Do you ever wonder whether you really love Jesus?
To be honest I don't (wonder that is); I kind of just assume that I do.
But there's a problem here....presuming my standing before God is very dangerous. The Scriptures teach that we should make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10) and that we should examine ourselves to see that we are in the faith (2 Cor.13:5). We should be asking ourselves some critical questions. Not questions about whether we're trying hard enough, for it's all by grace, but questions about whether we're truly walking in faith and repentance or whether we are in fact just relying on something we said or did more years ago than we care to remember.
J. C. Ryle (Anglican Bishop, 1816-1900) gives us some pointers as to how what genuine love for Christ looks like. He writes:
If we love a person, we like to think about him. We do not need to be reminded of him. We do not forget his name or his appearance or his character or his opinions or his tastes or his position or his occupation... Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!
If we love a person, we like to hear about him. We find a pleasure in listening to those who speak of him. We feel an interest in any report which others make of him... Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!
If we love a person, we like to read about him. What intense pleasure a letter from an absent husband gives to a wife, or a letter from an absent son to his mother... Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!
If we love a person, we like to please him. We are glad to consult his tastes and opinions, to act upon his advice and do the things which he approves... Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!
If we love a person, we like his friends. We are favorably inclined to them, even before we know them. We are drawn to them by the common tie of common love to one and the same person... Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!
If we love a person, we are jealous about his name and honor. We do not like to hear him spoken against, without speaking up for him and defending him... Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!
If we love a person, we like to talk to him. We tell him all our thoughts, and pour out all our heart to him. We find no difficulty in discovering subjects of conversation... Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!
Finally, if we love a person, we like to be always with him. Thinking and hearing and reading and occasionally talking are all well in their way. But when we really love people we want something more... Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!
Holiness, (Darlington, England: Evangelical Press,) 247-249.
So what if that's not us and we want it to be? The path of "trying harder, getting up earlier, doing more" is legalism and death. What we need to do instead is to see Jesus in the pages of the Bible - see his worth, his work, his provision, his grace. We need to see him through hearing the Word with faith (1 Sam. 3:21, Gal. 3:3-5).
In short we need to bring the gospel to bear on our paucity of love and see God work in our hearts. And he will!
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Friday, 26 August 2011
Our Toxic Culture
I thought this letter from Steve Clifford, head of the Evangelical Alliance, was worth quoting in full. There certainly is a vacuum of ideas and I really don't think those at the helm in the UK have any sense of which way to go when it comes to the societal challenges we face. We really are in uncharted waters and huge rocks lurk just beneath the surface. Maybe the Church could step up and.....be the Church.....
A letter to members of the Evangelical Alliance concerning the recent riots in the UK, 18 August 2011
Although it seems that everything that can be shaken is being shaken, there is a danger that within a few weeks life will have moved on, the images will have faded, we’ll be back to ‘business as usual’ and nothing will have changed.
But we have to change. It is now obvious that our society is just not working and our national culture is toxic. Our house is built on sand - we have no place for God, no space for values or virtues, and a social environment in which it’s really hard to talk about right and wrong.
In the wake of some of the worst and most widespread social disorder that this country has experienced, the analysis is already taking an obvious focus. Things like family breakdown, the loss of fatherhood, lack of discipline in schools, the collapse of a sense of common good, the rise of individualism and human rights culture have long been highlighted by many Christian commentators – but have largely fallen on deaf ears. However, what has been described by one commentator as ”the all-too-predictable outcome of a three-decade liberal experiment which tore up virtually every basic social value” may now provide Christians with a renewed voice and a more attentive audience.
The truth is that, as a nation, we have created new gods, with materialism and consumerism now defining our social relations. The ‘stuff’ we acquire - designer clothes, the latest flat screen TV, car or mobile phone – shouts out ‘this is who I am’. We worship at the temple of our shopping centres, our credit cards paying homage to consumer gods. So why, in a society that tells its young to ‘get rich quick or die trying’, were we surprised when some of our number went shopping without cash or a card? Anaesthetised by an over-reaching welfare state and incentivised by an insatiable free-market, many of our young people are spiritually impoverished. Drugs, cheap booze and celebrity culture fuel this. Lacking respect for others and for themselves, some have simply opted out, seeing society as something that happens for other people, but not for them.
