place in our lives. Luke chapter 10 verses 38 to 42. (Another example of someone who put their house/property and ease before their own sinful condition was the famer in Luke 10:13-21. He pulled down his old barns and built much bigger ones so that he could retire in style. However he had failed to consider the eternal perspective.)

d. But hang on- you might say- Martha may have got her priorities the wrong away around, but the Lord did not rebuke her for owning a house, or even for having housekeeping as a priority. And surely the command in Romans chapter 12 and verse 13, ‘Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.’, cannot be fulfilled unless we have a home to be hospitable in!

e. Another fairly convincing argument for owning a house is presented throughout the accounts and letters amongst the early church. Homes belonging to Aquila and Priscilla (both in Rome and Corinth), Philemon, James and Titius Justus were all used to host the church. In fact, being situated next door to the local synagogue, Titius Justus’ home proved to be a fantastic spring board for Jew-based evangelism!

f. I think the final (and the clinching) point in favour is this: numerous NT Christians owned houses. I started a list… and then eventually stopped because it was proving quite long! Examples include: Acts 10:30, 12:12, 16:32, 18:7, 21:8, 21:16, 28:14, Romans 16:3-5, Philippians 4:21 (?), Philemon 2.

To be continued…

Biblical Wonders and Blistering Wigwams

“…but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

Jeremiah chapter 9 verse 24

   With Wonders and Wigwams rapidly approaching its third anniversary, I think I can be forgiven for displaying some signs of nostalgia.

   It was November 2009 that I hesitantly took a step on-board the virtual word-world which is the blogosphere. With the airwaves of this planet so abuzz with conflicting ideas and opinions, what difference, I asked myself, should mine make? Anyone who knows me will not hesitate to confidently answer ‘None.’ It has been a sure and steadfast joy in my life, however, to be able to come to the immovable rock who’s opinions really do matter.

   You know who I mean of course. The Lord Jesus Christ is an anchor in the storm of life. It is only in His Word- the Bible- that we can find truth and surety. Doubt me, doubt Wonders and Wigwams, but trust in the Word of God- it cannot fail.

   With this in mind, it has always been my prayerful ambition to explain this magnificent creation in the revealing light of the Lord’s fantastically insightful scriptures: to remind you of the biblical wonders of God while we wait in these earthly wigwams, until the day when we leave them behind for ever!

 

To mark this monumental occasion, I have chosen some of my best, most favourite posts of all time for your pleasure…

 

 

Here are a few special blog series, which I have particularly enjoyed writing, and I hope you have enjoyed reading…

(Please note when following the links below: Each series is displayed with the last post first).

 

Creation’s Cache-

We can learn much about an artist by examining his finished work; did he choose canvas or board? Oil or watercolours? Is it landscape or portrait? Happy or sad? Likewise, we can learn so much about our God by examining his wonderful creation. Over 10 posts, this series helps us see some of the treats in ‘Creation’s Cache’.

Heavenly-

What better to study than our eternal home? 6 posts can hardly scratch the surface of the vast hugeness which is Heaven! Based on my own study of this encouraging topic, these posts, although feeble, hopefully can get you searching the scriptures to see if my idea of Heaven is sensible (or not!).

The Joys of Christ-

A few years ago I had the privilege of hearing some young Christian people teaching through some of the joys of belonging to Jesus Christ. I was greatly encouraged and blessed by their biblical reasoning and decided to pass on some of their wisdom to you! Thanks guys!

 

Each year has bought new challenges and new lessons. Here are some of my favourite posts, one from 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012…

 

Top 2012 Post-

Get Up! Shake Yourself! Act!

This title is taken from the words of William Booth of the Salvation Army. It is a reminder- hopefully a stern one!- that if you are a Christian, then you have a vital message of life to share. Don’t keep it to yourself.

Top 2011 Post-

“Tea and cake, please.”

A blog about tea and cake- who can’t enjoy it?! But, more to the point, what do we really delight in? The Bible describes itself as sweet honey from the honeycomb. Is that how you regard Deuteronomy or Psalms?

Top 2010 Post-

Grace in Nature: A very real lesson on Grace 

Jonathan Edwards believed that all of creation reveals something about God. Perhaps the illustration of a dying pigeon is too much? God’s Grace is displayed everywhere…

Top 2009 Post-

Traveling with Aquilla and Priscilla

I love reading about Paul’s many friends and companions. Here is the story of a delightful couple who were housemates with the apostle.

