tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28236529675485147372024-03-14T06:33:46.295+00:00Stickles are RandomKevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-11124994514615897672013-09-07T17:55:00.001+01:002013-09-07T17:56:14.677+01:00I need to choose a dissertation topic...<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So,
the final year of my theology Masters (with <a href="http://www.wtctheology.org.uk/" target="_blank">Westminster Theological Centre</a>)
has begun and a big chunk of the work this year will be on a dissertation. I
have to write 16,000-20,000 words on... well, on pretty much whatever
I want, as long as it's got something to do with Christian theology!</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've
got a few ideas, which I need to develop into a detailed proposal
over the next few weeks. I guess I'm writing this post to help me
straighten out my thinking and get me moving towards that goal. So
here goes with my ideas...</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly,
I'm really interested in what people call simple church, organic
church, or various other names. Church where the meetings are fairly
(or completely) unplanned and people all have the opportunity to
share what they feel would be encouraging and inspiring. It's
obviously not your standard way of 'doing' church but there are
glimpses through Christian history of Jesus' followers meeting
together in something like this way. And there are groups across the
world now gathering like this, in places like cafes, homes, sports
venues, offices; wherever people meet, really.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
problem is, I need a clear focus for the dissertation. Something
like 'Current trends in simple church fellowships' would probably be
far too vague. We've been told our topic has to be narrowed down in
some way, such as looking at how a particular biblical author tackles
a certain issue. And nothing is really leaping out at me, in terms
of an angle or focus on the simple church movement.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which
all leaves me with option two.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As
many of my friends know (thank you for your patience, friends!), I
have a thing about
<a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/sermons.html" target="_blank">sermons</a>.
In many Protestant churches, certainly the more evangelical ones,
the sermon is the centrepiece of the Sunday service. The minister or
whoever's speaking will spend a lot of time preparing their talk, and
then all the congregation will listen (or not...) for half an hour or more. That's a lot of cumulative time! But to what end? </span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Basically,
it seems to me that sermons are intended for two main purposes;
encouragement and teaching. The former purpose, I can thoroughly go
along with. I've been inspired, challenged and spiritually
re-invigorated by plenty of talks over the time I've been a follower
of Jesus. Some people clearly have a gift of speaking to groups and
imparting a fresh vision of the joy and adventure of being involved
with God's kingdom and plans.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But,
again it seems to me, many sermons – perhaps most – have the goal
of teaching people about something or to behave differently in some
way. And this points towards the second potential topic for my
dissertation. Are sermons the most effective way of teaching people?
What other ways might work? Are there examples of churches
teaching, training and discipling their members effectively; how are
they doing it?</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm
thinking about drawing in some ideas from educational theory, because
it seems that most churches pretty much ignore what educational
researchers have to say about how people learn. I don't think this
should be so; Christian musicians don't ignore music theory;
Christian counsellors don't cast aside everything that secular
counselling and psychotherapy have to say. Don't get me wrong, I'm
not suggesting that Christians should embrace without question
everything that comes from the secular world. But I really like the
idea of investigating how stuff like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_styles" target="_blank">learning styles</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blended_learning" target="_blank">blended learning</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_learning" target="_blank">peer learning</a>
might be of benefit in the church context as we help each other along
the path of apprenticeship to Jesus. It just doesn't seem right that
most churches rely on a mode of learning long since relegated to a bit-part role in
most secular learning contexts.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-69618734271956948662013-08-17T12:05:00.000+01:002013-08-17T12:05:38.960+01:00Spurs for the title (and other Premier League 2013-14 predictions)The new Premier League season starts in bang on an hour's time (as I type this) so I thought I'd post some quick predictions. Feel free to agree, disagree, laugh in my face, bookmark this post for future laughing in my face etc. etc.!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-VXDrkFJdM/Ug9XTMwOZhI/AAAAAAAAAPo/gHCYzth0eOU/s1600/Roberto+Soldado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-VXDrkFJdM/Ug9XTMwOZhI/AAAAAAAAAPo/gHCYzth0eOU/s200/Roberto+Soldado.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soldado photo from sportsillustrated.cnn.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
First up, I'd love it if Spurs won the title this year. They play good football, their manager is good (in both senses of the word, it seems to me!), and it'd just be a change. If Soldado makes a quick transition from Spanish football to the Prem then I think they'll be challenging for the top three at least; up front is the only area that really let them down last season. I'm not sure whether Bale stays or leaves will make much
difference, as long as (a) it's decided soon, and (b) if he leaves
they spend the money sensibly (which they probably will; Spurs don't seem to
get diddled in the transfer market very often).<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r9N-VeYqmdE/Ug9XyqkbqPI/AAAAAAAAAPw/Aqak41yyihY/s1600/Gareth+Bale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r9N-VeYqmdE/Ug9XyqkbqPI/AAAAAAAAAPw/Aqak41yyihY/s200/Gareth+Bale.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From mirror.co.uk - Bale back in his Saints days</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Being realistic, though, I'll pick Chelsea to win, followed by Man City and then Spurs. Moyes has been giving 'Oh my word, I'm scared' vibes (as noted by <a href="http://www.football365.com/big-weekend/8872027/Moyes-He-s-Not-Ready-Yet-He-s-Terrified" target="_blank">Football365</a>) and Man Utd still look flaky in centre midfield. But have Arsenal or Liverpool got enough to challenge them? I'm not convinced, even if Liverpool keep Suarez. Actually. I reckon Liverpool might be better off without Suarez. He's a great player, for sure, but when he plays everything goes through him; it seems most of the other players take a metaphorical step back and leave Suarez to work his magic. I saw a couple of Liverpool's games late last season when Suarez was banned and they were great, full of purpose and creativity. So I won't weep if he swans off to Madrid or wherever.<br />
<br />
Anyway, here's my prediction for the top six:<br />
<br />
Chelsea<br />
Man City<br />
Spurs<br />
[Bit of a gap]<br />
Man Utd<br />
Liverpool<br />
Arsenal<br />
<br />
And then... Southampton for seventh place! It's a bold prediction, I know, but I really can't see any other team nailed on to finish ahead of the Saints. Perhaps Swansea; and I'd be happy with that as they play beautiful football and just seem like a nice, likeable club. West Brom maybe; Norwich have spent quite a lot of money quite well, I think; Everton will struggle at first with Roberto 'My defences are always as leaky as a sieve' Martinez; and who else is there? So, yes, Saints for seventh. [Prepares to eat humble pie next Spring]Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-7807482503883264582013-08-10T01:35:00.000+01:002013-08-10T01:36:16.006+01:00The gospel according to Paul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xusA88J1Q0A/UgWJq5yhF0I/AAAAAAAAAPM/AuauKU3GUV4/s1600/Reading+Paul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xusA88J1Q0A/UgWJq5yhF0I/AAAAAAAAAPM/AuauKU3GUV4/s320/Reading+Paul.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The New Testament letter-writer Paul is
a guy about whom there are a wide range of views. Some see him as a
raving misogynist, and there are a few passages in his letters that
seem to back this up. For others, Paul was a legalist who emphasised
personal morality and purity far more than Jesus did. Again, some
portions of Paul's letters lend weight to this idea.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I'll soon be starting the second year
of my theology Masters, with the first module being all about Paul
and his theology. Our main course text is '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reading-Paul-Michael-Gorman/dp/1842276034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376094399&sr=8-1&keywords=reading+paul+michael+gorman" target="_blank">Reading Paul</a>' by Michael
Gorman; a book I wasn't familiar with but have been intrigued by as I
start to dip into it. Gorman sets out to paint the broad sweep of
Paul's theology and, while I'm sure he has something to say about the
misogynistic and legalistic passages, it's the big picture I've been
reading about so far.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Describing Paul as 'a proclaimer of the
good news of God's intervention in human history through Jesus
Christ', Gorman says this (introducing me to a new word in the
process):</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This good news was not a private
message of personal salvation, though it included the salvation of
individuals. It was a <i>political</i> announcement, or better a <i>theopolitical</i> announcement (politics involving God), that
challenged – and challenges – the very core of how people relate
to one another in the real world.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gorman tries to summarise this overall
message of Paul's with eight phrases, in an attempt to give a
framework that might help us make more sense of what we read in
Paul's letters. I'm looking forward to digging in to Paul's writings
as I haven't really read them with a clear framework in mind and I do
find such things help to increase my understanding.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Each element of Gorman's framework has
a chapter in his book and I may well blog about some of them over the
coming week. In the meantime, here are the eight elements:</div>
<ul>
<li>'In the fullness of time'<br /> </li>
<li>'The gospel of God'<br /> </li>
<li>Even death on a cross'<br /> </li>
<li>'God raised and highly exalted him'<br /> </li>
<li>'Justified by faith and crucified with
Christ'<br /> </li>
<li>'Called to be saints'<br /> </li>
<li>'Conformed to the image of God's Son'<br /> </li>
<li>'The glory about to be revealed'</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My course starts back with a four-day
residential block right at the end of August. We'll be focusing on
this module about Paul's theology and I'm excited to find out what's
in store!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-59243723560642057382013-07-28T16:56:00.000+01:002013-07-28T16:59:50.565+01:00What should we expect from God?<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Really interesting and helpful talk at
the church meeting this morning (thanks, Simon!). I won't summarise
the whole talk – it should soon be up on our church's <a href="http://www.southamptonvineyard.org.uk/members/membersonly/audio-teaching/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a> (password needed) – but one thing Simon mentioned in passing got me thinking. He said
God has often let him down and not done what Simon was hoping or
expecting. So what <i>should </i>we expect from God?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I want to focus on two areas where we
might have expectations of God; guidance and 'fixing things'. There
are no doubt other things we expect from God but I've been thinking
about those two areas in particular as they were mentioned in the
talk this morning.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Divine guidance</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We have to make decisions all the time,
most of them fairly trivial (what clothes should I wear today, what
should I have for breakfast...) but some very important. With the
important decisions, it'd be quite nice if God made it clear which
option which should choose, wouldn't it?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But does he? Should he? Where does it
come from, this idea that God will guide us?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It seems to me that God's intention for
us is that we become mature, holy disciples, which means people who
naturally and almost effortlessly do what's right. He doesn't want
to 'tell us what to do', rather he wants us to be so transformed in
our character that our default setting is to act within his will.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I don't want to say that God never
guides us through signs, coincidences, prophecies and the like. He
clearly does use those methods. But my sense is that it's God's
preference for us to work in partnership with him, submitting to his
gentle, gracious shaping of our human nature so that, when tested, we
do what God would have us do. This thought has been <a href="http://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/15242/is-love-god-and-do-whatever-you-please-scriptural" target="_blank">expressed</a> as
'Love God and do whatever you please: for the soul trained in love to
God will do nothing to offend the One who is
Beloved.'</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Expecting God to make things better</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When we pray (certainly when I pray!)
it's often along the lines of asking God to make some situation
better. Again, I don't want to say this is wrong but it's a prayer
that's largely absent from the New Testament. <a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/thoughts-on-colossians-1.html" target="_blank">As I've written before</a>,
the far more frequent prayer in the New Testament is 'Lord, fix us!'.
