The best day of your life

If your faith flows out of what your hope is focussed upon, what is it that you look to and anticipate? Sad thing if its just a matter of religious consumerism: of what you can get out of life for you and those you care about. Biblical faith is a different matter. It points us toward what God has Promised and intends to bring about. And in the light of the brilliance and beauty of God's self revealing in and through Jesus Christ, it brings us to focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And that means starting with our understanding that, where are lives are called to belong to Jesus Christ, it is to be witnesses - martyrs. Those who accept death in the present world as inevitable, as we seek to live our patterns of purposeful living for Jesus Christ. Lives reflecting His values and priorities - or at least ever seeking to realign ourselves again and again in order that we might do so.

The early Moravians in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, saw it that way. They realised that to die because they had sought to live for Christ meant passing into the physical presence of the Resurrected and Ascended Jesus. To greet Him and to be embraced by Him. Death is a terrible thing and must not be sought by us. But when it comes, we need to realise that the power of Jesus's vicarious death and resurrection is for us all. He makes the worst day into the best day of our lives.

The Kingdom in space and place

Once more, deeply impressed in listening to Mike Pears at the IBTS Community's communion service, as he expounded Luke 19 and expanded insights on how Jesus draws in those who are excluded in terms of this world's values and priorities, to be included by Him within His space and place. Where He eats and drinks with them; and how, conversely, those who we assume to have power and prestige in this world, in terms of inclusion and acceptance,  can be seen to withdraw from the vocation of Jesus Christ whilst this world's 'rejects' are welcomed and restored to the indestructible physical presence of God's Kingdom that comes through Jesus Christ..

What is seminal in Mike's emphasis is that he relates issues of inclusion, reaching to the marginalised and the expression of compassion etc. to the practicalities of the space that we occupy and the place we meet in. This is so Biblical and so baptist. No abstract values left as ideal or doctrines held as private persuasions. No place for private preoccupations with personal fancies that flee from reality. What matters in the physicality of our gathering, the way we welcome people and treat with them in the physical space we occupy and the places we pass through.

So obvious yet so refreshingly different. And how such an approach challenges us to reappropriate the reality of physical presence, and what we do where we are, as central to the essence of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God come among us and found among us in flesh and blood.

Prescription or Description ?

Speaking with a leader from the south eastern part of the European Baptist Federation, I realised that the assumption with most ‘1^st world’ Christian leaders is that the models or motifs that we discern to be present in what we observe are somehow patterns or paradigms that could and even should be transferable to other situations and circumstances.

It was pointed out to me that, in this person’s environment, the cultural tradition was to describe what could be observe without going on to shape it as prescriptive. Let alone transferable, to others. I was challenged by this. It strikes me that people like me (and probably you!) tend to look for patterns that will yield transferable principles or patterns to be emulated. Not so for this colleague. Their approach was more humble. It sought to describe and to understand. To respect the narrative that can be related, but not necessarily to distil. Rather, to accept and even accommodate other models and approaches that, on the face of it, may seem incongruous. But are yeilded out of engagement with the story of Christ met with in Scripture.

Lots of conflict arises from the desire to make our observations or experiences prescriptive for others. Power games. It doesn’t have to be that way. There is power in the story of Jesus and there it should stay. Just tell it as it is. Describe what you have touched and seen. And let’s see what happens when glory and grace come through.

Real Holiness @ IBTS in Prague

Gordon Snider made an important point this morning at breakfast. As a missionary teacher and a Holiness Methodist, he pointed out that he did not readily recognise the charicature of ‘Arminian’ that many self-identified 'Calvinists' so readily own. ‘A wilful transgression of a known law of God’ is Gordon’s understanding of sin. Entire sanctification is coming to know the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to overcome the choice to sin.

This is a subtle and important point. We can and do all sin, in terms of doing at times what is contrary to the will of God. But this is different from deliberately transgressing the will of God. The truth is, that if we truly seek to do the revealed will of God, then God will strengthen us in the path of holiness.