 

 

‘A Book for You’ - a.k.a. ‘abk4u’ - is an on-going series of posts aimed at marketing some fantastic Christian books from which I have particularly benefited. Any regular ‘Wigwam’ readers (anyone..?) will know that I love the work of C.S. Lewis. Here are some reviews I have written about him…

 

abk4u: a Jack of all Trades

C.S. Lewis, known as ‘Jack’ to his friends, was a fascinating character. Did his career peak during the Narnia years? Or did he write other books of equal renown? Whatever answer you choose, he has shaped much of my understanding about biblical joy. I hope you find his work a blessing too.

 

abk4u: The Screwtape Letters

One of my favourite books of all time. Wow.

 

And finally, some of the more stranger posts…

 

A King, a Revolutionary, a Murder and a Mystery revealed…

      -the gospel using hats

            

Mice and Custard

     -an epic tale of a mouse and a (relatively speaking) oversized biscuit

 

My sincere prayer is that each post, although fallible, may be used to the glory of God and for your benefit.

Happy Third Anniversary!

Thanks for reading Wonders & Wigwams!

The Steady March

About 3 months ag0 I received a book called ‘Wordsmithy’. One of its suggestions to aid budding writers was to try different and more unusual methods of writing. So, with not a little hesitation, I tried my hand at hymn writing- the result can be found at http://minibakey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/take-heart-my-soul.html

This time- undeterred by the extra syllables that found their ways into my earlier hymn- I decided to embark on a career as a poet.  So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the poetical musings of the mind…

 

The Steady March

One night in my bed a dream came my way:
An Army striding forth with great banners in array,
The drummers, the riders, the generals and troops,
Like a host of great warriors, fresh in cahoots.

The onlookers await with merriment and hope-
the future too bright for any to mope.
As the soldier train approaches they laugh and they leap,
“An Army most glorious”, they cry, as I sleep.

Scarlet coats, polished buttons and bright shiny boots,
Looking like conquerors in their finest dress suits.
The artillery rolls past with its great brass gun,
The army shouts “Victory” and hope bright as sun.

“Our schemes and our plans- our ambitions and pleasure-
“Surely the worst of adversity can weather.
“With these at our side and their strength our command,
“Why, we can relax and our bidding demand.”

As the procession passes by, there are doubts here and there:
A lace dangling free and a sock most thread bare,
Wrinkles below eyes and furtive stares,
As if some of the army was caught unawares.

But still the force marches and whilst they still do
hope springs eternal like the fresh morning dew.
The folks at the front of the crowd cheer and shout.
But those at the rear cry “Warning- Look out!”

For they see the danger most suddenly, at last,
For they see the troops are moving too fast.
“Stop! Stand Still! Stay with us for a while!”
The cries go unheeded- they’ve marched on a mile.

As the dust settles down on the old cobble stones,
The sun starts to set over the crowd and their woes;
They’ve lost their dear champions: their youth and their zeal,
Their comfort, security and their sure seal.

While the troops were a’ marching and the band was a’ playing,
The future was freedom and self was enticing.
But now all is over and deathbed anon;
For it is Time, you see, which has marched on.

Destinations

 

‘Look where you are going, or you will go where you are looking.’

  The role of Best Man is one which requires some thought, preparation and planning. Last year, on the morning of my brother’s wedding, I had all of the above. I had emails listing where and when I had to do what and how. Exact speeches and announcements were drafted and I had them fixed in my memory. My own ‘Best Man’s’ speech had been rehearsed both privately and publicly (two 5 hour car journeys the week before had allowed plenty of practice runs), my jacket pockets contained handkerchiefs, spare handkerchiefs, speech notes, spare speech notes and mints. It was 8am and I was washed, fed, dressed and ready. Having stayed the night at an out-of-town hotel, I jumped into my car (with a full tank of petrol) and set up the sat-nav. I punched the road name into ‘Address’ and clicked ‘Go!’. Within seconds I was on the open road, heading towards my brother’s house ready for a pre-ceremony meeting and prayer time.

   A few minutes along the road and I glanced at the sat-nav, 150 miles remaining, 3 hours driving time, it read.

  ‘What?’ I exclaimed. ‘Where am I going?!’

  You see, I had been too hasty in punching the ‘Go!’ button. I had chosen a road with the same name as the one upon which my brother lived- only in Bradford instead of Loughborough.

  It is very important- in life, as in marriage- to know where you are going.

  Thankfully, I had not travelled too far and had time to rectify my mistake.

