In Acts chapter 5 things rise to such a point that merely the shadow of Peter has to fall on someone for them to have the possibility of healing (see verse 15). Crowds gathered and pressed in to be part of the action, resembling the times when Jesus moved among the crowds and ministry took place.
An interesting feature of these episodes (both with Jesus and with Peter / the apostles) is that the healing / relief / comfort brought came liberally, seemingly with little head-knowledge interaction or stated belief. And with virtually zero doctrinal formula (except, when Peter did speak, the words 'In the name of Jesus ...').
So where was the repentance on the part of the recipient? Where was their prayer of commitment? In these incidents they seem to be missing.
Instead we see grace simply swiping across people, much as a shadow might swipe over someone as a person passes by. That is enough! God is at work, grace is being marvellously and liberally poured out.
The grace comes first ... things change ... living in a new way (lifestyle changes) hopefully come later (but note it is not guaranteed).
The religious establishment - the guardians of orthodoxy and 'correct' interpretation of scripture - couldn't seem to get their heads round these events. Their reaction was jealousy and (foolish) attempts to curtail.
Foolish because - as we all know - you simply cannot grasp hold of a shadow!
Monday, 13 August 2018
Thursday, 9 August 2018
Rain, Wells and Springing Up
The recent weather has made us sit up and take notice. Yes we do depend on the weather, and so yes we do depend on God - His grace and provision. It is not simply a case of continuing on as normal.
Promises in scripture suggest the same might be true of salvation - that is of seeing whole waves of people discovering the grace of God. Isaiah 12:3 talks of our joy of drawing water from the wells of salvation. This comes in the middle of a song celebrating God's ability to save - something to be made known to all the world.
Just as we have longed for a relief in the hot weather and particularly for rains, let us long for God to open new wells of salvation that we may be able to draw up from in our mission contexts.
Later in Isaiah 45:8 it says 'heavens above rain down my righteousness ... let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up'. A bit more of a curious passage here, since God says he will use a foreign king to advance his purposes. Yet again in the middle is this marvellous promise that with God showering His righteousness, it will be like salvation simply springing up from the ground. In other words popping up here and there without much intervention from us!
Let us wait on God, looking for another new wave where His work enables salvation to occur around us. Let us revel in the unpredictability of it - for it will be His doing rather than our programme.
Lord God, may you open new wells of salvation. May we see it spring up from the ground!
Promises in scripture suggest the same might be true of salvation - that is of seeing whole waves of people discovering the grace of God. Isaiah 12:3 talks of our joy of drawing water from the wells of salvation. This comes in the middle of a song celebrating God's ability to save - something to be made known to all the world.
Just as we have longed for a relief in the hot weather and particularly for rains, let us long for God to open new wells of salvation that we may be able to draw up from in our mission contexts.
Later in Isaiah 45:8 it says 'heavens above rain down my righteousness ... let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up'. A bit more of a curious passage here, since God says he will use a foreign king to advance his purposes. Yet again in the middle is this marvellous promise that with God showering His righteousness, it will be like salvation simply springing up from the ground. In other words popping up here and there without much intervention from us!
Let us wait on God, looking for another new wave where His work enables salvation to occur around us. Let us revel in the unpredictability of it - for it will be His doing rather than our programme.
Lord God, may you open new wells of salvation. May we see it spring up from the ground!
Thursday, 26 July 2018
Staying True to What the Father is Doing
Early in the ministry of Jesus as recorded by John there is a dispute with leaders who questioned what Jesus was up to. Jesus' reply holds a deep truth: 'The Son can do nothing by himself, He can only do what he sees his Father doing' (John 5:19).
Friday, 29 June 2018
Christian Mission in a Secular State
In his collection of essays 'God for a Secular Society', theologian Jürgen Moltmann argues that a 'secular' state with full freedom religion is the logical consequence of Christians calling for religious liberty. That liberty must be granted to those of other faiths and none, if it is to be enjoyed for yourself in your own faith. Moltmann goes as far as claiming it as a 'religious achievement', not an 'irreligious evil' (page 212).
The early baptists understood this principle, and in England petitioned the king on the subject in the early 1600s. As well as calling for freedom for themselves (which at they time they did not enjoy), they recognised it must be afforded to those of other faiths.
The principle is surely a Christian one, since for God to be love must allow for those who will reject and go their own way, however sad and painful that may be. On several occasions the gospels record people turning or drifting away from Jesus. They were not forced to remain.
The irony in this freedom is that over time the free/secular state may shift to a point where it starts passing laws that threaten to undermine the very religious freedom it eventually granted. Many would argue that this phenomena is happening today, and claim that the UK is now effectively 'moving backwards' in regard to freedom.
That may sadly prove to be true, but it nevertheless does not change the fundamental task of Christian mission that has hopefully remained the same throughout: namely to preach Christ crucified, raised as Lord, and His Kingdom. For whatever the politics or prevailing cultural winds, this call to life in God made possible by Jesus, to see God's kingdom 'on earth as it is in heaven', is the universal call whatever the nation or prevailing earthly ideaology.
Moltmann asserts this call to the Kingdom as the church's universal interest (p220). The church is not there for its own sake, but for the Kingdom. Voices from the church into public debate must therefore be careful not to simply appear to be clinging to power for the church as an institution, because in Kingdom terms it should never have had such power in the first place!
The missional-prophetic cry into the public arena will therefore be a nuanced voice that argues positively for what releases life in Christ, and give reasoned warnings against things that would otherwise undermine such life.
The early baptists understood this principle, and in England petitioned the king on the subject in the early 1600s. As well as calling for freedom for themselves (which at they time they did not enjoy), they recognised it must be afforded to those of other faiths.
The principle is surely a Christian one, since for God to be love must allow for those who will reject and go their own way, however sad and painful that may be. On several occasions the gospels record people turning or drifting away from Jesus. They were not forced to remain.
The irony in this freedom is that over time the free/secular state may shift to a point where it starts passing laws that threaten to undermine the very religious freedom it eventually granted. Many would argue that this phenomena is happening today, and claim that the UK is now effectively 'moving backwards' in regard to freedom.
That may sadly prove to be true, but it nevertheless does not change the fundamental task of Christian mission that has hopefully remained the same throughout: namely to preach Christ crucified, raised as Lord, and His Kingdom. For whatever the politics or prevailing cultural winds, this call to life in God made possible by Jesus, to see God's kingdom 'on earth as it is in heaven', is the universal call whatever the nation or prevailing earthly ideaology.
Moltmann asserts this call to the Kingdom as the church's universal interest (p220). The church is not there for its own sake, but for the Kingdom. Voices from the church into public debate must therefore be careful not to simply appear to be clinging to power for the church as an institution, because in Kingdom terms it should never have had such power in the first place!
The missional-prophetic cry into the public arena will therefore be a nuanced voice that argues positively for what releases life in Christ, and give reasoned warnings against things that would otherwise undermine such life.
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