Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 13/June/2021]

At HBC we recently celebrated ‘Trinity Sunday’. This gave us an opportunity to think again not just about an obscure theological doctrine, but about the nature and character of the God we serve and worship. The doctrine of the Trinity reminds us that God isn’t a thing or an object, but rather God is a Person, or – to be precise – God is a Community of Three Persons. God is a personality, not just an abstract concept; God is a community, rather than an individual. God, as Trinity, will always resist the attempts of theologians (i.e. people like me!) who might try to reduce God to human concepts and language.

To say that God is a Community of Three Persons means that God is personal in the sense of being loving, relational and capable of sharing in all our joys and successes as well as in our pain and failures – as God showed us in the most amazing way when Jesus died on the cross for our sins and when He rose again to bring us the hope of eternal life.

The doctrine of the Trinity doesn’t just tell us what God is like; it also tells us about what God does and how He acts in the world. Whenever God wants to build His Kingdom, He always seems to start by calling people to work together in community. When Jesus started His ministry, the first thing He did was to call a community of disciples to share the message of God’s love to the world. Likewise, when we come together out of a desire to serve Jesus, God gives us all a role to play in building up His Kingdom in our local communities, families and workplaces. This means that as a community at HBC, we’ve all been commissioned by Jesus to build up His church and to help the Kingdom of God come to Horley so that God’s will be done here in this little corner of East Surrey.

I hope this gives you some encouragement as you go about your daily tasks this week. I hope, too, that you’ll look for opportunities to share God’s love with your friends, family, neighbours, colleagues, etc. As you do this, I pray that we’ll start see more people being drawn into the community of grace that God (i.e. the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is building in Horley through the ministry of HBC!

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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.

[Transcript of a midweek message published by Horley Baptist Church on YouTube^[1], June 2021]

We are called to be distinctive, but what does that actually look like? How can we strike a balance between operating ourselves off from society, and becoming too much like society? How do we know if we’ve got it right?

Last Sunday we started a new teaching series ‘Back to Basics’ where we look at those values that we want to exhibit as a church, as we go forward into this new new era of of being church. This last Sunday we looked at the value of being distinctive, being different, but my question is “Well, how do I do that? How do I navigate this world and remain distinctive? How can I, as the Bible says, be in the world but not of the world?”

You see, life is a lot easier when there are rules and regulations, when things are black and white, when you know what to do and what not to do because then it’s simple, isn’t it? You know the course in life that you need to follow. But things get difficult when those rules, those regulations are taken away, when black and white becomes a mushy grey colour. That must have been what it was like for those early Christians, those followers of Jesus Christ as they moved away from their Jewish roots and became a separate faith in its own right.

Those early Christians would have been pulled in two opposing directions. On the one hand, there were the Judaisers, the circumcision group, those people who said to those Christians: “Yes, we’re saved by Jesus; yes, we’re saved by grace, by faith not by works” but you still need to follow all of these Jewish rules, circumcision being one of them. I mean that’s enough to put anyone off becoming a follower of Jesus Christ.

On the other hand there was the culture around them. There was the background for many of these new Christians which was Hellenistic, it was Greek in its style and the way it viewed sexuality and life and how it revolved around idol worship and temples. These early Christians had to walk this fine line, this tightrope walk between on the one hand being very black and white, very rule-focused, about separation, and on the other hand there was this kind of, well, anything goes really – we just go with whatever the culture believes and values that you find yourself within.

It’s not that much different for us these days. There are Christians who live out their faith by separating themselves. They wear different clothes, they don’t associate with people who aren’t like them, who aren’t part of their group; and some people go to extremes, the Amish being one of them, but there are groups similar to that in the UK, in Horley. Actually, there’s Christians in most mainstream churches that feel that way.

I know that I err towards that kind of black and white view of faith in Christianity, separating ourselves off, because of my conservative Christian upbringing but on the other hand it’s very easy for many Christians to kind of compartmentalize their faith to such an extent that their faith really only expresses itself through Sunday morning and maybe occasional midweek group. Beyond that, outside of that framework, their faith and their values are pretty much exactly the same as anyone else in the world; you wouldn’t be able to spot the difference between them and the world around us.

So how do we navigate that, how do we strike a balance between being segregated and separate and rule based, and on the other hand being no different to the world around us, not being as Jesus said, salt and light.

Well the first thing I think is resist rules and regulations. It’s so easy for us, particularly me, to add on conditions to our salvation, to our faith: that actually to be a follower of Jesus Christ we need to do this and this and this and that this way and behave this way and dress a certain way. We need to resist that. In fact, Paul said in his letter to the church in Galatia which was struggling with these sort of problems, particularly with the influence of that Jewish group; the only thing that matters is your faith expressed through love, the only thing that matters is your faith expressed through love. That means that we serve people humbly, we stand up against injustices. So often the churches, unfortunately in this country particularly, are the last to stand up for those injustices that we see around us.