  In my branch of Young Life- a Christian non-denominational youth group- we are working through a booklet called ‘Ignite’. Each week (excluding bonfire parties, Christmas parties and the like) our Friday night programme is based around a biblical topic in the book. In two week’s time our theme is entitled ‘Me? A Christian?’ and is looking at the issue of assurance- how can anyone be sure that Jesus Christ has forgiven them their sins and that they have a place in Heaven.

  As a young Christian I struggled with this issue- and, I think it is fair to say, no Christian can say that they are free from occasional fears on this score.

  When someone stands up in court to testify, they are giving a solemn promise that what they say is true. Of course, having watched plenty of detective films and tv shows, we all know that these testimonies can, in fact, be as much use a chocolate fire guard. When God, however, gives us a testimony, we can trust it implicitly. Truth is intrinsic to God’s very nature and therefore he cannot lie. We know this to be true, but sometimes our emotions and feelings rush away with us and we fail to see the significance. Read these verse, remembering that God cannot and will not lie:

“This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
1 John 5:11-13 

    “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9

    “…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9

  If we have come to realise that we are sinners- people who have rejected God’s lordship over our lives and tried to live without him as King- and have confessed this to him, and have asked his forgiveness then we have been saved. Jesus has never turned anyone away, whatever the devil tries to whisper in our ears (metaphorically speaking).

  C.S. Lewis wrote an amazingly insightful book called ‘The Screwtape Letters’ in which he shares the fictitious correspondence between a Senior Undersecretary for Temptation and a Junior Tempter as the latter attempts to trick and deceive a young Christian into rejecting God. In one such letter, Uncle Screwtape is advising his nephew, Wormwood, who’s ‘patient’ is in a spiritual ‘trough’.

“Do not let him suspect the law of undulation. Let him assume that the first ardours of his conversion might have been expected to last, and ought to have lasted, forever, and that his present dryness is an equally permanent condition. Having once got this misconception well fixed in his head, you may then proceed in various ways.”

  Do you see the trickery at play here? Often after we have asked Christ’s forgiveness and become Christians, or been baptised or done some other thing for Jesus, we suffer what seems to be a great spiritual drain. We feel ‘dry’. It could almost be described as anti-climatic. Seeing our lack of enthusiasm and joy, we immediately assume that we never truly became Christians, we assume that we were deceiving ourselves.

  Our eternal life is not- I repeat NOT- based on our own feelings or emotions. It is based on Jesus Christ- the beloved Son of God- laying down his own life to pay the penalty we deserve for our sin.

  Do you remember after Jesus first started his public ministry and was baptised, how he was led into the wilderness for 40 days? He was alone, without food and water, far from any encouragement or support. Yet when tempted by the devil he stood firm on the promises and instructions given in God’s Word.

  When we find the Christian life a struggle, when we are tempted to doubt our very salvation, we must turn to the word of God and read and re-read the promises of God. He will never abandon those whom he has saved.

  Perhaps you feel that God cannot accept you? Perhaps you fear that you have done too many things contrary to the Bible? Perhaps you fear that Jesus Christ would never have died for someone like you? Read the words of this old hymn and be comforted because Jesus said “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out…For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life…”

 

Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready waits to save you,
Full of pity, love and pow'r:
He is able, He is able,
He is willing, doubt no more.

Come, ye needy, come and welcome;
God's free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings us nigh,
Without money, without money,
Come to Jesus Christ and buy.

Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him:
This He gives you, this He gives you,
'Tis the Spirit's rising beam.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you're better,
You will never come at all:
Not the righteous, not the righteous,
Sinners Jesus came to call.

Agonizing in the garden,
Your Redeemer prostrate lies;
On the bloody tree behold Him!
Hear Him cry, before He dies,
"It is finished!" "It is finished!"
Sinner, will not this suffice?

Lo! th' incarnate God, ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood;
Venture on Him, venture wholly;
Let no other trust intrude:
None but Jesus, none but Jesus,
Can do helpless sinners good.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/1032#ixzz2BelQqMSS

aV4u: Deuteronomy 29 v 29

“British soldiers are taught to handle their rifles in the dark. Not just to fire them at night, but also to dismantle them, clean and reassemble them in the most adverse conditions or even with blindfolds on. Whenever needed, they are to be ready, at hand and available for use instantly. God’s word is a far more powerful weapon and likewise, we must become familiar with it, know it inside out and ready to quote it at a moment’s notice if we are to be effective soldiers in the Lord’s army.”
_{Taken from the Young Life Invest Scheme}

 
   Last week’s memory verses were taken from a well known passage of the bible. Colossians chapter 1 verses 15 and 16 are a awe inspiring reminder of the majesty and power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

  This week’s memory verse is somewhat different:

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”  Deuteronomy 29:29

   In these days of space-flight, ballistic missiles, smart-phones, GPS, facebook and kindle e-books it is easy to assume that us humans are doing pretty good, thank you very much. Perhaps in light of the recent economic crashes, terrorist atrocities and failures of our politicians, bankers and journalists we realise that actually ‘us humans’ don’t have all the answers- or even all the questions!

