When the Prodigal Came Home

When I first became a Christian I was 29 years old. Having been brought up in a Christian home and seeing loads of young people really chasing after God I had this constant nagging feeling that I had wasted my life. At times this would get me really down - but thankfully God has sorted out this self-condemnation.

I've been thinking about it again though recently, in the context of how we bring new Christians into the church.

When the Prodigal Son came home, did the father send him straight out to work to make up for lost time and repay his debts? No - he had a huge celebration!

I wonder sometimes whether we're to quick to give new believers "ministries" or get them to serve in the church - instead of letting them celebrate being reconciled to God and their new identity as saints. Perhaps we should spend more time with young Christians showing them love and acceptance, teaching them about the Gospel and getting them acquainted with grace before sending them on training courses, asking them to join the worship band or even serve coffees?

I'm not against good works or allowing people to serve - good works are a natural outworking of the Gospel - but if we don't give baby Christians good foundations of grace, their new identity in Christ and the finished work of the cross, we run the risk of burning out new converts who may well get involved out of wrong motivations such as feeling they have to repay God for what he's done, make up for "lost time" or "balance out" their sins with good deeds.

Freely Receive, Freely Give

It is fair to say that the church has a reputation of being greedy and money grabbing. Although like many preconceptions this is not completely accurate, too often this reputation is well earned. The American hip-hop group Public Enemy gives a damning indictment of the church in their song 1 Million Bottlebags

one side of the street is the church
across is a liquor store
both of them keeping us poor
keeping us down

As Christians, it's no good bleating about unfair reputations, it's simply our responsibility to ensure that our behaviour is so radically Christ-like that any allegations fall on deaf ears. In fact, in my opinion this reputation is now so ingrained within the culture that only a radical return to biblical church life will suffice.

The first thing we can do is stop taking money from non-Christians - period. At Church on the Rock, I am delighted to say that, although we pass a collection bucket around, it is made very clear that this is for church members only and visitors are under no obligation to contribute. I don't think this goes far enough though as we still charge non-Christians to attend certain events. I think the time has come when we should stop charging non-Christians to attend any church event with church members covering all costs. Why? Because this demonstrates the Gospel.

The Gospel message is that God's grace is available as a free gift however it cost Jesus his life. Jesus paid the price in full so that we could receive his grace freely. By paying all monetary costs for non-Christians attending church events or using our facilities we are demonstrating that, although this is free to them, it has a cost which has been borne by someone else.

What better way to demonstrate the Gospel message and begin destroying a cultural preconception that has plagued the body of Christ for far too long?

Paid in Full

Those who know me will remember that before I was a Christian I was hopelessly hooked on gambling, not to mention a prolific spender of money I didn’t have. During those years, I managed to rack up tens of thousands of pounds of debt – in fact one of my favourite stories I use to illustrate how God humbled me to get my attention is the downslide of vehicle ownership during my mid to late 20s. From the age of 25 I went rapidly from driving a brand new BMW M5 (now driven by my old boss!) to a Mercedes C280 to a bashed up old red Daihatsu panel van (the “Red van Nistelrooy” as it was affectionately known). In fact by the time I became a Christian, my financial position was in a pretty poor state – I owed large sums of money to various companies at high rates of interest.

In the New Testament, the Bible teaches that by his death Jesus paid all the debt of sin, so when I became a Christian, although I was still in financial debt I was no longer in debt to the sin I had done to get myself in that mess – particularly those of pride and greed - in fact I was completely free. I must admit though at times my financial debt didn’t make me feel that way however it was true – God didn’t count any debt against me. It's important as Christians that we are not deceived into thinking that financial difficulties somehow alienate us from God's love - they don't.

For the last five years I have wanted to be completely free of financial debt - I couldn't actually remember a time in my adult life being free of debt. Although God had completely set me free from gambling addiction and worked heavily on my foolhardy spending, he hadn’t miraculously paid off my debts. I remember an old friend questioning me why God hadn’t paid off my debt, I responded at the time that it was because God wanted to teach me how to manage money well – a lesson my previous track record proved was very necessary.

In a number of places the Bible teaches that God is a loving father who corrects and disciplines his children. Proverbs 3:12 says “for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” In fact, the Bible goes further and says that discipline is seen as a crucial sign that we are God’s children, warning us that those left without discipline are not true sons: “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” [Hebrews 12:7-8]

The Bible also teaches a lot about money, including warnings not to love money, practice usury or charge excessive interest – a lesson many financial organisations should hear today. The Bible also teaches about debt: in the Old Testament, the people of Israel were required to observe the year of jubilee as part of the Law of Moses, which meant every seven years creditors were required to cancel all debts to their fellow citizens: “At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.” [Deuteronomy 15:1] Imagine the effect such a law would have today!

Today, the 23 July 2009, I can declare that all of my financial debts are now completely paid – I don’t owe a penny to anyone. I cannot remember the time when I wasn’t in some kind of debt and I don’t think the knowledge of that has fully sunk in yet however I’m sure it will soon enough. All thanks and glory goes to God – this is my year of jubilee!

Problem gambling and excessive debt are two blights on our society that cause misery to countless people. I have known for a while that God wants me to help those who had got themselves entangled in financial difficulties, especially in relation to problem gambling. I must confess however that I was reluctant to help people while I was still dealing with my old debts – it seemed a little hypocritical. Although God had placed no such restrictions on me and had to teach me that, I had wrongly placed them upon myself. It’s important as Christians to remind ourselves constantly that it is God’s grace not our abilities that qualify us for service – otherwise we will disqualify ourselves from work that God has clearly called us to. Today I am grateful to be in a position to help others in the knowledge that by His grace, God has taken me from a position of hopeless addiction and debt to a place of freedom. There truly is light at the end of the tunnel!

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” [Colossians 2:13-15]

Michael Jackson - A Cultural Warning

It's impossible to get anywhere near the news today without hearing about the untimely death of Michael Jackson.  Idolised and hated with equal vigour, he was one of the most controversial celebrities of our times.