My personal, pastoral observation is that people often play at repentance. Regretting patterns of sin is not the same as repenting. Repentance is a deliberate and costly, even painful, turning away from what is contrary to the will of God. In this sense, the whole of the life of Jesus was an intentional struggle against the temptation to sin – yet a successful struggle, in that our Lord always did what was pleasing to God.

The Spirit will enable us to be holy – that is, strengthen us for the deliberate and costly choice to do what is pleasing to God. He does not coerce us, or persuade us to do what we do not want us to do. But He will strengthen us when we turn back to God in order to to walk a costly, difficult and painful path. Thank you, Gordon.

Keeping Alive

It may seem obvious to you, and if it does, please forgive me; but the reality is that being a Christian for a long time does not mean that daily devotion is easy. It is not so for me. Indeed, it is a struggle each day to find time to set aside to the Lord, especially when there is a busy agenda and many things to do.

I should add that this is not a confession of failure. Yes, I do fail at times; but I really can't afford to. Spiritual success is integral to finding progress and being effective in my life, and it's never God that lets me or you down. It's that we fail.

So how do we combat failure? Simply, we have to ensure that each day is begun and underlined in spiritual discipline, spending time reading the Bible or listening to it. And simply honouring God and giving Him the place of preeminence in our life. It's not rocket science. But it is true.

Today, I'm at a conference of Regional Ministers of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. The place is Holthorpe Hall. May each of us bow to the Son that His presence should shape and form our witness this day and tomorrow too.

Natural Association

There is a natural association between being called to discipleship and being commissioned to witness. And there is a progression between the two. The call of Jesus characterises the first; the empowering of the Holy Spirit characterises the second.

And this also sets our relationship to the Holy. We are CALLED by the Holy One, CONSECRATED through His drawing us into His life and His ministry, recipients of God's promises and participating in His purposes; and we are COMMISSIONED as His witnesses, empowered and enabled to proclaim His name and to engage in acts of loving service.

This is the direction that we are to go upon; and holiness is to be the hallmark of this endeavour.

cascading

Yesterday was a valedictory service offered by Bristo, as Jennifer and I attended our last service having now moved to Glasgow. It was deeply moving to receive the love and care gifted by folks in word, embrace and token. It has been a good season at Bristo, and as we know it is God’s calling to have now moved on to a new stage of ministry, we also know that this is an exciting new stage for the congregation as the future is faced and engaged in.

In the evening, back in Glasgow we were blessed and encouraged in visiting the Pollok congregation and receiving such a warm welcome not only by the pastor but also by so many members of the congregation: I don’t know if this is typically Glaswegian, but it was wonderfully and warmly Christian.

You know, I love the church. The place where God’s glory and honour dwells. And I am looking with anticipation to see our cascading God of holy love and purposeful power burst out and flood our land afresh with envisioned and freshly enabled men and women and children who love Him in Jesus’ name. 

not quite Captain America

OK. I admit it - I have neither seen nor intend to see the film - but I like a phrase in the Baptist Times review, which comments, 'God doesn't always chooses the brightest and best'. Really helpful reminder as I start this new ministry with the Baptist Union.

And also a reminder for all of us in positions of ministry and leadership. Sometimes we think we should be the brightest and best; or even that others should think of us in this way! Wrong on both accounts. 'I'm a loser who becomes a winner when my lives in Jesus'. That's better.

Better for each of us to think of ourselves this way: as wretched sinners, incapable of doing any decent thing by ourselves, but saved by the grace of God at work in our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord. If all of us can grasp this, then we might make some progress.

Witness and disciple?

Today was my last Sunday preaching in Bristo Baptist Church. In looking at the Word of God I saw something I never noticed before. To get this, you need to know that in Greek the word for a ‘disciple’ is mathetes and that the word for a ‘witness’ is marturos.