Where was the voice making it clear that these attitudes were ‘wrong’? It seems that the institutional shaking has exposed a crisis of public leadership. Complicit through a lack of moral leadership, and ill-equipped by the unworkable ideals of secularism, our politicians are now struggling for answers.
We need genuine social cohesion, a willingness to invest in the small and trust in community, allowing faith communities and those who act like them to do what they know best, build relationships, support and care. But how do we get past the liberal elitism and political correctness which has all too often suffocated living communities.
First, we need to vocally reject the economic liberalism of the right and the cultural liberalism of the left, and affirm the need for a renewal of Christian principles in public life. As the fallen idols of the state and market continue to wreak havoc in materially and spiritually impoverished communities across the UK, it is vitally important that Christians turn up the volume in the national debate.
In his recent address to the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast in the Palace of Westminster, director of the Message Trust Andy Hawthorne OBE gave numerous examples of young lives transformed by the gospel. Stating that “The Bible works … and Jesus really is the solution to our countries problems”, he challenged our leaders to understand the truth that ‘as the Church goes, so the nation goes’. This is our challenge.
With calm having returned to our streets (if only for the present), as the analysis and reflection begins, Christians need to play their part in finding ways of helping families to prosper. It’s the building block of a stable society. The 21st century family comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but we all know that a committed relationship for life between a man and a woman has to be the best place for children to prosper. Let’s call for government to look again at employment, tax and education. As a nation, how can we support the family and make it a bit easier to be a parent? If we don’t, the gang will take its place, providing support, respect and a place for belonging.
And we have to look again at education. We are all thankful that there are some great schools out there, with wonderful teachers doing brilliant work. But sadly there are still failing schools, and in our larger inner city education centres where discipline is almost impossible, we have seen expectations crash and the prospects for employment diminish.
Our toxic culture of failed families, failed education and failed employment, has created a significant underclass in all of our major cities.
As Christians we need to be reminding ourselves and our neighbours that those we saw on the streets are our young people, our young adults. Although they were a minority, they are still part of our communities and we have a responsibility to see change - for them but also for the well being of our communities as a whole.
Throughout the unrest, we saw both the worst and the best of how we are living together. It was great on Tuesday morning to wake up and see that alongside images of burning buildings, wrecked cars and exhausted police officers, there were an army of broom carrying local residents refusing to give up their streets to the rioters. This was an image of hope, and it gave an insight into the often untold story of the Church at work in the UK. We were among the street cleaners, and we were also opening up our buildings, providing refreshments for emergency services, collecting clothes, basic supplies, offering advice on insurance claims and re-housing those who have lost everything. Many church leaders provided genuine local leadership in the crisis, and Christians across the country visited neighbours, the elderly and vulnerable – and Street Pastors have been out every night of the last week. And of course there’s the secret weapon – the Church was praying, and how they were praying; with so many large meetings, small meetings and public vigils. I’m convinced we saw God answering prayer. Who knows what would have occurred if God’s people had not been asking?
So where to from here? In the vacuum of ideas, this is a time of unprecedented
opportunities. We have to see change and the Church, God’s people – rightly positioned – are the catalyst for such change in our nation. This is not a time for fear but for hope.
Here are a few practical steps we can take immediately to detoxify our culture with salt and light…
• Take action – get involved in (or start) church projects for renewing our battered and neglected communities
• Continue to pray for healing in our communities – for peace and security. And pray
for wisdom for our local and national political leaders
• Contact your local MP or councillor, and graciously express the need for a renewal of biblical principles in social policy decisions – citing examples of Christian action
• Contact the local and national media, and graciously express the need for a renewal
of biblical principles in public life – citing examples of Christian action
• Look at how you and your church can get involved in shaping politics and
government by visiting www.susa.info
Steve Clifford
General Director
Evangelical Alliance
A letter to members of the Evangelical Alliance concerning the recent riots in the UK, 18 August 2011
Although it seems that everything that can be shaken is being shaken, there is a danger that within a few weeks life will have moved on, the images will have faded, we’ll be back to ‘business as usual’ and nothing will have changed.