Listening to conversations and reading comments on various websites, I have seen reactions of such extremes that it's difficult to equate them with the same person.  On one hand there are the worshippers, some of whom are reacting more as if a close family member has died than a celebrity they never met.  Then there are the haters - those who recall his rather bizarre behaviour that led to the nickname "Wacko Jacko" and the accusations of child molestation which, although dismissed by the courts, we were never allowed to forget.

So what can we learn from the life and untimely death of Michael Jackson?  His early years, family life and the enormous pressure he was put under during his formative years would have broken far stronger men - let alone a vulnerable boy who consequently never really grew up.  In fact, with all that pressure, it is any surprise that he became reclusive and eccentric?

Although he was responsible for his behaviour and, like each of us, will have to give an account for his life to God, he was also the victim of a celebrity-crazed society that contrived to deprive him of his childhood and any chance of a normal life.  His life and early demise should serve as a warning to our culture - fame, intrusive media coverage and the worship of mortal men has its price. Sadly, Michael Jackson has paid that price in full.

Confused

We've had a difficult weekend dealing with some confusing news.

In December last year, I applied for a "dream" job, working in the IT Department of a well known Christian mission organisation.  Although a major step of faith for us (as the job would involve leaving work, selling our home and moving myself and my pregnant wife to London) we really felt this was a "maybe the Lord" moment and went for it.  This job seemed to be everything I had been looking for, as one of my dreams has been to use my IT skills to help the poor - something integral to this role; not to mention our itching desire to expand our horizons and move from Guernsey.

This leap of faith appeared to have paid off when, a few weeks ago, I was offered the position conditional on the normal checks.  So, apprehensive yet optimistic, we began to set the wheels in motion to relocate to the UK and begin a new life.  We put our house up for sale, told our employers and started making enquiries about relocation.

Last week however, this dream came to a crashing halt when I received a telephone call withdrawing the offer.  Apparantly the personal references provided by two very close friends had raised enough issues for me to be considered unsuitable for the position.  I was absolutely gutted as after reading both references I felt them to be honest appraisals of my character from the perspective of the authors; both references also wholeheartedly recommended me for the position - it made no sense.

Responding to this setback has been a test of faith for us.  It's easy to believe God's promises in Scripture (especially ones like Romans 8:28) when things are looking rosy.  When I felt like my dream had been unjustly snatched away from me, believing these promises became a lot harder.  It has been very tempting to try and justify myself to others or get bitter and angry with those who would appear to have blocked my path.  It's also frighteningly easy to seek revenge and convince yourself that you're searching for justice.

When I read the Bible however, it tells me a few home truths about these situations:

1. God is sovereign over all things
2. All things really do work together for good for God's people
3. We should never seek revenge but rather entrust ourselves to God, the true judge, as he will judge rightly and without partiality
4. God's people have no need to try and justify themselves to others in a vain attempt to gain acceptance by men

If there's one thing I've learned over the last year, it's that truth is truth regardless how I feel about it.  It is therefore up to us (thankfully with help from the Holy Spirit) to choose to put our trust and faith in God, even when we don't understand.  Please pray that we would have the grace to do that!

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." [Romans 8:28]

My Vietnamese Adventure

I recently took part in a charity cycle challenge through Vietnam to raise money for locally run charity Hope for a Child. Here I recall some of the highlights of the trip:

We set off for Vietnam via London and Bangkok on the Tuesday evening. Three flights and two days later we arrived in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. After a short rest at the hotel, we were taken to central Hanoi to see the mausoleum and memorials for Ho Chi Minh - Vietnam’s first Communist leader, who first declared independence for Vietnam after World War II and led the Vietnamese through two wars, one with France and the more well known war with the United States when he led North Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh is deeply revered by the Vietnamese (especially those of a communist leaning) and is given an almost god-like status through a personality cult promoted by the government.  Pictures and quotations from him are posted on billboards all around the country and his body is preserved in a mausoleum in a similar fashion to Lenin and Mao.

Following our slightly biased introduction to “Uncle Ho” as he is affectionately known, we began a tour of the city using cyclos, a cycle taxi with a seat in the front for one passenger. What became very clear was that in Hanoi (as in the rest of Vietnam) the only driving rule is that you go forwards! This was made even more interesting when we discovered that our first cycling experience would be the next day cycling through central Hanoi – talk about being thrown in the deep end! Sure enough, the following day we started our cycle expedition. Cycling through Hanoi was eventful; we went through the centre of the city then through the outskirts of the city, avoiding pedestrians, cycles, motorbikes, cars and stray dogs. After a brief cycle to the river, we returned to the city and to lunch. We learned another lesson that day which was that Vietnamese food is extremely tasty. It is similar to Thai and Chinese food albeit not quite so spicy, although the chilli provided to season the soup is extremely hot. The French influence (Vietnam used to be a French colony) can also be seen as Vietnamese bread is very similar to French baguettes.

Our expedition moved from Hanoi to Hue. To get to Hue, we took the Reunification Express, a rather euphemistic name for the major train route that runs pretty much the length of the country. I stayed in a 4 bed berth, shared with three friends and some Vietnamese mice that decided to appear once the train started moving. Judging by the screams from the Australian backpackers next door, we evidently weren’t the only ones graced with their presence. It was at that point I became very grateful for the sealed bag all my gear was stored in!

At Hue our cycling trip began in earnest with a number of rides throughout the country, generally heading south towards Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) taking in the local culture and sights, along with some killer hills! Altogether we cycled 450km over an 8 day period including some pretty heavy days climbing. On two occasions we had to tackle hills with similar gradients to the Val des Terres in Guernsey, one 10km long, the other 11km long. I managed to conquer the 11km one but didn’t make the first 10km killer – partly because I hadn’t quite worked out how to use the gears properly and was peddling twice as fast as everyone else but getting nowhere! Fortunately an experienced cyclist on the trip with me was able to provide some tips. Accompanying us on every journey (apart from the final day) was the rain we were subjected to every day but one. Vietnam had recently experienced its worst flooding in years and the waterproof jacket I took was no match for the torrential downpours we experienced and we returned each night soaked through. In the end I resorted to using a hairdryer to keep my shoes relatively dry and keep my feet healthy.  Unfortunately the damp has taken its toll on my feet and I am now sporting a dressing on one of my feet  from where the skin has peeled off - ouch!