   The scriptures remind us that we are like clay being moulded by a master potter- the Lord God. Our knowledge of God, the universe and morality are like a grain of sand in the Sahara desert. As this verse says, the secret things belong to the Lord our God.

   But it doesn’t end there: the Lord has chosen to reveal many things to us, including the greatest message of all creation. Through faith in Jesus Christ we can each be forgiven for our sins and can know God in a personal and very real manner.

   It has been said that ‘the Bible contains the Word of God.’ This is wrong.

   The Bible is the Word of God.

   In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he makes it clear that the scriptures contain wisdom which shows us the way to salvation. He goes on to say that the bible can instruct and guide us that ‘the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.’ Our verse continues this theme, explaining that God’s revealed Word is given to us to be a blessing to us!

Lets read it, and learn it, and live it!

aV4u: Colossians 1:15-16

  Memorising bible verses and passages is a great discipline to get into! When faced with a tricky situation or a tempting opportunity, how can you know what to do, unless you know what God has said in his written word? If you truly want to understand God’s will for your life, then the bible is the only place to turn; its there that he lays out his plan and desire for you. When you have mucked up, and have sinned against your God and King, where else can you turn to be encouraged and reminded of God’s grace and forgiveness but the Bible?

  My bible memorising has never been greatly organised- but whenever I have managed to get into the discipline I have always found it a wonderful blessing. Starting today, I plan, with God’s help, to learn a new passage every week. Why not join me?

  For week #1 I have chosen Colossians 1 verses 15 and 16.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him.” 

   This is a beautiful passage, talking about our saviour the Lord Jesus Christ- where better to start?! We are told that Jesus is ‘the image of the invisible God’. How, I ask myself, can we have an image of something invisible? Surely the answer is this: when we read about Jesus and see his divinity, his righteousness, his kindness, his love and his sorrow, we are ‘seeing’ the attributes of the invisible God. 

  It is also a great encouragement to be reminded that despite the wars, poverty and state-sanctioned persecution we can see across the globe, ultimately Jesus Christ created all kingdoms and governments, and they will be held to account and will glorify him. Elsewhere in scripture we are told that one day ‘at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’

  For these reasons, amongst many others, I have chosen Colossians 1 verses 15 and 16 as this week’s ‘a verse 4 u’!

 

P.S. Mark Altrogge has a fantastic 3 minute-long song available to help learn this passage!

Pascal’s Gambit

Otherwise known as Pascal’s Wager.

Blaise Pascal, a seventeenth-century philosopher and Christian, devised a logical reasoned argument which followed these lines:

1. Either God is, or God ‘is not’.
2. The existence of a God cannot ever be fully proved or disproved through reason or science.
3. Everyone must choose whether to live as if there is or isn’t a God.
4. You must wager.
5. The gain and loss of living for God: If he is, you gain everything. If he isn’t, you lose nothing.
6. Therefore, live as if there is a God.

He used some longer words and more weighty sentences, but the basics of ‘Pascal’s Gambit’ are there presented to you.

Here is my question:

Was Blaise Pascal correct biblically speaking?

By this I do not mean ‘Is there a God?’

I do mean: is believing in God the logical thing to do; the ‘safe bet’ biblically speaking?

Before casting your vote have a glance at 1 Corinthians 15 and especially verse 19.

It’s a tough question to ask. Please have a think, and cast you vote in my open poll.

Fooled Britannia?

Will Britons ever, ever, ever be slaves?

  Sunday 9th September, 2012.

  So ends a summer to rival all summers. River pageants, a concert outside Buckingham Palace, Fireworks, Grand Ceremonies, British skits and sketches, a skydiving 86 year-old Queen escorted by a fictional super-spy, 65 British Olympic Medals including 29 Gold, 120 Paralympic Medals including 34 Gold, Spice Girls on Taxis (Snakes on a Plane?), Mr Bean on the keyboard, stacks of world records broken… I could go on.