But we have to change. It is now obvious that our society is just not working and our national culture is toxic. Our house is built on sand - we have no place for God, no space for values or virtues, and a social environment in which it’s really hard to talk about right and wrong.
In the wake of some of the worst and most widespread social disorder that this country has experienced, the analysis is already taking an obvious focus. Things like family breakdown, the loss of fatherhood, lack of discipline in schools, the collapse of a sense of common good, the rise of individualism and human rights culture have long been highlighted by many Christian commentators – but have largely fallen on deaf ears. However, what has been described by one commentator as ”the all-too-predictable outcome of a three-decade liberal experiment which tore up virtually every basic social value” may now provide Christians with a renewed voice and a more attentive audience.
The truth is that, as a nation, we have created new gods, with materialism and consumerism now defining our social relations. The ‘stuff’ we acquire - designer clothes, the latest flat screen TV, car or mobile phone – shouts out ‘this is who I am’. We worship at the temple of our shopping centres, our credit cards paying homage to consumer gods. So why, in a society that tells its young to ‘get rich quick or die trying’, were we surprised when some of our number went shopping without cash or a card? Anaesthetised by an over-reaching welfare state and incentivised by an insatiable free-market, many of our young people are spiritually impoverished. Drugs, cheap booze and celebrity culture fuel this. Lacking respect for others and for themselves, some have simply opted out, seeing society as something that happens for other people, but not for them.
Where was the voice making it clear that these attitudes were ‘wrong’? It seems that the institutional shaking has exposed a crisis of public leadership. Complicit through a lack of moral leadership, and ill-equipped by the unworkable ideals of secularism, our politicians are now struggling for answers.
We need genuine social cohesion, a willingness to invest in the small and trust in community, allowing faith communities and those who act like them to do what they know best, build relationships, support and care. But how do we get past the liberal elitism and political correctness which has all too often suffocated living communities.
First, we need to vocally reject the economic liberalism of the right and the cultural liberalism of the left, and affirm the need for a renewal of Christian principles in public life. As the fallen idols of the state and market continue to wreak havoc in materially and spiritually impoverished communities across the UK, it is vitally important that Christians turn up the volume in the national debate.
In his recent address to the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast in the Palace of Westminster, director of the Message Trust Andy Hawthorne OBE gave numerous examples of young lives transformed by the gospel. Stating that “The Bible works … and Jesus really is the solution to our countries problems”, he challenged our leaders to understand the truth that ‘as the Church goes, so the nation goes’. This is our challenge.
With calm having returned to our streets (if only for the present), as the analysis and reflection begins, Christians need to play their part in finding ways of helping families to prosper. It’s the building block of a stable society. The 21st century family comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but we all know that a committed relationship for life between a man and a woman has to be the best place for children to prosper. Let’s call for government to look again at employment, tax and education. As a nation, how can we support the family and make it a bit easier to be a parent? If we don’t, the gang will take its place, providing support, respect and a place for belonging.
And we have to look again at education. We are all thankful that there are some great schools out there, with wonderful teachers doing brilliant work. But sadly there are still failing schools, and in our larger inner city education centres where discipline is almost impossible, we have seen expectations crash and the prospects for employment diminish.
Our toxic culture of failed families, failed education and failed employment, has created a significant underclass in all of our major cities.
As Christians we need to be reminding ourselves and our neighbours that those we saw on the streets are our young people, our young adults. Although they were a minority, they are still part of our communities and we have a responsibility to see change - for them but also for the well being of our communities as a whole.
Throughout the unrest, we saw both the worst and the best of how we are living together. It was great on Tuesday morning to wake up and see that alongside images of burning buildings, wrecked cars and exhausted police officers, there were an army of broom carrying local residents refusing to give up their streets to the rioters. This was an image of hope, and it gave an insight into the often untold story of the Church at work in the UK. We were among the street cleaners, and we were also opening up our buildings, providing refreshments for emergency services, collecting clothes, basic supplies, offering advice on insurance claims and re-housing those who have lost everything. Many church leaders provided genuine local leadership in the crisis, and Christians across the country visited neighbours, the elderly and vulnerable – and Street Pastors have been out every night of the last week. And of course there’s the secret weapon – the Church was praying, and how they were praying; with so many large meetings, small meetings and public vigils. I’m convinced we saw God answering prayer. Who knows what would have occurred if God’s people had not been asking?