On some of the longer rides, we went well off the beaten track through villages that hardly ever saw western tourists. The people of Vietnam, especially the children, are very friendly and we were frequently greeted by children at the side of the road wanting us to give them a passing “high-five” Lance Armstrong style. Of course there were also the hawkers, who would try to sell every kind of souvenirs to the shopaholics eager to part with their cash. Street sellers in Vietnam are generally very polite and not pushy, unlike places like Egypt and a polite “no thank you” to some of the less attractive sales opportunities was usually enough for them to move on. This was the most enjoyable part of the trip, as we were able to see the real Vietnam, not just the tourism sites.

There were many different sites and monuments to see in Vietnam, including the old royal city at Hue (partially destroyed during the Vietnam War), a huge tomb complex for their last emperor and an arena where tigers and elephants used to fight - apparently the elephants won most of the time. There were also many different religious sites – the Vietnamese appear extremely religious with a strange cocktail of Buddhism, Roman Catholicism, “mother goddess” worship and ancestor worship – as well as a pluralistic mix of various beliefs. One thing that I noticed was that the Vietnamese seemed to be religiously obsessed with death and statues - they buried their dead in ornate tombs in the fields where they worked and statues were everywhere (whether of Buddha, the virgin Mary or the mother goddess) along with various shrines. Having a Christian faith, I personally found it sad to see such a confused mix of religious beliefs that seemed centred around death, especially amongst such a friendly and welcoming people that seemed to love life so much. Add to this mix the wealth of communist propaganda that adorned the streets and one was left with a unique cultural experience that I had never seen before, even in China.

Another aspect of Vietnamese life we encountered fairly regularly was the legacy of the war with the United States. Relics of the war ranged from huge American storage bunkers at Da Nang to the street sellers with leg(s) missing from land mines. One old gentleman who didn’t speak English managed to communicate to me via sign language and sand drawing that he had been a soldier in the war, had fought at the battle of Hue (one of the major encounters of the war) and had lost his leg to a land mine. Being someone interested in military history, it was touching to speak to someone who had experienced the war first hand and whose life had been so dramatically affected by a conflict that only ended the year I was born.

We ended the trip in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with a trip to the Cu Chi tunnels, used by the Viet Cong guerrilla fighters against the Americans. War is always documented with bias and we are used to hearing very western-biased reporting however the blatant propaganda rhetoric given by the Vietnamese government really was something else! This was the most intense propaganda I had heard yet, with terms such as “American imperialists and their lackeys”, “devils” – relating to the US military and finally the term “American killer hero” that was attached to the Viet Cong fighters. A quick crawl down the (enlarged for western tourists) tunnels, demonstrations of the booby traps they used (some of which were pretty grim) and having a go at firing some machine guns from the war gave a brief glimpse into the conditions the Vietnamese fought in and allowed me to play Rambo for a few moments!

Altogether my Vietnam experience was challenging but enjoyable. The unique blend of continuous strenuous exercise, climate and being immersed in a completely different cultural environment was an experience I won’t easily forget. To be able to do such a challenge whilst raising money for a charity that a good friend has started was the icing on the cake. I would certainly recommend others to attempt a similar challenge in the future.

Don't Blame the Banks for Everything

I have noticed how many Guernsey residents have a hobby of laying blame for all the island's ills on the finance industry, often associated with "foreigners." They look back with nostalgia at "good ol' Guernsey" and long to return to the old times.

Unfortunately those same individuals conveniently forget that it was the same “good ol' Guernsey” that greedily swallowed the promises of affluence given by the finance industry and allowed foreign investment into the island in the first place. As a community we have been happy to reap the rewards of this investment yet seem somewhat unwilling to accept that such an influx of money also brings consequences - not least the unequal distribution of wealth between rich and poor. We welcomed this investment, we must therefore accept our share of the responsibility for the consequences it has brought, both economic and social. As we sow, we also reap….

As a finance industry worker it is difficult at times knowing that my work is effectively making rich people richer. It has also been difficult visiting nations in Africa where poverty is rife, knowing how comparatively wealthy I am. Recently I heard Sibs Sibanda from Zimbabwe preach in our church, someone well qualified to discuss the gap between rich and poor. He had an interesting perspective on wealth saying that we should not feel guilty for the comparative wealth we have in Guernsey. We should however hold it lightly and ensure it is used as wisely and fairly as possible.

I think this is good advice. Let's hold our money lightly, using what we have to do good and help those in need. After all in these uncertain times, it may be us in need of help one day.

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." [Luke 16:9-13]

The Audacity of Hope

It's finally finished - after months of campaigning and millions of dollars spent, Barack Obama is the new President of the USA. His election campaign has been founded on a message of change and hope and it's not difficult to see why. To have a president with visible African heritage in a country that until the 1960s legally enforced racial segregation is astounding. Even more so when one considers that even during the election campaign Mr Obama's skin colour was still considered a potential fly in the ointment.

So, whilst there is cause for some optimism in America, we should nevertheless remain cautious where we place our hope. Obama may have many admirable qualities but he is not the heroic saviour some have made him out to be. For example there are approx 3,700 babies a day who die in the USA because of abortion laws he supports. Not much "hope" for them is there? That's not to say that John McCain would have made a better president - we will never know the answer to that question and besides, McCain (like Obama) is a man and like all men he is flawed.

In fact what the USA election has clearly demonstrated is that:

1. We should not try to fit God into a politican pigeon-hole. He is not Republican or Democrat, Capitalist or Socialist - He is God and it is us who should fall in line with His agenda (laid out in His manifesto, the Bible) not the other way round.

