Hope for Christmas

Christmas is here for another year. But this year, more than any I can remember since the 1980's Thatcher era when unemployment topped 3 million, people are worried about their jobs, security, income and home reposessions.

Economists tell us it is worse than we can even imagine. The RBS and HBOS were, we learn, a day away from not opening for business in mid-October.

The darkness is closing in... Many people hear the depressing messages, amplified by the endless media coverage, and fear the worst. Credit card debt is out of hand - and the Government has the gall to tell us to keep spending - and that spending is based on more borrowing.

Personal debt in Britain is now over 1.3Trillion pounds. There is no doubt that the Nation is heading for a fall, and the drastic measures being pursued by the government is only keeping the wolf from the door, as we store up trouble for the future.

Into this dark world shines the Light. And John writes about Jesus, "The Light Shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it!"

However simplistic it sounds, it is nevertheless true. Jesus is the light of the world, He is THE Hope!

Along with many Christians, we are involved in helping people learn life skills, get out of debt, and grow in confidence as they face enormous personal hurdles. However, if all we are offering are programmes (however good), we are only dealing with symptoms, not cause.

We need to offer Jesus. He is the Light of the World, and when He shines into peoples lives no darkness can overcome Him.

Man-flu

I've got, what my wife calls "man-flu!" I feel dreadful - headache, blocked up nose, chesty cough and I can produce flem all the colours of the rainbow (well there have to be some compensations!)

Of course, it is just a bad cold - a virus. Someone told me that there are around 200 cold viruses in circulation in the UK at any one time. Once you have had one you have life-time immunity from it. Still - I think it's flu...

A fellow evangelist once put forward to me the concept that religion should not be taught in schools, and schools should not, by and large, have 'christian' assemblies. His theory ran that RE (or RS) and in particular, Christianity, is so poorly taught, or at least, presents such a wimpy, soft at the edges version of Christian faith, that it effectively innoculates much of the population against future contact with the real thing!

I always disagreed with him, feeling that UK law continues to give us a real opportunity to take the Good News about Jesus into our schools. I for one, am still involved in doing this, having had 2 opportunities already this week. (Follow the link to see one way some in Manchester are reaching real kids) http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LWjLf0rfvz4

However - he may have had a point. Our churches (I generalise of course) continue to suffer with a distinct absence of men. "Women and children first" was the cry when the titanic went down, and with a continuing lack of male leadership, switched on fathers, and loving faithful husbands in many churches, some of them will soon go the way of the Titanic too.

What kind of man are you? What kind am I? If non-christian men look at me will they see a real man, or the 'gentle Jesus meek and mild' kind of guy that they may have been innoculated against? If we are going to reach men we must be deliberate about it. Great kids and womens ministries are fantastic (as a Father of 3 young daughters I am involved in both), but mens work will not happen by accident. Men must be pursued, confronted, engaged, deliberately targetted and attracted. Our churches must be man-friendly!

To coin a phrase "Real men followed Jesus - they still do."

The Shack

Last weekend I read the book "The Shack" by Wm Paul Young. This book has been number 1 best seller in the New York Times charts, and has even broken into the top 100 at WHSmith in the UK.

It is a controversial book in a lot of ways, particularly in its depiction of God the Father appearing to Mack (the central character) as a black African-American woman.

"The Shack" is endorsed by leading evangelicals, including Eugene Peterson (The Message) and Michael W. Smith from the USA and the evangelist J. John in the UK. Equally, it has been derided as Heresy by others, including Mark Driscoll (Mars HILL Church, Seattle) who I count amongst my Christian heroes.

What did I think of it? Well, at the risk of offending somebody - here goes....

Without giving the whole story away, the plot follows Mack, whose daugther Missy is abducted and murdered. For the following few years Mack is enveloped by "The Great Sadness." One cold winters morning he receives a letter from God inviting him back to the shack where his daughter is believed to have been murdered, though her body was never found. At the shack, Mack meets God - Father Son and Holy Spirit, and over the course of a weekend, his encounter with them transforms his life.

First - lets get the difficult and dodgy stuff out of the way. I found the depiction of the Father (Papa) as a black woman more than difficult to deal with. The first person of the Trinity is depicted throughout Scripture as a Father. In "The Shack", God explains that He is Spirit, and that any depiction of Him in human terms is purely for our benefit. In Scripture, there are ocassions where God shows clear 'feminine' characteristics, such as Jesus using the image of a mother Hen protecting her chicks, and defining his heart for Jerusalem in that picture. In the Old Testament, God is depicted as a mother desiring to breast feed and nourish her children. In Creation we read that God created Male and Female in His image. There is no doubt that it is the 2 together - Male and Female, that give completion to the image. God is neither Male nor Female, but Spirit. However, we have no Biblical mandate to present Him as a woman, and I found the image in the book deeply troubling.