It struck me that being a disciple is a distinct and different matter from being a witness: being a disciple comes first. Jesus called disciples at the beginning of His ministry. Jesus commissioned witnesses at the end of his ministry on earth.

But to make others disciples, we have to be witnesses. Literally, we have to be prepared to be martyrs. To be uncompromising in our allegiance to Jesus Christ.

As we enter into 2012, may God strengthen you as a disciple. But more than that, may He enable you pursue the holy and purposeful path that allows you to be a witness who will act as a beacon of life and hope for others around you. 

Underneath the wrapping paper

I confess, I get wearied by fashion trends. And fashionability. You get fashionability in Christian circles. Not just tinsel at Christmas. Like for a while there, it was as if everyone had just discovered the ‘social Trinity’; and all of a sudden expressions like ‘divine dance’ and ‘inclusiveness’ and ‘open community’ being bandied around. Aha.

Another trendy word is ‘missional’. Honestly, I haven’t got a clue what people mean by this – other than I know it is used in so many different and divergent ways. So here’s my attempt to disentangle some trendy vocabulary (some of which is Biblical) in a way that makes sense:

Step 1 - Witness         Who we are before we open our mouths. What people see when they look at our lives. Is there a reflection of Jesus there? And when we do open our mouths, what sort of speech do they hear, attitudes expressed? Witness is about trying to match what’s on the label with what’s in the packet.

Step 2 - Mission         Literally, in the New Testament it translates a Greek word meaning ‘service’. And from Latin, the verb means ‘sending’. ‘Sent service’: that’ll do nicely. Engaging with others in acts of meaningful service. Are we trying to do it the Jesus way, with His attitude?

Step 3 - Evangelism   Literally, ‘sharing good news’. Building on the platform of witness and mission. Telling people about the truth and light and life that comes to them through Jesus Christ. God's answer to the big question.

Fit in all the rest in any way you like. That’s the core of it all underneath the wrapping paper.

NETS 2011

Just back from the annual New Evangelical Theological Symposium, facilitated by a group of us who come from different 'streams' but all of whom might fit the description, 'post-Charismatic' church leaders and theological thinkers. This year we had Mark Bonnington, leader of King's Church Durham, speak to us. He is a New Testament Scholar and also teaches a Masters' course in Charismatic Theology in Durham. Spoke on the theology of the Gospels and Acts, emphasising rich themes: Mark's journey from 'Kingdom to Cross' and John's incarnational Trinitarian theology. Good stuff. Great that we all acknowledged the need for a teleological focus to our message of the Kingdom, reaching towards eschatological fulfilment: which has to give us, in the present, an eschatological focus to all our missional activity. So easy to lose sight of this.

Especially appreciated table talk with Debbie, Roger Foster's daughter, who commented that when we pastor people, we are there not just to shepherd or counsel them, but help them to connect directly with Jesus present with us. And also a wee quotable comment by Mark: "Experiences of the Holy Spirit need theological direction". Amen! We need both theological appreciation and direct experience of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And never to lose sight of Jesus present as the key to it all. So, a worthwhile time.

Vulnerability with Victory

It was when I was listening to Stuart Blythe preach a really insightful sermon at Mo Gibbs' ordination and induction to St Ninian's in Stirling yesterday that I realised it. Stuart was preaching on Luke 10.1-12 and the model of vulnerability in the ministry of Jesus Christ. And I was already into that. But then he spoke of faith as our participation - yes, in the life and ministry of Jesus. And also in the victory.

You see, it's not that I hadn't thought of victory. But there's sometimes an approach that sees all of the Christian life as 'victory!' . Victory in trampling people and getting what you want. And that I have no time for - nor, I believe, does God.

But vulnerability and persecution need to have an endgame, if there's worth to going through with this Christian life stuff. And that endgame is the resurrection. The entering into of the New Heavens and New Earth that we wait for. Victory.

So I've corrected my profile statement about what faith is. Thanks, Stuart.