Is it any wonder then that hundreds of people roared out that rousing chorus on Saturday night’s ‘Final Night of the Proms’:

Rule, Britannia! Britannia rule the waves!
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves!

Examining all the evidence one quickly concludes that London 2012 was a brilliant success. For starters: no major security incidents, something which we should be greatly thankful for (although I imagine most people will be more prepared to praise the skills of G4 than the mercy of God for that particular blessing). I didn’t visit London myself (except for a short trip out of St Pancras for family business), however I have heard loads of first and second hand reports of the great ‘Olympic Spirit’: bucket-loads of friendliness, support, kindness and ‘pulling together’ (remember the stories of Blitz-time London). Just a short while ago, the radio jockeys were describing how, at a concert last weekend, everyone respected one another during the performances and, afterwards, tidied up their litter and left the park spick and span.

  We can certainly say that this ‘Olympic Spirit’ does seem to be a reality and that no reasonable common-sensical soul would mock its positive social aftershock.

  Here it comes…. you knew it would eventually (I’m not normally this positive!):

  But…

  Even in this summer of content, many Britons- indeed many Londoners- are slaves.

  Reading what I have just written has sent a little shiver down my proverbial spine. What an outlandish and repugnant thing to say: that honest, hard-working, cheerful British citizens in this Olympic and Jubilee year are slaves. Its not just stupid and deluded to say such a wild thing- its also brazen and fanatical, is it not? To claim that many Britons are slaves is- correct me if I am wrong- a crazed and arrogant accusation to make. Where, you might ask, did you surmise that from? Your own proud heart, full of delusions of self-grandeur?

  Did I not see, on the BBC no less, those hundreds of British folk bellowing from the deepest depths of their lungs that ‘Britons never, never, never shall be slaves!’?

  Allow me to answer you with another question:

  Do you think that in 50 years time- no scrap that, make it in 10 years time- do you think that in 10 years time Britain will be an idyllic country with no unemployment, no bent politicians, no mega-rich bankers, no murderers?

  Answer?

Another question for you:

   Do you think that in even 5 years time neighbours will be spending time together, sharing laughter and joy together? That is the promise of the Olympic Spirit, after all. David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has said that we must find a way to ‘bottle it up’ and to preserve it for future years.

   Can you picture weekly, or even monthly, street parties? Where will all the bunting come from?

   And what happens when England loses at football? What happens when our cricketers muck up again? Will their be any great Olympic Spirit then? Or does it only work when things are going our way?

   Anyone with an ounce of sense and observance will realise that this world doesn’t always work in a wonderful way. Why not? If we honestly examine this planet then the only conclusion we can reach is this: humans are flawed. The news this week is filled with hate and disruption. It appears in violent and extreme forms- the wicked actions in the Alps this last week are obvious reminders of mankind’s destructive capabilities. Syria. Sudan. Nigeria.  And the extreme cases are not confined to beyond our shores either. I heard of a case of murder not 10 miles from my home only this week. 

  We don’t always do what we should do. No amount of Olympic Sprit- great though it is- will ever solve that problem.

   The bible has a serious term for this: sin. Sin is disobedience to God’s wishes. If we did all live by God’s guidance then this world wouldn’t be flawed such as it is. The bible has a quite graphic picture of our condition, it calls us ‘slaves to sin.’  Although we might wish to break away from our own destructive lifestyles and decisions, we are chained to them. We cannot escape from their hold over us. Outside help is needed.

Will Britons ever, ever, ever be slaves?

   Perhaps when we observe the hatred of one man for another, and the seemingly unending waves of violence, thieving, rioting, deceiving and chaos across every continent and land, we are tempted to blame God. The bible offers several possible reasonings to the problem of slavery to sin. But the most poignant and powerful act in the whole history of mankind, recorded in the bible, is this:

Jesus Christ wore the shackles of slavery and imprisonment so that I could remove mine.

   Through his death- and resurrection from death!- we can find everlasting life, peace and happiness.  I can now boldly say that I am free.

Will Britons ever, ever, ever be slaves?

   Sadly, the answer is yes. Sin is a destructive slave-catcher. Once you are caught in his chains, nothing you can do will free you from sin. Only the death of God himself, for his people, could satisfy the judgement required. Although Britons might well be slaves, Christians can be freed from slavery and can live free lives.

   So enjoy this summer. Enjoy the laughter, the successes, the British victories, the fireworks, the atmosphere and the spirit. But remember that your soul’s safety is of much more vital importance: Are you a slave to sin?