2. Our hope should not be governed by the current resident of the White House. Such hope is as temporal, unstable and flawed as the man (or woman) living there. Instead, we should place hope in Jesus, the infallible, eternal and perfect ruler of the universe who "works all things according to the counsel of his will"

"He changes times and seasons;

he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding" [Daniel 2:21]

Probably No Answer

There's a new advertising campaign coming soon to the London Buses. The British Humanist Association with help from Richard Dawkins is looking to place advertisements in buses with the slogan "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

I'm actually disappointed that a hugely intelligent man of reason like Richard Dawkins would put his name to such a weak campaign. It's not exactly convincing is it? Who is going to swap the security of faith in Jesus for a life of uncertainty on the word of an organisation that doesn't even have enough self-assurance to make a solid claim? It would be about as wise as jumping out of a plane without a parachute thinking "I probably don't need it" - why would you when something that will save you is within such easy reach?

I actually wonder whether this campaign might backfire on the neo-atheists / BHA considering the current uncertainty. I doubt many people in the city, with their jobs and financial security on the line, will take too kindly to being told by a faceless advert costing thousands to "stop worrying and enjoy your life" based simply on an uncertain statement! In fact it's not too difficult to see how God could use this campaign for His purposes, something that hasn't gone unnoticed by the Methodist Church.

Sadly the uncertainty in this campaign doesn't surprise me as I have attended humanist events before. They are confused affairs that despite claims to the contrary contain pseudo-religious elements not dissimilar to their religious counterparts. It seems even humanists can't escape from the yearning for some meaning beyond a purely biological existence.*  I must emphasise that I admire those who, due to the conviction that it would be hypocrisy to make promises before God when they don't believe, choose humanist instead of Christian ceremonies.

Nevertheless, when you see these adverts consider this: in these uncertain times, why settle for the uncertainty of humanism when there is certainty with Jesus - with him all God's promises are a definite "Yes."

"For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory."
[2 Corinthians 1:19-20]

* "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end." [Ecclesiastes 3:11]

The Holy Spirit & Creche

At our church prayer meeting today there was some excitement as apparently last week many people had responded to the preach and gone forward for prayer and ministry. This was seen as evidence of the Holy Spirit moving in our church and working with individuals. I wasn’t there at the time – instead I was in a side-room lying on the floor being changed by the Holy Spirit. No I hadn’t just been prayed over by the latest spiritual superstar, it was my first time helping with the church crèche - I was lying on the floor playing with toys, kicking a balloon around and even changing my first nappy!

Through the crèche the Holy Spirit has, amongst other things, been teaching me about servanthood. We live in a culture that encourages us to strive for recognition through power, position, achievement and success. Jesus however had a different take for those who sought position in His Kingdom, He said “whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave.”* Sadly this lesson is sometimes ignored and some teaching on church leadership sounds little different to secular management theory. I myself have fallen into that trap, as someone who struggles with pride I often seek recognition and position for myself through self-promotion and criticising others. Using the crèche, God is teaching me a difficult lesson that if I truly have aspirations to godly leadership I should not rush to seek position for myself but rather move into the background and learn to serve others.

I am amazed by God’s continuous work in my life – He doesn’t need to wait until ministry times on Sunday to change my stubborn heart, He’s doing it day in, day out using the most mundane things like nappy changes!

* Matthew 20:26

Act Justly, Love Mercy

The recent case of kennel manager Jessica Valpied who, after a dog had been killed by two others at her kennels tried to cover up the death by claiming it has escaped (Guernsey Press, October 14, 2008) did not make pleasant reading for pet lovers like myself. This week, Miss Valpied was fined £400 by the Guernsey Magistrate's Court for stealing the dog's body.

Whilst that is case closed for the courts, sadly for Miss Valpied it is unlikely this will be the end of the matter for her. In a closed community such as Guernsey I doubt she will ever be allowed to forget her act of foolishness as people have a habit of reacting disproportionately to events such as this (a quick read of the comments posted on the Guernsey Press website nicely demonstrates this) and it is likely that she will become a social pariah, perhaps even hounded out of business. I don’t condone what she did which was obviously wrong however engaging in a witch hunt and treating her like some evil killer will not bring the dog back and is disproportionate to her crime.

The Bible teaches that we should "act justly and love mercy" - what an ideal opportunity we have for pet owning Christians to do just that. The courts have acted and justice has been done. Now it is time for mercy. May I encourage all Christian pet owners to make the effort to use 24-7 Pet Care and demonstrate God's grace and mercy in a very practical way.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." [Micah 6:8 NIV]

Right motives, wrong solution

In today's Guernsey Press, a local politician is calling for the HPV vaccine to be given to boys. Free inoculation is already given to girls aged 12-18 but this isn't enough according to Deputy Jenny Tasker who states: "my reason for this is that once people are sexually active, unprotected sex may exacerbate damage to the cervix, thus introducing the human papilloma virus, which may develop into a cancer"

It truly is a sign of the moral decline of Guernsey when we are even considering giving vaccines for STDs to 12 year olds as by doing so we are not only assuming that the majority will become sexually active within their teenage years, we are effectively placing an official "seal of approval" on that behaviour. Of course, we all know young people do become sexually active early and is it a surprise when we live in a sex-crazed society where popular culture force-feeds the message to our children that losing your virginity is a badge of honour, if it feels good do it and if something goes wrong never mind just pop to the doctor, abortion clinic or social security office.

Of course nobody wants anyone to get sick and it would be wrong to wish evil on anyone, or withold potentially life-saving vaccines. After all we live in a fallen world and there are those who are cruelly sexually abused who have no choice. Nevertheless, it’s high time young people were once again taught the truth that no matter how many vaccines are available, becoming sexually active still carries responsibility and risk and it would be far wiser to wait until marriage. Even if one leaves out the truth that sex outside of God's guidelines of marriage is sinful there are the risks of unplanned pregnancy, illness, emotional damage and even premature death. Young people should be taught that waiting for marriage not only honours God but also significantly reduces health risks and provides a stable foundation for raising children.