One example is from <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=col%201&version=NLT" target="_blank">Colossians 1:9-12</a>:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NLT-29435"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NLT-29436"></a>We ask God
to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual
wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor
and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good
fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better
and better.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NLT-29437"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NLT-29438"></a>We also pray
that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will
have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with
joy, always thanking the Father.</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Just to emphasise, I think it's fine to
ask God for relief from what troubles us. Indeed one lady gave a
particularly poignant illustration of this at our meeting this
morning. But let's also pray for God to work in us so we can live
well and bring him honour in the midst of our trials.</div>
Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-6163999587047843492012-08-15T21:03:00.000+01:002012-08-15T21:03:21.564+01:00It's (almost) like watching Brazil
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11-CyemB7oQ/UCwAVXdyrQI/AAAAAAAAAOo/-jzbpUI4POE/s1600/Roy_Hodgson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11-CyemB7oQ/UCwAVXdyrQI/AAAAAAAAAOo/-jzbpUI4POE/s320/Roy_Hodgson.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roy Hodgson (picture from The Sun website)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As I start typing this, we're into the
40<sup>th</sup> minute of England's football friendly with Italy.
Roy Hodgson's first game as manager without any major pressure, where
he can experiment and begin the process of building up to the next
international competition. So far, I must say I've been very
impressed. The players aren't afraid being in possession, there's a
lot of movement off the ball, and some pretty nifty play at times.
Adam Johnson on the right has particularly caught my eye with a
couple of lovely moves, but the whole team is looking confident and
ambitious.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Matches like this can be so useful for
a new(ish) manager, being a great opportunity for him to take a look
at fringe players and try new tactics and formations. Hodgson's
taken this opportunity fully, I think; starting Cleverley, Johnson,
Walker and Carrick and giving the 4-2-3-1 formation a go. Remember
when Italy passed us to death in the Euros? Their star midfielder
Pirlo had more passes than our entire midfield in total. Yes, I know
they only won on penalties but we were so lucky to last that long,
don't you think? Whereas in this game (no Pirlo, I realise!) we are
competing in midfield and getting into some good positions. I'm
optimistic.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My only negative is the big lad up
front. Andy Carroll totally does not fit in this sort of system and
I can well understand why <a href="http://www.football365.com/news/21554/7990401/Sullivan-Liverpool-Agreed-Deal-Carroll-Refused" target="_blank">Liverpool are trying to get rid of him</a>,
seeing as their new manager, Brendan Rogers, is also a fan of this
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiki-taka" target="_blank">tiki-taka</a> quick passing
stuff. On that note, I'm really excited to see how Liverpool do this
season!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The second half is just about to start
so let's see if England can keep up the good work. I expect there'll
be a few substitutions so the rest of the game might well not be as
fluent, but never mind. I've seen enough to give me hope that
England could do all right under Hodgson's stewardship.</div>
Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-37602380272048555132012-08-13T19:53:00.000+01:002012-08-13T19:53:24.614+01:00Reconnecting<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKYW76BUZyg/UClK_FAFAJI/AAAAAAAAAOE/rPpk-dPWHVI/s1600/Peak+District+with+Gary+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKYW76BUZyg/UClK_FAFAJI/AAAAAAAAAOE/rPpk-dPWHVI/s320/Peak+District+with+Gary+066.JPG" width="320" /></a><span id="goog_1860093812"></span><span id="goog_1860093813"></span>I was off work last week and had a
marvellous few days of walking in the <a href="http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/getactive/getactive-walking" target="_blank">Peak District</a>
with my friend Gary. I don't do it often enough but I love getting
out into the countryside, away from human-created noise, and tramping
up a few hills. And as you'll see from these photographs, the Peak
District has plenty of hills!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The thing I like most about walking,
though, is that it really helps me reconnect with God. Partly that's
about escaping from the city and experiencing a bit of nature, but
for me it's mostly about spending several hours with a few close friends and
having a good old natter. I especially love it when we talk about
faith issues; anything from how much we're growing in godly
character, to new songs we've recently learnt, to thorny doctrinal issues like what you have to do
in order to be truly saved.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAPqoXH97QA/UClK4mYH31I/AAAAAAAAAN0/WM2MRjw9jkQ/s1600/Peak+District+with+Gary+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAPqoXH97QA/UClK4mYH31I/AAAAAAAAAN0/WM2MRjw9jkQ/s320/Peak+District+with+Gary+042.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAPqoXH97QA/UClK4mYH31I/AAAAAAAAAN0/WM2MRjw9jkQ/s1600/Peak+District+with+Gary+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5m0I1Iq3cMs/UClLCWlfYPI/AAAAAAAAAOM/DNG41Eo_dEM/s1600/Peak+District+with+Gary+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>It seems the unhurried nature of a day
out with a few people gives the perfect opportunity for wide-ranging
and often deep discussion, leading to a real connection with my
walking companions and with God. That's certainly been the case for
me with this trip and I'm very thankful for the fresh sense of
closeness with God. I've not felt this way much this year so
it's a welcome relief.</div>
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Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-67745917624448095232012-08-03T14:36:00.000+01:002012-08-03T14:36:17.002+01:00Mind your language!<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Words are important. It's so easy to
give the wrong impression just by using a slightly ill-advised word
or two. I read about a classic example of this yesterday, regarding
the phrase 'kingdom of God;. Many Christians would say the key
message of Jesus' teaching is 'the kingdom of God is near', the words
Jesus used in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&version=NLT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mark 1:15</a>.
Now I understand this to be good news; I have some idea of what the
'kingdom of God' means. But what about people without any background
in Christianity? What might 'kingdom of God' mean to them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Jesus used this phrase 2,000 years ago,
in a time and place where the word 'kingdom' meant something. Indeed
the phrase 'kingdom of God' (along with 'Jesus is Lord') was a
politically-charged rebuff against the Roman empire and the emperor.
But now, certainly in the western world, what meaning does the word
carry? Isn't it something more like this:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gax7Hh_zEO8/UBvQQFKzIOI/AAAAAAAAANE/VTEbX9twmDU/s1600/Taunting_French_knight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gax7Hh_zEO8/UBvQQFKzIOI/AAAAAAAAANE/VTEbX9twmDU/s200/Taunting_French_knight.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Monty Python knight in shining armour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If there is any electric charge to the
language of kingdom today, it is the faint current of the quaint and
the nostalgic, conjuring knights in shining armor, round tables and
chivalry, damsels in distress, fire-breathing dragons, and
Shakespearean <i>thees</i> and <i>thous</i> that doth go running <i>hitherest </i>and <i>witherest</i>. In Jesus' day, kingdom
language was contemporary and relevant; today, it is outdated and
distant.
</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is from Brian McLaren's book, 'The
Secret Message of Jesus', which I mentioned in my previous post about
the fruit of the Spirit. McLaren is especially interesting in
meanings and culturally relevant communication:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We must discover fresh ways of
translating his [Jesus'] message into the thought forms and cultures
of our contemporary world...</div>
</blockquote>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gcNDCP-eKzo/UBvRl6VSVQI/AAAAAAAAANU/A9GDMvBs6Jg/s1600/Network.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gcNDCP-eKzo/UBvRl6VSVQI/AAAAAAAAANU/A9GDMvBs6Jg/s200/Network.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The network of God</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So McLaren looks for phrases we might
use instead of 'kingdom of God' that would get across the meaning
that Jesus intended. How about 'dream of God'? You might then
rephrase the 'Your kingdom come...' part of the Lord's Prayer as, 'May all your dreams for your creation
come true'.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
How does that feel to you? If you're
new to Christianity or not a Christian at all, I'd love to know what
'dream of God' says to you in contrast to 'kingdom of God'. Does the
latter leave you a bit cold, like McLaren suggests? Do please share your thoughts in the comments section below.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zjX6QIrH_TM/UBvRwwMlbVI/AAAAAAAAANc/JHss5Oek274/s1600/trinitydance.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zjX6QIrH_TM/UBvRwwMlbVI/AAAAAAAAANc/JHss5Oek274/s200/trinitydance.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dance of God</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
McLaren tries several other metaphors,
including the 'revolution of God', 'network of God', and 'dance of
God'. All of these emphasise different elements of what Jesus taught
the rule and will of God was all about, but none quite seems to capture the
whole, complete meaning. I suppose, then, we shouldn't be afraid of using several
different metaphors, should we?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In any case, I think McLaren is raising
a tremendously important point about the language we use when we're
talking about our faith in Jesus. If we're not careful, we can send
a message completely at odds with what we're intending to
communicate; and that message might be a real turn-off to many
people.</div>Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-42267560596313439032012-07-30T19:52:00.000+01:002012-07-30T19:52:13.014+01:00Like an apple tree<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AW5U8tcucQs/UBbVlceK5uI/AAAAAAAAAM0/bkusqH1jLsE/s1600/Apple_tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Apple tree image from www.a1earth.com" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AW5U8tcucQs/UBbVlceK5uI/AAAAAAAAAM0/bkusqH1jLsE/s320/Apple_tree.jpg" title="Apple tree image from www.a1earth.com" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The talk at our church meeting
yesterday was about being filled with the Holy Spirit, covering both
the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Blessing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toronto Blessing</a>
charismatic experiences (things like shaking and falling over –
read the article I've just linked to if this all means nothing to
you!) and the fruit of the Spirit that Paul spoke about in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians%205:22-23&version=NLT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Galatians 5</a>.
It's the latter that I want to focus on in this post.