So where to from here? In the vacuum of ideas, this is a time of unprecedented
opportunities. We have to see change and the Church, God’s people – rightly positioned – are the catalyst for such change in our nation. This is not a time for fear but for hope.
Here are a few practical steps we can take immediately to detoxify our culture with salt and light…
• Take action – get involved in (or start) church projects for renewing our battered and neglected communities
• Continue to pray for healing in our communities – for peace and security. And pray
for wisdom for our local and national political leaders
• Contact your local MP or councillor, and graciously express the need for a renewal of biblical principles in social policy decisions – citing examples of Christian action
• Contact the local and national media, and graciously express the need for a renewal
of biblical principles in public life – citing examples of Christian action
• Look at how you and your church can get involved in shaping politics and
government by visiting www.susa.info
Steve Clifford
General Director
Evangelical Alliance
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Remembering Our Leaders - John Stott
I heard the news that John Stott had died from the Bishop of Mubende whilst in Uganda. We were out in the middle of goodness knows where and he'd just led (and our family had just sat through) a four and a half hour church service. We'd had some lunch (a story in itself) and I was asking him who had influenced him in his spiritual journey. And then he told me about the great man's death a couple of days previously.
I was pleased for Dr Stott, he was 90 and was now with his Lord but sad for the rest of us who will miss his huge contribution. And his contribution was ongoing - his last book was written when he was 88!
I only heard him speak once (and it wasn't all that great to be honest) and I've only read a few of his 50 books but his impact on me has been massive. This is in large measure due to the fact that without him the whole Christian landscape that we enjoy today would be so much the poorer. So many of those who have helped me in my Christian walk and ministry have been mentored and shaped by him.
He fought battles that we don't have to fight anymore. Battles over the scholarly integrity of the Bible; he led the way in showing that our Scriptures are academically coherent and reliable. Battles over the relationship between evangelism and social action; no longer do we see them as separate - it's just a non issue now but back in the day if you cared for the poor you were considered to be a liberal. Battles over whether or not Christians should be involved in political and social issues; he said that of course we should in fact, he told us, to have the Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other.
John Stott helped me to understand the Bible and to love clear doctrine. His commentaries are phenomenally helpful. He also modelled to me a commitment to unity and to working well with others. When we're so quick to fragment and divide this has been a gift to the Church.
With the Langham Partnership he did more than just talk about the need to support majority world church leaders he got on and did it.
And there's loads more that could be said.... This link will take you to the EA's tribute that's worth a read.
http://bit.ly/r4inLC
Let's not idolise those who help us but rather honour them in ways that honour Him. Kind of like Hebrews 13:7 says.
I was pleased for Dr Stott, he was 90 and was now with his Lord but sad for the rest of us who will miss his huge contribution. And his contribution was ongoing - his last book was written when he was 88!
I only heard him speak once (and it wasn't all that great to be honest) and I've only read a few of his 50 books but his impact on me has been massive. This is in large measure due to the fact that without him the whole Christian landscape that we enjoy today would be so much the poorer. So many of those who have helped me in my Christian walk and ministry have been mentored and shaped by him.
He fought battles that we don't have to fight anymore. Battles over the scholarly integrity of the Bible; he led the way in showing that our Scriptures are academically coherent and reliable. Battles over the relationship between evangelism and social action; no longer do we see them as separate - it's just a non issue now but back in the day if you cared for the poor you were considered to be a liberal. Battles over whether or not Christians should be involved in political and social issues; he said that of course we should in fact, he told us, to have the Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other.
John Stott helped me to understand the Bible and to love clear doctrine. His commentaries are phenomenally helpful. He also modelled to me a commitment to unity and to working well with others. When we're so quick to fragment and divide this has been a gift to the Church.