As Christians, we should not be afraid to confront such issues head on by firstly teaching our own children the joy of God's gift of sex when used within His boundaries of marriage, whilst warning them of the consequences of acting against God's guidelines. Finally, we need to can the self-righteousness and reach out to those whose lives have been damaged by sin (both committed by them and against them) and extend God's message of undeserved grace, mercy and forgiveness to a hurting generation.

What are you reading?

One of our elders preached a few weeks ago and warned us about the bestselling "Christian fiction" book "The Shack" due to the number of heretical views it contained. I haven't read the book (and won't either) so I will leave the theological critique to those that have, nevertheless it did make me think.

Clearly there is benefit to reading Christian books however if they are the only spiritual diet we digest we’re asking for trouble. Recently there has been an explosion in Christian books covering every subject imaginable. With such a plethora of works available we need to exercise discernment as not everything that has the label "Christian" stands up to the test of Biblical truth. For example I have found many Christian "self help" books teaching the "feel good gospel" that either belittles or totally ignores the holiness of God, our responsibility for our sin and the need for repentance. Then there are the well known and (not surprisingly) popular "prosperity" teachings that use poor exegeses of proof texts to teach a message contrary to the full counsel of Scripture.

We should also guard ourselves against getting carried away by the erratic winds of popular trends. Material that explodes onto the market promising a new “revelation” or quick fix to all life’s problems (as though the timeless Gospel message has somehow lost its power, or needs a helping hand to be relevant) rarely delivers on its promises and can actually lead to disappointment or guilt.

Then there are fictional books that carry a “Christian” message - whilst some may disagree I think this genre has its place, providing they are correctly handled. This means treating them as fiction not fact; checking to make sure they don’t contradict Biblical truth and ensuring our authority for teaching doctrine and theology remains the Bible - not the latest bestseller. Take CS Lewis' Narnia books for example: Aslan clearly symbolises Christ however I wouldn't use them to teach Christology but rather point people towards the real Jesus, revealed in the Bible and alive today! After all, Aslan is a pale imitation of the real thing, so why settle for less? If we rely on fictional works as an authority for doctrine we are not only missing out on the truth but also leaving ourselves open to deception. In the case of The Shack, there seems to be significant concern about the theology - certainly enough to make alarm bells ring. Why spend time reading a fictional book with dodgy theology to get an understanding of dealing with grief when there are far better examples of real people from whom we can learn? Then there is the book of Job that teaches us about grief and has the added advantage of being true and inspired.

As with all things, what we read should be weighed and tested against the highest authority. So, go ahead and read Christian books, fiction and non-fiction - only check that what you're reading is in line with the truth. How do you know that? By reading the Bible for yourself.... :-)

"Your word is a lamp to my feet
  and a light to my path." [Psalm 119:105]

Spiritual Celebrities

Excerpt from 1 Corinthians 1:10-31
"My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

There is a definite love affair with celebrities in our culture and even a cursory look at the media leaves no doubt that we live in a nation obsessed with famous people. Thanks largely to this media interest their every move is tracked, their every word scrutinised; even their bodies are micro-analysed to find the first wrinkle. This obsession with celebrities has generated a love/hate relationship which idolises the successful until something inevitably goes wrong. When this happens, today’s hero quickly becomes tomorrow’s villain and it often appears that celebrities are only built up for the sole purpose of being shot down. No wonder many find themselves in mental health facilities or drug rehabilitation units.

This obsession with celebrities is nothing new and Paul’s stern rebuke to the celebrity obsessed Corinthians should serve as a warning as it would appear that this unhealthy obsession with celebrities seems to have infiltrated the church once again. Rather than sportsmen and movie stars, there are celebrity evangelists, musicians and healers, even preachers are not immune!  The tragic example of the evangelist/healer Todd Bentley very publically highlighted this growing tendency. Clearly there were other issues in this case (not least some dubious theology) nevertheless the manner in which a young man with evident personal issues was rapidly hyped and elevated to the status of a celebrity (and then equally as rapidly shot down in flames when things went wrong) undoubtedly neither helped him nor the masses that flocked to his meetings who were left stunned when his marital problems came to light.

This tendency to hype up individuals is nothing new and lest we think it is solely reserved for the latest darling of God TV, I have noticed recently how certain Christian leaders from more respected churches have been revered, at times almost to the extent of hero worship. It is totally Biblical to honour those whom God has anointed and placed in positions of prominence however there is a huge difference between Biblical and fleshly honour. With Biblical honour God gets all the glory as we express our gratitude to Him for his anointing upon specific individuals, whilst acknowledging their humanity and capacity to err. Fleshly honour on the contrary gives glory to men attaching excessive credence to their words and deeds whilst placing unreasonable demands upon their character and behaviour whilst tempting them to pride.

This "spiritual celebrity" culture also seems to have brought a decrease in discernement.  Teaching and books from certain individuals are simply accepted on reputation alone and in some circles seem to have been elevated almost to the level of Scripture.  Evangelicals have long criticised the Roman Catholic church for their adherance to "Church Tradition" and papal authority - perhaps it is time we looked closer to home before pointing accusing fingers at others?  I am certainly not advocating a "lone soldier" mentality that rejects authority and instruction but rather cautioning that we should not simply lap up everything we are taught just because it comes from a respected teacher.  Scripture exhorts us to test everything (including our own beliefs and behaviour) against itself, the only totally reliable yardstick.  In fact one of the hallmarks of a godly leader is a willingness to have his teaching tested in this manner. Equally, one should be wary of anyone who reacts negatively to reasonable and godly questioning of their teaching.

As brothers and sisters in Christ, we have a responsibility not to place unreasonable and ungodly burdens of expectation upon those in positions of prominence or authority. This not only harms us as individuals, it also harms the body of Christ and not least those on whom this burden is placed. May I therefore encourage each one of us to examine ourselves to see if we have succumbed to this trend? I know I have recently had to repent of attaching a fleshly honour to certain individuals, then becoming disillusioned and angry when they don’t match my expectations. Where necessary, let us repent of giving glory to men and instead, let us elevate God to the position of celebrity – the only one who can not only match but exceed our highest expectations.

