Identity Theft

The other day I received an email from an online friend (whom I have never actually met in the flesh).  At least that's what it seemed at first until I read the email.  It said that he (supposedly) was in the Ukraine and needed some money if I could help.  Of course the alarm bells sounded and more or less at the same time someone else wrote on his facebook page words to the effect that he also had received a similar email.  The poor soul had had his address book hacked and someone was trying to get money under false pretences saying they were him.  We hear a lot about identity theft and are warned to be on our guard against such scams.  The sad thing is that there are many ordinary people who pretend to be someone or something that they aren't - a kind of identity fraud.  They want you to believe things about them that are just not true.  They put on a 'mask' and appear to be a certain type when deep down their thoughts are quite different.  Or they exaggerate their job description to imply something a little different from the real truth.  It's meant to impress others.

We are adamant that you and I would never do this.  What you see is what you get, as they say.  Sadly I have to admit that taking on the name of Jesus and calling myself Christian has so often fallen short of what Jesus was really like.  The general view of a Christian by a non-religious person is someone who is homophobic, church-going, straight-laced, exclusivist who lives by a lot of rules that start with the word 'don't ...'  They live in their own religious bubble and don't have much idea of what goes on in the 'real' world, or so the thinking goes.  Not someone to have much fun with, a bit miserable really, someone you need to watch what you say when they're around in order to avoid a glare of disapproval.  But the real Jesus that we read about in the Bible was nothing like that at all.  He was known to like a drink of wine (or two, or three), was often invited to people's homes, was open to all regardless of their upbringing, reputation or background.  People travelled to see him and hear what he had to say.  For many he was like a breath of fresh air.  He understood them and always wanted to help.  There was no place he would not go or person to whom he would not speak.  

His friends were a mixed bunch from all walks of life.  They included the calculating tax collector, one who was a bit of a dreamer, the rough fisherman who seemed to lurch from one blunder to another, the quiet thinker, the competitive brothers, one who was a bit of a sceptic and the one whose over-zealous nature trying to force his hand caused the death of Jesus.  So different yet they all hung out together, travelled together, talked and discussed things together.  Some may have been quite observant of their Jewish religious traditions but others were most definitely not that religious at all.  I have to consider honestly just how many people I can count as real friends (not just acquaintances) who are not Christian.  Many Christians don't have any close friends who are outside of their particular church group let alone outside of the religion altogether.  It's very much the scenario of 'us and them'.  Those 'outside' are even referred to as 'in the world'.  They are not included.  How different from how Jesus related to people.   

  
Jesus said that he had come to serve, telling his disciples that the first shall be last and the last shall be first.  Oh dear!  How we exalt the big names in preachers or worship leaders.  The well known ones attract the crowds as they flock to hear them preach, almost to the point of idol worship.  (Reminds be of young fans going to see their favourite pop idol)  They are put on pedestals and regarded almost as 'the untouchables' - until they are caught out doing something wrong, that is and then they are thrown on the scrap heap of religious has-beens.  We still struggle to really accept that in God's kingdom there is no hierarchy.  There are no reserved places at his table.  All really are equal in his sight.  The person who cleans the hall is as important as the best known preacher.  Yet how often we judge people by the size of their congregation or following and those who have more 'followers' are deemed more successful.  I have seen people more impressed with someone who has a degree or title than someone who doesn't as though having been to university somehow qualifies you as a 'better' sort of Christian.  (I'm not against a university education but we must not confuse education and knowledge with spirituality and following Jesus.  They are two different things) Friendship is so often sought more with the well-heeled, well-spoken person with a certain lifestyle than a poor manual worker struggling to make ends meet.  Yet Jesus said that as the prophet Isaiah foretold, he had come to bring good news to the poor.  Everyone is  welcome, not in a patronising way but as friends.

There are many more aspects of Jesus' life that we could think of but this is enough for the moment for us to really consider deeply, personally and honestly.  So in retrospect we need to consider and ask ourselves  Am I really a follower of Jesus?  Am I reflecting through my life just what God is like?  Can people see God's love shining through my day-to-day living?  Am I taking his name in vain?  Do I call myself Christian, take his identity, saying that I'm like him but not taking on board some of the fundamental things that he taught and lived?  Have I committed spiritual identity theft?      

What Hierarchy?

Most of the young people at school have now finished their exams.  There has been quite a fuss about one particular question on a Maths paper that really puzzled the students to the extent that the whole business has become very public and mentioned in News bulletins.  The problem seems to be that it would seem that the whole future of a student depends on the exam results, which in turn often depends on pure academic ability and not so much to do with character or amount of effort put into the study.  There are those who try very hard but academically they just don't cut it.  And yet end of year exams seem to have such a bearing on their future - what sort of job they will be able to get and subsequently how much money they will earn as a result.  For some, the most important thing is to get a place in Uni and get some degree, any degree as long as they can say that they have one.  Otherwise they feel that they are left on the scrapheap of life.

Success is counted as to how far up the social ladder you are able to climb.  This is often seen in terms of the size of your house, the sort of car you drive,  where you go on holiday and how many of the latest gadgets fill your home.  It always seems sad to me that success is measured in material possessions and not how we do our job or the sort of people we are.  Are we honest, helpful, caring, accepting, including others and making them feel wanted?  How often those who reach 'the top' do so because they don't care about anyone else or who they tread on in the process of climbing up the company ladder.  Some of the most honest and caring people I have met have worked at menial jobs earning a fraction of those considered to be successful.  And very often they have been so generous in helping others.  The story of the widow's mite comes to mind.

