When is a minority not a minority?

I read today about a man sacked from his post because he spoke up for his beliefs, and refused to give advice on a situation that ran counter to his faith. (Whilst saying he would be happy to refer the couple to other colleagues who did not have the same objections). The heart of this case, and many others is the apparent trend towards some minorities having rights that are considered more important than the rights of other minorities.

Equality...for some?

For some time it has been clear that the rights of the 2 million evangelical Christians in the UK to speak up for what they believe or to live their lives in accordance with their beliefs, take a back seat compared with the rights of other minorities. Surely this can't be right? Surely the law should afford them equal rights with other minority groups, or it is failing to operate equally?

Free speech...for some?

Now I don't want to get involved in a tit-for-tat comparison of which minority is hardest done to under the law. I do recognise that some people in minority groups do need support from the law to prevent them being treated badly by others. I think that it is wrong to be discriminate against a person solely because of his or her; race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation etc. But that does not mean that I have to agree with their views, we are both entitled to an opinion, and as long as those opinions are expressed without hatred or malice I think we should be allowed to express them.

When is a Christian not a Christian?

Part of the problem in the UK is the large majority of people who classify themselves as Christian, without actually practising Christianity in a recognisable way . (I mean if I said I was a tennis player, but I had rarely if ever held a tennis racket, or hit a tennis ball, could I honestly be considered a tennis player?) The result of this distorted classification is that the UK is considered a Christian country, and in today's politically correct world that means that the only way to be seen to be fair is to operate with an effective bias against the "majority" Christian population. The impact of this is to place increasing restrictions on the actual minority of practising Christians who try to live our their faith in day to day life. This is beginning to reach the levels where it feels like simply being a Christian is an offence.

The popular view of Christians as portrayed today is either; the right wing fundamentalists of the southern states of the USA; the woolly thinking liberal vicar; or the drab unfashionable God botherer. The Church is seen as irrelevant. and anachronistic, or hot beds of corruption. Few people would dare to stick up for the Church and talk about the massive benefits that the Church, and Christians have brought to society. (Schools, hospitals, social reform, the arts, protection of children, improvement of working conditions etc etc) If you did speak up, you'd quickly be inundated with accusations of bias, and pretty certainly attacked for being foolish for ignoring the facts of evolution etc, regardless of what you might actually believe in some instances.

Automatically wrong?

Others will lambaste you for hating gays (regardless of how you might actually treat them), or tell you that Christianity is; a figment of Dan Brown's imagination; the legacy of an alien visitation; the fictional amalgamation of various pagan Roman festivals. Rarely, if ever, will some one actually ask you what you believe, because the default setting is simply that you are wrong to be a Christian.

Has anyone ever wondered why that is?

Armistice and Warfare

Another good article in the Friday Night Theology series from EA.

So how are you doing with the biblical injunction to love your enemies? (eg Have you prayed for them recently? If not now is a good time...)

Too often the Church (you and me folks!) has fallen short in this area.
Paul had plenty of enemies..and a different take on how to deal with them: Romans 12:20 "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head"

So how are you doing with heaping hot coals this week?

Who have you fed, your enemy or your own spirit of bitterness?

Lets not forget we are at war...and called to fight, using the weapons of The Kingdom, which are not the weapons of this world.

Stirring up hatred or simply a distraction?

Today was one of those days when I received a little flurry of texts asking me to pray, and to pass the prayer request on to others that I know will pray. These ranged from someone who was ill and facing a busy day ahead, asking for grace to get through the day ahead, through to an urgent request I had a request for prayer for a grandchild who had been admitted to hospital, and another praying for an aged parent recovering from a serious operation.

These on top of the things I had already committed to pray about; a grandson serving in Helmand province, a family whose home life was regularly disrupted by the anti-social behaviour of their neighbours...etc..etc.

Now don't get me wrong I love praying. I think it's God's greatest gift (Second only to worshipping Him on my drums!). I think it's a fantastic privilege being able to chat to Father about things, and I love the way He answers I could fill page after page with the answers to prayers that I have seen. (One day I will compile a list, the only problem being the length of that list!) But much as I love to pray, I only have the standard issue of 24, 60 minute hours in each day, in which to pray, so I have to prioritise things. So you'll perhaps understand and appreciate my frustration today. It began with a text from a friend with an urgent prayer request, that he in turn was forwarding from a friend. The request was asking for prayer as 22 Christian missionary families were due to be executed by Islamists in Afghanistan today.

My first response was to pray and pass the message on, but something about the message didn't ring true. (I know enough about the Church in Afghanistan to query the message quoting 22 missionary families, added to which none of the other sites that flag up areas of persecution was carrying the story) A quick check on Google confirmed my fears, the text message was a hoax.

I was hopping mad, I had wasted my time and unwittingly almost added fuel to the fire of hatred between Christians and Moslems. Now there is much to pray about with regard to the situation in Afghanistan, and the Churches relationship with Islam in Afghanistan, (People we are told to love and win for Christ, by our grace and the loving way we present them with the truth), without clowns stirring up hatred, and being used to do the Enemy's work in distracting the Church from praying for peace, healing and salvation for those around us.