Gathering or dispersing?

"Churches under the prevailing assumptions and influence of Christendom are highly structured for gathering but not for dispersing. To the extent that they are not rooted in local communities, neighborhoods, and networks of relationships, they thereby become disconnected and remote. Churches function as places to which people have to be invited, rather than as faith communities that intersect with the wider community on many issues and provide multiple entry points". Gibbs, Churchmorph, p. 96.

After a meeting yesterday, I was really challenged in a way that is summed up in this quotation. We prefer, in practice, preservation to mission: the default situation of Christians, as with all people, is a sinful one. After all, being Christian does not stop us being sinners. The Christian path demands a constant and repeated reorientation of our lives, centering afresh on Jesus Christ.

The whole of our church life needs to be reshaped by majoring on mission.

I'm conscious that whether pastors or church members, we err towards a form of church that is about 'gathering' rather than dispersing. And this, for us all, has to change.

Facing the future

As I look into the coming seven weeks, my final ones as pastor of the Bristo congregation before taking up post as Mission & Ministry Advisor to our Baptist Union of Scotland, I find myself reflecting much on a week spent with three days at our annual Baptist Assembly followed by four days at IBTS in Prague. The theme of the Assembly was Outrageous Generosity and that of the conference in Prague, Incarnational Discipleship. The former emphasised what is given in Christ and proffered in and through those who receive Him; the latter looked at the emphasis and implications in the Gospels of being a follower of Jesus. And the two are meant to go together. Meant.

But we struggle, as Christians, in doing that very thing. In a culture saturated with consumerism, we expect and demand the Gospel to be the news of the best bargain ever: God’s love and acceptance, completely free! God as an ever welcoming, bigger, better Santa Claus. Yet, as we see Europe and the world face the consequences of economic greed and moral self indulgence, we so easily allow ourselves the lie that the Holy God’s generosity can be shaped by our own preferences and peccadillos. And the Christ of the Gospels, who calls men and women into holiness and holistic discipleship, can become strangely unattractive and distant to us.

The speakers at our Assembly were excellent. The conference, featuring the teaching of that wonderfully gracious, enquiring and experimental ethicist, Professor Glen Stassen together with the outstanding work of some of our Research students, was so stimulating. What I am left with is a sense of the excitement and the huge challenge of what lies before us all.

For God, whatever man might say or aspire to, will have His way. The call of the Gospel is not only an invitation but also an imperative; a command, that both directs and decides humanity’s final destiny. The future is filled with the presence, purpose and power of God: the only question is how many of those who now live will be alive into that future. And the responsibility of sharing and showing the significance of this lies with those of us who have glimpsed and gather to the full revelation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So this Sunday I will preach on Matthew 5. Or Romans 14.17. Or both. We’ll see. Either way, I can only be confronted in my soul with the stark tension of finding comfort with a God who leads us to feel profoundly uncomfortable in this world. Or a comfort in this world which disengages us from the real Jesus. Because belonging to Jesus exposes us to the reality of the demons that demand loyalty for us to be happy here; and there is no rapport between Jesus and the demons.

When you and I carry the real presence of God into the spaces and places of this world and its present ruler, cosmic conflict is unleashed. Powers and prejudices become exposed. And a choice between walking in the path of the Saviour, or finding the false peace of Satan with all its economic, sexual and social delusions, stands open before us.

The choice for all of us, while we still have life and breathe in this body, is still there. Pray that each may make the choice that leads into life in all its fullness.

How can Baptists agree together?

The real issue in coming to an understanding of what is an acceptable Christian practice, is not simply the process of Biblical or theological hermeneutics; but communitarian, hermeneutical method. In other words, asking the question, ‘how can we as Christians facing life together develop understanding of Jesus’ way together’?

Well, we need to use the Bible. But we also need to apply what we see and find in the Bible.