Take Heart my Soul

  Psalm 27 is a wonderful Psalm…but then, I suppose they all are.

  I recently was given a book entitled Wordsmithy. Its a series of biblical tips and hints for people who, in one form or another, write. One of its more controversial ideas is diversity. Simply put, the author suggests that a writer of fiction should attempt to write short essays listing facts. Sonnet writers should attempt to pen logical treatise on science. Biographers must write love songs. You get the idea.

  Basically: try your hand at something new.

  With that in mind, I have scrawled down a few verses which, one way or t’other, resemble something akin to a hymn.

Realising that all good hymns are based on either a single verse, a whole chapter, or a reoccurring theme of scripture, I have based mine on Psalm 27- my favourite psalm. The main thrust of the psalm is this: God is supreme and caring therefore I want to be with him.

  N.B. Unfortunately I have had to squeeze an extra syllable into verse 4. If anyone has any thoughts on a remedy, please let me know!

Take heart my soul and strengthened be,
The Lord thy fortress is.
My light and my salvation he,
I need not be afraid.

Intent on evil, some will wage
a war against my soul.
But under God’s most righteous sight,
they stumble and shall fall.

Though warriors encamp around my walls,
my heart shall never fear.
Though battles fought throughout this land,
My cry the Lord shall hear.

Gifts and status, power and wealth
small wonders deemed to be.
One thing I ask of God; tis this
with him to dwell eternally.

Upon his beauty I shall gaze,
More of his person know.
Filled thus with heaven’s deepest joy,
sweet melodies shall flow.

My parents may forsake me yet,
but thou wilt take me in.
Your goodness will I see and know,
While in this land of sin.

Hear, now O Lord, our prayer to you,
Your face, Lord, do we crave.
Take heart my soul and strengthened be
The Lord will come for thee.

Ornamental Essentials

  The Valley of Vision is a collection of prayers penned by various Puritan writers. The prayer which I have shared below is fantastic. It really shows the dependant spirit we need when attempting to share the great gospel of Jesus. The puritans knew that no-one can truly preach salvation unless they are being sanctified themselves by the Holy Spirit.

   I was particularly struck by the writer’s request that God make him ‘attend to what is ornamental as well as essential in religion.’ Its a good desire, isn’t it?

   Have a read. I hope it will be a blessing to your mind, if not then don’t worry. (Sorry for some of the confusing words and grammar; the puritans didn’t know how to speak English as well as we do.)

 

O God,

May I never be a blot or a blank in life,
cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of,
or make my liberty an occasion to the flesh.

May I love serve others, and please my neighbour
for his good to edification.

May I attend to what is ornamental as well as
essential in religion, pursuing things that are lovely and of good report.

May I render my profession of the gospel
not only as impressive, but amiable and inviting.

May I hold forth the way of Jesus
with my temper as well as my tongue,
with my life as well as my lips.

May I say to all I meet,
I am journeying towards the Lord’s given place,
come with me for your good.

May I be prepared for all the allotments,
of this short, changing, uncertain life, with
a useful residence in it,
a comfortable journey through it.
a safe passage out of it.

May I be in character and conduct like
the dew of heaven,
the salt of the earth,
the light of the world,
the fullness of the fountain.

May I never
be ashamed of Jesus or his words,
be deterred from fulfilling a known duty
through fear,
be discouraged from attempting it
through weakness.

May I see all things in a divine light so that they might
inform my judgment
and sanctify my heart.

And by all the disciplines of thy providence,
and all the ordinances of religion,
may I be increasingly prepared for
life’s remaining duties,
the solemnities of a dying hour,
and the joys and services
that lie beyond the grave.

Nuts and Bolts

The Mechanics of Evangelism- Part 2

So, hopefully we have established the requirement for evangelism- the desperate need and urge every Christian should have to spread forth the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

What message should we be telling?

I was doing some serious thinking (swishing about a metaphorical tea bag in the mug of my mind)- trying to establish the fundamental points of the gospel which we need to be sharing/sowing/spreading etc. I thought about schemes and explanations like ‘2 ways to live’, the Olympic bracelets, ‘the Romans route’ and the Gospel of John. Then, in a short-lived moment, a light bulb appeared, lit up and showered my scalp with a soft glow.