So resist rules and regulations, love people, serve people. stand up against injustices; but also ask yourself the question: “Am I any different in my values, about the way I think about sexuality, the way I think about money, the way I am on a Friday night if I’m out on the town? Am I any different to my non-Christian next-door neighbour, my non-Christian work colleagues?” We are called to stand up and to stand out. The people will know that we are different, not because of the way that we look, not because of the way that we separate ourselves off, but because of the way we view life, and that requires conversations. It requires us to explain why we don’t watch this particular thing on TV, why we don’t go out and get drunk, why we’re not spending all our money on holidays, on our credit cards.

Are you different in that way? I think both of those groups – whether it’s the separating yourselves off or blending in, is a way of self-protection. It’s a way of escaping any form of persecution, any way that people can pick up on us. Either we close our ears and separate ourselves off from society so we don’t hear the jeers and the jaunts, or we merge in so much that no one notices any difference and therefore there’s nothing to complain about.

You should be persecuted. We are called to be persecuted just as Jesus was persecuted, just as those early Christians were persecuted, because we are different. We have different values; we are salt and we’re light, we show the darkness for what it is. We show those injustices, we show the ways in which culture around us is broken and sinful and wrong; and you know what, when you do that people don’t like it. So I think the litmus test really is are you getting flack for your faith? Because if you’re not then maybe you’re not different enough.

[1] YouTube link: How can I be distinctive?
Bible references: ~

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 June 2021]

We can think of fences in many different ways, both physically and metaphorically. In psalm 62 David describes himself as ‘a tottering fence’; he feels that his enemies are attacking him, hoping to exploit his insecurity and bring him down. Nevertheless, David can look to God who has provided a firm foundation and will uphold him.

In physical terms, fences represent a demarcation, a dividing line between two conditions: essentially, you are either inside or outside. A popular American song included the words “Don’t fence me in”; in Australia a fence 3,500 miles long was built to keep the dingoes out. We use fences to protect people or things that we value from those that we distrust.

In Anglophone societies there is a third state: ‘sitting on the fence’ carries a metaphorical message rather than just a description of a physical location. How do you react when you hear the expression?

Perhaps it has a positive connotation of being open-minded, able to see both sides of an argument. It offers an opportunity to be distinct from the monotony of the unthinking masses. Sitting on the fence offers a vantage point from where one can see whether the grass on the other side is actually greener – or the worms juicier.

Or is your reaction a negative one, associating the phrase with the reluctance to make a decision, insecurity and a lack of consistency? Are you firm in your opinions and secretly hope that the fence sitter will be returned to earth with a degree of abruptness? Perhaps you worry that you might, yourself, be sitting on the fence but you are not sure?

After the Israelites had moved into the promised land they started to forsake the worship of the God who had given it to them. Joshua told them to make up their minds, one way or the other.

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
[Joshua 24 v15 NIVUK]

Later, during the reign of king Ahab, the people were again led astray. This was brought to a head at the showdown on Mount Carmel.

Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing.
[1 Kings 18 v21 NIVUK]

In Matthew 25 we read of another demarcation, that between goats and sheep. I have always had a certain degree of sympathy for the goats – they were born that way and no amount of bleating will change a kid into a lamb. By contrast, this is a metaphorical grouping based on our relationship with Jesus Christ. Towards the end of his conversation with Nicodemus Jesus spoke of the ultimate demarcation:

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
[John 3 v18 NIVUK]

You cannot sit on the fence for ever.

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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.

[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 06/Jun/2021]

Robert, Vicki and I have just finished running the 6-week online Alpha course and recently we hosted the Holy Spirit ‘day’ in our home. As we watched the Alpha videos, talked and prayed we were aware of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence with us. It felt very special to be able to recognise The One, true and living God in our meeting together.

I was later reminded of the questions that Martin and the leadership have been mulling over for some months now –what will ‘church’ look like when we are able to meet properly again at HBC? Should it be the same as it was pre-Covid or is this the time to consider what, if anything, needs to be different when we come back together as church? What will attract the ‘un-churched’ to HBC and in doing so give them the opportunity to hear the Good News & meet with Jesus Christ in a personal way? If we need and want to ‘do church’ differently how can we achieve this? What are the challenges to us as we seek to do God’s will? These are important questions and we continue to look for the answers.

What struck me following Alpha is that what we need and have always needed when ‘doing church’ is to be in relationship with the Holy Spirit. Then we will see great signs and wonders and people will come to HBC because they want to know and encounter the power, life and wisdom that only the Lord God Almighty gives. I believe He wants us to seek Him more and more and ask Him in. Not just to our services and meetings but to our homes, and to our frontlines. He is here anyway, present whether we realise it or not. What He asks is that we continue to be prayerful, open and obedient. And to trust in His power.

We need to dare to believe that the Holy Spirit will come. We need to ask, to expect, to wait for Him. Then He will come to us and our gatherings will be transformed. I confess that I never really believed or trusted that this could be so. But I do now.