The Winter of Discontent.

A customer once asked a cleaner in a large store where a certain item was and the cleaner replied that he didn't know as he was only the cleaner.  The customer replied that he wasn't only a cleaner as cleaners made a very important contribution to the success of the store.  After all who wants to shop in a dirty store, that is if Health and Safety don't close it down for hygiene reasons?  Some might remember some years ago when the refuse collectors went on strike and the household rubbish wasn't collected for some time.  And yet how often is someone working as a refuse collector thought of as being successful?  He or she might not own a big house but society grinds to a halt if they don't carry out their valuable work (as the above photo shows).  How often we picture a sort of triangle of hierarchy with the manual workers at the bottom and the CEO and Directors at the very top.  It is the aim of most people to gradually climb their way up to the top.  The thing is though that if those who form the basis of society are not thorough and good at their jobs, the whole triangle tumbles down like a house with crumbling foundations.  The base needs to be firm in order to build on it.  If those doing menial tasks don't do their work well then the whole company folds.  Without the cleaner there is no store manager.  There is no store.  The one earning a six figure salary depends on those on minimum wage doing a good job.  There is a problem when there aren't enough at the bottom supporting those at the top.  As the saying goes 'Too many chiefs and not enough indians'.

Jesus' teaching on hierarchy was 'the first shall be last and the last shall be first'. He, who is God was servant of all.  So, let's be honest, are we more impressed with someone who has some grandiose title or is a manager of a large company or the person who sweeps the floor and cleans the manager's office?  Hmmm!  We are all human seeking to do what we can to contribute to society and making the world a better place.  There is nothing wrong with improving ourselves and seeking to 'do better' but let's not adopt a false sense of importance.  In God's kingdom there is no hierarchy.  We are all equal in his eyes and he loves each of us equally.  And that applies equally to those in organised religion.  The most sought after speaker and the person who cleans the church toilets are thought of and loved equally by God.  We should do likewise.

Saving the World

It is quite easy to get a bit depressed when listening to or watching the news.  There seems to be trouble everywhere.  We wonder just where and when it will all end.  I don't know about you but I get a little irritated when I hear Christians saying that we are in the end times and that Jesus will soon be returning and he will put everything right.  They wait for him to come out of the clouds, descending from heaven to 'sort out' the world.  They expect to be suddenly carried off into the skies and be saved while Jesus destroys what is left of our beloved planet.


They seem to think of him as some sort of superhero that we love to watch on film or television who flies in and with a few strikes, everything is made orderly and perfect.  (Perfect being of course what we want to see according to our own particular beliefs)  He will zap our enemies like some supernatural destroyer.  I can't help thinking that the Jews in the time of Jesus thought the same of the Messiah that they were waiting for and that's why many of them had difficulty in accepting Jesus as the Messiah, the promised deliverer.  I wonder if Jesus returned today, how many Christians would recognise him and accept him maybe for similar reasons.

The thing is that Jesus taught and showed that God is Love.  So does all this destruction of those that we consider to be enemies really tally with a loving entity that loves all people equally.  Does a parent wish to destroy a child when s/he goes off the rails a bit or makes some erroneous decision.  The story of the Prodigal Son tells us otherwise.  What Jesus did teach and tell his disciples was that we should go and tell others of his ways of love and be like him.  God's spirit living in us is what will change the world.  He is not an old man sitting on a throne somewhere in 'the skies'.  We are his temple and he is alive on earth in and through us.  We think of the skies as up there, out there, over the horizon, beyond us but actually where earth ends is where the skies begin.  The horizon is actually the place where earth and sky meet.  So wherever we walk 'the skies' are actually at our feet and that's where God is, walking with us.  Wherever we are, he is because he is within us.  Do we want to save the planet and all its people?  Then we don't sit around waiting for his return (however that may or may not happen).  We take God with us, in us,through us in everything we do and everywhere we go.  We live his inclusive love even towards our enemies.  That's what Jesus taught.  If Jesus returned tomorrow, what would he do?  The following is a cartoon I saw and it made me think.  We need to consider again just what he taught and did on his first visit to earth.  His way can change the world for the better.

A tongue in cheek comic strip I found by
Brian K White's Comics on glossynews.com

Efficient/Effective?

This week Vicky Beeching used a quote on Twitter that was originally written by Peter Drucker, an Austrian born American management consultant.  He has been described as the 'founder of modern management'. The quote was: 'Efficiency is doing things right.  Effectiveness is doing the right things.'  That set me thinking.  It's great to be efficient.  It gets the job done and done well.  But it is imperative that the things that are done are the right things.  You can be very efficient at doing the wrong things.  So being efficient in itself is not necessarily good.


