Q&A - the stuff that really matters to us

A couple of weeks ago, two events took place as part of our church mission week: for Baby Boomers, an address about Xenophobia and the changing face of the Shire; for XYs, a discussion of 'hot' topics identified as issues that prevent people believing the Christian message. These covered science and the irrelevance of religion, the reliability of the Bible,  Christians and homosexuality, and how a good God can allow suffering.

Two things struck me as I reflected on the evening.

First, these issues really matter to our non-Christian friends, and to society at large. The four hot topics were not chosen at random, but were identified by responses on Facebook. The contents page of any book on New Atheism shows that these topics are of universal concern. As Christians, when we bring the gospel to bear in the lives of our friends, we ought to have something to say about the hope we have and why it speaks truth into these important life questions.

Second, these issues matter to us as Christians. Over 100 people were onsite to take part in these two events, and debate was vigorous. The discussion about the church's stance towards homosexuality was particularly heated. I wasn't surprised that many responses from the floor reflected the values and ethics of equality promoted in the media, rather than a well-thought out Biblical perspective on the uniqueness of marriage in light of creation, Christ and the church. I also wasn't surprised that some doubted the legitimacy of speaking Christian ethics into the secular sphere. 

What do you say when these topics arise in conversation? What do you think? What do you believe?

As we read and re-read the New Testament, the teaching of Jesus enlarges our 'moral imagination', as Dr Andrew Cameron describes it. In Jesus we see a new way of imagining the world, where each of the above issues is re-envisaged through the lens of sacrificial love, true community and a new future filled with hope. Jesus teaches us a better story about life today and in the age to come.

It is our job as Christians to believe this better story (which is sometimes the hardest part in a difficult world), and then to share this story with our non-Christian friends and society at large.

15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1Pe 3:15-16)

It's the quiet ones you have to look out for...

So said my boxing coach last night. "It's not the blokes with big arms, big tattoos and big mouths you need to watch out for, it's the quiet ones. The surprise package... the one you would least suspect."

In church we've been thinking about the kind of Messiah that the Jewish people were expecting. Even John the Baptist wondered if Jesus was the one he was expecting (Matt 11:3), perhaps because Jesus hadn't brought the vengeance of the Lord predicted in Malachi 3 and 4 (c.f. Isa 35:4). Where was the refiner's fire (Mal 3:2)? Why were the wicked not trampled down (Mal 4:3)? Where was the Messiah's judgment (Mal 3:5), the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Mal 4:5)?

It turns out Jesus was one of the quiet ones. We are reminded in Philippians 2 that Jesus came to earth with humble intentions, to take on the flesh of a human and to be obedient even to death. His victory over sin and death would come at the cost of his own life. Rather than flex his muscle in judgment of others, Jesus opened his arms to receive in himself the penalty for our disobedience. And in this act he began the process of bringing justice to the nations in the way that only God could do - justice tempered with mercy for all who bow the knee to the Lord.

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him
    and he will bring justice to the nations.
² He will not shout or cry out,
    or raise his voice in the streets.
³ A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
⁴     he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
    In his law the islands will put their hope.” (Isaiah 42:1-4)

We often place our hope in the impressive things of this earth. But Jesus reminds us that God has used the weak things of this world to shame the strong (1 Cor 1:18-31).

We should never be afraid to be servants of others, to give our lives away for the sake of the gospel, to pour ourselves out for Jesus. In doing so we follow the example of our Lord...

Popular Culture and the Construction of Identity

The SMH recently carried this hilarious article about the end of hipster cool. Walking down King Street later that day, I saw nervous Angus Stone look-alikes peering into increasingly mainstream 'alternative' clothes stores to find out what the next indy trend will be. And we all look forward to the delivery of King Street Tattoos new season's tattoos catalogue.


As a member of Gen X (born 1964-1980) I am probably too old to have pulled off the whole hipster thing. Yes, I live in Newtown. Yes, I do ride a scooter. Yes, I have been seen in skinny jeans and a flannelette shirt. I practically live opposite the Vanguard.

More seriously, though, I know as a Christian my identity is found not in what clothes I wear, which bar I am seen in or whether I hate the bands you like.