Mark Driscoll's comments are interesting, and can be found on You Tube. However, having rewatched his comments after reading the book, I dont believe that he had read the book when he critiqued it. For example, he accuses the author of the heresy of 'modalism' (look it up - come on - do some of the work yourself!) He uses 1 quote to support this claim. The charge is not verified by a reading of the book.

The 1 other area that did trouble me though, was the possible suggestion of Universalism (that all will be saved whatever.) This is by no means explicit, but could be implied in a number of places. Particularly in one section where Jesus tells Mack that his followers come from all walks, races, political parties and religions - Hindu, Muslim, Mormon, etc. I re-read the section, and it seems to be deliberately ambiguous. Certainly people will follow Jesus from every tribe, people, tongue and nation, but they will have to come to Him as the only Saviour. The section in question has Mack mention about people being Christians, and Jesus responds "I never mentioned becoming a Christian!" It is deliberately ambiguous. However, the rest of the book seems to clearly suggest that if people want to know God, they must enter into a relationship with Him through Christ.

However (and you cant ignore the dodgy stuff - that's why I mention it), I was deeply moved by the book. I have no doubt that at times I had fresh insights into my relationship with God.

A couple of examples. Young's potrayal of "The Great Sadness" is just brilliant. Anyone who has had a deep sad, life changing (Life-numbing) experience will identify with it. His depiction of this cloak of despair is true to life, and many will see themselves in it.

The way in which Young deals with "The Great Sadness" is also brilliant. In a "Judgement" scene, God invites Mack to be Judge and Jury on his own children. He is told to choose 2 to go to Heaven and the others to destine to hell. He pleads with God "Let me take their place - let me go instead of them!"
"Now you sound like Jesus - you have Judged well" comes the reply!

In the book, there is also a wonderful depiction of Jesus at the centre of all things, with Creation and the redeemed gathering to worship Him. The scene that follows moved me to tears as Young writes... "Everything that had breath sang out a song of love and unending thankfulness. Tonight the universe was as it was intended!"

The last thing that I will mention is that the book deals as well as any (fictional book) with the issues of forgiveness and anger and bitterness. There is much Biblical wisdom in the way Mack is led to address the brokeness and pain in his own heart and family.

"The Shack" was a good read, moving, inspiring, and ultimately I would recommend it with the proviso that you read it as a piece of fiction, and not a systematic theology.

Baby P

Some things make me feel sick.

This weekend I dont know if it was something I ate, or someone I touched. Whatever it was, I was contaminated and spent most of Saturday night and all day Sunday on, over or under the toilet!

Last week, what made me feel sick was the rash of stories about children being abused by parents or their friends here in the UK. "Baby P" as the story has been known, involved the brutalisation and systematic abuse of a little boy at the hands of his mother and, in particular, her boyfriend. Of course, what has made the whole thing worse was the fact that the child was under the watch of the local authority children's services, and ultimately the wrong decisions were made, which led to baby p's death.

Getting involved in such cases and situations can be both frightening and costly. Often, as the church, we want to help, but feel we can do so little.

The alternative to doing something is, however, doing nothing. If such abuse makes you feel sick, then the only righteous response is to get involved. "If salt loses its saltiness it is only good to be thrown on the fire" said Jesus. In other words, either I make a difference where I am, because I get involved, or I am good for nothing!

Our church has recently taken a step of faith to appoint a Family worker. The needs are huge, and perhaps you may ask "what difference can one make?" I have been overwhelmed by the support of the local schools and others to give support and training for our new worker. I am hopeful that we can make a huge impact in the community where we live. Salt needs to be applied to bring healing and savour to a broken and desperate world.

Maybe we wont make a huge difference, but then again, the alternative to doing someting is to do nothing.

Dawkins deluded?

On Saturday I picked up a copy of the Dvd of Richard Dawkins debate with John Lennox in Alabama last year. I have watched it twice already. Dawkins followers have been upset at the construct of the debate, feeling Dawkins was handcuffed and therefore unable at times to counter Lennox's arguments. However, it is worth pointing out that "Fixed Point" who hosted the debate, is a christian organisation, and Dawkins was given the first and last word. It equally says something for Dawkins that he was prepared to debate an evangelical Christian in the deep south of the USA in the Bible belt.

