One Size Fits All

….for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:27-29 NIV

This covers race, prisoners, and gender, and note there are only two genders mentioned, so I take it there is no third or fourth gender or anything between. The good news is that when you become part of God’s family (clothed with Christ) you are right where you need to be.

These verses are an encouragement to those who work with race hatred, and in the prison ministries, but we still have some way to go before we all recognise and honour the place of our women in the church. We are told that all these groups of people are ‘heirs according to the promise’ but there are some churches and people who prefer to use other Scriptures against this one to make another point.

In secular terms if we are mentioned in a ‘Last Will and Testament’, we have full rights as an heir whether male or female. To suggest that women heirs can only get the crumbs of their inheritance after the menfolk get theirs, goes against the laws of God and country. As we are told in Luke 11:12 by Jesus: If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’ That’s anyone and everyone who asks, including the women. Who are we to limit God in what men and women can do? Oh, I am well aware of the verse that’s used to curtail the role women can play in the church as expressed in 1 Corinthians 14:34: Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. Also Ephesians 5:22 says: Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord, but context is everything.

Paul passed on his experiences to young Timothy of the difficulties he encountered in the young church at Corinth. He found many practices there which he felt needed some leadership, and Paul stepped up to the mark and pulled no punches in correcting the sinful and wrong practices. One of the disruptive things going on was some women who would talk over the teachers, or speak loudly among themselves thus disturbing the Spirit in the meetings. He writes in 1st Timothy 2:12 (Phillips) “Personally, I don’t allow women to teach, nor do I ever put them into positions of authority over men—I believe their role is to be receptive. My reasons are that man was created before woman. Further, it was Eve and not Adam who was first deceived and fell into sin.” In other translations it says “I do not permit”, and that is something we cannot ignore or ride roughshod over. Paul, very rightly in the circumstances, expressed his opinion to the young preacher, and it seemed to work in Corinth. He makes it clear that it is Paul who is speaking, and not a command from God. So why do some make it such a directive where it is not an issue?

As we know, where there is no context, there can be no text. When a man or a woman, boy or a girl, comes to Christ in prayer in any church that proclaims the salvation of a living God, will that loving God treat the man and boy any differently from the woman and girl? While you think about that, ask yourself why Paul wrote these words of caution to the churches he chose? Not every church. Let’s be careful how we treat God’s Word because there is a warning we need to heed in Revelation 22:18 addressed to the churches (which are types of our churches today) which says: “And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book.”

The Gospel of Information

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. Romans 1:16

Have you been keeping an eye on the major UK church headlines recently? From the sexuality of the CofE bishops, the ‘flexibility’ of the CofS ministers to homosexuality, down to the effect on the ordinary parishioner, we are seeing a seismic shift in what is expected and presented by those who are our nation’s hierarchy of theology, and it stinks (in my humble opinion)!

However, there are other changes happening right under our noses, and it’s not all good news. Churches and Ministers of the Gospel (there’s a clue) are charged with preaching the Word of God. Why? Because the verse says it all. The Gospel of Christ is the power of God to Salvation, and that beats all knowledge and information (no matter how significant) hands down every time. The Gospel, in some churches, has been relegated to second place behind a well informed and educated sermon. Is it possible, even just a tiny bit, that we are becoming a little ashamed of this life changing Gospel?

To be honest, I am more concerned with the sure but certain lack of clear Gospel preaching and teaching, than I am about any Bishop’s sexual leanings. After all, if the Gospel was preached clearly and with conviction, there would be far fewer half baked christians (small ‘c’) in all of our churches. My thoughts are; preach the Word without shame, whether your parishioners like it or not. Don’t apologise for speaking truth, because Jesus Christ IS TRUTH! Preaching the Gospel of Salvation requires a response. Does your preacher, minister, or pastor ask for a personal response to the presentation of the Gospel?

Jesus said .. “I am the .. truth, no one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Preaching the Word

Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:2,3

As Christians we are all charged with spreading the Word of God, in many ways, whether by example or word, but some have a greater degree of responsibility. Timothy was a young leader in the early church, and the Apostle Paul was his mentor and example. Paul wanted to make sure Timothy was in no doubt about his responsibility as a pastor and leader. His first and prime goal was to ‘Preach the Word’. Everything else took a lesser place, and he was to do this whether he felt like doing it or not. He was called by God, as is the case today. Pastors and ministers do not follow a job or a career, but are called to a mission. That mission is to preach, so that others will hear, and be converted to Christ.