Most of this past week in our home we have had the pleasure of the company of a friend from Latvia.  We have had some very interesting conversations about many things.  We got onto the subject of people going to other countries within the church setup on particular missions.  We both know of people who have gone with a particular project or 'programme' that they intended to put into practice, as though you can programme God. How often do we have plans and ask God to bless our plans when often they are not God's plans at all?  I have known people who have been very organised and efficient but not necessarily doing the right things.  They arrive full of what they are going to do, set up this meeting and that project and within 2 to 3 years they will have so many converts and will expand to other places when maybe it would be better to identify with the people and place where they intend to work, get to know the real situation and circumstances and what is actually needed.  I also read this week about a story of helping those who need help as opposed to those that we think need our help.  There are parts of the world where, instead of organising meetings and setting up Bible classes and teaching programmes, what is really needed is tools to dig a well to save the women from having to walk miles to get a bucket of water.  Instead of trying to explain the resurrection it would be more helpful to give seeds or animals or maybe teach them methods of agriculture and business so the people could feed and fend for themselves.  I can't help feeling that much of the work is in order to promote the public standing of the group, charity or denomination that is carrying out the missions.  It often seems to be more about adding numbers to their membership or following than sharing the Good News in practical ways.  

We can be very efficient in bringing plans to fruition and getting the job done but if we are asking the wrong questions, if we are focusing on the wrong problem, the seriousness of the situation will just continue and get worse.  We need to address the cause of problems in order to be effective in bringing about a solution.  When we go to the doctor with a health problem, we often get some medication.  If the problem continues then often a deeper, more intense and detailed study by xray, scan or tests needs to be carried out in order to identify the underlying cause of the problem.  It's no use taking painkillers if the real problem is a broken leg.  The painkillers will alleviate the pain for a while but unless the broken leg is mended, the problem will still exist and cause more pain and problems.  Sometimes we might think that we are helping a situation but when we take a closer, more in-depth look at the situation we discover that the real need is something that is not really being addressed.  And so the problem continues.  Our carefully thought-out plans and efficiency will get some sort of result but the real problems are not addressed and the situation does not change in spite of all our efforts.  


It reminds me of the words of Helder Camara, the Brazilian Archbishop who was assassinated in 1999 when he said, 'When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist'.  We can be very efficient but unless we address the root causes of problems and ask the right questions we will never be effective in showing God's love as Jesus taught.  Richard Rohr recently in his daily meditations when referring to the Desert Fathers and Mothers said that for them 'faith was first a lifestyle before it was a belief system'.  The first followers of Jesus were known as People of the Way (a way of living) before they were known as people who followed a belief system.  Maybe it's time to rethink why we do what we do.  Are we just efficient or are we effective?    

Either/Or

Those of us living in the UK are well aware of the fact that we are in the run-up to a general election.  It's almost impossible to escape the fact.  We are bombarded on all sides with adverts, slogans, leaflets and those on social media making their preferences clear.  The other evening there was a 2 hour debate on television with 7 leaders of parties, each trying to put their view and policies across and trying to convince us to vote for them; making us decide; either or; which one shall we choose?  The truth is that many people listen and are in agreement with one party over a certain policy and with another party over a  different  policy.  The problem is that on the day of election, you can only vote for one party.  You can't vote for the different parties to deliver different policies.  It's about either one or another.

Depiction of Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.

I am reminded that in the early Church, Paul had disagreements with some of the other disciples over the conversion of Gentiles.  Oh they were very happy that there were those non-Jews who were willing to listen to the story of Jesus and His teachings and wanted to follow His way but they also wanted them to become Jews.  The disciples were Jews, Paul was a Jew and so it was considered that all those who affiliated themselves to their cause should also be Jews.  That was their way of thinking.  You are one of us now.  You are either with us or you're not.  Paul never stopped being a Jew in every sense of the word.  He kept all the Jewish customs, observances,vows he had made and laws and had a number of arguments with others when they insisted that Gentiles should to do the same.   


Jesus was born, lived and died a Jew.  He never stopped being a Jew. But Paul realised that the teachings of Jesus were for everyone.  It wasn't about 'us and them'.  All were included.  He could be a Jew who loved and followed his religion and still be a follower of the Jesus way.  The non-Jews to whom Paul was a missionary,
 taking the message of Jesus, could be who they were, follow Jesus' way without having to convert to Judaism.  When the Galatians insisted that new converts should be circumcised Paul tells them 'For freedom Christ has set us free: stand fast therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.' (Galatians 2:11-12) The message of Jesus goes beyond tribal and ethnic observances, beyond culture, beyond religious affiliation.  It is for all.  They were known as 'people of The Way'.  Jesus himself said that he is The Way.  He said 'Follow me'.  It wasn't about observing the rules and laws of Judaism.  Jesus on numerous occasions deliberately did not observe the laws saying it was about doing the right thing not necessarily what the law stated.  It was about doing things his way, following his example, living his teachings.  It was for all people everywhere - all means ALL - a way of living, a way of loving.  Sadly 'people of The Way' became known as Christians and another tribal ethnicity was born.  Nowadays in many parts it's more about conforming to certain dogmas than living the way of Jesus.  It's more about doctrine than practice, those who belong to a certain group rather than God's love for whoever, regardless of culture or way of life.  

This Easter let's remind ourselves of the real message of Jesus - bringing good news to the poor, feeding the hungry, helping those who are hurting physically, emotionally and mentally, being there for the outcast and the unloved. It's not about which side we're on but about doing what's right, even if that disagrees with our particular tribe.  The message of Jesus is love.  He died for love.  If you haven't heard it before listen to the words of this song by Godfrey Birtill.  Love, love,love.  Lord help us to live The Way of Love.