With the Langham Partnership he did more than just talk about the need to support majority world church leaders he got on and did it.
And there's loads more that could be said.... This link will take you to the EA's tribute that's worth a read.
http://bit.ly/r4inLC
Let's not idolise those who help us but rather honour them in ways that honour Him. Kind of like Hebrews 13:7 says.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
What "John" Did
I came across this in the LICC magazine recently and I share it here with permission.
It looks like something bad is about to happen. How does the disciple respond? Mark Greene meets a man with bottle and spirit…
‘John’ works for a drinks company – not a soft drinks company, but a hard drinks company. He’s a Christian, and convinced that God called him into the job. One day, ‘John’ finds himself on a business trip in the Far East. One of the ways that business is done in the Far East is to go out drinking together at the end of the day. John has rules about this. He goes with the team and he doesn’t get drunk. Now, in the Far East, the kinds of places executives go drinking almost always feature beautiful hostesses. Some are there to serve drinks, and some offer rather more. John has rules about the kinds of places he goes to. And he sticks to them.
One evening, his team is out with some suppliers and John realises that one of his colleagues has taken a real shine to one of the hostesses who is particularly luminous. As the evening proceeds John grows more and more concerned that his colleague, a married man, will proposition her. But what can he do? The place is buzzing, there are suppliers and colleagues and the hostesses… but his heart ached and he fervently prays: ‘Lord’.
A little later, John finds himself in the facilities. By coincidence, perhaps, his colleague is the only other person there. So, as they are facilitating, John turns to him and says: ‘Are you having a good evening? I can see you have some decisions ahead of you. As your friend, I would encourage you to make sure that the decisions you make tonight are the same as those you’d make tomorrow.’
Now, that is some sentence. And although John is a bright, articulate man, he’s in no doubt that it came from the Spirit (Mark 13:11).
Ten minutes later the colleague left the club with the hostess in tow. John’s heart ached more. A little later, John left the club and went back to his hotel room and got down on his knees by his bed and prayed and prayed. A couple of days later it became clear that his colleague had in fact propositioned the girl…
However, she had told John’s colleague that she wasn’t that kind of hostess, but asked if he’d be interested in a long term relationship. He then stayed up until 3.00am talking to her, much of it about her sorrow because her boyfriend had left her.
Now there’s a thing. The man who wanted to use this woman as a prostitute becomes her pastor. And maybe he learned more about how wrong his impulse to sleep with her was by having propositioned her than if he had simply left the bar at 11.30 pm. He learned that a hostess in a bar can have a life beyond that bar, that a hostess in a bar could be a woman with a heart that’s tender, a heart that can be broken, a woman with hopes and dreams for her own life…
But what about John?
Now there’s someone who loves their colleague/neighbour as a whole human being. And is confident that God’s ways are good for other people, and cares enough to intervene. There’s someone who believes in prayer, who knows how to call out to God in the maelstrom just as Jehoshaphat did in the middle of the battle (I kings 22:31-33) when there is nothing he can do himself. There’s someone who is confident in God to act – even if he can’t think how. There’s someone who also knows how to pray in the quiet place. There’s someone who asked others to pray for that trip before he went, someone who has involved the people of God in a frontline of mission that they themselves will probably never be in.
Bottle, spirit, prayer and the support of God’s people – it’s a mighty potent cocktail.
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Ephesisans 1:15-19a
Learning to Pray from Paul
In church we're continuing to learn about prayer from Paul. How did he talk to his Father in heaven? What were his priorities? Here we see him telling the Christians in Ephesus that he was giving thanks for them and praying for them.
You can listen to tpart 7 of the prayer series by clicking here:
http://lymingtonbaptist.org/mp3s/Prayer%20pt%207.mp3
V15 Ever since I heard about your faith. What is he actually giving thanks for when he says their “faith”? What’s he really getting at?