I'm not mad at those who passed the message on - they were simply responding to an apparent emergency - but boy am I mad at the buffoon who thought the idea up. So I'll be praying for you whoever you are - plainly you need it - but only after I have prayed for peace in Afghanistan, and between Christians, and Moslems wherever they are. - Anyone care to join me?

Praying for difficult areas part 1

Praying for Bury.

1) Ask God to guide you in your praying

Romans 8:26-28 26 In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. We don't know what we should pray for. But the Spirit himself prays for us. He prays with groans too deep for words. 27 God, who looks into our hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit. And the Spirit prays for God's people just as God wants him to pray.28 We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. He appointed them to be saved in keeping with his purpose

2) Ask for wisdom.

James 1:5-7 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord…

3) Walk or drive through the area, to understand what the area is like.

Joshua 2:1-24 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove[a] to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho………”

4) Repent for the area.

Nehemiah 1;6 6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. (See also Daniel 9:4-19)

5) Ask Father to bind the enemy and his activities in the area

Matthew 12:29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
Colosians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

6) Follow God’s strategy, don’t run ahead doing your own thing

See Joshua 7:1-13

7) Ask God to show you whether to fast as well as praying

Ezra 8:23, Matthew 6:16, Matthew 17:21,

8) Thank God for His protection on His people

Psalm 37:39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

9) Pray that the light of Justice, peace and Salvation shines brightly in the area

Acts 13:47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: " 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' "

Persist until the job is done!

Comfortable?

It's been a while...
It's been a while since I posted, as life has been kind of busy. This made me think about the way that life has, of slipping quietly buy, while we fall into a daily routine. Before we realise it a chunk of time has gone, never to return, and we wonder what happened to our plans and goals. We were going to achieve great things. Maybe nothing worth the Nobel prize, but great things we were fired up about, yet somehow, life has pushed us onto a different track and those plans and goals have not been achieved.

Comfortable pitfalls
At present life is comfortable for most folks in BCF. Our meetings are good, and there is a nice family feel to things as relationships are going well. We are seeing some progress in our plans - (though not the breakthrough we were aiming at) but, by and large things are ticking over nicely, and we are at ease with what is going on. Therein lies the pitfall, the danger is that we settle back to enjoy the ride, and then allow our enjoyment of being comfortable to make us soft and lazy.

Uncomfortable Truths
In my reading and praying recently, I've been struck by the fact that there are many areas of life that we should not feel comfortable about. The sick and the poor are all around us, and there are many areas of life even here in nice 'comfy' Bury that are at odds with God's plans.

Working to hasten 'The Day'
Bruce Millar preached today and did a great job, he reminded us that out job is bigger than being just the messengers of the Good News, our job is not just to get people into Heaven, but to work tirelessly with God to see Heaven brought to Earth. He spoke on how we can "hasten" Jesus return in the second coming (2 Pet 3:11-12) by our holy conduct and godliness. Bruce also reminded us that we are to be about Jesus work, destroying the works of the liar. (Jn 3:8)

Slippers or Boots?
A quick flick through the papers, or TV news channels will show us the scale of the work that remains to be done. It's not a time for slipping on our spiritual slippers and putting our feet up. It's time to put on our marching boots, and the rest of our soldierly kit and to continue doing Father's bidding, pressing home our war against the forces of evil. There are still many; captives to be freed; blind people who need their sight restoring; sick people desperate for healing.

Pray!
So let's pray "Your Kingdom Come", and then live lives that work towards this our ultimate goal.

Swine Flu Theology

Here is another post from the EA's Friday Night Theology blog worth reading. H1N1 "Swine flu" is gathering pace and regularly making the headlines as increasing numbers of people in the UK are infected, so this is a timely reminder of how Christians should responde to such situations.

Making Friends
The government advice includes people asking flu friends to collect medication and groceries to help those who fall sick whilst aiming to reduce further infection. (By practicing sensible personal hygiene like using disposable tissues and frequent hand washing). No doubt there will be some folks in every community who won't have family or close friends they can ask to help in this way. So one thing we Christians could do is to consider who we might be able to help in our neighbourhood particularly later in the year when the disease is likely to accellerate through autumn and into the winter.

Blessing others
Of course we should also be praying asking God to show us how to respond to this health challenge, as we do so we should ask Him to give us faith to respond in ways that will bless the communities we live in, and glorify His name. For some of us that might lead to us seeing people miraculously healed, for others it will open doors for us to show God's love in other practical ways. Whichever way Father leads lets do it for His glory!

For those that don't know Suzie...

Feeling the pinch?

The Problem
The BBC reports that 50% of UK workers report feeling stressed, and 20% are suffering from depression. The data from a survey of UK employees suggests that this is due to the increased stress associated with the current economic down turn.

