Seasons

 

          Conquer evil with good

 

Remarkable! The recent speech by President Obama at Cairo and to the Muslim world was perhaps the most significant world event of the last week. Analysts are still analysing, but the speech was remarkable for three reasons for me.

 

Firstly is signalled a significant change in American foreign policy with regard to the Muslim world. Heralding a move from being 'against' to being 'engaged'. Obama's speech stressed the common ground, the aspirations of the majority, and the need to find solutions together. America has tried the other way, but imposed solutions rarely last. Yes the journey will be difficult and long - but I have more hope.

 

Secondly it was a great speech. Well crafted, some amazing balances, realistic, and some memorable phrases (e.g. 'violence is a dead end') Spoken with passion, brought with humility - it's not often a nation's leader admits mistakes.

 

And thirdly I was reminded of the way of Christ. In the tensions and division of life in family, workplace and church we are to 'conquer evil with good'. (Romans 12:21) We have a message and a ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5) It may be difficult, but we are to be engaged, not against.

 

How about some Shakespeare:

There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.

 

 re-forming church -  

There are fresh expressions of the church being formed today, many seeking to better engage with and reflect our culture. This is good: the church of Jesus Christ - always contemporary, able to connect with people, wine ever new in new wineskins. However this calls us to be very thorough in two areas:

 

1.      Understanding NZ culture, which is very difficult to do from the inside! We are one culture and many. We are traditional and modern (and post-modern). We are established and changing. So what exactly does a re-formed church reflect?

 

2.      Understanding what we uniquely bring. We have to remain true to what it means to be Christian, to be church, and to be good news. My observation is that many have become very fuzzy about all of these. Re-formed churches dare not become products of culture.

 

 making disciples -

Steve Taylor recently wondered about:

'We don't think ourselves into new ways of behaving
We behave ourselves into new ways of thinking.'

 

True or false?   For NZ culture?    For Christians?

 

 sunday@Discovery -      The Holy Spirit in daily living - testimonies - Desert Spring news

 sunday@Oaks -             The Holy Spirit and the Body of Christ

SIGN OFF

What a beautiful thing it is to see people set free from the deceits, the despair, the despondency sown by Satan. The Spirit does a beautiful thing when he operates deeply and frees minds and hearts all tied up with baggage from the past.   Freedom - it's a beautiful thing.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. (Galatians 5:1)

Wishing you grace and peace and freedom today

Garry

 

            End quote: You measure the health or strength of a church by its sending capacity rather than it seating capacity. Churches are in the sending business.' Rick Warren