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..."
Friday 31 October 2008
Wednesday 22 October 2008
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...
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!
Wednesday 15 October 2008
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.
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.
Saturday 11 October 2008
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....
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....
Friday 10 October 2008
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
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
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