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The guy doing the talk drew the
standard but, I think, helpful parallel with trees that produce
fruit, like apple trees and plum trees. They don't strain to produce
apples, plums or whatever; they simply do it. But, here's the kicker
for me; the conditions have to be right. A tree must have fertile
soil, enough sun, shelter from the wind, and the right amount of
rain, or else it won't produce much fruit.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So what about us? In this analogy,
what conditions do we need in order to produce the fruit of the
Spirit; what does it mean for us to have the right soil, plenty of
sun, enough rain and so on? I think the analogy breaks down a bit
here. One could take the analogy and say there's nothing we can do
to produce the Spirit's fruit, like patience, goodness, love, and
peace. That's not right though, is it? God doesn't just zap us and
make us patient, good, loving, peaceful etc.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Coincidentally (or not...) I'm reading
a book which touches on this issue a bit. It's one by <a href="http://www.brianmclaren.net/" target="_blank">Brian McLaren</a>, whom I've raved about before,
called 'The Secret Message of Jesus'. McLaren is working through
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%205-6&version=NLT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matthew 5-6</a>,
part of the so-called Sermon on the Mount, and he's looking at the
three passages where Jesus talks about three spiritual practices or
disciplines; firstly giving to those in need, then praying and
finally fasting. With each of these practices, Jesus corrects the
religious leaders and their way of performing (word choice
deliberate!) the practice, replacing it with the correct, healthy
usage.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The point is two-fold; we need to
practice and '<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy+4:7-9&version=NLT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">train for godliness</a>'
in order to become mature Jesus-followers, but we also need to do the
exercises in the right way. So, just looking at what Jesus says
about giving, we mustn't do it in order to be seen. It won't have
any effect with God and we'll just end up craving the attention and
praise of people. On the contrary, we should avoid drawing attention
to ourselves. For the person who manages to do this, 'Your Father,
who sees everything, will reward you'. I've always understood this
to mean some kind of next-life benefit, but maybe it means God will
transform us more into his likeness, enabling us to do good works
that we previously were incapable of. That's certainly what Brian
McLaren thinks (I've added the italics):</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unwise or habitual practice can make
the practitioner miserably habituated in unrewarding routines. In
contrast, wise practice <i>rewards the practitioner</i> by making
possible what was previously impossible.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So it seems I'm saying I don't think
all that much of the fruit tree analogy, after all. We don't just
stand there and produce the fruit of the Spirit; there is work to be
done in order to bring ourselves under God's transforming power. But
we've got to be careful about the work as bad practices will cause
great harm. As McLaren puts it, ' 'Practice makes perfect' isn't
quite accurate. Practice makes <i>habitual</i>'.</div>Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-47923579956962473722012-07-20T18:34:00.000+01:002012-07-20T18:34:51.682+01:00Thoughts on Colossians 4<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Rather later than I originally
intended, here are some reflections on <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=col%204&version=NLT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chapter 4</a>
of Paul's Letter to the Colossians. I went through chapters 1-3 a
couple of months ago, not at a deep theological level but just
reading and seeing what struck me. Click through to have a look at
these posts if you like, and then we shall move on to chapter 4.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/thoughts-on-colossians-1.html" target="_blank">Colossians 1</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/thoughts-on-colossians-2.html" target="_blank">Colossians 2</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/thoughts-on-colossians-3.html" target="_blank">Colossians 3</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The final chapter of Colossians starts
with another of those 'Lord, fix us!' prayers that I mentioned back
in chapter 1. When I pray and, to be honest, when I hear others
praying, it's often along the lines of asking God to change
situations so they are more in line with our wishes. Yet in the New
Testament, there are (it seems to me) far more prayers and requests for prayers
focused on us being more faithful. So Paul says in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=col%204:3-4&version=NLT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Col 4:3-4</a>:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Pray for us, too, that God will give us
many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning
Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim
this message as clearly as I should.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Not a peep from Paul, at least not in
this passage, about how he'd really rather not be in prison! Instead
his request is focused on being more useful for God, a theme which he
develops in the next couple of verses:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Live wisely among those who are not
believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your
conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the
right response for everyone.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
'Attractive' is how the New Living
Translation interprets the Greek phrase 'seasoned with salt', drawing
on salt's properties as a flavour enhancer. Is our conversation
always 'seasoned with salt'?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The rest of the chapter is quite
personal, with Paul passing on greetings from various people and
asking the Colossians to welcome some of his companions who are on
the way to Colosse. There's another marvellous prayer that I want to
pick out, in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=col%204:12&version=NLT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">verse 12</a>:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Epaphras, a member of your own
fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings.
He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and
perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of
God.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What a prayer! Dear reader, may you be
strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following God's
will, and please pray the same for me as you read this.</div>Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-42933092409701676832012-05-25T14:30:00.002+01:002012-05-25T14:31:11.403+01:00Thoughts on Colossians 3<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--qUP4ysfglg/T7-JHQNAQzI/AAAAAAAAAMk/HHkvHAIP794/s1600/colossae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="190" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--qUP4ysfglg/T7-JHQNAQzI/AAAAAAAAAMk/HHkvHAIP794/s320/colossae.jpg" title="Location of Colosse and the Lycos valley" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dennisgabil.page.tl/St-.--Michael-the-Archangel-%7E.htm" target="_blank">Photo credit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I've been reading the
Letter to the Colossians and sharing a few thoughts here. You can
catch up on <a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/thoughts-on-colossians-1.html" target="_blank">chapter 1</a>
and <a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/thoughts-on-colossians-2.html" target="_blank">chapter 2</a>,
then it is time to look at chapter 3.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Paul has been
addressing a line of teaching that was taking root in the Colossian
church, which as we saw last time was probably a form of
Jewish-influenced mysticism. In order to tackle this teaching, Paul
reminded the Colossians of how glorious is this Christ whom we
worship. They do not need to seek out mystical experiences because
'Christ lives in you' and 'you also are complete through your union
with Christ'.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In chapter 3, the focus
moves on to practical elements of behaviour for Christians. As verse
8 says, 'Now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious
behaviour, slander, and dirty language'. This is what should
characterise our lives instead (v12-15 – my emphasis):</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Since God chose you to
be the holy people he loves, you must <b>clothe yourselves with
tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience</b>.
<b>Make allowance for each other’s faults</b>, and <b>forgive
anyone who offends you</b>. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so <b>you
must forgive others</b>. Above all, <b>clothe yourselves with love</b>,
which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And <b>let the peace
that comes from Christ rule in your hearts</b>. For as members of one
body you are called to <b>live in peace</b>. And <b>always be
thankful</b>.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I particularly love
verse 17 in this chapter, as it brings home the point that our whole life should be
glorifying to God. I've read that the various religious systems in
the 1<sup>st</sup> century Roman empire were heavily ritual-based,
with people performing their acts of worship at the temples and then
getting on with the rest of their business. In contrast,
Christianity is a whole-of-life thing; there is nothing God is
unaware of or not interested in:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Whatever you do or
say, do it as representatives of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
through him to God the Father.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Now, I think it's easy
to view this as a negative thing, a very demanding standard. How can
we 'let our hair down' if God is always watching us and expecting us
to behave ourselves, so to speak?
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is a fundamental
misunderstanding of the whole issue, in my view. God isn't
interested in external conformity, he wants internal transformation.
'Let God transform you by changing the way you think'. 'Faith by
itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and
useless.' 'A good person produces good things from the treasury of a
good heart.'</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So then, the goal is
character change, in order that we will naturally do what is pleasing
to God. When we are working, we will work hard for God's glory.
When we are letting our hair down, we will party in a God-honouring
way. Watching our behaviour isn't really the point, although of
course we do all have to be aware of our actions and thoughts as we
aren't yet fully transformed and sanctified!
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The last part of
Colossians 3 has specific instructions for certain groups of people;
wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters. That
final pair has caused controversy over the years. Is Paul endorsing
slavery? At the least, he's not condemning it, which does strike me
as odd. Indeed, Christians used to take this passage (and others) as
God's approval of slave ownership.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is a difficult
one, that strikes at the heart of how we read the Bible. Some people
feel it entirely sensible to take phrases and passages out of their
setting in order to prove certain points. I think that approach can
lead to all sorts of trouble and just ignores the fact that each book
in the Bible was written in a particular context. And in reality
nobody takes the Bible to be entirely accurate (dare I say that!?);
one obvious example is Genesis 1, in which the moon is described as a
light – 'the smaller one to govern the night'. We know the moon is
not a light; does that mean the Bible is in error and our faith is
for nothing?</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It's more sensible, I
think to read the Bible as a divinely-inspired library of books that
shows God's story and interaction with the world through the course
of history. The Bible gives us the best possible picture of what God
and his people are like, an idea which I tried to unpack a little bit
in another couple of blog posts,
<a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/reading-bible-what-lens-do-you-use.html" target="_blank">here</a>
and then
<a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/more-on-how-we-read-bible.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Finally, on the slavery
point, let's remember Paul's little letter to a man called Philemon,
in which he advocated for the freedom of a certain Onesimus, who had
run away from his position as Philemon's slave. Here's how Paul
appeals to Philemon:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So if you consider me
your partner, welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. If he has
wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Colossians 4 will
follow in a few days' time, but for now I'll leave you with this,
while trying myself to live with it in mind:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Put to death the
sinful, earthly things lurking within you... Put on your new nature,
and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like
him... Above all, clothe yourselves in love, which binds us all
together in perfect harmony.</div>
</blockquote>Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-38556005223367882102012-05-20T22:34:00.000+01:002012-05-20T22:34:41.561+01:00Thoughts on Colossians 2A week or so ago I started a series of posts looking at the book of Colossians. You can read my thoughts on Colossians chapter 1 <a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/thoughts-on-colossians-1.html">here</a> and when you've done that, let's turn to chapter 2.<br />
<br />
The first part of chapter 2 carries on from the previous chapter, with Paul writing about his hopes for the Christians in Colosse and Laodicea. These hopes centre on Jesus Christ; referring to 'many other believers who have not met me personally', Paul says this:
<br />
<blockquote>
I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.</blockquote>
It seems Paul hadn't been to Colosse himself; the church there sprung from the work of a man called Epaphras. Paul had heard from Epaphras about how the Colossian Christians were doing, and much of the report was very positive. From chapter 1:8 and 2:5:
<br />
<blockquote>
[Epaphras] has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
...I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.</blockquote>
As an aside, Paul's writings are often used as evidence of the 'justification by faith' idea, which states we can't do anything to make ourselves right with God. Yet Paul clearly does think our actions are important; faith in Christ is not merely about believing (in a 'sign this statement of faith' kind of way) certain things.<br />
<br />
So the Christians in Colosse were doing well in many ways. But one aspect of Epaphras' report did bother Paul. From chapter 2, verse 8:
<br />
<blockquote>
Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that comes from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.</blockquote>
The Colossians were being led astray, away from the belief that they were 'complete through [their] union with Christ' and into the practice of certain strict disciplines. The current scholarly view seems to be that this was a form of Judaism that stressed self-denial (such as going without food and drink for long periods) and mysticism. The community at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qumran">Qumran</a>, where the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_Scrolls">Dead Sea Scrolls</a> were found, is thought to have followed at least some of these practices. Paul outlines the problem in verse 18 (from the New International Version):
<br />
<blockquote>
Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.</blockquote>
According to a commentary I read, Paul uses the catchphrases of these Jewish teachers in his argument against them:
<br />
<blockquote>
<i>Humility</i> here means 'self-denial' and describes fasting and other bodily disciplines which were self-denying practices in Jewish, mystical piety that were supposed to open the way for receiving visions of heavenly mysteries. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>The worship of angels</i> refers not to worship directed to angels but 'the worship [of God] which angels perform'.<i></i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>Goes into great detail about what he has seen</i> (literally 'things which he beholds upon entering') is the third slogan from the 'philosophy'. The false teachers apparently claimed to have joined in this angelic worship of God as they entered into the heavenly realm and prepared to receive visions of divine mysteries. They were therefore asserting their spiritual superiority on the grounds of these heightened experiences.</blockquote>
Well, that's all fine and interesting but what can we take from this chapter with regard to our own lives in our world today? I'll pick out two things.<br />
<br />
The first practical point is about spiritual experiences. We should not seek them out and neither should we thing ourselves superior, more holy, if we do have such experiences.<br />
<br />
I don't think Paul is saying that spiritual experiences are bad in themselves; indeed many people think Paul is referring to himself in 2 Corinthians 12, where he describes someone who 'was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell'. No, Paul's concern is that we keep things in the right order, not seeking mystical experiences but seeking God, the one who gives these experiences as he sees fit.<br />
<br />
And that brings me on to the second practical point. It's all about Christ.<br />
<br />
Christ is our focus, Christ the 'visible image of the invisible God', the one who 'existed before anything else' and who 'holds all creation together'.<br />
<br />
It's worth noting Paul's approach to the problems in Colosse, He didn't launch straight in to a condemnation of the false teaching. Instead he sought to unveil the wonder of Christ, reminding the Colossians of whom they serve and their security in him. Paul's focus in chapter two is on the Christians being 'complete through [their] union with Christ' and 'raised to new life' but this all builds on his wonderful reminder in chapter one of who exactly this Christ is:
<br />
<blockquote>
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.<br /><br />For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.</blockquote>Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-89277576874102178972012-05-10T14:36:00.000+01:002012-05-20T22:34:58.615+01:00Thoughts on Colossians 1I've not read or written much over the last few weeks so, in an effort to address both those points, here goes with a little series on the Letter to the Colossians. I won't go into a load of theological detail and I certainly don't intend to cover every verse. This will be more of a journey through the Letter, focusing on those points that particularly grab me.