Creative Spirit

This was taken at the beginning of this week.
Now the bulb is past the height of the leaves. 

Every year for the past few years, a friend of mine has given me an amaryllis bulb for my birthday.  This year she visited me in the second half of January and brought the bulb with her.  A couple of days later I planted the bulb and within the short space of a month it has grown immensely and now has a bud just waiting to open.  Such elegance and beauty from something that looks quite dirty and not at all pretty.  It cheers the heart to see signs of spring all around us now.  Snowdrops have been and gone, crocuses are blossoming and the daffodils are growing stronger every day - that is the bulbs in my garden.  Early daffodils have been flowering in other parts of the town since around Christmas time.  It is encouraging to see new life, whenever and wherever it occurs.  It brings a sense of hope for the future after dark and dreary days. 

Not the owl from Simon King's website but
another Barn Owl brooding over her eggs.

There was great delight this week on the website of Simon King the naturalist, when the camera that he has in the owl nest box showed that when the female owl moved an egg could de seen.  Another form of new life bringing hope for the future of the owl population in that area of Somerset.  It reminded me of the dawn of creation when the Spirit of God hovered over the waters or as the Message Bible refers to it, 'God's spirit brooded like a bird ...'   A great error of the church generally is that we tend to think of the Holy Spirit and her work in terms of Pentecost, charismatic expressions of religion and big gatherings when we are 'in the right spirit' and utter the right words in prayer, then the Holy Spirit is manifest sometimes in strange and unusual ways like speaking in strange tongues, falling over, shaking or fits of laughter.  It's as though we need to follow a set formula if we want to see God's Spirit at work.  Yet at the very beginning of creation we see that God's Spirit was working, brooding over things.  The female bird broods over her eggs in order to give them warmth, protection, love and produce life.  She then continues to support and provide for her young.  With this picture in mind I can't help thinking of the Holy Spirit as the brooding, female expression of God.  So if I want to see the work of the Holy Spirit, I need go no further than my garden or look at my house plants.  Evidence of Her is all around.  They say that where's there's life there's hope.  Well I like to think of it as where there's life there's the Holy Spirit at work.  She breathes life wherever She goes.

My 'Christmas' cactus in February.

I also have another plant, a Christmas cactus.  It flowers every December.  The other day I noticed that there are a couple of buds on it ready to open.  It had already given an abundance of flowers in December so for this particular plant, this is out of season.  Another lesson - the Holy Spirit is at work in season and out of season.  She manifests herself and shows up when we least expect it.  When I was sorting out the house plants and ready to discard and throw away what I thought had died over the winter, I discovered that when I cleared away all the dead parts of a fuchsia plant, there were a few small new leaves just appearing - another lesson in how the Spirit of God renews and revives.




We miss so much when we limit God to certain gatherings and dates on the calendar.  He really is everywhere and the Spirit is continuously at work, not just at a time that the church considers there is some sort of 'outpouring' or revival.  God spoke and the Spirit brooded and creation came into being.  By observing creation, we see the Holy Spirit at work.  She continues to create life whether we notice or not but it's a shame if our preconceived, limiting ideas of Her blind us so we miss seeing the wonder of Her work all around us all the time.   

Don't Rock The Boat

I was interested a couple of weeks  ago to learn of the Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis (1818 - 1865).  He discovered that the washing and cleaning of hands greatly reduced the mortality rate of patients in his maternity ward compared to the wards supervised by other doctors.  He published papers to this effect and insisted that it was the simple act of washing hands that was the key.  His publications were rejected by the established scientific and medical opinions of the time.  He was eventually committed to as asylum for his 'outrageous' claims where he died only 2 weeks after entering the institution, having been beaten by guards.  His theories were proved correct by Lister and Pasteur years after his death.  Today personal hygiene and cleanliness is so much a part of everyday life that it is hard to imagine that the medical world of the mid 19th century did not accept this.


The other day I watched (again!) the now old film The Jazz Singer.  In case anyone is not familiar with the story, it is about a young Jewish man whose father was a cantor in the synagogue.  It was a family tradition and the young man would be the fifth generation of cantors in his family, something that made his father very proud.  However, the young man also lived another life by singing with non-Jewish friends in clubs.  When he got the opportunity to go to California, he realised that singing to the general public was what he really wanted to do.  The result of course was many problems within family relationships and heartache and struggles to come to terms with this idea on all sides.  Eventually he followed his dream and 'made it' in the music world of California.


The first story is a sad one but the second had a happier ending.  The thing is that deep inside we know what is right for us whether other people accept what we say or not.  Truth is truth.  It doesn't depend on how many people agree with us.  It doesn't necessarily mean that the majority must be right.  But it is very difficult to remain true to what we feel deep inside when all around seem to be going in the opposite direction.  The old song that we often used to sing says, 'I'll fear not what men say'.  But we do, don't we?  How often have we heard people say, 'What will people think?'   Today with social media someone can very quickly be made to appear like a saint or a villain.  Whistle-blowers and reporters who tell it as it really is are criticised by established figures and often rubbished in the media when most times what they are saying is the truth that nobody in authority wants the world to know.  It is more difficult when we go against family tradition and when those closest to us reject what we say.  The last thing we want to do is hurt and upset those we love and so often we bury what is inside and carry on just going along with tradition without questioning, closing our minds to any personal or different ideas that we may have had.  Our dreams remain only dreams as we feel unable to seek to make them reality. 