Scan through a reasonable assignment again, looking out for the fundamentals of the gospel. Funny isn’t it! The very reasons that we should be sharing the gospel are also the crucial points that we should be sharing! Namely, we should be witnessing to these things:

• Sin is a serious thing. We are all sinners and are unworthy of God’s love. (2) Romans 3 v 23

• Sin will be punished. It has a sentence which none of us can comprehend: an eternity without God’s mercy. (2) Exodus 32 v34

• God is serious about salvation. He actually sent his only begotten son to die in our stead. (1) John 3 v 16

• God commands us to respond to Jesus’ death and resurrection. There will be no middle ground. God will not be mocked. It brings God great glory when we receive him as our Lord and Saviour! (3,4) Romans 10 v 9

   

What form should Evangelism take?

I believe it was Francis of Assisi who famously said,

“Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.”

I think he had a valid point: our lives should shout out that we are different from the world. As Christians, Christ has transformed our whole lives- we are a whole new creation (picture caterpillars and butterflies). It is certainly true that the radically ulterior lifestyle and worldview of a Christian can be a powerful preacher for the truth and vitality of the Gospel here and now in the 21st Century. It had an amazing impact on my life.

I think Francis of Assisi would have liked twitter.

Why on earth would a person use a lengthy properly-structured, grammatical sentence- complete with commas, hyphens (similar to a dash), brackets and rhetorical questions- when a few simple, hastily chosen words of wisdom, tumbling forth from the laundry chute of a person’s mind, would do?

Unfortunately poor old Francis missed the point somewhat. Does the bible not teach us that Jesus is ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ God created language, just like he created trees, mustard, hummingbirds and the Antarctic.

It isn’t enough to simply act the gospel (vital though that is). We need to teach the gospel using our voices too (scarier though that is!).

If we pause and take a look at Matthew chapter 28 verses 18 onwards, I think we will be helped by Jesus’ instructions to his apostles. Have a read below:

   And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
   
(Matthew 28:16-20 ESV)

Lets break it down a bit.

Verse 18:

    And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…”

Any truly biblical outreach is done through Jesus Christ who possesses all authority. We cannot win souls; God can. Think back to your pre-Christian days. I heard the gospel time and time again, and ignored it. It wasn’t until the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sinfulness and acute need of a saviour that I repented and turned to Christ. In Acts chapter 14, Paul explains that although he preached, it was God who ‘opened the door’ for them; it was God who provided the ready hearts and opportunities for outreach. We shouldn’t be discouraged or put off though: God uses weak and powerless folks like us to achieve his will. The Bible is packed with examples, Peter not being the least! Our God has all authority therefore we can confidently ‘Go’ knowing that he will go with us and, as verse 20 reminds us, he is with us ‘to the end of the age.’

Verse 19a:

    “…Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”

Outreach is long-term. We aren’t simply adding stats to our evangelism scoreboards. Quite the opposite! If you really grasped the earlier (non-exhaustive) reasons listed for sharing the gospel, then you will have a compassion for the folks who you are speaking to. You know, Jesus invested 3+ years in shaping his disciples. And he didn’t leave them alone when he ascended either! Paul was passionate about ‘his’ converts. He revisited the churches he had helped found again and again; he wrote long letters full of love and passion to them. He had a real and prayerful interest in their spiritual health. Paul made it a #1 priority to visit believers whenever he was in town. Interestingly it was Paul’s concern for the welfare of people that led to some important conversions during his journeys (see Acts 16).

Outreach is indiscriminate. Christ’s lordship is over the whole of creation. Evangelism must be global in its ambition and execution. Of course you and I cannot share the gospel with 7 billion people on a personal and individual basis. However we can be prayerfully and practically supporting missionaries, gospel-organisations and church outreach both here and overseas. Closer to home, we shouldn’t be discriminate about with whom we share the gospel. Its easy to focus on people we like- its easy to get into the Don’t-want-to-be-in-heaven-with-him-mentality: Thank God that he didn’t have that same mentality about us!

Paul was very indiscriminate in his ministry. When speaking to Jews, he used the OT scriptures. When speaking to Greeks/Romans he found some common ground and spoke in a way they understood. He hated clichés. He even went so far as to say, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”

Verse 19b:

    “…baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

Although it isn’t my aim to major in on baptism, I mustn’t ignore what the verse says. Baptism is part of the commission, it is a public witness of Jesus’ salvation plan for lost mankind. The water symbolises the washing power Christ has over the stains of sin. As we enter the water, we are saying that we have died to our sin. As we are under the water, we are saying that we were dead. Rising from the water shows that through Christ Jesus we have been born again and have left death and sin behind us. That’s a great witness to the glory and salvation of God!

