Evangelical Christianity: It’s Glastonbury for God

This was the headline in the Independent for an article written after a visit to New Wine Christian Festival last week.

Link is HERE

I always find it a bit strange to read this kind of an article but it really does give some great insights into how we are viewed by many.

Reading some of the reader comments at the bottom of the page is fun too… any thoughts??

Critical Thinking

Found this really interesting blog post from Alan Mann on “Camp Quest” (see previous post). Thought I’d put up a bit of it along with a link and welcome any thoughts…

Here’s the direct link

And a sample of the article. It articulates my thoughts much better than I can (thanks Alan!). He has an interesting take on the accusation made by the Times that Dawkins is “grooming the atheists of the future”.

Responding to one headline:“Dawkins sets up kids’ camp to groom atheists” Those organising the camp would like to make it known that, ‘Richard Dawkins is not setting up Camp Quest UK. The word “groom” is misleading, offensive and inaccurate.‘

Of course, Dawkins would never suggest that those of a religious bent would be found ‘grooming’ children, or stoop so low as to cause offence, mislead people about religion, or say anything inaccurate about Christianity – but he might write this: ‘we should work to free the children of the world from the religions which, with parental approval, damage minds too young to understand what is happening to them . . . Priestly groping of child bodies is disgusting. But it may be less harmful in the long run than priestly subversion of child minds.’

The organisers of Camp Quest are right to be frustrated and annoyed about being misrepresented – Welcome to the world of your own making!

The party has started…

Just got back from speaking at our church (Crossnet) on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. They’ve been exploring several of Jesus’ parables over the past few weeks. You can find this one HERE in Luke 15

Most people focus on the younger son in the story – how he comes back and his Father greets with with a total lack of any dignity… but the conversation between the older son and their father is SO revealing.

The older son is gutted, angry and resentful. He can’t even call his younger brother his brother – “That son of yours”.

The father begs him to come into the party that had started to celebrate the return of the younger brother but he refuses…

The Kingdom of God is a party, a banquet, a festival, a celebration that “sinners” love and the religious hate.

Isn’t it tragic that sometimes we create a party that the religious people really love and “sinners” hate.

I wonder where Jesus would be.

²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

The Shack

The Shack has been around for more than a year now and I read it last summer. It describes a guy called Mack whose daughter had been kidnapped and murdered. Mack is invited to “The Shack” by God and there begins their interaction.

It is a great story. It paints some fascinating pictures of the Trinity – for example, God the Father as an African American woman – and deals openly and honestly with the gut wrenching issue of suffering and pain in the world.

Some don’t like it… and argue that it is unChristian, unBiblical and unSomethingelsethatIcan’tbebotheredtolist. It is a NOVEL and does cross some interesting theological boundaries… BUT it captivated my heart and drew me closer to God.

The reason that I’m posting about it now is that I’ve just read a really interesting review in Leadership Journal by Gordon MacDonald – LINK HERE for the whole article. I’m just cutting and pasting this one bit that really struck me…

So what does one do with The Shack? Throw it aside because of its theological liberties? Or let it speak into those places in our lives where we long for a closer walk with him.

I wonder if those who are critical of Young’s fictional description of divinity have ever contemplated that one of the Psalm-writers used a similar literary method when he wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd …”

The picture of a simple shepherd in motion—grimy though he might be—was sheer genius when it came to forming impressions of who God is and how he connects with those who are the sheep of his pasture. Once the Psalm was read, anyone in the ancient world could possess a beginning-theology of an incredible God who provides “everything that I need.”

Then there’s The Shack. I think Young had the same idea the Psalmist had. Find a way, any way, that will open the heart of a broken person and point him toward Heaven and all of its redeeming love. Tell the old, old story in new and astonishing ways.

Leading for the long haul

Last Saturday I went to a church conference at Woodlands Christian Centre in Bristol with Mark Stibbe (once vicar of St Andrews, Chorleywood and now leader of The Father’s House Trust).

Had a fantastic day – not only with the main sessions which were excellent, but Mark gave those of us who are training for Anglican ministry an hour or so for a Q and A. I just wanted to share some of the main insights that he gave in response to  my question “How do we thrive and survive in full time Christian leadership”.

He split his answer into 4 bits – looking after ourselves physically, relationally, spiritually and intellectually

Physically

He placed an emphasis on the importance of regular hard exercise as it gives our body the chance to reset itself and let out tensions and frustrations.

Intellectually

For many, when our minds are not stimulated, our whole body begins to atrophy. Our ministry stagnates and we live off our past experiences and knowledge. It doesn’t just have to be learning about theology, but just simply stretching our minds into new areas of interest. I’m guessing that Suduko doesn’t count though…

Spiritually

Mark pointed to Moses as our example for this… he went outside the camp and stayed in the Tent of Meeting where he met with God. When he came out his face shone and the people watched in awe. We need to have our place of encounter with God EVERY DAY. It should be the most important thing that we do.

Relationally

We need to recognise that we cannot do this alone – we need a “prayer shield” of people who are committed to praying for us and praying with us regularly. We need to spend time with people who will inspire us, hold us accountable for our behaviour etc, who will both encourage and offer constructive criticism. We need to laugh a lot with those we spend time with…

Challenging but helpful stuff to think through… feel free to add other suggestions to it as well

Labels that might define me… Christian and Evangelical

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…

I’m still happier with follower of Jesus though…

Tolerance

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…

A long day…

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………..

Worship: tradition and practice

Which is better than it sounds.

Leadership

Over the next couple of weeks I’ve got to write an essay comparing leadership and pastoral care… I have my pile of books ready to read over Christmas, which will inspire me to write yet another master document…

Or on Jan 5th, I’ll pull an all-nighter.