Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 01/May/2022]

Psalm 133 v 1:

How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.

Recently 23 people gathered together in a Methodist Manse near Birmingham to celebrate being family. Some of us hadn’t met together for over 10 years or more, some of us knew each other well and met often, but we were together and very pleased about it.

Some were Christians, some were non-believers, some were vaguely interested in listening about Jesus but the common theme between us all was LOVE.

It was evident by the way we were with each other, the interest we had in each others lives, the giving and receiving of mutual affection, sympathy of each person for the other. It was like being in a perfect church – I loved it, but it was just for one day. We all accepted each other because of the love we had between us.

How glorious it would be if Church was like that too – like a mutual admiration society, where people would be drawn to each other for the simple reason we had the same Dad, which we have. Our Daddy God, loves His kids whether we acknowledge it or not, young or old, He is continually wooing us to love Him and each other more. By the love we have for each other people will know we are Christians.

John Chapter 13 v 34 & 35:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Have a happy and blessed week sharing His love wherever you go and whoever you’re with.
Every blessing!

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 24/April/2022]

At the end of my last article, I promised to update readers on my experiment.

The experiment essentially was this: how would God respond if – instead of speculating on things like the situation in Ukraine – I chose to leave concerns in His hands?

Well, almost immediately, I found myself much less obsessed with TV news! Although I still checked it at least once a day, I could easily turn it off (not something I’ve ever been able to do – just ask Chris!). Instead, I was now more concerned about the PEOPLE than the POLITICS.

I realised that I had been taking pride in posing as an expert on subjects I knew very little about. My ramblings were not only uninformed, they were also sinful! Sinful in that I was not focusing on what the Holy Spirit wanted me to focus on!

If Martin was right that recognising where we’ve been wrong is the first step towards personal transformation, then something was certainly going on inside me. I like the way Isaiah 2:11 reads in The Message:

People with a big head are headed for a fall, pretentious egos brought down a peg.

I don’t suppose folk will suddenly see me as a remarkably humble man! But I do know that my experiment was a success. God is willing and able to direct my every thought. Figuring out how He does that is ‘too lofty’ for me

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during April 2022]

This thought was triggered by a brief e-conversation about the timing of Easter.

Conventionally, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March^[1]; this date corresponds to the March equinox. However, two different calendars are used in identifying Easter day itself; one calendar was established by Julius Caesar in 46BC and the other by pope Gregory XIII in 1582. The difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars means that Easter can be celebrated on two different dates.

Neither is wrong, they are just different, and to understand why we need to know a bit of church history.

In broad terms, Christianity has three principal branches: Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant. Historically, they evolved in that sequence, with the Orthodox church claiming a direct line of succession from the Apostles themselves. Orthodox churches predominate in eastern Europe and parts of Africa; as with most denominations they are also present in other parts of the world. Many sections of the Orthodox church continue to use the Julian calendar for ecclesiastical purposes.

The Roman Catholic church takes its leadership from a pope in Rome. It claims the apostle Peter as its first pope and retains a high degree of control in the areas of liturgy and church practice. Its adherents are global but predominate in southern Europe and South America. The Roman Catholic church follows the Gregorian calendar.

In the 16^th century, movements within the Catholic church started to question the supremacy of the pope as well as certain practices that were seen as inconsistent with Biblical teaching. This lead to the formation of protestantism, which was often violently opposed by those loyal to the Catholic church. In due course, the diversity of beliefs within the protestant community led to the establishment of many separate denominations, each with their own understanding of Scripture and their own preferred form of worship. In general, Protestant communities continue to follow the Gregorian calendar.

Of course, as Baptists, we would claim that our way of worship is derived from our understanding of the New Testament churches as described in the books of Acts, Revelation and the various epistles. For us it is largely a matter of convenience that we follow the local ecclesiastical calendar and celebrate Easter accordingly.

Does our claim to New Testament authenticity give us a valid reason for dismissing the liturgy and practices of those who are of a different persuasion?

And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. John 10 v16 [NIVUK]

There have been many attempts to define what Jesus meant when he said those words. Some argue for a narrow definition, others for a wider scope. Either way, the activities of Easter are more important than their date. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ allow us to look forward to the date when we will be no longer wrong and no longer different.

.[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_of_Easter.

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 17/April/2022]

Have you ever had this reaction to a piece of news? It can happen when something happens which seems either too bad or good to be true. It was the first thing I said when I was told that my father had just been killed by a lorry. It can also be the reaction to good news, like being told I had passed my driving test or that I had been approved to adopt David. Often, I don’t dare to believe in good news until I have some form of proof, like written confirmation.

As Martin was sharing a couple of weeks ago, sometimes we can refuse to believe things that don’t fit our preconceived ideas. The disciples of Jesus were in this position. Jesus told them on at least 3 occasions that he was going to be crucified and then rise again on the 3rd day, but despite all the warnings, the disciples struggled to believe it. I used to find this hard to understand, but now I realise how difficult it is to accept something that is so awful that you just don’t want to believe it will happen. During the first few months of 2020 I didn’t believe that covid was going to affect my life, despite all the news coverage of the situation, first in China and then in Italy and all the dire predictions by the experts. Similarly, I didn’t believe that Russia would invade Ukraine, despite the clear warning signs.