Notice that all of the Trinity are active in salvation. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit each take part in saving the lost. We mustn’t forget that when praying for God to work in the hearts of our friends, family and contacts. (Here is something to ponder: at the cross, God the Father was in heaven turning away from Jesus, God the Son was on the cross dying for our sins. Where was God the Holy Spirit?)

Verse 20:

“…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Outreach/Disciple making is achieved through ‘go’-ing and ‘teaching’.

Start at the beginning. Share what Jesus has done for you to your friends and family. We have the best message that the world has ever heard. Think about this for a moment: The ultimate news, the ultimate answer to that question we all have, is good news! 64 doesn’t fill me with much hope. Christ dying for my sins fills me with hope everlasting!

Praise the Lord!

…and get going!

A Reasonable Assignment

The Great Commission Defended- Part 1

    And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
   
(Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

   Jesus’s instructions to his followers, shortly before his ascension, changed the face of this planet.

   The apostles spread far and wide, preaching the forgiveness of sins through repentance and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit blessed their work and the Church grew, and grew, and grew. Persecution couldn’t restrain the divine saving power of God. One apostle- Paul- was beaten, stoned, lashed (5 times), shipwrecked (3 times) and mercilessly attacked by robbers, soldiers, gentiles and Jews; and yet he continued spreading the Gospel.

   How do you feel about evangelism, Christian?

   Does it fill your heart with dread and cause your limbs to ache like punch bags? Are you too tired to tell others of Jesus? Are you too weary- too ill?

   I can sympathise. Similar reactions tend to strike my heart when I read Matthew chapter 28. More often than not, when an opportunity arises to share my faith, I try to avoid it  or convince myself that no real opportunity actually had existed.

   Our saviour, however, when tired and weary, went to the well in Samaria and spoke words of ‘living water’ to the despised lady who was there. Through his tired evangelism, a whole town came out to hear his message!

 

Why should we be concerned about the salvation of souls?

Here are 5 good reasons why we should be concerned about the salvation of real people, right here, right now.

 

1. Because the Lord certainly is:

“The Lord… not wishing that any person should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3v9
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1v15
“He saw a great crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Mark 6v34
“God our saviour who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2v4

 

2. Because of the severity of sin and the seriousness of the punishment:

“I will visit their sins upon them.” Exodus 32v34
“The haughty looks of man shall be bought low, and the lofty pride of man shall be humbled” Isaiah 2v11
“Truly I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.” Matthew 5v26
“I tell you, on the day of judgment, people will give account for every careless word they speak.” Matthew 12v36
“Every plant that my heavenly father has not planted will be rooted up.” Matthew 15v13
“He will render to each one according to his works…there will be wrath and fury.” Romans 2v6/8
“For the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” Romans 1v18

In the light of the serious results of sin, the compassion Jesus shows towards the “sheep without a shepherd” becomes even more poignant (even to our fallen and sin-clouded minds).

 

3.  God commands us to:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” Matthew 28v 19
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” Romans 10v14
“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” Luke 10v2

 

4. Evangelism brings glory to God’s name. This is the highest calling of mankind:

“our God may make you worthy of his calling…so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you…”    
1 Thessalonians 1v11
“In him we have obtained an inheritance… so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1v12
“In love he predestined us… to the praise of his glorious grace…”  Ephesians 1v4-5

What can possibly bring more praise to God’s name than publicising what he has done to save his people from eternal condemnation?! Right at the beginning of Jesus’ time on earth, at his birth, angels sang praises to Jesus:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.”  

Biblical examples of people rejoicing in God’s redemption include:

• Moses and Miriam (singing)
• Stephen (telling the account of Israel leaving Egypt)
• David (the entire book of Psalms!)

 

5. Anyone who was a committed Christian in the Bible was serious about evangelism:

• Peter and the disciples at Pentecost and also in front of the authorities (Acts 2/4)
• The early church prayed for boldness to continue public preaching despite persecution (Acts 4)
• Philip preached to the Samaritans and also the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8)
• Saul, when converted, jumps straight into Jewish-aimed evangelism (Acts 9)
• The early Hellenistic believers (Acts 11)
• The Roman Christians, having seen Paul arrested, became bold in their preaching of the gospel (Phil 1v14)
• Paul- previously Saul- moves on and speaks to many gentiles (Most of the NT)

 

Next time:

Nuts and Bolts-

What form should evangelism really take?