2 Corinthians 3:18 reminds us that "we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

My identity, along with all for whom the veil has been removed, is found entirely in the one who opened my eyes, the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Jesus came to earth, whatever had looked glorious before "has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory." (2 Cor 3:10) And the glory of Jesus is the glory that lasts. When our identity is found in him, everything else is shown to be dull and fading.

Even Angus Stone look-alike beards. Because Angus obviously copied Jesus.

Doubt and Preaching Grace

Recently I have been thinking about the relationship between faith and doubt for a college paper.What do our doubts say about the state of our faith? Is doubt the opposite of faith? Can our faith survive significant doubts?

Yes, is Jason Boyett's hesitant response in O me of little faith. But there are no simple answers, and our creaturely limitations mean we must learn to accept some level of uncertainty about many aspects of life.

This easy to read book describes Boyett's life long struggles with doubt since his conversion in a Southern Baptist church aged 7 or 8. This book seeks to avoid pretense, and the author lays bare many of the deep questions about Christianity which continue to plague his conscience.

What fascinated me is that Boyett's undermined confidence came at the suggestion of a well-meaning Revivalist preacher.

 "The revival preachers made it clear that some Christians thought they were Christians but weren't really Christians after all. They had been baptized, they had walked the aisle, they even lived as followers of Jesus. But somehow their salvation wasn't real. [...]

"Suddenly my entire conversion was thrown into doubt. I'd waited forever to become a Christian, and the only reason I finally had the guts to make that decision was... well, was it because my brother did it? I didn't know. I couldn't exactly remember. What if I didn't make the choice "of my own accord"? What if I did it of my brother's accord instead? Was I even saved? Was Jesus really in my heart? Was my whole salvation experience a sham?

"The security of my eternal destination - which had been blissfully solid for less than half a year - was shattered, and for the next ten years I doubted my salvation." (p72-3)

I wonder if my words have ever undercut assurance like this? I pray not, and where they already have, I pray that God will keep and restore his little ones...

As ministers of the word and sacraments, let us therefore be very careful with our words. We need to remind ourselves and our hearers about God's grace to us in Jesus, and his sure promise that whoever places their faith in him will be saved.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2) 

Preaching Grace

I was reminded on the weekend that we must keep remembering grace as we walk the Christian journey.

It is so tempting to imagine that now Christ has made me his own, I must live such a disciplined life that he will want to keep me by his side.

So when I behave  virtuously, I slip so easily into the sin of pride at my discipline. I forget the reason Christ called me simply because he loves me.

Similarly I may slip into despair when overcome by sin, crushed by its weight, feeling helpless to ever make things right with Jesus. I forget that Christ called me only because he loved me.

C. S. Lewis reminds us that our personal disciplines are important, but they are overshadowed by God's grace to us in Jesus.

 After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. For however important chastity (or courage or truthfulness, or any other virtue) may be, this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God. We learn, on the one hand, that we cannot trust ourselves in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven. (Mere Christianity)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

No other name

One of the traps for all of us who have been in churches for a long time is to start to feel that we are maybe good enough for God. That our sins are frustrating but not that important to God. That we kind of deserve to be on His team due to our skill set and abilities. Our dependability. Our awesomeness even...

Then I started to read Leviticus again.

And I remembered just how seriously God takes sin. Sin has consequences: not just now in the way we hurt others and ourselves, but in the future also. Sin leads to death. The need for animal sacrifices was a tactile reminder to the Israelites of their unholiness before the perfect and Holy God.

Perhaps Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaaron (Lev 10:1-2), began to think that they were pretty awesome. After all, they had just been ordained priests, were wearing special robes and had a unique role within the Israelite community. They were the chosen of the chosen... And so they offered 'unauthorized fire' to the Lord, in contradiction to his command. Their act of self-glorification led to their death, just as our sins  lead to death.

God takes sin seriously, and we can never be good enough to earn our own holiness. And thankfully we don't need to, because God has purchased our holiness in the sacrifice of Jesus, his blood spilled to purify us of all unrighteousness.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)