Church as we know it can sometimes be a bit weird and jarring. A few weeks ago at church, we heard an encouraging sermon on the second commandment (Exod 20:4-6). We heard that God cannot and must not be represented by or worshipped through images because images can only ever distort and misrepresent God. Yet the sermon was preached in a 150-year-old Cathedral building containing a plethora of accumulated religious imagery. As we listened to the sermon with our ears, our eyes were easily drawn towards a wooden statue of St Michael the archangel holding a gilded Bible, numerous large stained-glass windows depicting Jesus, a banner sewn with Mary and the baby Jesus, various crosses, and other striking images. Understandably, a few questions were raised after the sermon about the seeming disparity between what was heard and what was seen by the congregation.
Monthly Archives: December 2008
Getting rid of the killer but
I admit it, the title is a serious temptation: I feel an overwhelming desire to make bad jokes about posteriors (perhaps it’s the result of me spending too much time with my seven-year-old son). But I do want to talk for a moment about the dangers of the killer but. What exactly do I mean? I mean the but that qualifies almost every significant theological statement we ever make. Let me give you some examples:
What are we doing anyway?
One of the pitfalls most non-profit organizations fall into at one stage or another is endless discussion about vision and mission statements. Because these organizations exist for reasons other than to make money, it’s very easy for non-profits to get bogged down in navel-gazing about why they exist, and whether the purposes they were originally set up for are still relevant, and so on.
The very practical doctrine of total depravity
Thought
Preaching to the sinners
Nothing makes a preacher more unpopular than him telling his flock that they are all sinners. Yet nothing, as Simon Manchester discovers, is more essential for them.
When I was invited to write on this subject, my first reaction was to flatter myself that such a theme, though difficult, was merely secondary. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this subject is so central, so urgent and so (ultimately) wonderful, it must occupy our mind in all we do. Knowing how easy it is to begin an article, only to pull out part-way, I want to urge you to persevere so you reach the application (‘Practical issues’) so you will grasp the urgency of the task. Is it too much to say that we will never appreciate our saviour unless we appreciate our sin? Shallow views of sin lead to shallow views of Jesus:
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A painful diagnosis: Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen
Review, Sola Panel
Overcoming Sin and Temptation: Three classic works by John Owen (more…)
Humility: True greatness
Humility: True greatness
CJ Mahaney
Multnomah, Colorado Springs, 2005, 176pp.
Humility and pride are funny things. It’s amazing how often I catch myself taking pride in my humility. Actually, I catch myself taking pride in my public displays of humility. When someone pays me a compliment, I know just how to affect the right degree of nonchalance—the right shrug of the shoulders—the right words to deflect the glory away from me—while, on the inside, I am proud that my efforts have been recognized—proud (and perversely so) that they think I’m humble. At the same time, I convince myself that pride is not that serious—certainly not as bad as other more obvious sins. In my sophistry, I convince myself that surely pride is a good thing (when it is deserved); it’s arrogance that is the sin. Yet, when I read the Bible, I know I am kidding myself: as Proverbs 16:5 makes clear,
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Don’t wait ‘til you say goodbye
Up front
As some of you are aware, I left the ministry that I had been involved in for seven and a half years at the end of August. I look back on that time in my life with great fondness and thankfulness to God, even though I have come to the point of moving on because of certain personal struggles and weaknesses that I have not enjoyed being forced to face. It will suffice to say that I have learned all sorts of things about myself and others in the process of leaving. (more…)
Shutting the door
Up front
Six months ago, my husband Dave and I changed our morning routine. Previously, we had tried various strategies for daily prayer and Bible reading, fitting them around work and children into the cracks and crevices of the day. For me, this meant doing it when the children were resting, or otherwise occupied, or asleep. Some of these strategies worked better than others. Finally, when none of these cleverer approaches delivered the consistency and quality of time that we needed, we decided to bite the bullet and go back to the old-fashioned, unoriginal approach: we would simply get up early enough to take turns to look after the kids while the other parent shut the bedroom door and spent some decent time alone in Bible reading and prayer. (more…)
Bringing the Bible alive?
Up front, Sola Panel
Many errors in Christianity arise because people identify a legitimate problem, but provide the wrong solution. This is often a recipe for disaster. As any doctor will tell you, the wrong solution to a legitimate problem often makes things worse. (more…)
On the frontline with prayer
Up front, Sola Panel
Over the years in ministry, I have found it incredibly important pastorally (especially in ministry to the frail and aged) to help people see that when they pray, they are really making a difference. The Holy Spirit uses our prayers powerfully in the unfolding of God’s plans. Paul makes this point repeatedly: “I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me” (Rom 15:30 NIV); “[Y]ou help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” (2 Cor 1:11 NIV); “I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” (Phil 1:19 NIV). (more…)
Is the gospel still first for the Jew?
Interchange
I have just got round to reading the September issue of The Briefing and Martin Pakula’s article ‘Is the gospel still first for the Jew?’ in which he refers to “the London Missionary Society (later known as the Church Missionary Society)”. This is quite wrong. (more…)
Traditions old and new
Being old is neither right nor wrong. Being new is also neither right nor wrong. Therefore, being either a conservative or a radical is silly: it is neither right nor wrong to want to preserve the past or explore the latest innovation. (more…)
Is God a mystery?
Up front, Sola Panel
Is God a mystery? I think my answer is “No”, “No” and “Yes”.
No, God is not a mystery in the sense of being a mysterious force—an overpowering Other whom we encounter primarily in the realm of feeling through mystical techniques and experience. We do not merge with the mystery of God by exiting our consciousness or by being absorbed like a drop into his ocean. We can get to know him as a person because that is how he graciously relates to us—person to person, through speaking to us and listening to us. (more…)
Generation Ex
Interchange
As a child of ‘Generation Ex’, I was very grateful for Karen Beilharz’s article on the impact of divorce on children—even adult children. It was insightful and practically pastoral. I especially appreciated her honesty about her own reactions and struggles, and the salutary warning she provides to parents (even Christian ones) who might be tempted to think it is better for children to have ‘happy’ parents who are divorced rather than unhappy parents in a miserable marriage. As she rightly points out, the Lord hates divorce. (more…)