So what stops us from asking to be filled? Perhaps we doubt that we will receive if we ask (Luke 11:10-13) Perhaps we are fearful and not sure we actually want to receive the power of the Spirit and how that might change things. It’s easier to remain comfortable in what and how we’ve always done things. Perhaps we feel inadequate and think we’re not worthy or good enough. I believe it gives the Father such joy when we seek Him and open up ourselves to Him, ready to receive His breath of life.

If we look back at the early church we see the sort of people that God called & we can be encouraged. They were ordinary and unlikely people who were ready to be filled and re-filled with the Holy Spirit. In doing so they did extra-ordinary things in the name of Jesus and many believed and followed Him.

So my question to you is… do we need to further nurture an attitude of openness, expectation, excitement, welcome?

Our vision statement says that we are to be a beacon of hope – a light that cannot be hidden or contained. I know that the Holy Spirit can transform and fill us if we ask Him and only by His power will we be able to be that beacon for Horley and see lives transformed. Amen.

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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.

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during June 2021]

A church where I was previously a member has recently published online a series of interviews with retired ministers, pastors and preachers who have been instrumental in furthering the work of the Holy Spirit, both locally and further afield^[1]. It has been interesting to listen to them recounting their experiences and sharing their wisdom.

What is wisdom? Just as data^[2] are not information until they are analysed so knowledge is not wisdom until it has been affirmed by experience. There is an old adage: “Knowledge is being aware that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing that it is not used in fruit salad”. Of course, it is not necessary for everyone to make their own tomato-flavoured fruit salad in order to verify this piece of wisdom; wisdom can be acquired via someone else’s experiences.

Surely most of us have gone through at least one stage of thinking: “I wish I’d known then what I know now”. Maybe we could have ‘known it then’ if we had had the wisdom and humility to listen. One translation of the book of Hebrews starts with these words: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past unto the fathers by the prophets …” but we know from the Old Testament account that the fathers did not listen. The words of the prophets were diluted, derided and discarded, in a way that seems not so different from today.

The Bible has a lot to say about wisdom. King Solomon wrote a book of proverbs based on his own experiences in the hope that his children would be wiser than him and not make the same mistakes. (It didn’t work, but that’s another story.)

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. [Proverbs 1 v8-9 NIVUK]

The same chapter tells us:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. [Proverbs 1 v7 NIVUK]

William Mountford, the nineteenth century English preacher and author wrote:

For knowledge to become wisdom, and for the soul to grow, the soul must be rooted in God: and it is through prayer that there comes to us that which is the strength of our strength, and the virtue of our virtue, the Holy Spirit.

James put the same thought rather more succinctly:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. [James 1 v5 NIVUK]

Are you facing a difficult situation or do you have decision to make? Remember how Joseph, Daniel and Nehemiah all paused to ask for God’s guidance before going on to achieve great things.

[1] For example: Interview with John Blanchard, author of ‘Essential Questions’.
 
[2] 01010111 01101001 01110011 01100100 01101111 01101101
‘Wisdom’ written in binary code as an illustration of the difference between data and information.

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, 30/May/2021]

The past year has certainly been like no other, both here and around the world. Living through a pandemic is something that most of us never considered would be our experience, and our hearts, thoughts and prayers continue to go out to those who have suffered with serious illness and lost dear loved ones. Finally, we are beginning to see the light at the end of a very long tunnel, with restrictions being lifted, and we’re even allowed to hug one another -yay!! I will never again take hugging for granted!

All of this hopefully means we can return to meeting in church soon too! It will be such a blessing to see and spend time with our church family again, to be community in every sense of the word. Community in a church setting is more than simply gathering together in the same building. It’s where we can bless each other, encourage and build up one another, grow our faith together, be Christ to our friends, show love and kindness, shine a light that says “welcome and come in”, where we can be candles that light up someone else, who lights up the next person, and the next person, and so on. A good friend shared the following piece written by Henri Nouwen, where he shares his thoughts on community, what it is and how it looks. It says it much better than I could:

Community is Heart Calling to Heart …
Friendship, marriage, family, religious life, and every other form of community is solitude greeting solitude, spirit speaking to spirit, and heart calling to heart. It is the grateful recognition of God’s call to share life together and the joyful offering of a hospitable space where the re-creating power of God’s Spirit can become manifest. Thus all forms of life together can become ways to reveal to each other the real presence of God in our midst.

Community has little to do with mutual compatibility. Similarities in educational background, psychological makeup, or social status can bring us together, but they can never be the basis for community. Community is grounded in God, who calls us together, and not in the attractiveness of people to each other. … The mystery of community is precisely that it embraces all people, whatever their individual differences may be, and allows them to live together as brothers and sisters of Christ and sons and daughters of his heavenly Father. (Henri J. M. Nouwen)

When we live in community in this way, we can’t help but be a light in our local community -we are blessed inside to become a blessing outside! We take that sense of community “out of the building” and bless our neighbours, friends, family, colleagues, and as we do so, we share Jesus with people and begin to build them up too.

“As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” [1 Peter 2:4-5]

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” [Proverbs 27:17]

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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.