The importance of advocating ‘bottom up’ discussion of Biblical mores and application is vital. Whether the larger Christian community, in terms of an Association or an Assembly, should do anything other than encourage discussion, is a moot question. It is unlikely that we can establish a single opinon on any contemporary social or ethical practice that is apparently acceptable in the wider, secular community, outwith the context of a local, ‘thick’ Christian community: a group of Christians covenanted together to live out values and practices that they agree upon. The important thing is to get communities to affirm what is most important to them in the way they live their lives.

Incarnational Discipleship

An interesting few days. After some 'outrageous grace' at our Scottish Baptist Assembly, here I am with friends and colleagues at IBTS. This is such a great place to gather internationally, with baptistic scholars from throughout Europe and beyond.

And not just scholars, but scholars who are intent on contextual mission and integrity of witness. One of the senior adjunct faculty, Professor Glen Stassen, is presenting lectures on 'Incarnational discipleship'. What does it mean? For me the quest is epitomised in the life and ministry of one friend and a research student here, Mike Pears (in photo). Mike and his wife intentionally moved their home from pastoring an established baptistelse  church, feeling called to pattern something in obedience. So now he is in one of the most deprived areas of Bristol, living in a large, deprived 'white sink' estate.

Mike, for me, is a true prophet. His convictions and his practices are integrated in a very convincing way. He really believes in Christian witness not from the place of power, but from the place of weakness. The Philippian hymn lies at the heart of his life. And his missional theology, as he continues critital appraisal of his own life and ministry.

Mike always causes me to feel challenged in my attitudes and goals; in the way I live and how I long to live. Thank you, Mike.

Leadership that might just about be 'OK'

I confess, if you didn't know already: I have a particular dislike for the word, 'leadership'. It evokes too many painful memories of self promotion, egotism and insecurity. And I'm not just talking about myself!

However, there may be hope for me yet. I've just been reading more of Eddie Gibbs' Churchmorph and am really liking this (pp 53-54):

“Under the constraints of modernity, leadership tended to be an eletist concept, exercised through hierarchy and control. For churches to be effectively missional in a postmodern information age, leadership has to be devolved and expressed by different individuals according to the situational demands. Leadership consists of connecting people to one another. Missional churches encourage creative freedom and initiative taking, while at the same time providing the possibility of failing with dignity. But freedom also requires accountability as a safeguard and to ensure a learning environment in which leaders mature through wise mentoring.

“A learning system is one in which everyone is made aware of what is going on around them. It recognizes that no individual can know all that needs to be known, given the complexities of the world in which we live. It is a system that draws on the collective wisdom of the entire body. It constantly asks, "What do we need to know?" and "Who is most likely to know?" The role of the overall leader is to serve as a catalyst in this process by identifying issues, making connections, and articulating and reiterating the vision so that the church has a sense of common mission that is linked to a multiplicity of callings, giftings, and tasks.”

OK. If we can agree about this, then I can agree that there might be a valid place for talking about leadership and not just about servanthood. Can we agree?

Real mission

Churches often play at mission. Eddie Gibbs, in his book Churchmorph, observes that new attempts in mission and outreach,

"will only gain significance as they reach out to the de-churched and never-churched segments of the population, rather than providing the latest attraction for bored, frustrated, or angry current churchgoers. They also need to be strongly in evidence in urban contexts, recognizing that our culture is driven by urban values and images, with suburbia increasingly becoming culturally marginalized".

Groups of Christians must find fresh identity. We have to shed the garments of ecclesial baggage and traditions that smell more of worldly culture than of Christ. We need to reinvent ourselves in Jesus' name. It's not enough to be nice people in community. As Gibbs also observes,

"The most vigorous forms of community are those that come together in the context of a shared ordeal or those that define themselves as a group with a mission that lies beyond themselves—thus initiating a risky journey". 

We really need to see 'the mission of God' as standing at the heart of our reason for being. Otherwise we are not simply irrelevant for our neighbour. Worse, we become irrelevant for God.