Church attendances are falling across the country, and across all denominations. I accept that belief in God is falling, and we are becoming a nation of atheists and agnostics, but is there another reason for God believing people deserting our places of worship? Over recent years some churches and leaders have hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Abuses of position involving parishioners do nothing to foster trust in God, church, or ministers and priests. I think the root may go deeper, and be closer to home.

What do we do when numbers fall? What or who suffers? If numbers decline, there is less money to do important things like keep the grounds neat, maintain the interior and all the various rooms, and perhaps most importantly, pay the minister or pastor. There is one reaction. We could become like the people we want to attract. That way, we can hopefully  improve income and at the same time minister to more people. There is one major problem with that approach. It doesn’t work, and it never has. Don’t you think Paul and Timothy came across this problem in their ministries? I’m sure they did, but look again at Paul’s advice to his young charge.

A heavy responsibility rests on our various church ministers and pastors. A responsibility like no other. So when numbers fall, it is a sure sign that the Gospel is no longer in first place and being preached faithfully from the lectern and pulpit. The aim of the church after all is to preach the Gospel, and by doing so, producing a change in the hearts and minds of men and women. Then and only then are homes changed, society improved, and communities made safer. All achieved by the faithful preaching of the Word, undiluted and true. While we dither around making our churches more like the world, we haemorrhage people. It has never been more important that we preach the full Gospel of the Word of God from the pulpit, and see growth.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? Romans 10:14

(NB.. This post was written on 22 July 2016, awaiting publication)

Can't or Won't?

...not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another. Hebrews 10:25

For most of us, it’s only once a week, and only for an hour at that, but I don’t like missing that time in church. It’s my time to connect with God and those I respect and love in the Lord. It’s good to be among like minded gentle, God fearing people ”...addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” Ephesians 5:19

I love singing the old hymns, and (most of) the newer praise band style of worship songs. At the root of it all is the lifting of our voices to heaven and the Author of our salvation. It sounds a bit tame until it gets to the business end of the hour when the leader, pastor, or minister preaches the Word of God from the Bible, which IS “The Word of God”. Then it can get less comfortable because the Scriptures are for everybody and for every situation. There’s conviction If you need salvation, encouragement for the believer to live a better life and example of holiness, and everything in between. Sometimes it’s not so easy to be there to listen, so we choose to skip the discomfort.

I believe there is only one choice for not being in the House of God, and it’s either we can’t or we won’t go. There is no middle ground like: I don’t like the speaker, singer, people, chairs, heating, music and the list could go on. Excuses don’t count when it comes to the preaching of the Word. It’s not for the weak, cowardly, or the wooly, after all the Bible says in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Is THAT the reason you won’t go? Afraid? Just asking!  

What Now?

Read 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 1-12, first.

A man preaching in the open air from 1 Thessalonians 4, in Wimbledon, London this week was questioned, arrested, charged and imprisoned for seven hours while the police and lawyers worked out if he had committed an offence. One woman from the whole listening crowd (that’s all) made a phone call to the police complaining that the speaker was homophobic, and wanted something done about it. The police duly arrived and dealt with the situation.

The whole thing is on You Tube and you can make your own mind up by reading the article, and watching the video on this link: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/video-arrested-for-saying-homosexuality-is-a-sin/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+christianinstitute+%28The+Christian+Institute%29&utm_content=FaceBook

I suppose the incident raises a few questions, but how about these for starters:

1. If a pastor or minister preaches something in his sermon which offends a person by suggesting that homosexuality is a sin as recorded in the Bible, would you expect that offended person to call the police?

2. If that offended person in church did phone the police, do you think it right that the ‘suspect’ should be questioned, arrested, charged and imprisoned to await trial for repeating that the Bible says homosexuality is a sin?

3. Is the UK in danger of falling into a police state where faith/belief/thought is an offence punishable by imprisonment? Hence the title question, ‘What Now?’

Now here is a question for my friend ‘Anon’: As a self professing christian, would you have phoned the police if you were in the crowd listening to the street preacher? Anon, you and I have traded many thoughts on this issue, usually in a good and reasoned exchange, so please take the time to read, watch and let me know what you think of the item and videos, bearing in mind that it may open up many other and different issues and questions.

Of course others are also welcome to comment, and that would possibly add another dimension to a two way conversation.