Let's start at verse 6. <a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/what-is-good-news-of-jesus-christ.html">I've written myself</a> about what I think the 'Good News of Jesus Christ' might be all about; Paul (he's generally thought to have written this letter) said about the Good News that it is:
<br />
<blockquote>
...bearing fruit by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace</blockquote>
The Good News is God's grace, his overwhelming goodness towards us, and it changes our lives.
The next passage I want to look at is verses 9-12. When we pray, it often seems to be along the lines of 'Lord, please fix things for us'. But I don't see much praying like that in the New Testament. Instead, it's 'Lord, please fix <i>us</i>!' - like here in Colossians:
<br />
<blockquote>
We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding... We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father.</blockquote>
There's another marvellous prayer in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%201&version=NLT">Ephesians 1:15-23</a>, which covers the same ground and more:
<br />
<blockquote>
I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called – his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.</blockquote>
Pray those things for me right now, would you please!?
My last thought on this section is about the <i>point</i> of the Colossian prayer. ' We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will...' but for what purpose? Well, let's see:
<br />
<blockquote>
We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.</blockquote>
That's the point – to live fruitful, God-pleasing lives and to grow in spirit!<br />
<br />
On to verses 15-20 now. Some scholars think this passage was already in existence as a creedal statement that Paul is quoting. This would make it perhaps the earliest piece of writing we have regarding Christianity. It's also one of the key passages where the idea of Christ being somehow part of God (not just the mightiest of God's creations) comes from – it is said of Christ that he 'existed before anything was created', 'is supreme over all creation' and 'holds all creation together'.<br />
<br />
There's also the simple point that this passage does rather read like a hymn. Christ is being praised in a way that Jews would reserve for God himself, seeing as they were very strongly into monotheism, which is the idea that there is one supreme being who alone should be worshipped. The hymn is arguably elevating Christ to the status of God; indeed, one modern author has said, 'a higher Christology does not exist in the New Testament'.<br />
<br />
I'd like to pick out one more point in chapter 1 of Colossians. Sometimes we think and act as if everything depends on our own strength or skill. On other occasions we wait passively for God to sort things out. Paul chooses another option: 'I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me.' God doesn't want us just to let life happen around us, but neither should we think we can shape the world as we see fit, by sheer force of our will. It reminds me of Jesus' words in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11&version=NLT">Matthew 11:28-30</a>:
<br />
<blockquote>
Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoke">yoke</a> upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoke">yoke</a> is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.</blockquote>
Jesus promises rest in the midst of work, not rest from work. Although Paul in Colossians 1:29 uses rather more forceful terms than Jesus ('struggle' doesn't sound much like a burden that is 'easy to bear'), I think they're talking about the same thing.Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-55895309576663996402012-04-16T09:36:00.000+01:002012-04-16T09:36:28.528+01:00Ed Miliband, champion bandwagon-jumper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FbGcXJE-Mgw/T4vZgbsRakI/AAAAAAAAALw/GTXZg5IJA7o/s1600/Miliband_Greggs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FbGcXJE-Mgw/T4vZgbsRakI/AAAAAAAAALw/GTXZg5IJA7o/s320/Miliband_Greggs.jpeg" /></a></div>So Ed Miliband has been jumping on another passing bandwagon, with his proposal yesterday to introduce a £5,000 cap on donations to political parties. Before I get on to the details about this one, let's have a look at Mr Miliband's last bandwagon-jump, regarding pasties.<br />
<br />
You might have heard in the Budget given on 27th March that hot pasties will now be liable for VAT in the same way as other take-away food. The Labour leadership saw this as an excellent opportunity to portray the Chancellor and Prime Minister as out of touch fops, culminating in the Eds Miliband and Balls popping in to a branch of Greggs to buy some sausage rolls (Guardian video <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2012/mar/28/ed-miliband-sausage-rolls-greggs-pasty-video">here</a>). I bet the two Eds wish they'd been concentrating a bit more on the Bradford West by-election which took place the following day, though. Labour got absolutely turned over by George Galloway, with a Labour majority of more than 5,000 becoming a majority for Galloway of a bit over 10,000 (a swing of, wait for it, 37%). Guardian report <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/mar/30/george-galloway-bradford-west-byelection?INTCMP=SRCH">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Watch your step then, Mr Miliband, with your leap on to the party funding bandwagon that is now rolling, courtesy of a secret recording that showed a Conservative party fundraiser offering private dinners with David Cameron and George Osborne in return for huge donations.<br />
<br />
Miliband's proposal is that there will be a cap of £5,000 on donations to political parties. Now this will hurt both parties, but the Conservatives much more so, as a lot of Labour's funding comes from the individual political subscription fees that many union members pay to Labour. As I understand it, at the moment union members have to specifically request and then complete an opt-out form in order to avoid paying the political subscription, but wouldn't it be much fairer if you had to indicate positively that you wanted to contribute to Labour? Taking it further, why shouldn't trades unions administer donations to <i>all</i> political parties; why should I only be able to donate to Labour through union membership?<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong, I think there are problems with the way political parties are funded. I'm uncomfortable with wealthy individuals exerting significant influence over the Conservatives (and other parties) thanks to their donations that amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds. But I'm just as uncomfortable with the union grip on Labour, and I think Miliband is being hideously opportunistic with his cap proposal. It's got to be allied to reform of union donations, in my view.<br />
<br />
I'll finish with the unsurprising news that the Unite union, one of Labour's main funders is very happy with Miliband's proposals, that will enable them to broadly carry on supporting Labour in the current way (<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9205904/Ed-Miliband-accused-of-wheeze-over-proposal-for-5000-donations-cap.html">link</a>):<br />
<blockquote>Unite supports Ed Miliband's efforts to restore faith in politics, and is pleased that the vital link between Labour and millions of working people is valued and will be retained. </blockquote><br />
<br />
Picture from the <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/">Daily Mirror</a>Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-7131507154686068162012-04-11T20:35:00.000+01:002012-04-11T20:35:21.214+01:00I came here for a good argument!<b>I'm right, this is how it is, why don't you <i>get</i> it?</b><br />
<br />
A sentiment that I've expressed on plenty of occasions, unfortunately. Most of the time I'm a pretty easy-going guy but when the conversation moves on to something I feel strongly about, I can get very aggressive and unpleasant. Maybe I need to take on board something that Brian McLaren wrote on <a href="http://brianmclaren.net/">his blog</a> yesterday (the post in full is <a href="http://brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/post-47.html">here</a>):<br />
<blockquote>I've found (both in marriage and during my years as a pastor) that if you seek agreement, you often don't get understanding. If you seek understanding, agreement often works itself out.</blockquote><br />
McLaren wrote these words in response to a guy asking him how he can talk through a difficult issue with his wife. It's not about seeking agreement; understanding is what we should be aiming to achieve. <br />
<br />
How difficult this is, though! How natural to try and convince others that I am right and they are wrong! And how strongly my proud nature protests against McLaren's suggestions – 'Don't defend yourself at all... Just listen deeply... and don't move forward until she's satisfied that you fully understand'.<br />
<br />
But it's so obvious and simple, isn't it? When I'm talking with someone I want them to understand <i>my</i> point of view, I don't just want them to try and convince me of <i>theirs</i>. So, clearly I should treat people like this myself; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022:34-40&version=NLT">as Jesus said</a>:<br />
<blockquote>Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”</blockquote><br />
Lord, have mercy and give me grace...<br />
<br />
And not, 'Oh look, this is futile'!<br />
<br />
<object width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/kQFKtI6gn9Y?version=3&hl=en_GB&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/kQFKtI6gn9Y?version=3&hl=en_GB&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-61617188179162838202012-04-08T17:31:00.000+01:002012-04-08T17:31:25.587+01:00God and the future – so what?I've been writing about the Bible's teaching on whether God knows all of the future. <a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/does-god-know-future.html">Firstly</a>, I noted that several passages in the Bible seem to indicate God experiences time like we do, expressing <i>sorrow</i> at His actions, being <i>surprised</i> by what others have done, and <i>changing His mind</i> at times.<br />
<br />
Then on <a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/god-does-know-future.html">Friday</a> I tried to explain how we might harmonise those passages with the seemingly contradictory theme within the Bible of God determining or at least foreknowing the future. This was my conclusion:<br />
<blockquote>It seems clear to me then that the Bible teaches two things about God's knowledge of the future. Some of the future is indeed known in advance by God and even set in advance by him. But not all of it. There are many passages in the Bible that speak of God experiencing time just like we do, having hopes for the future, reacting to events, being disappointed when things don't go according to his wishes. God <i>does</i> know the future but only to the extent that he has settled it.</blockquote><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Chaos_-t6WM/T4G9RDLCR9I/AAAAAAAAALk/QxfCR2C88C0/s1600/University_ivory_tower.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="177" width="284" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Chaos_-t6WM/T4G9RDLCR9I/AAAAAAAAALk/QxfCR2C88C0/s320/University_ivory_tower.jpeg" /></a></div>But so what; what difference does it make whether or not God has complete, perfect knowledge of all that will ever happen? Or is it just, as I wrote a couple of days ago, high-falutin speculation? Well, in a way, yes it is; certainly when compared with the heart of the Christian faith. It's Easter Sunday today so I'm all the more aware of how everything pales into insignificance alongside the victory over evil that Jesus won through his death and resurrection. <br />
<br />
And yet... Greg Boyd (his book '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/God-Possible-Biblical-Introduction-Open/dp/080106290X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333390309&sr=8-1-fkmr0">God of the Possible</a>' is what's got me thinking about all this) picks out seven ways in which he thinks the open view of God and the future might have a real and positive impact on us. I'll focus on just a couple.<br />
<br />
Let's start with our view of the Bible. Many doctrines of Christianity have arisen in order to make sense of apparent contradictions in the Bible. For example, we have the doctrine of God's incarnation as the 1st century Jewish man, Jesus of Nazareth. This doctrine seeks to make sense of the Bible seeming to say that Jesus is both fully human and fully God.<br />
<br />