Transition

Today, Judy White preached an inspirational message and I shared the following with my congregation:

"Dear Family,

Within the last year, we have seen significant changes in the leadership structure of the Baptist Union of Scotland. Both the national Mission & Ministry Advisors were called back into pastoral ministry, and the Union’s Council agreed that a new post be created, with responsibility for oversight and advising in the development of a unified understanding of Mission and Ministry within our Baptist Union of Churches.

As some of you know, I have been involved in the work of our Board of Ministry since 1997, and was invited onto the Search Group to find the right person for the new position. The Mission & Ministry Advisor together with the General Director will hold full time, stipendiary office as part of the core leadership of our Union of churches. After the 1^st meeting of the Search Group, I realised that this was a ministry to which I felt strongly drawn. However, I was persuaded that if God was saying this to me, He would also say it to others. I resolved not to apply for this position nor discuss my thoughts with colleagues. My prayer, however, was that if God was in this, another member of the Search group would approach me with this conviction on their heart too.

The Search Group had decided to consider recommendations as well applications. A colleague on the Search Group did unexpectedly come to speak to me, and a commendation was subsequently made by them and their colleague in pastoral ministry. I immediately resigned from the Search Group and took no further part in discussion or proceedings from that moment onwards. The Search group met after the deadline for applications and considered a number of applications together with this commendation. Consequently, the Search Group then invited me to interview: references from the wider church were also obtained and considered. As a consequence the group unanimously recommended my appointment by the Council to the post of Mission and Ministry Advisor. The members of Council then had 2 weeks to prayerfully consider this recommendation, and 2 days ago the result of a secret ballot was an overwhelming confirmation by our Scottish Baptist Union’s Council that I be appointed to the post of Mission and Ministry Advisor.

The long and thorough process of communal discernment, together with the fact that all initiatives in this matter have come from others, persuades me that this is God’s will. Accordingly, at the beginning of 2012, I will be stepping down from the office that I have sought to serve in for 17 years, as pastor of Bristo, and will take up a national leadership position as Mission and Ministry Advisor to the Baptist Union of Scotland. I ask for your prayers. And I would also ask you for your support in this new relationship which I will have with you as a congregation in membership of our Union.

It has been a privilege to be your pastor. But I do believe it is time for the church to move forward with a new pastor. Whilst my new role will be to give you advice, the pastoral oversight of this congregation will need to be entrusted to another. To that end, recommendation for the appointment of an interim moderator will be considered at the next deacons’ meeting, and hopefully by this time next month a congregational meeting will be convened for you to consider a nominee for appointment as interim moderator who, experienced in oversight yet detached from emotional involvement in Bristo, will guide you through due process towards the appointment of the next person to hold the office of pastor of this congregation.

I do believe there are challenging and exciting times ahead for Bristo. And this I say to you: be humble before God, seek His will alone, discern together and submit to what He commands. Do this, and you will be blessed much and also be a blessing to many others in Jesus’ name. I love you and would trust you to pursue the baptistic way in these matters. Be faithful.

In His love,

Jim"

Difficult to face the parting. But exciting to face the future too.

Clusters in Christ

Had a great meeting this evening with the deacons of another church in our local Baptist Union of Scotland Cluster, Stenhouse Baptist Church. This congregation has been hugely courageous in looking to move forward and, as one of their deacons said, 'move out of our comfort zone', into a redevelopment project. The challenges are huge, but so is the sense of hope and engagement in faith.

Moreover, they are encouraged by the arrival of new, younger people in the church. Which itself brings challenges. But this group of deacons are intent on moving forward, serving their church and their Lord in the cause of His Kingdom.

Well done, Stenhouse Baptist Church! You are an inspiration and an example to us all. Moving forward from the place of comfort to the place of challenge - the place where we always find the Lord taking us, as He equips us top be witnesses and calls us to participate in the evangelisation of the world - including the one on our doorstep.