Exiles

Posted on March 29, 2007
Filed Under teaching | 1 Comment

Jonathan bought me Michael Frost’s new book Exiles: Living Missionally In a Post-Christian Culture which I received yesterday. I’ve only read a couple of pages, and scanned through some of the book, but what I’m reading really goes against the grain. This book will probably upset a lot of Christians, as it really challenges. You can read Len Hjalmarsons review of it here (as he’s read the whole thing!)

Amazon describes it as “Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture” presents a biblical, Christian worldview for the emergent church - people who are not at home in the traditional church or in the secular world. As exiles of both, they must create their own worldview that integrates their Christian beliefs with the contemporary world. “Exiles” seeks to integrate all aspects of life and decision-making and to develop the characteristics of a Christian life lived intentionally within emerging (postmodern) culture. It presents a plea for a dynamic, life-affirming, robust Christian faith that can be lived successfully in the post-Christian world of twenty-first century Western society. This book will present a Christian lifestyle that can be lived in non-religious categories and be attractive to not-yet Christians. Such a worldview takes ecology and politics seriously. It offers a positive response to the workplace, the arts, feminism, mystery and worship. “Exiles” seeks to develop a framework that will allow Christians to live boldly and courageously in a world that no longer values the culture of the church, but does greatly value many of the things the Bible speaks positively about. This book suggests that there us more to being a Christian than meets the eye. It explores the secret, unseen nooks and crannies in the life of a Christian and suggests that faith is about more than church attendance and belief in God. Written in a conversational, easy-to-read style.”

As I read more I’m sure I’ll be blogging about the book, having listened to Michael speak I know he doesn’t mince his words!

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Evolving Church

Posted on March 28, 2007
Filed Under church, faith, mission and justice, thoughts | Leave a Comment

One thing which can’t be denied is that church is evolving, as it has done on different occassions throughtout the centuries (reformation etc). Most people don’t like change, so it is not suprising that most Christians don’t want to see changes in the church. Let’s face it some church members become distressed at the thought of the chairs being changed, so re-thinking church is really not for them. I’ve been wondering why some christians are against anything with the post-modern, new way of thinking, emergent tag on it. I guess some of it is that if all people have ever known is how they do church on a Sunday morning at 10am, then they really aren’t up for a bunch of people telling them that maybe there are better ways to be church (don’t blame them really, none of us like to be told that our way might not be the best).

I think people have become too comfortable within our churches - they are almost like safe places with nicely tweaked programs for those on the inside or others who might be seeking. Most of us don’t like getting our hands dirty and really getting out there within our communities. We talk about it lots, and think that because we have a few people from our church involved in a particular ministry, such as feeding the homeless, that we are in the community. The truth is though, those people are in the community, not all of us. If “we” were in the community then we would all be out there making a difference, whether or not it meant people became christians. I think this is how church is evolving at the moment. People are really being challenged to live like christians and get involved in social justice issues - challenges which can be uncomfortable. The church should not be about safe religion, it should be growing, challenging and innovating - dangerous.

There are groups of people who are finding our churches to be too cosy and unrelational, so they are seeking a community where they can be loved for who they are, and really feel like they are loving their neighbour etc. I think these communities are going to rapidly grow within our countries as people become more and more dissatisfied with institutionalised church. Church in twenty years will look very different from now, probably more underground. I read a book by Nick Page a few years ago called The Church Invisable which was a story about the future of the church - it was a very interesting read. How do you perceive the church of the future to be?

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Opening up a can of worms

Posted on March 27, 2007
Filed Under church, current affairs | 9 Comments

OK, so as the title suggests, I’m probably about to open up a can of worms. Potentially at the end of this post I may find myself totally isolated by everyone I know, but this post has been in my head for over a week now, and I’ve just go to let it out! Those of you who read my blog from around the world will probably not know anything about this, but to those of you in the UK, with one word the chances are you will know what I’m on about - SORS (Sexual Orientation Regulations). This is a new law to come into effect as of the end of April which means people cannot be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. I think this is a good thing, as we should all be treated fairly. This law has caused quite a stir in the christian community though, you have groups such as Anglican Mainstream who claim that christians will now be persecuted due to this law, and that ministers could be sent to jail for saying that homosexuality is wrong, and for refusing to marry gay couples etc. Then you have groups like Faithworks who are effectively saying to the christian community “don’t get your knickers in a twist” (underpants to those of you across the pond!). Personally I am leaning towards the faithworks view. Why? Well to start with Jesus calls us to love others. When he was on earth he would have prostitutes, adulterers etc with him. Now he never told them that approved with what they did, BUT he loved them. We have to have grace for people. I’m not sure if I think homosexuality is right or not, but it’s not for me to judge - sometimes we need to take the plank out of our own eye before we point out other peoples splinters. Why is a homosexuals sin greater than mine? It’s simply not. The other issue I have with christians getting so irrate with Sors is that they will readily say “homosexuality is against God’s word - it’s in the bible, it’s a sin.” There are a lot of things in the bible which are sins - such as adultery, divorce etc. Yet we don’t bat an eyelid as having ministers working in our churces these days who have divorced, remarried etc. There seems to be a grace for this kind of sin, which there wasn’t even 10 - 15 years ago. Why are we trying to have double standards? It’s issues like this which push the church further and further away from the society we are trying to reach, thus making us even more irrelevant. As Jesus said to the men who brought him the woman caught in the act of adultery (why didn’t they bring the man as well?) “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” I just think we need to stop pointing fingers all of the time, and just get out there and love - let Jesus do the work through us.

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Burned out on religion?

Posted on March 26, 2007
Filed Under God, church, faith, teaching | 9 Comments

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

I think these verses sum me up at the moment. I love them.

I am burned out on religion. The NIV version is where Jesus talks about his yoke.

What is a yoke? A yoke in Jesus’ day was effectively a list of rules and regulations. Boys spent years learning the Torah, so that they could become Rabbis disciples when they were older, and then Rabbis themselves. Along the way some were told they were not good enough, so they had to leave and go to work at the family business, whilst others made the grade. Then they had to find a Rabbi to disciple them. A man had to decide that a particular Rabbi’s interpretation of the bible was literally the same as how he thought God intended things in the scriptures. When they found a Rabbi they agreed with, they basically took on that Rabbi’s yoke - his set of rules and regulations - you had to live them out.
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus is telling us that his yoke is light, that there is another way. Why is then, that a lot of the church can look incredibly pharisaic today? Is it an institution which is focusing too much on religion and has therefore become irrelevant to a lot of society. Now I’m not knocking all churches, there are some great ones out there, and there are some wonderful Chritians who do incredible things for God. My only question is, are we doing it Jesus’ way? I know my answer to that, but I’ll leave you to figure your own out.

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Freedom Day

Posted on March 25, 2007
Filed Under God, current affairs, mission and justice | 3 Comments

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”

Luke 4:18-19, NLT

Let’s remember today those who are still held captive around the world. Today we mark 200 years since transatlantic slavery was abolished, yet there are more slaves around the world, than at any time in history. Let’s also remember those around the world who are enslaved to their own addictions, and pray for freedom for everyone.

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