And your love for all the saints. Why is this such a big deal? So what that they love one another? (Jn 13:35)
V17 May the Holy Spirit enable you to have insight, discernment, wisdom and revelation (this after all is part of the Spirit’s “job description”) so that you can know God better. Of all the things that Paul could pray for this 1st Century church (leadership development, “Alpha”, illness, government/cultural oppression, finance…) why is Paul praying that they know God better? Knowing God is fundamental to living well. We fail to live well in God’s world, we end up turning from him and his authority – we sin – because we don’t trust God and we don’t trust him because we don’t know him. If we knew him, really knew him, we would trust him and if we trusted him we would not turn from him. We would therefore live a life worthy of our calling, we would glorify him and enjoy him forever. Take some time to explore the link between knowing God/trusting him and not sinning. What do you learn?
V18 I also pray that at the centre of you’re being you know:
The hope: biblical hope is a promise of God not yet realized. Paul prays that the Ephesians would know their sure and certain future hope in Christ. He prays that they would realize that this life is not all that there is. This life is but a mist (Jas. 4:14), a vapor and we need to see things in the light of eternity. “We reflect too little on the future and almost never on eternity” (DA Carson). What is the nature of this hope? How do we experience it now and how will we experience it in the future?
The inheritance: God’s inheritance; the inheritance he possesses or bestows. “His”, along with v11, 14b indicates the former. Paul prays that they know that they are God’s chosen people, belonging tohim, cherished, dearly loved and precious. What difference would it make to our daily lives if we really knew that we were God’s precious inheritance? How would that change our reaction to events and our hopes and aspirations?
The power: power for the Christian is not power to be a winner, always on the front foot, always achieving with no set backs. Power for the Christian is about being able to endure, to keep looking to the Cross, to continue to trust knowing God’s goodness, joy, peace, sufficiency even when circumstances might be adverse. True gospel power is displayed most significantly in weakness. What does the display of God’s power look like in our lives? How would this power it manifest itself in those times when we face adversity and in those times when things are going especially well?
How would it be if we prayed for ourselves and others that we would know God better, the hope we have in him, the security we have because we are his inheritance and his great power that is available to us. Let us pray these things – for ourselves and for one another!
Learning to Pray from Paul
In church we're continuing to learn about prayer from Paul. How did he talk to his Father in heaven? What were his priorities? Here we see him telling the Christians in Ephesus that he was giving thanks for them and praying for them.
You can listen to tpart 7 of the prayer series by clicking here:
http://lymingtonbaptist.org/mp3s/Prayer%20pt%207.mp3
V15 Ever since I heard about your faith. What is he actually giving thanks for when he says their “faith”? What’s he really getting at?
And your love for all the saints. Why is this such a big deal? So what that they love one another? (Jn 13:35)
V17 May the Holy Spirit enable you to have insight, discernment, wisdom and revelation (this after all is part of the Spirit’s “job description”) so that you can know God better. Of all the things that Paul could pray for this 1st Century church (leadership development, “Alpha”, illness, government/cultural oppression, finance…) why is Paul praying that they know God better? Knowing God is fundamental to living well. We fail to live well in God’s world, we end up turning from him and his authority – we sin – because we don’t trust God and we don’t trust him because we don’t know him. If we knew him, really knew him, we would trust him and if we trusted him we would not turn from him. We would therefore live a life worthy of our calling, we would glorify him and enjoy him forever. Take some time to explore the link between knowing God/trusting him and not sinning. What do you learn?
V18 I also pray that at the centre of you’re being you know:
The hope: biblical hope is a promise of God not yet realized. Paul prays that the Ephesians would know their sure and certain future hope in Christ. He prays that they would realize that this life is not all that there is. This life is but a mist (Jas. 4:14), a vapor and we need to see things in the light of eternity. “We reflect too little on the future and almost never on eternity” (DA Carson). What is the nature of this hope? How do we experience it now and how will we experience it in the future?
The inheritance: God’s inheritance; the inheritance he possesses or bestows. “His”, along with v11, 14b indicates the former. Paul prays that they know that they are God’s chosen people, belonging tohim, cherished, dearly loved and precious. What difference would it make to our daily lives if we really knew that we were God’s precious inheritance? How would that change our reaction to events and our hopes and aspirations?
