Godly Living – Titus 2:11-15

God: New evidence is a series of videos examining some of the theory behind the universe, looking at the issues of how we can exist in the way that we do, in what has previously been argued as an environment that came to be by accident.

For your interest, episode four is below. The whole series can be followed on the God: New evidence website, or on YouTube.

The only kind of universe we could possibly live in is one that is fine-tuned for life. Is this enough to explain the remarkable fine tuning of the universe we live in? Should we be surprised that the universe is just right for us? The fourth in a series of six videos exploring how recent scientific discoveries point to the reality of the Creator. Featuring John Polkinghorne, David Wilkinson, Rodney Holder, Peter Williams and Graham Swinerd

In his book, ‘God and Guinness, a biography of the beer that changed the world’, Stephen Mansfiled traces the history of the Guinness family and shows the desire of the family members to serve God, whether it was through the church or through the brewery.

Not confining himself to Guinness beer, Mansfield traces the history of brewing back to its earliest days. He talks about how beer, and the community around public houses, played an important part in the lives of influential Christians, and how attitudes to drink have changed over the years.

In theory, this book should be top of my list for recommended reading as its core themes are very important to me, God and Guinness. But, half way through I started to get a little bogged down, and it took more effort to get to the end.

Why? Well, maybe it’s because this book is written very definitely for an American market. The view of the church and history is read in the light of US politics and society and it doesn’t quite work for a UK market. But, also, while there’s a great deal in here about what the Guinness’ did and achieved, both socially and in business, the book doesn’t do the job that I was expecting in linking the decisions of the brewing family back into the example set in the life of Jesus. There are a couple of passages that quite clearly state how faith played a great part in the lives of this family, it’s just I thought there could be a bit more of this.

Despite these gripes I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the book. There’s a lot of good quality information in there, a thorough history of the Guinness family and a good account of the impact that the brewery had on the lives of the people of Dublin. The best bit, though, comes right at the end, when Mansfiled draws some examples from the attitude of the Guinness family and the experience of the brewery.

Of course, as everyone knows, people don’t come back from the dead (vampires and zombies notwithstanding). It doesn’t happen. Why is it so important to the teachings of Christ that his brutally murdered corpse did just that? Not for the first time, I don’t get it. [Read the full article here]

Bishop Wright writes in response…

Just as Christian faith is far more than a moral philosophy or spiritual pathway (though it includes both as it were en passant), so it is more than a “how to get saved” teaching backed up by a dodgy “miracle”. Christian faith declares that, in and through Jesus, the creator of the world launched his plan to rescue the world from the decaying and corrupting force of evil itself. This was (if it was anything at all) an event which brought about a new state of affairs, albeit often in a hidden and paradoxical way (as Jesus kept on saying): the “kingdom of God”, that is, the sovereign, rescuing rule of the creator, breaking in to creation. If this stuff didn’t happen then Christianity is based on a mistake. You can’t rescue it by turning it into a philosophy. [Read Bishop Wright's response here]

• The missional framework of the biblical narrative
• The missional purpose of the texts
• The missional locatedness of the readers
• The missional cost to the messenger

Part way through he mentioned that the Isrealites had been placed in Babylon and would be for at least two generations. They were to settle there and live in a missional way even though it wasn’t where they wanted to be. This just got me thinking.

God exists through all time. He’s as present in the future as he is in the present and knows, not just what will happen to us, but also what will happen to future generations. So the experiences and life choices we are making now are not just for us, but for future generations also.

As I said, I’m just thinking.

‘Our understanding is that more people are attending now than before, even if that is only a couple of times a year rather than every week.  This might mean going to church at one of the high points in their family’s year, such as Christmas or Easter, or attending Sunday services or midweek events.

I’ll be honest, I’m not buying it. Honestly, if going to church was a high point for a family they would be back week after week, not just for a religious festival on a long weekend.

They also draw the conclusion that,

‘This is of course immensely encouraging, because it shows that people are associating church and a belief in God with hope and joy, and a positive way to spend their time.’

How do you get that out of the figures? I went to church as a young boy because I had to, not because I was hopeful or especially joyful about the event. Even today I can go into a church service full of hope and joy only to find it dashed on the rocks of disappointment as the organ cranks up for the first hymn at the same time as sucking any level of praise out of my soul with some mournful tune.

I wasn’t going to say anything about this until I read Cranmer’s recent blog post about Rev’d Vincent Nichols attack on Easter Sunday football.

The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols has decided to attack the heads of the Premier League and Setanta Sports for showing ‘disdain’ for the religious traditions of the United Kingdom, for disregarding the importance of Easter Sunday. And he criticises them for worshipping Mammon (profane ‘commercial considerations’) instead of honouring the sacred.

You see churches aren’t competing against each other for bums on seats. They are fighting a spiritual battle for hearts and minds in a world where more joy, emotion and feeling are shown in 90 minutes of a football game than pour out of most pulpits on any given Sunday.

This weekend we remember the passion, love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God’s very own son put to death for people as ordinary as you and me. And yet, I somehow suspect that 22 men will show more passion and energy in the quest to get three points than most pastors, vicars and ministers will show over this single event that changed the world.

If you’re preaching this weekend, how about treating the minutes you have been given to speak as the chance to reflect some of that passion that was shown for you on the first Easter Sunday? How about preaching as though promotion or relegation from glory depended on it?

Or, if you’re going to warm the pew of your local church building, how about taking the attitude of a football fan with you? That you’re involved in what takes place and not just an onlooker, that your cheers, songs, chants and cries are heard by God and he responds? As though the result of your time spent in church, with that crowd of people, actually makes a difference to your soul?

Happy Easter everyone.

If you don’t know the story behind Easter and why Christian’s celebrate this time of year, you can read it online here

To share in some of the stories, hear of the successes of the past and consider the challenges of the future is worth the time away from my desk.

We spent some time at the start in small groups discussing the story in John 13:1-17, where Jesus washes the feet of the disciples. We drifted a little from the structure of the questions we had been given, which was good, because it allowed a member of the group to share the following (and I’m paraphrasing).

A strong relationship with God allows us to be humble. In the passage we see Jesus, God in human form, putting on a towel and bending down to wash the feet of men, including the guy who was about to give him up to be crucified.

If Jesus was looking for human authority or power he would have his feet washed by others, not bend to do it himself. However, his status is secure with God. He is the Son of God, that cannot be taken from him. Because of this security Jesus could be humble and do what is right rather than what is expected.

For us it’s the same. If our security is in God, our identity safe with Him, then it frees up our options to choose what is right rather than what is popular.

Last night I was listening to a similar thing in a podcast from the Viallage Church. Lessons learned along the journey, it’s worth a listen if you have the time.

Blogging has brought a new dimension to my friendships. People that I have not yet met, and yet I seem to know so well because I’ve listened to their thoughts and arguments, rants and praises; and despite the great distances between us, I can even join with them in prayers.

“Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” Psalm 50:15 (NLT)

Three things there -

1) call when you are in trouble, and
2) I will rescue you

now - get this ..

3) and you will give me glory.

My blogging friends God is good. Let us give Him glory, complete the circle. You called upon Him in times of trouble, He has stored your tears in a bottle – I know this His Word tells me, He has rescued you and now it is time for us to give Him glory!!! – Live the Sermon on the Mount, this is my desire …..

Amen?

Thanks Mark… and yes, Amen