I’m not a fan of labels… if I had to describe myself I like the simple term “follower of Jesus“. I can cope with “Christian” but it does come with cultural baggage, usually relating to right wing Republicans or wet soppy vicars in Eastenders.
Even though I’m training for ministry in the Anglican Church, that is simply the tribe that I am part of – we’re not any better than any other Christian denomination (although there are reasons that I’m training as an Anglican).
I would be put within the “evangelical” category – a term that I believe in, but again a term that has been totally hijacked (see above). I am “evangelical” because I believe in GOOD NEWS (by this I mean the message of Jesus). I am committed to telling that GOOD NEWS to people I meet precisely because it is GOOD NEWS. I believe in the transformation of the world through the living of a different way in response to the GOOD NEWS. Again, Jesus cannot be pigeonholed with this… for some his GOOD NEWS was offensive because it was bad news to oppressive systems, evil practices and our own warped selfishness. If I am defined as an evangelical because I talk and live GOOD NEWS, then good. If I offend people through it… hmm tough one. It’ll happen though.
The problem with the term evangelical is that is has been cornered by people who tell the good news in a bad way (which in my opinion makes it bad news). They are defined by all the things and people that they are against – liberals, gays, other faiths, atheists, etc etc etc. They might shout loudly about “morality” but do it in a judgemental attitude. Not that I’m free from guilt here…
The term needs redeeming… Jesus preached GOOD NEWS to the people and this same GOOD NEWS offended the religious and the ruling government. Jesus subverted injustice and challenged the misuse of God’s word. He was evangelical in the right sense of the word…
Tolerance is a value that our western culture has a high view of. We are all to tolerate everyone.
1.
a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one’s own; freedom from bigotry.
2.
a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one’s own.
3.
interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one’s own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint.
Reading this make you think that tolerance is a good idea… words like “fair” “objective “permissive” and a “freedom from bigotry” are all good things. We are even to take an interest in other people’s opinions and practices. Again, no problems there. As a Christian from the “evangelical charismatic” stable (whatever that means!?!) I belong to a group that many define as bigotted and intolerant. And at times they are probably right.
I do have a few issues with the idea of tolerance though…
Tolerance is the lowest common denominator when it comes to valuing people. Jesus didn’t tolerate anyone. He loved them. A lot. He didn’t just wave a blessing at the intolerated lepers… he touched them and healed them. He didn’t avoid the “impure” and “ungodly” he sought them out. He didn’t violently disagree with the Romans because they were the occupying empire… he started a movement that subverted it. He didn’t avoid other faiths, even the weird sects and semi-cults. He engaged with them. He spoke harshly to those who oppressed the poor, blocked the way for everyone to worship God. He trashed the outer courts of the temple because of the injustice and evil taking place there. He would not tolerate it.
Frankly I think tolerance is a wishy washy cop out. It is dead easy to tolerate, but really hard to love. Love means being intolerant at times because tolerance doesn’t allow for transformation and change. Tolerance limits human beings. Love brings them alive.
Christians who only tolerate aren’t living the Jesus way. Tolerance permits not getting involved. Love can’t stand by. Tolerance allows us to ignore people. Love shouts in our ears until we do something.
So, I’m giving up tolerance because it isn’t enough. I’m going to try to love people more.
But love does offend because sometimes you have to…
Catching the Impossible is a series of 9 hour long films about different aspects of fish and fishing. It is filmed by Hugh Miles, a superb cameraman and photographer – see more about him here. He is a passionate angler and this is his second mammoth fishing project after a Passion for Angling in the mid 90s. Martin Bowler and Bernard Cribbins do most of the fishing, with Bernard providing excellent narration. The challenge for Martin is to catch huge specimens of different species around the country, from trout and salmon to huge carp, barbel and pike. Which he does.
The quality of the films are nothing short of outstanding. This is “Blue Planet” standard from freshwater rivers and lakes. The underwater footage is particularly incredible. You can watch the trailer for the first film above. I’ve seen Passion for Angling and it is amazing. This is a totally different film and easily on the same level.
There really aren’t enough superlatives for this DVD.
I’m having a ball at college… even the 13hr day on a Thursday which is a bit of a stamina test, is great!
Take my Thursday yesterday…
Morning lecture on Biblical interpretation looking at Old Testament story and how to understand it, interprete it and preach from it. We looked at a tough passage in Judges about Jephthah (Judges 11 and 12). Its a tragic story of a foolish leader who kills his own daughter. How on earth do you understand this passage which raises huge questions about God not intervening etc… yet we were given an expert guide to how to read this kind of literature as well as some thoughts about the actual passage. Brilliant. Following that I was in a seminar with a world class New Testament author taking apart the parable of the sower in Mark 4. Again, some amazing insights and pointers that bring so much depth and understanding to the scriptures.