 I have to admit I have great respect for anyone who can stick to their guns when they really believe something regardless of who listens or accepts what they say.  Throughout history we find people who have been ridiculed only to be proved right in later years. Galileo comes to mind when he insisted that the earth went round the sun and not the other way around.  Sadly too often we conform simply to avoid 'rocking the boat'.  We don't want to get a bad reputation as a trouble maker or being a bit wacky.  Sadly this applies to many Christian congregations when those who question or don't fall into line end up outside of the group, excluded.  We have seen it with prominent church leaders like Steve Chalke when he spoke of accepting gay people and Rob Bell and Jim Palmer for offering a different perspective on Christian beliefs.  I find it sad that Christianity is becoming in many places, an exclusive 'club' where if you question, think for yourself, don't fit in and conform or rock the boat then you become excluded.  As for me - I will continue to question and seek truth even if that means being part of a misunderstood minority.  In the end it is only truth that will set us free, free from the fear of what others might think, free to be who we really are, free to be the person God made us to be.

Conundrum

I have been thinking much lately about the different religions of the world and how people of many different faiths all seem to have something valid to contribute to the overall wisdom of a belief system.  I often think that it would be great if we could somehow amalgamate all the best bits of each religion and make one belief system to suit everybody.  Is that Utopia?  A fantasy?  And yet as Christians we believe that Jesus came for the 'whole world'.  We always say that God loves everyone, so surely it is his own wish to see all of humanity living as one.  At the birth of Jesus the story tells us that the angels sang about peace and goodwill to all people.  We are also reminded that the wise men in the story came from far away eastern lands.  They did not share the Jewish faith and there is no account that they became Jewish after their encounter with the new-born Jesus.  They worshipped him and went back to their own lands.  It seems today that when it comes to religious beliefs, the world is ever more divided.  Some people of no faith reckon that the world would be better off without religion of any kind as, according to their thinking, it is religion that causes most of the wars in the world and that it is religion that breeds violence one against the other.  That's not entirely true but I can see how they reach that conclusion.



So just how can we work to bring about this unity of religious belief?  Or should we?  I am currently reading the Brian McLaren book, 'Why Did Jesus, Moses, The Buddha And Mohammed Cross The Road?', where he explores the issue of the many different expressions of faith in the world.  It is a very interesting read if you haven't already read it.  For me the great conundrum is that as a Christian I of course believe that Christianity is the only true way to God.  I accept that others find their way of expressing their spiritual beliefs but from my point of view their belief system is lacking somewhat.  It doesn't have the whole truth - of course we Christians do! (tongue in cheek!) The trouble with that concept is that most people of other religions each think exactly the same about their belief system.  So it seems we come to a sort of stale mate without any real resolution or way forward.  The conundrum is how can I who obviously believe my faith is right, not just tolerate but accept that those of other faiths have as valid a claim to truth as I have without weakening or lessening my own beliefs?


This can result of course in the sort of thing that we have seen in the past few days and weeks - killing other human beings in the name of a particular strand of a religion whose perpetrators believe that only they have the whole truth and all others are less and if not willing to convert then they should be 'punished'.  And let's be honest here - those of us in 'the west' are as guilty as any other of atrocities carried out in the name of our religion over the centuries (crusades, colonisation, 'civilization', slavery, the Inquisition  the conquistadors of South America  and so on ... ) Even as recently as the 20th century, we think of the Holocaust and the troubles in Northern Ireland.  So as a Christian what is my answer to this?  The immediate reaction for many is understandably to go and blast them, give them a bit of their own medicine as it were.  So everybody is hell bent on killing each other.  The trouble I have with this is that force and strength only prove who is more cunning in battle and has the better weapons at their disposal.  It doesn't prove who is actually right.  And God doesn't take sides in a killing spree even if we do label it a just war.  It also puts you on the same level as those you condemn - killing because others disagree with your way of thinking.  On the other hand I liked the reaction in Australia after the hostage situation in the Sydney cafe when the reaction of many people was to say 'I'll ride with you' - showing solidarity with those of other faiths without necessarily accepting their belief system.  We have also seen images of Christians defending Muslims as they go to worship and Muslims defending Christians as they went to their church buildings.  In Paris recently we have seen pictures of Muslims and Jews hugging each other as they protest and mourn together.  And so the conundrum continues and I don't really have any answers.


All I can do as a Christian is look to the example of Jesus and his teaching.  Jesus did not change religions.  He was never a 'Christian'.  He was a Jew right until his death and visited the synagogues and temple in Jerusalem right until his capture and subsequent death.  The Last Supper was actually a Jewish festival that he and the disciples were celebrating.  When he healed the servant of the Roman centurion or spoke to the Samaritan woman, he didn't say that they had to convert to the Jewish faith.  To the centurion he said that his faith had healed his servant.  What faith was that?  He was not of the Jewish faith and possibly followed Roman gods but he recognised a higher spiritual authority in Jesus and believed in him.  On that occasion Jesus remarked, 'I say to you that many will come from the east and  the west and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven' - was he saying people from other nations and belief systems?   He also healed the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman without insisting that she accept the religion of the Jews.  It appears therefore that Jesus not only accepted people just who they were and where they stood in their own particular expression of faith but never said anything about changing their religious allegiance.  They were accepted by God as they were.  God then is bigger than any one expression of spirituality and has no problem about anyone of whatever persuasion who truly seeks him.  I'm still working on it!