It is well worth getting hold of! Lennox is brilliant. I know him (though not well) and have had the privilege to hear him on a number of occasions. He is a Mathematician and philosopher of science at Oxford uni. Lennox is insightful, some of his arguments are cutting, and he manages that difficult thing in a debate of being direct and at the same time, incredibly gracious.

I remember a few years ago, as a young evangelist, getting into a debate (argument!) with some members of one of the 'quasi christian' cults (JW's, Mormons, Christadelphians). I was incredibly enthusiastic, fresh out of Bible college, and dreadfully naive! Not only did I not make any ground for the Gospel, but I lost the argument.

I am becoming more and more convinced of the need to "win friends and influence people!" The church is full of cliches and catch phrases like "People need to belong before they believe." Just because it is a cliche does not mean it doesn't contain a nugget of truth.

As we stand on the truth of Gods Word, and the Rock of Truth, Jesus Himself, may God help us to be less concerned about winning the argument, and more so about winning people.

Yes we Can

Reading Christian comments online on US Christian website, you would think that the American electorate had voted Satan himself into power!

We need to hold in balance the truths that Satan is the Prince of the Powers of the air (and therefore has great influence on this world and its systems, and on the other hand remember that the governments are ordained by God. It is our job, not only to contribute to society, but to pray for those in authority.

Barack Obama seems to be a man of humility, grace, vision, and purpose. These are great combinations. We need to pray for him. We need to be careful about the hype! The praise and glory being poured on Obama is only equalled by the vitriol and hatred that has been aimed at George W. Bush.

For us, this is a time for humility and Hope.

Change Has Come! What a great slogan. Change is what we need. Who knows what Obama's presidency will bring, but the rhetoric, vision, and goals are admirable. Listening to Obama is inspiring.

We believe that Change needs to come. Changed hearts, changed lives, changed priorities, changed families, changed communities.

But... real heart level change, change that lasts, change that redirects the course of a nation, needs to begin with the church. Bill Hybels says "the local church is the hope of the world!" "If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, I WILL come and heal their land!"

Dear God - Please give us "Change we can believe in!"

Bland and Dross

I've been away for a few days this week, and have been amazed at the Jonathan Ross/ Russell Brand incident, in both the sheer grossness of the comments made and broadcast by them and the BBC, and in turn the number of those who have spoken out in favour or defence of them.

So much has been said and written that I am sure that I can add very little to the debate. The subject of this blog revolves around engagement with the culture. However, there are clearly many times and occassions when 'engagement' needs to be understood as 'seperation', 'opposition' and 'distance.'

A few months back when I started collecting podcasts to listen to on my ipod, I subscribed to Russell Brands' radio 2 podcast. I lasted about 2 weeks!!! I find Brand very funny at times, and I enjoy 'zany' comedy in the 'goons/Spike Milligan' style, but our society (at least parts of it) seem to relish, even wallow in, humour of the bassist kind. It has been some time since I watched Jonathan Ross on Friday Nights, and I have stopped following Big Brother and other elements of culture as I once did.

To engage does mean reading, watching, and experiencing many things that the culture I am part of enjoys. However, engagement is not the same as immersing myself in all the worst culture has to offer.

I dont belong to this world, but I have been sent into it. As Larry Norman sang "This world is not my home - I'm just passing through..."

Advertising Nothing

Yesterday on the radio, I heard that Atheists are planning a national advertising campaign, placing ads on buses declaring "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life!"

It amazes me how militant atheism is becoming a parody of the religious right in America which it so despises. Prof. Richard Dawkins, the leading exponent of fundamentalist atheism, has agreed to match pound for pound money donated to pay for the campaign.

And anyway - when you believe in something so vehemently, how come you cant come up with a better slogan than "There is probably no God!" It is absolutely classic. And because there is a God, and His Holy Spirit is in the business of convicting people of their sin, and revealing Jesus, then this advert could well be the best money spent in promoting Christian faith since Ceasar paid for Pauls room and board in a Roman prison cell!

It is therefore no wonder that a Christian group "Theos" have donated £50 to the cause.

Quoting from the article in the Daily Telegraph online "Theos believes the "weak" adverts will encourage people to think about God.

The article continues...

Its director, Paul Woolley, said: "Initially, we almost felt sorry for the campaign, as its difficulties showed that there were not many atheists in Britain, and certainly not many who were willing to put their hands into their pockets. But when we saw the message, we couldn't believe it.