In the same way, the open view of God and the future seeks to make sense of two apparently contradictory threads in the Bible; God has foreknowledge of the future but also experiences events as we do, reacting and making plans in response to them. The open view, says Greg Boyd, 'provides us with a framework in which the Word in its entirety begins to make sense on this issue'. And as we gain a more coherent view of what the Bible teaches, so increases 'our ability to understand God more clearly, relate to him more sincerely, and be transformed by him more profoundly'.<br />
<br />
The next practical issue is about prayer. If we believe God sees all of time as settled then what does it mean for us to pray? What difference can our prayers possibly make if we don't <i>really</i> believe that God can change his mind? Christians sometimes talk as if God controls everything, as if prayer is only about conforming our own will to God's will. But, according to Boyd, this 'simply doesn't reflect the purpose or the urgency that Scripture gives to petitionary prayer'. Boyd goes on to say this:<br />
<blockquote>Because God wants us to be empowered, because he desires us to communicate with him, and because he wants us to learn dependency on him, he graciously grants us the ability to significantly affect him. This is the power of petitionary prayer. God displays his beautiful sovereignty by deciding <i>not</i> to always unilaterally decide matters. He enlists our input, not because he needs it, but because he desires to have an authentic, dynamic relationship with us as real, empowered persons. Like a loving parent or spouse, he wants not only to influence us but to be influenced <i>by us</i>.</blockquote><br />
The Bible consistently speaks of prayer as something that <i>can</i> change God's mind (e.g. see <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2018:1-8&version=NLT">Luke 18:1-8</a> and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20chron%207:11-22&version=NLT">2 Chronicles 7:14</a>), so wouldn't it be great if our theology reflected this?<br />
<br />
I could go on. Greg Boyd's book mentions seven practical benefits of this open view of God and the future. Drop me a line if you're local to me and would like to borrow the book; I'd love to know what you think about it all. And if you're still finding it hard to swallow this idea that God doesn't know all that will ever happen, I'll leave you with this from page 86 of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/God-Possible-Biblical-Introduction-Open/dp/080106290X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333390309&sr=8-1-fkmr0">God of the Possible</a>:<br />
<blockquote>Classical theology cannot accept this conclusion because of philosophical preconceptions of what God must be like: He must be in every respect unchanging, so his knowledge of the future must be unchanging...<br />
<br />
Because of this philosophical presupposition, God is not allowed to say what he wants to say in Scripture. Suppose, for the sake of argument, that God wanted to tell us he really <i>does</i> change his mind. How could he do so in terms clearer than he did in passages such as Jeremiah 18:8 and 10 in which he explicitly tells us, “I will change my mind”? Or suppose, for the sake of argument, that God wanted to tell us he really <i>does</i> regret certain decisions he's made and really <i>does</i> experience unexpected disappointment. How could he do so in terms clearer than he did in passages such as 1 Samuel 15:11 in which he explicitly tells us, “I regret that I made Saul king,” or Jeremiah 3:7 in which he tells us, “I thought... 'she will return to me'; but she did not return”? It's difficult to conceive of how God could be more explicit.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Photograph of Oxford University by ALAMY, taken from the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/9027812/A-first-with-honours-for-the-student-who-rejected-Oxbridge.html">Daily Telegraph</a>Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-45951361147508906602012-04-06T00:23:00.000+01:002012-04-06T00:23:33.473+01:00God does know the futureEarlier this week I asked the question, 'Does God know the future?' (Read the post <a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/does-god-know-future.html">here</a>.) A book I've been reading has made me rethink the traditional view of God's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omniscience">omniscience</a> that says he sees all of time as if it were the present.<br />
<br />
The key problem with the traditional view is there are many Bible passages that talk about God being surprised, expressing sorrow, and changing his mind. How can those passages make sense if God does indeed have foreknowledge of everything that will happen? How can a being who has complete, perfect knowledge of the future be <i>surprised</i>?<br />
<br />
However, and it's a big 'however', the idea of God having full knowledge of the future appears to have a solid Biblical basis. I mentioned a few passages in my <a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/does-god-know-future.html">previous post</a>:<br />
<blockquote>You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139&version=NLT">Psalm 139:16</a>)</blockquote><blockquote>Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+46&version=NLT">Isaiah 46:9-10</a>)</blockquote><blockquote>This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2029:1-23&version=NLT">Jeremiah 29:10-11</a>)</blockquote><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d4EYKL2F538/T34pTO5URrI/AAAAAAAAALY/Vfh6WoQ94v8/s1600/God_of_the_Possible.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="259" width="194" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d4EYKL2F538/T34pTO5URrI/AAAAAAAAALY/Vfh6WoQ94v8/s320/God_of_the_Possible.jpeg" /></a></div>Let's see what one advocate of the so-called 'open view' of God and the future has to say about these three passages. That book I've been reading is '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/God-Possible-Biblical-Introduction-Open/dp/080106290X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333390309&sr=8-1-fkmr0">God of the Possible</a>' by Greg Boyd and what follows is all based on arguments from it.<br />
<br />
I'll leave until last the first of the three Bible passages above, as the argument from Boyd's book is quite technical and lengthy. The second passage (Isaiah 46:9-10) seems fairly clear, though. God says, 'Only I can tell you the future before it even happens' and 'Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish'. But this doesn't say God can tell <i>all</i> the future, just some of it. And how much of the future God can tell is entirely up to him, for 'everything he plans will come to pass'. I don't see any indication from this passage that God knows the whole of the future.<br />
<br />
Next, we have the famous verse from Jeremiah 29:<br />
<blockquote>“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”</blockquote><br />
Just before this verse, we see God stating the Israelites will be in captivity for seventy years. If we're going to take this at all literally then it's clear God has the power to set or at least predict the future. But again there's no sense (is there?) from this passage that God sets or even simply foreknows <i>all</i> the future. Just certain aspects. <br />
<br />
As for the 'I know the plans I have for you' promise, is it heretical to suggest that God's plans don't always come to fruition? I feel quite strongly about this point because believing that God's plans <i>do</i> always become reality leads, in my view, to some dangerous places. People are robbed of their free will, for a start, and it makes me wonder what Jesus was thinking when he told us to pray 'May your will be done'.<br />
<br />
On to Psalm 139 then. Greg Boyd gives two pages (from p40) of his book 'God of the Possible' to verse 16 from this Psalm:<br />
<blockquote>You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.</blockquote><br />
I'm going to focus on two aspects of Boyd's argument concerning this passage, starting with some points about the original language it was written in. Boyd says that the Hebrew word translated 'laid out' or 'formed' can carry the sense of being determined in advance or merely being planned. I guess which sense we prefer will be conditioned by what we feel the rest of scripture teaches...<br />
<br />
There's more, though. According to Boyd, the Hebrew is not clear as to what the subject is in the sentence. What is 'recorded in God's book' and 'laid out before a single day had passed'? Apparently it could be the psalmist's physical form or the days of his life; either would be an accurate translation. Boyd prefers the former option, that it's the psalmist's body which was recorded in God's book:<br />
<blockquote>[This view] has the advantage of being consistent with the rest of this psalm and especially with the immediate context of this verse. Psalm 139 is about God's moment-by-moment, intimate involvement in our lives. The verses immediately preceding verse 16 describe the formation of the psalmist's body in the womb. Indeed, the first stanza of verse 16, “Your eyes beheld my unformed substance,” also concerns the intimate awareness the Lord has of the psalmist even before he's formed. An interpretation of this verse that continues this theme seems most appropriate, whereas one that inserts an unrelated reference to the psalmist's future seems out of place.</blockquote><br />
The second point I want to pick out is this. Even if Psalm 139:16 <i>is</i> about the psalmist's life (not his physical body), must we accept that the length of his life couldn't be altered, having been 'recorded in God's book'? If you're baulking at the idea of God's intentions changing, have a quick read of these passages:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex%2032:33&version=NLT">Exodus 32:33</a><br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rev%203:5&version=NLT">Revelation 3:5</a><br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isa%2038:1-5&version=NLT">Isaiah 38:1-5</a><br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jer%2018:6-10&version=NLT">Jeremiah 18:6-10</a><br />
<br />
According to Boyd, 'The notion that what God ordains is necessarily unalterable is foreign to the Hebrew mind'. To envisage God as being completely unchanging in every respect is to follow Greek and Roman thought, not Hebrew thought. Those of us who consider the Bible to be 'inspired by God' and 'useful to teach us what is true' (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%203:16&version=NLT">2 Timothy 3:16</a>) mustn't import other philosophies and world-views into the Bible. It's the other way round; we must let the Bible shape and inform our world-view. <br />
<br />
It seems clear to me then that the Bible teaches two things about God's knowledge of the future. Some of the future is indeed known in advance by God and even set in advance by him. But not all of it. There are many passages in the Bible that speak of God experiencing time just like we do, having hopes for the future, reacting to events, being disappointed when things don't go according to his wishes. God <i>does</i> know the future but only to the extent that he has settled it.<br />
<br />
So what, though? I do want to explain why I think all this high-falutin' speculation is important but I'll save that for later as this post is plenty long enough already. Watch this space...Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-83986628139016717842012-04-02T19:28:00.000+01:002012-04-02T19:28:20.803+01:00Does God know the future?Mainstream Christian doctrine says that God is omniscient. Or in less fancy words, He knows everything. I'm beginning to have some doubts about this though. Let me explain.<br />
<br />
Part of the idea about God's omniscience is that He knows the future; for example where you'll be living in ten years' time, who'll win Wimbledon this summer, what word I'll type next. There's plenty of material in the Bible that, on first reading, points to this view. Jesus predicts the future several times, for a start, and in the Old Testament God is recorded as saying things like this:<br />
<blockquote>You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139&version=NLT">Psalm 139:16</a>)</blockquote><blockquote>Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+46&version=NLT">Isaiah 46:9-10</a>)</blockquote><blockquote>This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2029:1-23&version=NLT">Jeremiah 29:10-11</a>)</blockquote><br />
Don't all these passages tell of a God who sees everything still to happen in the same way as we experience the present? As if the whole of time is stretched out before God like a sheet, so to Him all is in the present tense.<br />
<br />
Well... I don't think it's this simple any more. What do you make of these passages which talk about God regretting His own actions, being surprised by the actions of others, and apparently changing His mind?<br />