How God Changed my Life - a brief testimony

Just over four years ago (2004) my life, whilst superficially good, was actually in a complete mess. I might have had a decent career, friends and family but I was a neo-nazi, selfish bigot with an anger problem; I would binge drink most weekends getting as drunk as I possibly could; I was sexually promiscuous and would regularly view pornography; I was an emotional mess with a string of failed relationships and terrible insecurity and last but not least I was a gambling addict with heavy unsecured debt.

The day I was saved (June 20, 2004) my gambling addiction disappeared and I completely stopped viewing pornography.  Since that day I have neither placed a bet (apart from the occasional sweepstake amongst friends or at the office!) nor willingly viewed a pornographic image.  Even more miraculously, I do not feel any nagging desire to do either.
I also stopped getting drunk and sleeping around, keeping myself for my beautiful wife. More long term, I am now happily married and a homeowner whilst my unsecured debts are manageable and rapidly shrinking - these might seem pretty normal to most but they are miracles to me. I no longer have the same bitterness, anger or emotional instability and many of my friends are black!

Of course life isn't always a bed of roses as being a Christian doesn't mean you don't face life's struggles - the difference is you don't face them alone. God is with you and as He knows everything, including the future and that's pretty confidence-building.

So, how has God changed my life? God has given me hope, love, stability and a future - in short, He has given me a life worth living.

A Brief Christian Perspective on the Internet

As someone who has worked with IT my entire career I have followed the explosive growth of the Internet phenomenon with great interest. There is little doubt that the impact of the Internet over the past 15+ years has been nothing short of revolutionary - in fact it would be extremely difficult to find anyone in the world today whose life has been impacted in some way, even those who have never even seen a computer. Within a relatively short space of time the Internet has created a global marketplace where any individual, business or organisation can have a worldwide presence. Communications have been revolutionised and we now have instant access to breaking news and events across the globe along with a global, unregulated forum for people to share interests, beliefs and ideas. Last but certainly not least, an entirely new means of social interaction (e.g. Facebook, MySpace, MSN) has been created.

There is no doubt that the Internet is a vastly powerful tool, providing instant access to an unprecedented level of information at the touch of a button with the ability to communicate to multitudes worldwide in an instant. It is however important to remember that, despite the efforts of governments (especially repressive regimes such as China) and law-enforcement agencies, to the vast majority of people the Internet remains essentially unregulated. This means that pretty much anyone around the world with access to a computer and a telephone line can freely distribute and access all kinds of material relatively unchecked whilst also having the ability to establish and maintain contact with complete strangers inside their own homes with almost complete anonymity.

Whilst this freedom provides great opportunity for good, with such liberty inherently comes danger. We have all heard horror stories on the news of sexual predators, terrorists and fraudsters using the Internet to pursue their nefarious agendas. We know that offensive, illegal or addictive material is easily accessible and we have heard countless stories of lives seriously damaged by pornography and gambling (something I know from personal experience) whilst marriages have been destroyed by illicit affairs carried out over the 'Net. Less obvious are those that have shipwrecked their Christian faith by ingesting false teaching or guidance from the Internet without exercising discernment, sometimes not even checking out the authors! 

With so many dangers it is not surprising that many people have become paranoid and fearful of the Internet. Despite the dangers and my own experiences I remain convinced that the Internet is a useful tool and nothing to be afraid of – as long as we remain wise. I vaguely recall a number of years ago being told by a devout lady that the Internet was evil. This is simply untrue - the Internet is neither good nor evil, it is a neutral tool that can be used for both good and evil purposes. I like to compare the Internet to paper or television, both of which are used for good and evil (for example both the Internet and paper are used to distribute the Bible and pornography). We should not fear the Internet any more than we fear paper!

Nevertheless, although the benefits of the Internet are obvious as Christians we should also be aware about the temptations, perils and pitfalls of such a powerful tool. It is therefore essential that we are both well informed and wise about the Internet, not only for our own benefit but also for the benefit of others. I believe this responsibility falls into three distinct spheres of life. As individuals we should be aware of our Internet usage and take steps (such as accountability or web filters) to protect ourselves from unsuitable content. As parents we should be aware of our children’s web usage as young people can be very tech-savvy (often more so than their parents!) yet extremely naïve about the dangers. Finally as a church we should keep abreast of developments in technology and their impact on the culture, ensuring we teach timeless truths into modern technologies.

As we (God willing) see more people saved and added to our church it is inevitable that we will eventually encounter (most likely in increasing number) those who arrive on our doorstep in bondage to life-controlling issues directly connected to their Internet usage. Let’s make sure we are prepared by firstly getting our own house in order and secondly, providing solid teaching and pastoral guidance. Finally, let us not miss the opportunity to use this powerful tool to the glory of God.

I feel, therefore I am?

In a previous post, I discussed the difference between defining truth objectively or subjectively. The conclusion was that the prevailing culture (at least in the West) wrongly defines reality in a subjective manner – the “if it is true for you, then it is true” principle. This however is not the only problem with how many people define reality.

The flawed principle of subjective thinking is compounded in our culture by the over-emphasis on emotional feelings to determine reality. Descartes philosophical statement “I think, therefore I am” has been changed by our culture to “I feel, therefore I am.” One doesn’t have to look far to see individuals who are determining their view of reality by their emotions. For example, regardless of reality, if someone feels unloved, they very often decide that they are unloved. Whilst we should not ignore our emotions, to use them as the sole method to interpret reality is dangerous and can often lead to emotional and mental instability. Furthermore, in today’s culture we also see the dangerous concept of “if it feels good, it is good” which simply determines right from wrong by an individual’s feelings. This is especially dangerous as it permits the individual to make choices purely based on their emotional feelings, often irrespective of others welfare. In extreme cases, we see how abuse and even murder has been committed by individuals who didn’t think they were doing anything wrong because it “felt right” to them at the time.