I'll Keep Asking

Anyone who has had children or been involved with the care of children will know just how inquisitive they can be.  The why, when, where, who, how questions seem to have no end.  You think you've explained things and then they come back with another 'Why?' or 'How?'.  This is normal behaviour for children and in fact if they didn't ask questions we would think that there was something wrong with them, that they were lacking something in their concentration, normal development or desire for learning.  


When they are small, a short, simple explanation is often sufficient to answer their curiosity but as they get older, such simple answers don't suffice.  They need to know more and in more detail.  This surely is a sign that they are maturing and becoming more capable of understanding more than they did when they were younger.


It baffles me, therefore when Christians get the strange idea that the same explanations and teaching that has been given to them from their first steps of faith are still sufficient.  They listen to the same Bible verses explained over and over again.  The fact that they don't question seems to be taken as some strange form of maturity, they know all the answers.  They might have a point in thinking that they have travelled so far along the road and have experienced so much that they have indeed 'seen it all' - been there, done that, got the t-shirt etc.  But there are occasions when it is actually frowned upon to question what has been said from the platform or pulpit.  It is considered almost sacrilege to ask a question like 'Why God?'.  We must not question those 'in authority' over us.  (Sounds like some dictatorships I've known)  They are there to speak to us on God's behalf!  We are told that God has his ways and we should just trust him.  We are so often fobbed off with the usual set answers to such queries that they sort of float over the tops of our heads.  The words don't seem to connect with us.  They become almost meaningless.


Yet Jesus tells us that we must be like children in our faith.  When he said that, did he mean that we should never be complacent?  That God likes curious children?  Can we ever know all there is to know about God and spiritual things?  Can we not keep on learning while we travel on this road of faith?  Maybe I'm just not the passive sort when it comes to my faith.  So I continue to question and seek more of what God means and says and how this unfolds in my life.  I want to know God more so I persist like a small child and keep asking him to connect with my spirit so I can grow and really mature in him.  The simple answers of old aren't enough any more - I need  more God.

Whose Christmas Is It Anyway?

Spend, spend, spend.  It seems that at this time of the year that's all we seem to be doing.  We start with the buying of gifts for family and friends and then we stock up on food as though we are catering for the five thousand (slight exaggeration!)  But we do tend to over-cater for the Christmas holiday time - just in case.  And we buy stuff that we wouldn't normally eat but feel almost obliged to indulge in all those sweet delights and 'extras' just because 'it's Christmas'. Then no sooner is the actual day over, some then go on to spend more trying to get some bargain in the after-Christmas sales.  It is understandable therefore that some would say that Christmas belongs to the commercial sector and that they are the ones who gain most.  Not everyone thinks like the Grinch when he ponders, 'Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store, maybe Christmas ... perhaps ... means a little bit more.'


I can't help thinking that most people, if asked to name someone associated with Christmas, would say without thinking 'Santa Claus' rather than Jesus or any of the people from the original nativity scene.  Everywhere you go, there are pictures of the man with the red and white fur-trimmed clothes and the big white beard who always seems to be smiling.  'Tis the season to be jolly, Ho Ho Ho and all that.  Cards, books, television programmes are all about Santa Claus.  So some might think that Christmas belongs to Santa Claus.


On the other hand I have heard Christians say that the Christmas season belongs to Christians.  This was made quite plain to some friends who decided to go to a carol service at the local church before Christmas.  The church was full when they arrived there.  They looked around and saw a few seats at the back of the building and were hoping to sit down when they were told that those seats were reserved for church members who were doing stewarding duties and who would be taking their seats shortly.  The friends sadly left the building feeling a bit that maybe fully paid up members of the club/church group had priority when it came to seating and after all they were 'outsiders'.  Having said that, I know of other Christians who spent some of their Christmas Day serving up a hot meal for those who would have otherwise been on their own this Christmas.  So Christmas as some believe, belongs to the Christians.  

We notice many Christians urging us not to take Christ out of Christmas.  I totally agree!  But what exactly do we mean by this?  It's easy to keep Christ in the written word Christmas, but it's the actions that really matter.  The first Christmas which is the one that as Christians we celebrate at this time of year, was not a great gathering of religious people.  It wasn't some carefully organised celebration.  It was an act of God totally emptying himself of love for all of humanity.  It was a sign of hope for those who were downtrodden, justice for those who were treated unfairly and a future for those who lived in fear of what tomorrow might bring.  As in the words of the song, written and sung by mainly non-church-goers; Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time.  It is not about celebrating one day; it is a way of living; it's the daily echo of God's self-emptying love lived out in our own lives.  Who does Christmas belong to?  Actually, from God's point of view, it belongs to everyone.  Joy to the world.  Peace on earth, goodwill to all people.  To really 'own' Christmas, we have to live it not just one day of the year but every day and show God's love to all, whoever they are, whatever they believe and whatever are their circumstances.  Emmanuel - God with us - God's love for all of his creation expressed in human form.  That's the real Christmas message.  

