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.