Clearly, there is a need for objective reality to determine how we interpret both our lives and environment. Dr Neil Anderson in his Freedom in Christ material points out that the New Age movement has twisted the concept of “faith” into a subjective viewpoint – “if you believe something is true it becomes true for you.” Dr Anderson rightly points out that this viewpoint is deeply flawed as “faith” alone is useless unless the faith object is real and credible. For example, if I had faith that I could fly by flapping my arms and then jumped off a cliff, I would very soon fatally discover that my faith is unfounded. Jesus’ parable about the houses built on rock and sand also illustrates this point – unless your faith is in something that is solid and reliable it will eventually crumble when put to the test. The more powerful and reliable the faith object, the stronger and more resilient our faith should be. During our everyday lives, we are constantly putting our faith in different things, whether people, objects or something else. Depending on how reliable that particular object is determines our level of faith. For example, I have “faith” that whilst typing this document the computer will not switch itself off. Of course, as I work in IT, I know how unreliable computers can be so my faith is quite small - I am therefore constantly saving this document! 

If you are a Christian, your ultimate faith should be in God who defines, creates and sustains reality according to His word, contained in the Bible. Of course as we mentioned earlier faith is useless unless the faith object is real so simply believing the Bible because it “feels right” isn’t enough – after all followers of other religions (or none) will tell you their beliefs “feel right” too. We need to know that what the Bible says is objectively true otherwise Christianity is a fraud, our faith is unfounded and, in the words of the Apostle Paul “we are of all people most to be pitied.” 

Naturally if the Bible is true then we should define reality and what we believe according to what it says, even when it contradicts our emotional feelings. We cannot change our emotions automatically but we can choose in our minds to believe the truth and submit to God rather than our emotions. For example if you are a Christian the Bible says you are loved by God and free from condemnation - therefore any feelings of guilt or perception of being unloved are based on false beliefs, not the truth and should be confronted by choosing to believe the truth. By analysing our feelings objectively according to God’s truth we can, with God’s help, gradually bring our feelings into line with what is true and become more emotionally stable.

What is Truth?

“What is truth?” John’s Gospel records that this pertinent question was asked two thousand years ago by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea at the trial of Jesus Christ. It is equally relevant in the 21st century as in today’s culture the prevailing view is that truth is relative. What that means is that if you believe something, it is true for you (for example if you happen to believe that elephants are pink, they are pink to you). Professor Richard Dawkins (not normally noted as a Christian’s best friend) poured scorn on this approach to reality in his recent Channel 4 documentary “The Genius of Charles Darwin.” In this documentary Dawkins pointed out that reality is not subjective but objective – something is either real or it isn’t irrespective of what people believe. On this point Dawkins is absolutely correct as something does not become true simply because we think it is – it is either objectively true or false. Let’s take a ridiculous example to illustrate the point: if I believed that getting my head chopped off wouldn’t cause me any harm could I then remove my head without causing death? Of course not! No sane person would believe that and anyone who did would be ridiculed. That rather far-fetched example shows how foolish subjective belief can be yet every day we see people living their lives according to that very principle: “if it’s true for me, it’s true.” Naturally one must also consider the realm of opinion where subjectivity is perfectly valid. For example, every week during the football season we hear fans of many different teams singing songs declaring that their particular team is the greatest in the world. Of course they cannot all be correct as by definition there can only be one team that that is the greatest (and we all know that is Manchester United) however those fans are not discussing fact but rather stating an opinion. Opinion is not objective fact, rather it is a subjective interpretation of information and we must therefore be careful not to define reality according to opinions.

So, since both Christians and Richard Dawkins accept that only one reality is possible, why do they not agree on that reality? Disagreements arise when we deal with different worldviews and presuppositions. Richard Dawkins for example argues from the “scientific rationalist” worldview where nothing is scientifically accepted as valid unless it can be empirically proven by a recognised human authority (so for example the existence of the supernatural is not accepted as valid as it cannot be measured empirically). The “Big Bang” and Darwinian Evolution theories are both products of this viewpoint as at this time they are the most logical explanations that can be provided by this method even though neither of them has been conclusively empirically proven beyond any doubt. In fact, if one takes the "Big Bang" for example, it is impossible to conclusively prove an event that allegedly happened 17 billion years ago without some form of time travel device, as the exact circumstances cannot be recreated without creating an entirely new universe. What scientists have done is developed a plausible theory based on the observable data available today, whilst attempting (as far as is possible) to recreate certain environmental conditions they believe existed at particular points in time with experiments such as the Large Hadron Collider.
Given their worldview, this is perfectly reasonable however contention arises when sections of the scientific community (not all, I should add) as well as some of their supporters wrongly peddle their plausible and reasonable theories (given the worldview held by that particular group) about the origins of life, the universe and everything as conclusively proven truth (rather than theories based on the available evidence) when they are scientifically nothing of the sort. These individuals then demand the same conclusive proof they cannot provide from those who adhere to a different worldview, for example Christian believers. Despite this contention, one must still conclude that from a scientific rationalist worldview both theories are pretty reasonable conclusions at this time given the observable data presently available to humanity as (if the supernatural is removed from the equation as it is with scientific rationalists) there are limits to what is possible according to the different empirical laws of science, such as time.

Of course, scientific rationalism isn't the only worldview that is counter-postmodernism. The Bible approaches reality from a totally different perspective. It also deals with objective reality but doesn't seek or provide empirical evidence to prove its assertions. For example the Bible never attempts to prove God’s existence from a scientific perspective; it simply states that God is. In Exodus, God revealed Himself to Moses as I AM - no other explanation is deemed necessary by the creator of all reality. The Bible also states that God is infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient – as the creator of reality he is immeasurable both in being and ability. The empirical laws of science simply do not apply to God as he created them and exists outside of them. This understanding makes such accounts as the six day creation and the Great Flood perfectly reasonable as they are sovereign acts of an omnipotent creator. Naturally of course, those who demand empirical evidence will never accept such events as they do not adhere to the empirical laws of nature and consequently don’t make sense. This is a perfectly reasonable conclusion from their perspective as in their understanding of reality there is no room for the supernatural as it has not been empirically proven. 