Thoughts From Down Under

Earlier this week, my elder son Martin and his partner Lisa came to visit for a few days.  They have recently returned from 3 months travelling around Australia, from Melbourne up the east coast past Cairns and then across and down from Darwin through Alice Springs, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and back to Melbourne.  We were able to share in their adventure through their many photos and stories of their travels.  I found particularly interesting the stories of the aborigines and their beliefs.  They are an ancient race having lived on that land for over 40,000 years and so their stories of creation and other spiritual beliefs go back way beyond anything we as Christians may have.  We consider their stories to be just that - stories, myths and legends - not necessarily literally true but they cling on to their beliefs that have been handed down orally over thousands of years.  

A model of a coracle type of ark as on the ancient tablet

I also watched this week a programme about 'The Real Noah's Ark' where a professor and associates reconstructed a boat according to information on an ancient clay tablet.  It was a story of a flood with instructions on how to build a boat to save a man, his family and animals.  The instructions also interestingly said that the animals were to go in 'two by two'.  This particular tablet predated our biblical story of Noah by over 1000 years.  The boat to be built was actually round, more like a coracle than the ark we think of.  Archaeologists have discovered that in that region of the Tigris/Euphrates rivers there were many such great floods in ancient times and many would indeed make super-sized coracles to save their families and belongings.  It is thought that the Hebrew exile in Babylon was greatly influenced by such stories and maybe had some effect on stories that they also handed down to their descendants.  

Uluru (Ayers Rock) is a sacred Aboriginal site but so many
lack respect for the religious views and beliefs of others as
this notice and undeterred climbers show.

We look at other spiritual traditions and think of them as fables, myths and not fact while other religions often look at our holy book in the same way.  So it seems to beg the question -  how many of our Bible stories are just that, stories that have been told and handed down over generations in order to teach some spiritual truth.  Knowing how Jesus himself was a great story teller, it seems quite possible that much of holy writings, beliefs and spiritual stories (of many different religions) are just a way of trying to explain some truth that is often difficult to put into words but are not really to be taken literally.  (I can almost sense the fundamentalists putting their heads in their hands, gasping in horror and  declaring that I have surely 'lost my faith'!)  But why do we condescendingly smile at aboriginal stories and yet are offended if others do the same to us?  Who are we to go bulldozing our way in and telling someone whose tradition is over 40,000 years old that he is wrong and we are right?  The arrogance of such an empire spirit never ceases to amaze me.

The first plane that started the Flying Doctor Service

Another interesting story that Martin and Lisa told was of Rev John Flynn.  He had been appointed to minister in the outback.  In 1912 he established the Australian Inland Mission in order to attend to the spiritual, medical and social needs of those living in the outback.  He built hospitals but is mostly remembered for implementing with a friend what has become known as The Flying Doctor Service.  His concern was that people were so isolated and his greatest desire was to help people to connect.with others.  Over the years he managed to get an aeroplane and a pilot but the problem was how people could access this service.  Another associate invented a pedal radio and so in 1929 people could call on the Flying Doctor Service.  Later transistor radios replaced the pedal kind and people were then able to contact their 'neighbours' many miles away and families were once again in touch with each other.  John Flynn was a Presbyterian minister but rather than trying to get people to travel in order to gather in one building to worship together, he saw their need and tried to meet that need right where they were.  He cared for aborigines as well as white settlers whether they accepted his Christian beliefs or not.  That is why he is remembered to this day.  That seems like a Jesus thing to do - not being consumed with the idea of getting people to meet on the Sabbath/Sunday in the synagogue/temple/church building but rather seeing a need and working to meet that need.

Mmm!  Thank you Australia for the lessons you share.  Much to ponder.    

Mam Said ...

My sister has recently made contact with a lady who used to live near to us when we were all growing up.  That started us reminiscing about her and her family.  One day, the lady who lived 3 doors away from us (the said lady's mother) came and knocked on the door of our home.  She wanted to talk to Mam.  She was obviously upset about something.  Mam invited her in, put the kettle on and 'suggested' to us that we should go outside or upstairs and do something.  We knew that that meant that we were not to be around when they were talking adult stuff!  The woman's young teenage daughter (who had recently contacted my sister)) had told her that she was pregnant, and I'm talking about the late 50s early 60s - not at all acceptable!  Mam sat and listened.  They drank tea and talked for quite a while before the woman went back to her house a little less stressed.  That young teenage daughter, now more than 50 years on, is a mother and grandmother and still very happily married to her childhood sweetheart.  The thing about Mam was that our home was open to anyone who needed help, whoever they were.  My sister and I smiled at the thought that she probably knew some intimate secret about most of our neighbours who had at some point confided in her.  She didn't preach at people or spout Bible verses at them, didn't invite them to accompany us to church on Sunday, didn't even criticise them and never repeated a confidence.  Whenever we made some snide comment about anyone, her reply was always, 'God loves everybody and so should we.  It's not our place to judge.  Our job is to help.'  She didn't just believe in God's all-embracing love, she lived it.