Afternoon is all about sexuality, marriage and society… tacking all kinds of ethical challenges. It is fascinating but incredibly challenging.
Evening sounds like it would bore someone to death – Worship:Tradition and Practice. Liturgy and history. Probably two subjects that I would work hard to avoid. However, yet again we’ve got a superb lecturer who REALLY knows his stuff. Even though I’m more relaxed about liturgy and structure in worship the history of how various stuff was formed and put together is brilliant. And relevant.
Loving it.
Back up to Tewkesbury this weekend… looking forward to seeing family and friends.
Planes that crash don’t usually have the happy ending that this one did… the pilot’s decision making and flying abilities are being applauded by all.
There’s something that interests me about this whole event. A small Canada goose was able to bring down a multi million dollar plane. Tiny brings down massive.
Some of the passengers didn’t quite realise just how fortunate they were and how close to death they had come – they wanted to ensure that their carryon luggage was placed in the life boats. In the midst of being saved some stick to being selfish.
It will be the small things in my life that will define what my life is like. It will be my attitudes and thoughts that will determine my “success” as a Christian leader. If I attend to my relationship with God, my marriage, my friendships, my health, my attitudes etc then I’ll make good decisions in emergencies.
Saw this news story on the BBC and my heart sank a bit. I understand that as a Christian he objects to the advertising campaign’s message but this is such a great bit of free advertising for the Christian faith. I don’t think that by driving the bus with the advert on he is endorsing the advert. Why not be a bit creative and engage with people about it…
If you call yourself a follower of Jesus PLEASE stop being so fearful of everything else! Engage with these kind of questions. The world won’t be changed by people who are just against things and keep themselves seperate.
“Rather than being known as people with a million fingers wagging in disapproval, let’s be known as people with 2 million arms outstretched with the GOOD NEWS about Jesus”
Back from college after my 13hr marathon which includes 4 subjects with copious amounts of caffeine. Today (and for the next 4 Thursdays) I will be doing more Biblical interpretation, Greek, sex marriage and society (good fun in the graveyard afternoon slot), and to finish………..
This is all about justice and revenge. In many of his books (like Matilda) Roald Dahl loves to ensure that the baddie gets their comeuppance and this book illustrates this brilliantly. The Twits are two incredibly ugly, nasty individuals who can’t bear anyone else. They hate each other.
Two things that come out of the book…
The Twits weren’t born ugly. They became ugly because of their thoughts and actions. What a truth today. How many older people have permanent scowls and grimaces? Sadly, how many younger people do too… beautiful people smile. Beautiful people don’t hold grudges. To grow old gracefully you have to grow old happily. If you’re ugly now, the best way to change is to get thankful and smile… deal with the forgiveness issues and lack of love.
The Twits reap what they sow. The animals that they mistreat and kill, get their revenge. They shrink into their own “evilness”. Thankfully we don’t have to be subject to that law. To get redemption most of us believe that we have to earn it by cancelling out our bad with good. (Karma, reap what you sow etc etc). We have to do something to please God. We do all we can to reach redemption… and we can’t do it. The whole point of the Christian faith is that God reaches down to us, showing totally undeserved love, generosity and favour through Jesus. It isn’t that we were worthless or utterly degraded pieces of dirt, precisely the opposite. God is crazy about us. Also God wants to redeem us for life BEFORE death… we are to announce and show this redemption to the world. Change and healing is very possible. We just have to want it…
Like many people I enjoy a good read whilst using the loo. Over the past few months I’ve read as many Roald Dahl books as I own (including a couple at my Mum and Dad’s over Christmas). You can keep your “Jane Eyre” and “Great Expectations”. I’ve got my Roald Dahl books…
Anyway… I thought I’d blog a bit about some of these stories, starting with one of my favourites – Matilda.
Matilda is about a little girl who is exceptionally gifted – she reads adult novels by the age of 4 and can do any kind of mathematical sum that you could think up. She has parents who can’t stand her, a head teacher from hell, but a lovely class teacher. The story is about her interactions with these other people, especially how she defeats Miss Trunchbull and survives her parents.
It is a great David v Goliath story. The tiny overcomes the enormous. Evil is conquered by good. Apparent weakness can beat strength. Perhaps it is because I am a simple child, but I just think its a great inspiring story. With big letters and pictures.
Also, we’ve all tried to push a glass over with our mind power…
Planes that crash don’t usually have the happy ending that this one did… the pilot’s decision making and flying abilities are being applauded by all.