<blockquote>Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2015:1-11&version=NLT">1 Samuel 15:10-11</a>)</blockquote><blockquote>Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah, you judge between me and my vineyard. What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes? (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%205:1-7&version=NLT">Isaiah 5:3-4</a>)</blockquote><blockquote>Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness... I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20kgs%2020:1-6&version=NLT">2 Kings 20:1-6</a>)</blockquote><blockquote>He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:36-39&version=NLT">Matthew 26:39</a>)</blockquote><br />
What should we do with all these passages that speak of a God who is within time, much as we are? God is <i>sorry</i> that he made Saul king, He's <i>surprised</i> at His people's disobedience, He <i>changes His mind</i> about when king Hezekiah will die. And finally we have Jesus, in the agonies of knowing what is surely to come, pleading with the Father for another option. How does this make sense if the future is fully settled and foreknown by God?<br />
<br />
Two points in closing, and first a request.<br />
<br />
<b>Please post a comment if you can think of other Bible passages that seem to indicate God knows all that will happen in the future. </b> <br />
<br />
I'll see if there might be another explanation that harmonises with God being surprised, changing His mind, being disappointed and so on, and I'll look again at those passages I quoted at the start of this post.<br />
<br />
So that's point one – I'll put a follow-up post up in a few days' time that will, I hope, make the case that perhaps God doesn't know the future in full.<br />
<br />
Secondly, this train of thought has all come from reading a book called '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/God-Possible-Biblical-Introduction-Open/dp/080106290X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333390309&sr=8-1-fkmr0">God of the Possible</a>' by an American Baptist pastor called <a href="http://whchurch.org/">Greg Boyd</a>. (The link is to the church where Boyd is the senior pastor; his personal website is being updated at the moment.) He puts what I think is a compelling case, going through several arguments for the traditional God-outside-of-time view and putting forward his own interpretation for many of the Bible passages that people use to justify that traditional view. Let me know if you're interested in borrowing the book as I'd be glad to lend it to you if you're local to me.Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-91103781775893399052012-03-25T09:13:00.000+01:002012-03-25T09:13:36.930+01:00Think before you speak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T99xR2pFUdM/T27SsQ3g-2I/AAAAAAAAALM/z51bqyJxZok/s1600/Alcohol_bottles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="256" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T99xR2pFUdM/T27SsQ3g-2I/AAAAAAAAALM/z51bqyJxZok/s320/Alcohol_bottles.jpg" /></a></div>Do you ever wonder what Jesus would have been like if he got really drunk? No? Just me then... I thought about this again the other day while reading <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%203:1-12&version=NLT">James chapter 3</a>, about controlling your tongue. Here's the passage:<br />
<blockquote>People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a<br />
grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t<br />
draw fresh water from a salty spring.</blockquote><br />
It's not right that both good and bad talk comes out of our mouth. Our talk should always be pure, wholesome and positive. Clearly it's not, though; we all say things that are harmful, hurtful, even deceitful. So we need to control our tongue, we need to think before we speak. But that's not the ultimate goal, is it? <br />
<br />
What we should be aiming and praying for is to become people who cannot help but say positive and helpful things, all the time. You can't draw fresh water from a salty spring, says James, so we should be pleading with God and working hard ourselves at becoming freshwater springs, so to speak. Like Paul says in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2012&version=NLT">Romans 12</a>:<br />
<blockquote>And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.<br />
</blockquote>Which brings me back to my question about drunk Jesus – if he was perfect and always did the will of his Father, then I reckon he'd probably be alright if he drank a bit too much one evening hanging out with his disciples. Not that I'm proposing we get drunk as some kind of test of how close to perfection we are! Although how we behave when we've had a few certainly does reveal our weak points...Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-33041480576880262952012-03-23T17:44:00.000+00:002012-03-23T17:44:17.016+00:00Make disciples or build the church?Christians often talk about getting their friends and family along to church meetings, almost as if that's the goal of our prayers and efforts to share our faith with them. I want to unpick the thinking behind this a little bit. What does it say about our view of how God deals with us and what being a Christian is all about?<br />
<br />
Well, first of all it seems to me that we're implying God only (or mainly) works in our church services. If we place particular importance on our non-Christian friends coming to church on a Sunday, doesn't that mean we think there's something special about that Sunday meeting?<br />
<br />
Stating it the other way, doesn't it imply that we think God is not really at work in our day-to-day lives, as we work, play and socialise? Surely he is! If we're a follower of Jesus then he's with us all the time and he wants to work through us all the time, right? So we should pray for and expect opportunities to show Godly love to our friends and neighbours, to talk with them about our faith, and to pray with them. We can share the good news of Jesus with them in the midst of daily life; it doesn't have to be the pastor, the evangelist or the music leader on a Sunday who does this. <br />
<br />
I've been reading and loving the blog of a guy called <a href="http://mikebreen.wordpress.com/">Mike Breen</a>, who used to lead <a href="http://www.stthomaschurch.org.uk/">a big church in Sheffield</a> and is now involved in an <a href="http://weare3dm.com/pages/page.asp?page_id=65395">organisation</a> that, in their own words, aims to 'take 30 years of learning from a very post-Christian England context, as well as penetrating Biblical insights, and come alongside churches and organizations who are finding the North American mission field more post-Christian with each passing day'.<br />
<br />
Breen tells the story of the Sheffield church, St Thomas', in <a href="http://mikebreen.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/how-i-chose-movement-over-mega-the-story-of-sheffield/">this blog post</a>. Check out this excerpt which explains how they focus on helping people become disciples, followers of Jesus Christ, instead of focusing on making the Sunday service as attractive as possible to non-Christians:<br />
<blockquote>St Thomas Sheffield isn’t a massive church and the center of a movement because it’s got the best worship service. Or the best digital experience. Or the best preachers/teachers in the world. It’s because everything they do is about making disciples. They honestly believe if you make disciples and release them to lead, release them into their destiny, release them to be Agents of the Kingdom, everything will change. <br />
<br />
If we are great at making the disciples, church growth will never be a problem because to be a disciple means you’re a missionary. It was never OK for us to be a large church and have very few missionary disciples. So we built something where that couldn’t happen. Making disciples was in the DNA from the very beginning and it has just carried through.</blockquote><br />
It's all about helping people become genuine followers of Jesus, people who hear the word of God <i>and do it</i>. The best Sunday church experience in the world will achieve very little if we're not making disciples and empowering each other to do the works of God's kingdom.Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-45306722141747664202012-03-22T21:17:00.000+00:002012-03-22T21:17:35.683+00:00Church services - why do we have them?I thought I'd re-post this entry from around a year ago, about why Christians feel the need to have church services. What's the purpose of them, what are they supposed to achieve, and what sort of things should happen in them? Let me know what you think in the comments...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Genuine question here. Why do we have church meetings, the usually on a Sunday meet up to sing songs, listen to a talk and pray together thing? I've had this on my list of things to blog about for a while but I think now is the time, following on from an interesting chat I had recently with a guy on my theology course. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XgsG6vRrJ9g/TZRP2iembzI/AAAAAAAAAB8/XMuaQdWpYIs/s1600/Church%2Bmeeting%2B1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:10px 20px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 192px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XgsG6vRrJ9g/TZRP2iembzI/AAAAAAAAAB8/XMuaQdWpYIs/s320/Church%2Bmeeting%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590180835860311858" /></a> We were talking about the tension between meeting together as a church to share our stories with one another and meeting to be spiritually recharged. I think it's like a bring and share picnic, which works much better if <span style="font-style:italic;">everyone</span> brings something to share rather than a few people being expected to being all the food which they will then give out to everyone. Of course, there will be times where a particular person doesn't have much to bring, both with a picnic and with a church meeting. That's completely fine, but I don't believe it shouldn't be the typical way of things.<br />
<br />
I've been thinking for a long time about how our rhythms of church can (unintentionally) encourage us to let our spiritual life drift between meetings. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c-FZHPV6qEU/TZRQkqejalI/AAAAAAAAACE/0hoBcTjUk4Q/s1600/Church%2Bmeeting%2B2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:10px 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c-FZHPV6qEU/TZRQkqejalI/AAAAAAAAACE/0hoBcTjUk4Q/s320/Church%2Bmeeting%2B2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590181628281580114" /></a>We look forward to the Sunday meeting in the hope of getting a spiritual uplift from the songs we sing together and from hearing great teaching from one of the church leaders. The same thing can happen with annual events like conferences; as the conference season approaches we get excited about what God is going to do there, perhaps forgetting that he can do just as much in our local settings.<br />
<br />
It can easily add up to a Christian life that actually amounts to a few meetings per month and not much in between. Surely this is not how it should be, though? A question, then: is there anything about the way we do our Sunday meetings, conferences and so on that <span style="font-style:italic;">encourages</span> this way of living? Someone famous (Albert Einstein, was it?) said that our current systems are perfectly suited to bring about the results that we are getting. Or maybe it was Einstein who said the same thing but the other way round: 'We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them' (I looked this up). <br />
<br />
Maybe it's worth taking a step back and wondering <span style="font-style:italic;">why</span> we have the Sunday church meetings. What's the point, what is supposed to happen at them? Firstly, I don't agree with the common view that we meet together to 'worship God'. Look at Romans 12:1-2; one of my favourite little passages in the whole Bible:<br />
<blockquote>And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.</blockquote><br />