A third of employees reported that they were offering to take on more responsibility at work, to help make their jobs more secure.

In response to questions on health issues, half reported that they suffered from insomnia, 30% said they suffered from migraines, and a fifth reported anxiety attacks and palpitations. 90% of Gp's polled predicted that stress-related illness will be the most critical occupational health issue of 2009.

All in all it makes for concerning reading, as eventually this level of stress related illness will come home to roost, not just in the direct cost on individual lives, but also financially, as lost productivity levels, and health care costs rise as a result. A huge cost by any measurement when these findings are extrapolated globally.

This 'cost' is particularly saddening when we realise that the current global financial crisis has it's roots in man's pursuit of material wealth. The aim was to create wealth for people, so that people could live better lives, but the desire to do a good thing was eclipsed by greed. Common sense and prudence were ignored in the pursuit of ever greater profits. The economic powerhouses in the world encouraged people to take on financial burdens that they could not bear, with disastrous consequences.

The Answer
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus' words contain some very pertinent lessons;
- First and foremost, the lesson that work is important. The yolk referred to in the verse was a yolk used in day-today work. Work brings a range of benefits, self worth, food on the table and a roof over people's heads. Jesus words show that he wants to be involved in our working lives.
- When we work shoulder to shoulder with Jesus, then we share a common burden with him, His burden. This sharing of the right burden, with the right person means that we find something extraordinary -rest in the midst of this work.

When we choose to be yolked to Jesus, and to allow His wisdom to guide us, we find that life's burdens are bearable. If the Bankers and chancellors of the World had followed this model as they developed their business strategies we'd be in a far better place economically than we are now.

Walking shoulder to shoulder with Jesus helps us keep a right sense of proportion, which would have helped to remind us that money is there to serve us, and not the other way round. When money takes the lead problems always follow, when we submit to Jesus and allow Him to lead then good things follow. Let us set and example to those around us by sharing Jesus yolk gladly, and sharing Jesus gladly with our fellow workers.

Britains got talent...working on a dream.

The EA's Friday Night Theology article for this week; "Working on a dream" contains some food for thought, and prayer. It reminds us that Jesus was a story teller, telling stories with a purpose and for a good reason, people relate to stories. Stories are a great way of communicating complex ideas in a compelling and inspirational way.

The article points out that in tough times, dreamers and story tellers come to the fore. Such people are often found leading the way to change, when people are disillusioned with the current status quo. Stories help paint a picture of the future, showing how life can be different in the future, helping people to see things differently.

The Church needs to learn from the example of Jesus and to find ways of telling the Kingdom story in ways that people today can relate to. We need pray and ask Father to release the prophetic message of the Kingdom afresh.

We need to see the Church's story tellers, poets, and artists come to the fore at this time to present the people around us with a new vision of the future. The economic problems and the vacuum of leadership caused by the greed of some in Parliament, presents the Church with a great opportunity to present the Nation with a fresh vision of how life can be with Good at the helm.

Pray for those that God has gifted as tellers of the Kingdom story, ask God to refresh your telling of your testimony. Ask Father to make you bold to tell your story - A personal testimony is often the most powerful story in reaching others with Father's love. Don't think my story is not as dramatic as others I've heard - We are called to tell our personal tale, trust me your story is more powerful than you think, after all it's about you and the Almighty God!!

...skin deep...prejudices....who me?

The Evangelical Alliance's, Friday Night Theology blog seizes on the extraordinary response that Susan Boyle has received in response to her appearance on 'Britain's Got Talent'.

Did you see it? Were you like most of us amazed at the talent "hidden" inside this rather dowdy looking very ordinary woman? If you were, wasn't it great to hear that talent emerge? How did it make you feel?

Let's learn an important lesson from this, let's stop judging people by what we see at first glance, and let's take the time to find the extraordinary hidden in each one of us. It's too easy to be carried along with the cult of superficiality in our consumer driven celebrity culture. Wouldn't it be great if Susan's success was the pin that pops this tacky bubble once and for all?

Reading between the lines

There was an interesting programme on the Beeb tonight, expounding Michael Ward's contention that CS Lewis' Narnia tales contain a hidden code. It's well accepted that the books are woven through with Christian allegory, which is unsurprising given Lewis' Christian faith. Ward's theory is that in addition to these allegorical references, Lewis also wove themes based on medieval cosmology through the works. No doubt any such reference to planets and such will have some seeking to change our view of Lewis' and his theology. Personally I think it simply attests to his creativity, and enjoyment of the craft of story telling.
How many of us would question the theological seriousness of say a well known Christian songwriter, who wrote a beautiful and complex love song, containing a romanticised reference to the moon? Would we rant about their having abandoned their faith and converted to some weird cult of reading horoscopes; or would we simply see it as using poetic language?
My view? Lewis the master apologist, story teller, and poet has simply left us a great work of children's literature...that continues to reveal more about it's writer, more than fifty years after they were written.