The death of Atahualpa, ruler of the Incas

The news recently has had much to concern us about terrorism, kidnappings and persecution.  Many are sharing thoughts and prayers for Christians who are in such a position in Iraq, and rightly so.  How dreadful that they should be threatened with death just because they don't want to accept the religious biases of their captors.  I couldn't help thinking though about many centuries ago when Christians did the same thing.  We are often reminded of the crusades and how still today they are remembered by many but we sometimes forget about the persecution of those of other faiths during the Spanish Inquisition and hardly ever think about the thousands of Incas who were slaughtered because they couldn't understand the Trinity and didn't want to embrace Christianity.  They were a peace loving race of people who had a very good way of life when they were suddenly invaded by a people who had travelled thousands of miles across the ocean, killing and stealing as they went.  All who didn't accept their way of Christianity were mercilessly annihilated.  The verse 'he who is without sin let him cast the first stone.' comes to mind.  


I am not saying that we shouldn't be concerned and intercede for those we love, those who belong to our particular religious group.  Of course we should.  But sometimes I think it is easy to feel that somehow God is more concerned about Christians than others.  We often don't give a second thought about a situation unless some westerner or Christian is involved as though somehow it's not as bad if someone from another religion is suffering but woe betide if it happens to a Christian!  Let us be clear, God is not a Christian.  God is God.  God doesn't love Christians more than he loves anyone of another religion.  It's like, yes, but God leans more in favour of Christians than other religions surely.  After all we accept his son as Saviour, others don't.  The story of the Prodigal Son tells us differently.  God loves all whether we accept his ways or not, remain within his household or reject him.  We are all equal in the eyes of God and he never stops loving us, no matter what.  Jesus cried out to God to forgive those who killed him.  God is Love, all-encompassing and unconditional Love.  Of course He hates the persecution of Christians.  He also hates the persecution of Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists or any other religious group.  People suffer persecution for many reasons.  How many times have we heard of  a young woman being killed to restore some idea of 'family honour' when she didn't want to marry the man of her parents' choice?  The 200 young schoolgirls are still missing in Nigeria, taken into captivity just because they were female and seeking to be educated and going to school.  Homosexuals are being killed in parts of the world just because of their sexuality.  There are those who are persecuted because of their nationality/tribe or shunned and left to die because of some disability.

God's love is all-embracing,  all-inclusive, unconditional.  I ask God that he will help me to not be narrow-minded, thinking only of my own particular religious group but

to see all people as he sees them,  be concerned for all his creation, wherever they are and pray for all who are persecuted for whatever reason.  As Mam said, 'God loves everybody and so should we.' 

Uncontrollable and Windswept

Next week the children return to school after their summer break.  There is nervous anticipation as they enter a new school year and some begin the main school for the first time.  Parents are making sure that they have everything ready.  Occasionally there is some last minute shopping to do.  So it was with the young mother and her son who were on their way into town.  She thought that everything was in hand and she had been well organised buying the new uniform at the beginning of the holidays with the idea that once she had purchased what she needed, any left over cash could be spent on days out.  Just a few days ago she decided to try everything on once more just to make sure all was ok.  To her amazement, the trousers were now too short for her son.  She knew he had had a sudden spurt of growth but hadn't realised that he had grown that much.  So she had to go and buy some more trousers.  Ah, a lesson that all parents learn - you can't organize your child's growth or control their height.  You can give them healthy food and make sure they eat and drink all the required nutrients of a balanced diet in order to be healthy but you cannot control or organize just how that will actually work out in reality.  Some have sudden bursts of growth while others just steadily get bigger.


This past week the weather hasn't been very nice, reaching temperatures more like winter some days.  In the south west we have had quite a lot of rain and wind so I was looking forward on Thursday to what I had thought, according to forecasts, was going to be a bit brighter and I would be able to get out into the garden to do some weeding and tidying up.  Weather wise it was another day of disappointment.  In the morning I had gone to my sister's for a coffee and chat as I normally do once a week but on the way home, the sky was getting darker and the clouds looked threatening.  There was the odd spot of rain on the bus window and so my good intentions for the garden would have to wait for another day.  The experts are able to forecast the weather and their accuracy is getting better with all their modern gadgetry.  Although they can keep us informed as to what will probably happen, they cannot control or organize the weather.


And so it is with life. Some things just cannot be organised or controlled, no matter how we might prepare or think we have life sorted.  Sadly some people think that you can actually organize an outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God.  The idea is that through prayer, hard work and good organisational skills, souls will be won for God's kingdom.  We can plan and have projects and get people through the door into the building but that doesn't necessarily mean that they have come to a personal friendship with the Almighty.  Often those who 'organize' a revival find that within a couple of years, things have pretty much gone back to the way they were before all their efforts.  We humans have a tendency to think of this firm called 'The Kingdom of Heaven' whose CEO is this huge personality called God.  Some in the planning department think up projects and activities and then go and present the plans before the CEO (God) and seek his approval to put them into action. I have heard leaders come up with a 5 year plan for their congregation and claim that within so many years there will be so many in the congregation and so many outreach projects.  It didn't happen - because you can't organize God!   



It's actually the other way around.  We need to ask God what are his plans and seek his help in living them out.  We can do our best, be very active and committed, participate etc etc but accept that we must let God be God and do things his way.  We talk of the 'wind of his spirit and just like the wind in real life, we cannot control or organize it according to our self-made plans.  We just have to go with whatever comes.  The secret of a good relationship with him is to be totally accepting of whatever he is doing and be ready to go along with the moving of his spirit, wherever that might take us.  Here's to being wind-swept.