Our <span style="font-style:italic;">whole life</span> should be an act of worship. Paul took the Jewish Temple language of worship and sacrifice and applied it to everyday behaviour, meaning that Christians do not go to a church meeting to worship. Our church meeting should be an act of worship but no more and no less than anything else we do in the course of our day-to-day life.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CPzDTOzQbdg/TZRRIJvswkI/AAAAAAAAACM/V502MgO8iBQ/s1600/Church%2Bmeeting%2B3.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 264px; height: 198px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CPzDTOzQbdg/TZRRIJvswkI/AAAAAAAAACM/V502MgO8iBQ/s320/Church%2Bmeeting%2B3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590182237970416194" /></a>Why, then, do we have church meetings if not to 'worship God'? I want to share a few thoughts from <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20cor%2014&version=NLT">1 Corinthians 14</a>, a chapter that has plenty to say about church meetings. In verse 12, Paul notes that the Christians in Corinth are 'eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives' and he urges them to ask God for those abilities (or spiritual gifts; the Greek word is <span style="font-style:italic;">charismata</span>) that will 'strengthen the whole church'. Paul then talks about praying and singing in the Spirit, which many Christians take to mean using a language not of human origin (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossolalia">speaking in tongues</a>), but goes on to say this:<br />
<blockquote>I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.</blockquote><br />
So here is another clue as to what Paul expects to happen at church meetings. People should speak words that will help others. And this theme is carried on in verse 26:<br />
<blockquote>Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.</blockquote><br />
<span style="font-style:italic;">Everything that is done must strengthen all of you.</span> Maybe there is our answer to the question, 'What are church meetings for?' They are for strengthening and helping the believers. Forgive me for tearing a verse out of its context, but Ephesians 4:11 is relevant to this issue, I think. Here, Paul mentions five kinds of people as 'gifts Christ gave to the church': the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers (the last two are sometimes linked together due to the way the original Greek was written). And the responsibility of these people is to 'equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church'. So in our church meetings (and in all our interactions with one another; it's not just a Sunday thing!) we should be strengthened – built up – and equipped to do God's work. What does 'God's work' mean, though? Maybe I'll come back to that another time!Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-318653595799373062012-03-19T17:34:00.000+00:002012-03-19T17:34:04.711+00:00Decisions, decisions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uAsTF8iZabY/T2dtUgK9ZAI/AAAAAAAAAK0/290m3AILNB8/s1600/Bournemouth_beach.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="175" width="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uAsTF8iZabY/T2dtUgK9ZAI/AAAAAAAAAK0/290m3AILNB8/s320/Bournemouth_beach.jpeg" /></a></div>I'm about to enter a weekend chess tournament, the <a href="http://www.bournemouthchesscongress.org.uk/">Bournemouth Chess Congress</a>. Now, chess tournaments usually have at least three levels of entry, so you don't end up playing and (most likely) losing miserably to people who are far better at the game than you are. For tournaments in England it's all done based on your <a href="http://www.englishchess.org.uk/">English Chess Federation</a> grade. My grade is currently <a href="http://www.ecfgrading.org.uk/?ref=266463L">118</a>, which means for the Bournemouth Congress I can enter the lower level of the competition. But do I want to...?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VI2SdglLwDw/T2dtYVQPdlI/AAAAAAAAALA/cxHeXMlWqys/s1600/Bournemouth_map.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="192" width="263" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VI2SdglLwDw/T2dtYVQPdlI/AAAAAAAAALA/cxHeXMlWqys/s320/Bournemouth_map.jpeg" /></a></div>In my last tournament I deliberately played in the middle section, hoping to pit my wits against really strong players and maybe learn a bit from them. They say that's how you improve at any game or sport; find the strongest opponents you can and try to learn from how they play (i.e. how they thrash you!) as long as your ego can withstand the inevitable battering. I did take a bit of punishment but I really felt that playing tough opponents sharpened my game up, and I'm tempted to do the same again in Bournemouth.<br />
<br />
What's giving me pause for thought is that the lower level in the Bournemouth Congress is for people whose grade is below 125, meaning that I'd be one of the favourites. I've never won a chess tournament (although I've had a handful of second and third places) so I'm tempted to give this one a go and enter the lower tier of the competition. There's no way I'll finish anywhere near the top of the intermediate competition; an even score would be fantastic.<br />
<br />
So do I man up and put in my entry form for the intermediate tournament or do I go for glory in the lower level? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bquOcc0kBjU">Place your bets now!</a> Or give me advice in the comments, as you wish...Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-6615642549329247932012-03-17T19:10:00.000+00:002012-03-17T19:10:37.013+00:00Team roles in Watership Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ScrVnop5oNE/T2ThgSI-RcI/AAAAAAAAAKo/iYgBjn1oJyo/s1600/Watership%2BDown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="156" width="280" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ScrVnop5oNE/T2ThgSI-RcI/AAAAAAAAAKo/iYgBjn1oJyo/s320/Watership%2BDown.jpeg" /></a></div>In the early 1980s, psychologist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_Belbin">Meredith Belbin</a> published an analysis of the various roles needed in a team for it to perform its task most effectively. Around a decade earlier, in 1972, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Adams">Richard Adams</a> wrote <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watership_Down">Watership Down</a>, a tale about the adventures of a group of rabbits. So well-characterised are the rabbits in Watership Down that I've been able to match the main protagonists to the team roles that Belbin identified. I think it works quite well for most of them. (The descriptions of each team role are from <a href="http://www.belbin.com/content/page/49/BELBIN%28uk%29-2011-TeamRoleSummaryDescriptions.pdf">this page</a> on the <a href="http://www.belbin.com/">Belbin Associates website</a>.)<br />
<br />
<b>Plant – Blackberry</b><br />
<br />
<i>Creative, imaginative, free-thinking. Generates ideas and solves difficult problems.</i><br />
<br />
'Hazel', he said quickly, 'that's a piece of flat wood – like that piece that closed the gap by the Green Loose above the warren – do you remember? It must have drifted down the river. So it floats. We could put Fiver and Pipkin on it and make it float again. It might go across the river.'<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Resource investigator – Bigwig</b><br />
<br />
<i>Outgoing, enthusiastic, communicative. Explores opportunities and develops contacts.</i><br />
<br />
Peering through the blades of grass round his head, he could see the curve of a white back. Whatever the creature was, it was nearly as big as himself. He waited, stock-still, for some little time, but it did not move... [T]he idea of going back to the Honeycomb and reporting that he had glimpsed an unknown creature in the grass and left it alone was more than he could swallow. He turned his head and looked at Silver. Seeing that he was game, he took a final look at the strange, white back and then went straight up to the edge of the hollow. Silver followed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Co-ordinator – Hazel</b><br />
<br />
<i>Mature, confident, identifies talent. Clarifies goals. Delegates effectively.</i><br />
<br />
Late in the afternoon Hazel called everyone into the Honeycomb. 'I've been thinking things over,' he said. 'I know you must all have been really disappointed not to have got rid of me at Nuthanger Farm the other day, so I've decided to go a bit further next time.' 'Where?' asked Bluebell. 'To Efrafra,' replied Hazel, 'if I can get anyone to come with me: and we shall bring back as many does as the warren needs.' <br />
<br />
There were murmurs of astonishment, and then Speedwell asked, 'How?' 'Blackberry and I have got a plan,' said Hazel, 'but I'm not going to explain it now, for this reason. You all know that this is going to be a dangerous business. If any of you get caught and taken into Efrafra, they'll make you talk all right. But those who don't know a plan can't give it away. I'll explain it later on, at the proper time.'<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Shaper – General Woundwort</b><br />
<br />
<i>Challenging, dynamic, thrives on pressure. Has the drive and courage to overcome obstacles.</i><br />
<br />
Soon he had become Chief Rabbit, having killed both the previous Chief and a rival named Fiorin. In combat he was terrifying, fighting entirely to kill, indifferent to any wounds he received himself and closing with his adversaries until his weight overbore and exhausted them. Those who had no heart to oppose him were not long in feeling that here was a leader indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Monitor-evaluator – Fiver</b><br />
<br />
<i>Sober, strategic and discerning. Sees all options and judges accurately.</i><br />
<br />
When [Holly] had spoken of his deliverance by the great apparition in the night, Fiver had listened attentively and asked one question, 'Did it make a noise?' Later, when Holly had gone back, he told Hazel that he felt sure there was some natural explanation, though he had no idea what it could be... Someone called out, 'What does Fiver think?' 'I'm certainly going,' said Fiver quietly. 'Hazel's perfectly right and there's nothing the matter with his plan. But I promise you this, all of you. If I do come, later on, to feel any kind of misgiving, I shan't keep it to myself.' 'And if that happens, I shan't ignore it,' said Hazel.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Teamworker – Dandelion</b><br />
<br />
<i>Co-operative, perceptive and diplomatic. Listens and averts friction.</i><br />
<br />
Since entering the wood they had been in severe anxiety... Pipkin sat trembling under a fern, his ears drooping on either side of his head. He held one paw forward in an awkward, unnatural way and kept licking it miserably... [Hazel said,] Come on, Dandelion, tell us a story. I know you're handy that way. Pipkin here can't wait to hear it.' Dandelion looked at Pipkin and realised what it was that Hazel was asking him to do. Choking back his own fear of the desolate, grassless woodland, the before-dawn-returning owls that they could hear some way off and the extraordinary, rank animal smell that seemed to come from somewhere rather nearer, he began.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Implementer – Holly</b><br />
<br />
<i>Practical, reliable, efficient. Turns ideas into actions and organises work that needs to be done.</i><br />
<br />
He was, rather, a stander of no nonsense who knew when duty was done and did it himself. Sound, unassuming, conscientious, a bit lacking in the rabbit sense of mischief, he was something of the born second-in-command.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Completer-finisher – Silver</b><br />
<br />
<i>Painstaking, conscientious, anxious. Searches out errors. Polishes and perfects.</i><br />
<br />
They found Bluebell by the hedge at the bottom of the field. He was white-eyed and ready to bolt. 'Silver,' he said, 'I saw a bunch of rabbits – strangers, Efrafans, I suppose – come out of the ditch over there and slip across into the water-meadow. They're behind us now. One of them was the biggest rabbit I've ever seen.' 'Then don't stay here,' said Silver. 'There goes Speedwell. And who's that? Acorn and two does with him. That's everyone. Come on, quick as you can.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Specialist – Blackavar</b><br />
<br />
<i>Single-minded, self-starting, dedicated. Provides knowledge and skills in rare supply.</i><br />
<br />
In the days that followed – days of clear sky and fine weather – Blackavar proved his worth again and again, until Hazel came to rely on him as much as on any of his veterans... Now, free among these easy-going strangers, [Blackavar] saw himself as a trained Efrafan, using his skill to help them in their need. Although he did all that he was told, he did not hesitate to make suggestions as well, particularly when it came to reconnoitring and looking for signs of danger.<br />
<br />
<br />