When the good news came on Easter Sunday that Jesus had risen, the disciples found it hard to believe, dismissing the women’s accounts as hysterical nonsense. Later, when Thomas returned to the disciples and was told that they had seen Jesus I am sure he desperately wanted to believe it was true, but he needed proof, which Jesus graciously gave him a week later. He then said to Thomas:

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20 v 29.

Let us enjoy that blessing as we celebrate Easter together.

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 10/April/2022]

Have you ever had a bizarre conversation with someone? I remember at a church party an American came up to me and asked a question that I don’t think any of my English friends would ask.
“Are you an amillennialist, a premillennialist or a postmillennialist?”
“I’m a premillennialist,” I replied.
“Are you a pretribulationist, a midtribulationist, or a posttribulationist?”
“I’m a pretribulationist,” I said.
“That’s good,” he said, “so am I,” and with that he walked off!
I hope that you understood that conversation, but if not I’ll try and explain it.

I do not believe that you can be completely dogmatic about the order of everything that the Bible prophecies about the end of the age in which we are living. But what I was basically saying was this. I believe that when Jesus comes again, He will then establish His perfect kingdom on earth for a thousand years (premillennialism) (Rev 20 1-6). But prior to that, we who are trusting in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, will not go through the time of tribulation in the world that will happen before His kingdom comes (pretribulationism) (Matt 24:30, 31).

What reminded me of that odd conversation? It is the problems we are going through now. We just seemed to be getting a more normal life with the pandemic, when a war broke out in Europe after more than 70 years of peace, as Russia invaded Ukraine. Then there are all the resulting problems forecast with high energy costs, high inflation and shortages of food in some parts of the world.

This sort of thing has happened throughout history, but Jesus said that before His return there would be signs of His coming. Wars and rumours of wars, famines, diseases (pandemics), inflation and earthquakes in place after place (Matt. 24), and this was also shown to John in Revelation 6.

But Jesus said we should not be troubled or frightened (Mat 24:6) and that when these things begin to happen we should look up and lift our head for our redemption and deliverance is near (Luke 21:28). Because at some time, perhaps soon, we shall be resurrected with glorious new bodies like the Easter resurrection body of Jesus, even if we haven’t actually died when He returns (1 Cor 15:50-57 & 1 Thess 5:13-18).

Along with other promises in the Bible, I believe that means that Jesus will suddenly return in the clouds to gather us to Him (Matt.24:30, 31) and we shall be with Jesus before that terrible tribulation happens. After the tribulation Jesus returns with us to earth to become king over the surviving people in the whole world, and we shall be with Him in His kingdom.

During His thousand year reign there will be no more invasions by one country against another, no pandemics, no pollution, no global warming and no poverty, because of His power, wisdom, justice and peace. That’s even before He creates the new heaven and the new earth (Rev 21)!

Oops – I’m becoming dogmatic, but I believe that we have good reason to be because of what the Bible tells us. In view of this let’s trust Jesus for the future, rejoice together and not worry in spite of our present problems.

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during April 2022]

Recently I read an observation that is worth repeating. Translated, it reads: “liberty has a price”.

Some liberties are worth paying for. Our freedom to drive around is paid for with taxes and fuel costs, and there are many such examples. However, very often those who benefit most from liberty are not those that paid the price for it. Previous generations have borne the cost of freedoms that we not only enjoy but have come to expect as normal.

But is it ‘normal’? Beyond our peaceful complacency there are people who are fighting for the right to be heard, for the right to be educated, for the right to be able to go about their lawful business without let or hindrance. Many have paid a great price for what we consider to be normal.

Liberty has a price.
Now that our continent is at war again, economically and militarily, that statement comes with greater emphasis. Every day our screens are filled with images showing the cost of liberty. We see the costs in terms of lives and livelihoods, in material destruction and in the costs of munitions. We hear in detail the stories of people who have lost their businesses, their homes, their friends, their families, their futures.

Liberty has a price.
In a twist on the usual scenario, the Egyptians bore the cost of the Hebrews’ liberty. Not for the last time in history, one man’s intransigence brought misery on his people as the plagues progressed from inconvenience to a national disaster. Every Egyptian household lost a son; how many households are today sharing that experience?

Liberty has a price.
It is entirely appropriate as we approach Easter that we remember the ultimate liberty, and the ultimate price that was paid. Those of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ are free from the consequences of sin and have a sense of security that is impossible to define in secular scientific terms.

It cost the death of the Son of God. Not a peaceful passing away but a cruel, vindictive and painful death exasperated by a mental ordeal that we cannot even start to imagine. Despite that cost, this liberty is freely available to those who are willing to believe.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8 v36 [NIVUK]

Perhaps we have become too familiar with the story. Like the images of war on our screens, we become insensitive to the details. Lord, help us to see afresh what our liberty cost you.

When I stand before the throne, dressed in beauty not my own,
when I see thee as thou art, love thee with unsinning heart,
then, Lord, shall I fully know, not till then, how much I owe.
Robert Murray McCheyne, 1837

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Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.