"Stunts like this demonstrate how militant atheists are often great adverts for Christianity."

The Rev Jenny Ellis, spirituality and discipleship officer of the British Methodist Church, added: "This campaign will be a good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life."

If you see the ads. make sure to draw someones attention to them. Ask them what they think! You never know, it may be just the thing to lead someone to Jesus!

Playing for Pizza

I've just read 2 John Grisham books in the last 2 weeks - the second one, "Playing for Pizza," I finished yesterday.

It is a story about a failing American Football Quarterback, who rediscovers the joy of being in a real team, where he is accepted, respected, and as a result, produces his best.

You may not be into American Football (I am a Philadelphia Eagles fan, for what it's worth), but I must say that the book warmed the cockles of my heart. It is, like many books, a story of new life, new hope, a new start. Rick, the despised failure of a Quarterback, is hounded out of Cleveland, vilified in the press, and despised by the press after 1 poor performance costs them their shot at the Super Bowl. Via his agent, he finds himself in Parma, Italy, playing on a team of amateurs who play for the love of the game, for one another, and for the free post-game Pizza.

In this foreign culture, Rick finds a home.

We live in a broken world, people feel hounded, are vilified, and many have nowhere to turn. What if they looked to the church - your church or mine? Would they find love, acceptance, forgiveness - a home?

To many church is a foreign culture, the last place they might look particularly if they have personal, or fabled "memories" of church as a place of condemnation rather than forgiveness.

Wouldn't it be great if your church and mine was a place where people rediscover the joy of being in a real team, where they are accepted, respected, and as a result, produce their best.

Politicians and "Back to Basics."

For a few years now I have been a governor on a variety of local schools.

Yesterday I sat in the office of a Head Teacher meeting a prospective candidate for the next parliamentary election. Most of the conversation was around schools, education, money and local politics.

At one point though, the subject veered towards the issue of politicians pronouncements on family morality. Although I had contributed to the discussion up to this point, I felt the carpet being gently, but firmly yanked from under my feet. Both Head and Politician were in agreement that any kind of commited relationship, or settled single parent family was better than a bad married environment. Lesbian couples were bringing up happy, stable kids, and married couples were allowing sexual abuse under their roofs.

What would you have said?

I muttered something about how it was possible to hold a particular moral position, and at the same time be even handed and not discriminate in our relationships with people. The church was right to uphold a clear position on marriage. Poor churches were those that either fudged their stance on the morality of marriage or discriminated against people because of it. I shared my heart as gently as I could. The politician (who over the last year I have come to view as a friend), smiled - "I know where you stand Martin, and you're OK with me!" he laughed.

I know, I can hear someone mumble "It's not about keeping friends - it's about maintaining truth and righteousness." After all, John the Baptist lost his head, but kept his integrity. I am sure there are times, and will be many more to come, when we will part company with people over the truth.

But didn't Jesus come to us full of Grace and truth? Didn't he say to the woman caught in adultery "neither do I condemn you!"? When the woman at the well confessed her history to him, did he say "You harlot!"? No! Gently, full of Grace, he allowed the truth to do its own work.

Surely our job is to uphold the truth in our words and deeds, and at the same time, love people in such a way, that the conviction that comes is from the Holy Spirit, and not the shame or anger invoked by our self-righteousness.

Full of grace and truth....

Hello Blogosphere

Hello

My name is Martin Erwin. For almost 20 years I have lived and worked as an evangelist and church planter based in Herefordshire in the west of England.

I hope to use this Blog to share ideas and resources for those who want to reach people with the Good News of Jesus.

I currently share in the leadership of Challenge Community Church in Hereford. I teach and preach widely in the West Midlands and South Wales area, and lead seminars on issues like "Developing Vision and Strategy for the local church."

I have been amazed at the "growth" of the "emerging" church movement, and am seeking to engage in the conversation, whilst at the same time feeling incredibly wary about the apparent ease with which some evangelicals seem able to jetison the baby with the bathwater.

Our commitment needs to be to the possibility of holding to Biblical authority and at the same time engaging with the culture.

Over coming months, I hope to be able to share some ways in which we have found that possible, whilst at the same time hearing of your struggles to do the same.

Mark Driscoll's book "Confessions of a reformission rev." has been a superb spur to me in believing that such a position is possible in a world as culturally confused and diverse as this one.

See you here soon - thanks for stopping by!

Martin