This massive gulf in worldviews makes dialogue between Christians and atheists about such things as creation extremely difficult. In my albeit limited experience of discussing matters of faith with atheists I have found that regardless of the starting point the discussion inevitably returns to this point of presupposition (e.g. "does God exist?” ”prove God exists" "you can't prove the Big Bang" "God cannot be proven scientifically" etc) and the same ground is inevitably and repeatedly covered. Since both parties approach the debate with a vastly different set of presuppositions and neither scientific rationalism nor a belief in the inerrancy of the Bible allow for compromise, reconciliation between the two worldviews is impossible. This is something that Richard Dawkins has correctly identified both in his writing and his speaking and is, in my opinion, something the church should perhaps take note of when looking at engaging with the culture.

I mentioned Professor Richard Dawkins whose book “The God Delusion” was a recent bestseller. I also briefly described the irreconcilable worldview differences between Professor Dawkins and Christian believers, yet a friend of mine recently suggested that Richard Dawkins was a blessing to the church. How can such a vehement, articulate, intelligent and vocal critic of Christianity be a blessing to the church? Was my friend off his proverbial rocker? I think not. 
For a start Christians should not feel threatened by such men as unfortunately for Professor Dawkins, reality is reality regardless of how many books he writes or how he interprets the visible universe. If something exists, it exists irrespective of whether it can be proven in a science lab and no amount of experimentation, data gathering or eloquent speech will change that. Objective reality is not dependent on empirical evidence - something either is, or it isn't. For example, new organisms, planets and galaxies are constantly being discovered - did they come into existence only after they have been empirically observed by human beings? Of course not - they were there before they were documented by scientists - we only observed what was already there. 
Where Professor Dawkins is a blessing to the church is he has eloquently confronted the prevailing liberal culture that, under the banner of “tolerance” attempts to accommodate everyone’s beliefs. In his recent documentary on Charles Darwin he cited the present situation where both Darwinian evolution and the Big Bang theory are taught as fact in science classes whilst strong religious belief in a creator is also embraced and accepted. Dawkins rightly pointed out that these two positions cannot coexist without compromising the fundamentals of either and to seek to reconcile these two positions is a copout. I agree and yet we continually see examples of liberal thinkers both inside and outside the church tying themselves up in intellectual knots trying to reconcile the two and keep everyone happy. In his efforts to discredit Christian belief, Dawkins has brought the question of God back into mainstream cultural thought. By rightly pointing out that reality simply cannot be subjective, Dawkins has forced people to directly confront the fundamental questions of existence, rather than either simply ignoring them or retreating into the “copout” of subjectivity. This provides a unique opportunity for the church to unashamedly proclaim the uncompromising Gospel message to a mainstream audience, including the creation account as documented in Genesis. 

So, back to the original question – what is truth? We have concluded that there can only be one reality in the universe and subjective “reality” is quite simply impossible – both Bible believing Christians and Richard Dawkins agree on that! The question therefore is simple - which definition of reality is the right one, or in the words of Pilate “what is truth?” The Bible states that “all Scripture is breathed out by God” and also refers to itself as “the Word of Truth.” When Jesus spoke, he often began his most fundamental teachings with the words “I tell you the truth.” Even more startling is when John’s Gospel describes Jesus as “the Word” (Greek ‘logos’). Interestingly enough, later on Jesus prays to his Father “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (the same Greek word ‘logos’ is used here). It would appear from these statements that the Bible is personally identifying Jesus with truth. In fact this is confirmed when Jesus himself makes one of his most well known statements: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus ups the ante here - not only does he claim to speak the truth; he claims to be the very personification of truth - truth incarnate. Furthermore, he sets himself up as the only singular route to God – no room for the “all roads lead to God” liberalism rampant in western culture here! Jesus leaves us in no doubt that there is but one way to God – himself. No other routes are open - not Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism or New Age thinking – just Jesus. Jesus also warns of the consequence of rejecting him elsewhere in the Bible: “unless you repent, you too will all perish.” 

Of course, a post-modern thinker could say of Jesus’ claims: “well, they were true for him but that doesn’t make them true for me.” In the same way, they could say of Christian faith "if it works for you, that's great" however, as we concluded earlier, believing something either about yourself or God doesn’t make it true as reality is objective, not subjective. A scientific rationalist could say "well, God cannot be empirically proven therefore he doesn't exist" however human beings do not define reality by observation or analysis. Reality is outside the realm of human control and to suggest otherwise in not only arrogant but ignorant. This leaves us with only two options irrespective of any human opinion. Either: God exists and Jesus' claims were true OR God doesn't exist and Jesus’ claims were false - there is no middle ground or room for manoeuvre. Objective reality is the same for everyone irrespective of our opinions or understanding of the universe.

In conclusion: the Bible teaches that Christians are to be God's messengers to the world by both proclaiming the Gospel in words and demonstrating the Gospel in deeds, both natural and supernatural. Nowhere in the Bible however are Christians commanded to "prove" God's existence but rather to be "prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" - not with arrogance but rather with "gentleness and respect." 
Nevertheless, I don't believe this means Christians should avoid apologetics by not engaging secular culture (whether post-modern, scientific rationalist or any other worldview) in reasoned discussion - on the contrary these are to be encouraged. Neither should Christians use this point as an excuse to hide from contemplating the difficult questions of reality that are raised by secular culture. However, wisdom and discernment are necessary to ensure we do not get caught up in endless and fruitless circular arguments with those who, rather than having genuine questions, are only seeking the opportunity to mock, insult or simply be contrary for the sake of it. In all things, the Christian should remember that God alone is the one who reveals Himself to humanity and softens hard hearts to believe His message.

My prayer for the non-Christian is therefore that God in His mercy opens your eyes to His reality and grants you revelation leading to repentance and life. If you are a Christian, my prayer is that God provides you with greater insight into His truth, thus empowering you to live in the freedom Jesus has won for us.