So there you go! Maybe the group of rabbits from Sandleford did so well because, among their number, they had all the different skills and characteristics needed to make a really strong, effective team. I just want to finish with Richard Adams' mythology of how rabbits came to be as they are; the blessing of Frith (Adams' god-figure) on El-ahrairah, the ancient rabbit hero.<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>El-ahrairah, your people cannot rule the world, for I will not have it so. All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you , they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.</b></blockquote>Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-24895926357542374352012-03-11T00:00:00.001+00:002012-03-11T00:02:29.576+00:00Gay marriage – it's an outrageFor my second whinge of this weekend (it must be the stomach bug, making me bitter and angry), let's have a look at the heated issue of gay marriage. <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2109982/Cardinal-Keith-OBrien-brands-Camerons-gay-marriage-plans-grotesque.html">This article</a> in the Daily Mail has the latest story and in case you're surprised that I'm reading the Mail, I thought their article would be most favourable to the view that I'm about to have a right pop at. Trying to be fair and all that...<br />
<br />
<b>The short version</b><br />
<br />
What in all of God's creation makes us Christians think we have the right to impose our particular view of marriage onto society as a whole?<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The long version</b><br />
<br />
Okay then. We Christians don't own the concept of marriage. And across the spectrum of even just mainstream UK Christianity there is a range of beliefs regarding marriage. For example, I gather that the Catholic Church has severe restrictions on remarrying people who've been divorced. (I don't have a link with the details, having tried without success to find any guidance on the <a href="http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/">Catholic Church in England and Wales website</a>).<br />
<br />
So there's argument one against this idea of protecting marriage.<br />
<br />
Next, even if all Christians across the world believed the same things about marriage, what right do we have to impose those beliefs on others who don't share our faith-based starting point? Most people in the world are not Christian. So we're asking for our opinion to hold sway... why? Because it's what God thinks? I don't like where that could lead, not at all. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_-y61weKR5k/T1vqTPh-t7I/AAAAAAAAAKc/cfI12aGkfHQ/s1600/Cardinal_Keith_OBrien.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="176" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_-y61weKR5k/T1vqTPh-t7I/AAAAAAAAAKc/cfI12aGkfHQ/s320/Cardinal_Keith_OBrien.jpg" /></a></div>Finally, perhaps we Christians would like to argue on some objective basis, for example that permitting gay marriage on exactly the same terms as straight marriage would damage the family or something like that. Okay, let's have that discussion. But some evidence is required, otherwise doesn't it just boil down to 'This is what God thinks' again? Let's see if we can find any such evidence in what the Catholic Cardinal Keith O'Brien (that's him over there →) has been saying that has stirred this all up (the full interview that O'Brien did with the Sunday Telegraph is <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/9121424/We-cannot-afford-to-indulge-this-madness.html">here</a>)<br />
<blockquote>Those of us who were not in favour of civil partnership, believing that such relationships <i>are harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of those involved</i>... [my italics]</blockquote><blockquote>All children deserve to begin life with a mother and father; the evidence in favour of the stability and well-being which this provides is overwhelming and unequivocal. It cannot be provided by a same-sex couple, however well-intentioned they may be.</blockquote>Well, here we have a couple of claims that can be investigated. Good. But is there actually evidence that, all else being equal (a key point), a gay partnership is more likely than a straight partnership to cause harm to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of those involved? What about, again all else being equal, that it's better for a child to begin life with a mother and father, instead of two mothers or two fathers? O'Brien just seemed to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging_the_question">beg the question</a> in his interview, so please post in the comments if you know of any evidence for his claims.<br />
<br />
One last thing the Cardinal said in his Sunday Telegraph interview:<br />
<blockquote>Imagine for a moment that the Government had decided to legalise slavery but assured us that “no one will be forced to keep a slave”. Would such worthless assurances calm our fury? Would they justify dismantling a fundamental human right? Or would they simply amount to weasel words masking a great wrong?</blockquote>How is there any equivalence in these two issues? I just don't understand the point being made here at all. Keeping slaves is illegal in the UK (and many other countries) because it robs the slave of their basic human freedom. What basic human freedom would be lost if same-sex couples were allowed to formalise their commitment to one another on exactly the same basis as opposite-sex couples? Oh that's it, the freedom to be outraged at people who want to live according to their own moral standard, not someone else's. (Hypocritical snark, given what I <a href="http://sticklesarerandom.blogspot.com/2012/03/arguing-honestly-moan-about-tim-farron.html">wrote yesterday</a> about assuming good faith in those we disagree with...)Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-51129928346330352852012-03-10T15:56:00.000+00:002012-03-10T15:56:13.005+00:00Arguing honestly – a moan about Tim Farron, Lib Dem MP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LurOgQkwUDk/T1t5QKmJ69I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/e_MFxlE_Qqw/s1600/Tim_Farron.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="225" width="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LurOgQkwUDk/T1t5QKmJ69I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/e_MFxlE_Qqw/s320/Tim_Farron.jpeg" /></a></div>Most of my blog posts are the product of at least a few days' thinking, but sometimes I hear or read something and just feel the need for a bit of a whinge. This is one of the latter occasions and is prompted by <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/mar/08/liberal-democrats-apologising">this piece</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Farron">Tim Farron</a> (that's him on the right) in today's <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/">Guardian newspaper</a>. Farron, tipped by some as the next leader of the Lib Dems, is basically claiming that Labour and Conservative politicians don't have a conscience while Lib Dems do. Here's an excerpt from the start of Farron's article:<br />
<blockquote>When I joined the Liberal party 26 years ago it was because, in my gut, the Liberals seemed the right people to me. Over the last quarter of a century, particularly in these last 22 months, I've been proved right.<br />
<br />
When the Tories have had to "do difficult things" – when they closed the mines, the steelworks and the shipyards – do you think they felt bad about it? No. When Labour invaded Iraq, introduced tuition fees, clobbered the poor by scrapping the 10p tax rate or let the bankers off the leash, wrecking the economy – did they feel bad? I doubt it.<br />
<br />
But here we are, the Lib Dems, in government taking difficult decisions to rescue our country from the abyss, and we spend our time feeling guilty and beating ourselves up. Do you know what that proves? It proves that we are human, it proves we are decent, that there is something in our DNA as a party that means Lib Dems acquire and retain a conscience.</blockquote>Now, in my more tribal moments, I'm also tempted to believe that only the politicians from my camp make their decisions based on morality and good judgement. But that's nonsense, isn't it? It's the worst kind of 'my tribe, right or wrong' partisanship. And reading a senior politician making this argument in such a transparent and extreme way really gets my back up.<br />
<br />
Drawing out the wider point, I think it's so important to assume good faith with those who disagree with us. If there's good reason not to believe someone is telling the truth, then fair enough, but how can it be right to dismiss the views of those who don't see things our way simply <i>because</i> they don't see things our way? It's certainly never going to bring people over to your point of view, I'd have thought: 'Oh, you've just demonised me just because I disagree with you. Now, let me give some serious thought to what you're saying...' Not going to happen, is it?Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2823652967548514737.post-54529905745491413122012-03-07T21:09:00.000+00:002012-03-07T21:09:52.595+00:00Could you start a church?I think I could start a church. How vain, huh? Of course, it all depends on what kind of church you're talking about! Read this account of someone starting a new church and let me know what you think. It's from the book I've been blogging about recently, '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Organic-Church-Growing-Jossey-Bass-Leadership/dp/078798129X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330706389&sr=8-1">Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens</a>' by <a href="http://cole-slaw.blogspot.com/">Neil Cole</a>.<br />
<blockquote>While doing some teaching in Japan, I had a dream that Heather, my daughter, started a church... I mentioned it to her just to let her know that she was on my mind and in my dreams while I was away. The next day she said, “Dad, my friends all want to do it!” “Do what?” I asked. “Start a church.” I told her that she would have to do most of the work, and I would coach and lead only a little. She said that was fine. The next day she arranged a house to meet in, picked a night of the week, and found a worship leader; flyers were soon being passed out to friends on campus.</blockquote>I'd love to know what you think about this as an attitude towards the body of Christ. Is it marvellously adventurous and enterprising to just go for it like this? Or is it far better to gather theologically educated and trained people together, and also to get some oversight from a recognised denomination?<br />
<br />
As I'm sure you've guessed, I think it's fantastic that people like Neil Cole's daughter, a school student, can start churches. There are risks with such a messy, almost casual approach to church planting, of course there are. But how wonderful that you don't need years of training in order to be involved in spreading the Kingdom of God like this! This is Cole's conclusion:<br />
<blockquote>I... told them that I think Satan is more intimidated by this little church of fifteen high school kids than by any of those Godzilla-sized churches [that are widespread where Cole and his daughter live]... I showed them why I thought this way: “How many of you think you could start a church like one of those megachurches?” No one raised a hand. I asked, “How many of you think you could start a church like this one?” and all raised their hands. I asked them to look around the room at all the raised hands, and I said with a new-found soberness, “I assure you, Satan is terrified by this.”</blockquote>I think you'd have raised your hand as well, right? <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Post script – the church in China</b><br />
<br />
I think a fascinating example of how Christianity can thrive when church is done in this kind of simple / organic way can be seen with what happened in China under the atheistic regime of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong">Mao Zedong</a>. Here's an extract from an essay I wrote while on my theology course last year:<br />
<blockquote>Mao's Cultural Revolution sought to remove all forms of religion from China, with persecution against Christians including banishment of foreign<br />
missionaries, confiscation of church property, execution or imprisonment<br />
of church leaders and the banning of Christian public meetings.1 Foreign<br />
missionaries were only allowed back in the years following Mao's death in<br />
1976. Here is Hirsch's ['The Forgotten Ways' by Alan Hirsch] account of how their expectations and reality were poles apart:<br />
<br />
'They [foreign missionaries and church officials] expected to find the<br />
church decimated and the disciples a weak and battered people. On the<br />
contrary, they discovered that Christianity had flourished beyond all<br />
imagination. The estimates then were about 60 million Christians in<br />
China... And remember, not unlike the early church, these people had<br />
very few Bibles... They had no professional clergy, no official leadership<br />
structures, no central organization, no mass meetings, and yet they grew<br />
like mad.</blockquote>Kevin Sawershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02173618698897367164noreply@blogger.com0