The power: power for the Christian is not power to be a winner, always on the front foot, always achieving with no set backs. Power for the Christian is about being able to endure, to keep looking to the Cross, to continue to trust knowing God’s goodness, joy, peace, sufficiency even when circumstances might be adverse. True gospel power is displayed most significantly in weakness. What does the display of God’s power look like in our lives? How would this power it manifest itself in those times when we face adversity and in those times when things are going especially well?
How would it be if we prayed for ourselves and others that we would know God better, the hope we have in him, the security we have because we are his inheritance and his great power that is available to us. Let us pray these things – for ourselves and for one another!
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Jesus is the True and Better
I had a meeting with our "Live Kidz" leaders (7-10 year olds - the children that is) this week and I was talking about how it's important to point children to Jesus in all the teaching that's given. The need is particularly acute with the Older Testament because it's harder to see how this fits into the gospel of Christ. The danger is that we can end up moralising ("David was brave so we should be brave, Samson slept around and gave away secrets vital to national security and...we mustn't do that.....etc").
But how do you do that in a way that displays Christ in all his atoning work, and interprets the text without allegorizing, stretching the meaning, or distorting the context. Not easy but Tim Keller does it well and hence my big plug to the leaders to become well acquainted with the The Jesus Storybook Bible (which contains much of his teaching).
When writing a follow up email to those leaders I included an extract from some classic Keller teaching which gives some good, clear examples of what it is that we need to be doing. I've pasted it in below, I think it's great:
“Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:27)
Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us (1 Corinthians 15).
Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out for our acquittal, not our condemnation (Hebrews 12:24).
Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void “not knowing wither he went!” to create a new people of God.
Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. While God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love, from me,” now we can say to God, “Now we know that you love me, because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love, from me.”
Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.
Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.
Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant (Hebrews 3).
Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.
Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends (Job 42).
Jesus is the true and better David, whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.
Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk losing an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.
Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.
Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb – innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He is the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the Lamb, the Light, the Bread.
The Bible is not about you — it is about him.
But how do you do that in a way that displays Christ in all his atoning work, and interprets the text without allegorizing, stretching the meaning, or distorting the context. Not easy but Tim Keller does it well and hence my big plug to the leaders to become well acquainted with the The Jesus Storybook Bible (which contains much of his teaching).
When writing a follow up email to those leaders I included an extract from some classic Keller teaching which gives some good, clear examples of what it is that we need to be doing. I've pasted it in below, I think it's great:
“Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:27)
Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us (1 Corinthians 15).
Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out for our acquittal, not our condemnation (Hebrews 12:24).
Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void “not knowing wither he went!” to create a new people of God.
Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. While God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love, from me,” now we can say to God, “Now we know that you love me, because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love, from me.”
Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.
Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.
Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant (Hebrews 3).
Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.
Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends (Job 42).
Jesus is the true and better David, whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.
Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk losing an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.
Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.
Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb – innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He is the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the Lamb, the Light, the Bread.
The Bible is not about you — it is about him.
Indeed it is!
Monday, 20 June 2011
Off to the Smoke
I leave tomorrow for three days in the Smoke, the Big City....Town!
I'm going to be in London for this year’s Evangelical Ministry Assembly, a conference for Pastors. Last year’s key note speaker was John Piper which obviously I couldn’t miss (!) and this year it’s Tim Keller so I’m going again!
The first time I heard Keller, which was at the EMA conference probably some five year’s ago, it changed my life – I’d never heard the gospel explained in the way he unpacked it. It really was a defining moment.
I’m really looking forward to getting some great input and the opportunity to catch up with some old friends. Follow this link to read more about the conference including subject matter and speakers: http://ema2011.proctrust.org.uk/the-details
I'm going to be in London for this year’s Evangelical Ministry Assembly, a conference for Pastors. Last year’s key note speaker was John Piper which obviously I couldn’t miss (!) and this year it’s Tim Keller so I’m going again!
The first time I heard Keller, which was at the EMA conference probably some five year’s ago, it changed my life – I’d never heard the gospel explained in the way he unpacked it. It really was a defining moment.
I’m really looking forward to getting some great input and the opportunity to catch up with some old friends. Follow this link to read more about the conference including subject matter and speakers: http://ema2011.proctrust.org.uk/the-details
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