God is a Verb

Well, it is so if you are a Spanish speaker! In his recent theological monograph, Divino Companero Sammy Alfaro, a Pentecostal, Spanish-American theologian, makes some very insightful comments. The monograph, in the Priceton Theological Monograph series, presents an innovative but very tenable attempt in shaping a Hispanic Pentecostal Christology. But back to the main point here. John 1.1. Spanish translates the Greek 'Logos' - rendered in English as 'Word', as 'Verbo', which is a verb. Think of God as verb instead of a noun. His 'Being' is in His 'becoming' towards us. The God who says, 'I am who I am'. Which language you start with affects your perspective. Changes the way you see things, eh?

A nice definition of Mission

At last, I've found it! By the American Society of Missiology. Nice and succinct: 'By "mission" is meant the effort to effect passage over the boundary between faith in Jesus Christ and its absence'.

The illusion of freedom

What troubles me most, especially in debates over human sexuality and civil partnership or marriage, is how otherwise good Christians can forget an essential truth: that from a Biblical perspective people, left by themselves and without the authority of God's Word, will always get it wrong. This morning, I read the opening verses of Hebrews 12, rehearsing the fact that God, as a truly loving Father, both disciplines and punishes us as His children? Punish!!!???  Yes, indeed. For we all sin and get it wrong, at times. And this is the response and working of the true Father, our God, as He deals with us through the prism of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A new book that came out this year, in honour of Andrew Kirk, called Mission in Context ( Ed's J Corrie and C Ross, published by Ashgate), contains an excellent chapter by David Kettle who, in rehearsing the wonderfully prophetic insights of Lesslie Newbigin, in reshaping concepts of missional thinking for Western culture, follows Newbigin in commenting (pp 195-6),

"Authentic freedom is not a natural property of the human mind; it is not - even in its conception - fully realised by us here and now, but lies with God in his sovereignty. Contrary to liberal assumptions, freedom is given in the first instance from beyond ourselves, by God - the unsurpassable freedom, fundamentally, to give ourselves as a living, loving sacrifice. Loss of freedom, or bondage, correspondingly. while it may indeed press upon us from outside - may also rise from within. We cannot assume, as is the liberal temptation, that commitment to doctrines or traditions is against freedom, or that what rises from within us is against our freedom."

Let us hold onto the authority of God's Word in Scripture, reading it in humility, submitting to it and in Christlike submission to Father's will, applying it to our lives. This is freedom in its reality. This is the mindset of those who will inherit eternity, who long for the New Heavens and the New Earth.

A fuller essay by me on this issue can be viewed on http://audiosermonupdate.blogspot.co.uk/

Fellowship around the UK

Alan, Jacqueline and I have had a very profitable and enjoyable time here in Birmingham during 24 hours of the Fellowship of Baptists in Britain and Ireland. It is exciting to see such a pioneering and responsible group of people gather as servants of the networks of Baptist churches across these islands.

Increasingly, I find that the hallmark of Baptist leadership is not what many people think. There is a huge amount of readiness to be radical and face the exciting challenges of these changing times.  Initiatives are real and genuine in progressing the matters of the kingdom of God.

The strap lines that I'll remember, in addition to many wise words spoken in this time, are:

• 'relationship is a contact sport'
• any initiative should pass the test of being either 'useful or exciting' for our people in churches

It is a genuine privilege to be part of this group and I look forward to our next meeting later in the year.

Hydrating Faith

We have to believe that the concrete realities and aspirations we long for are possible. We have to exercise vision and, therefore, our imagination; to think in terms of what is possible by God, for us and through us, for the sake of His glory. 

And all of us need to be hydrated by the Holy Spirit, poured out by Jesus. It is through hydrated faith that the truth of the Word is enabled within us, is released into dynamic reality in our life.

I am increasingly aware of the importance of these two components being present for effective Christian discipleship and growth:

Firstly, imagination exercised, in faith, to envision the material realities of the Kingdom of God. This will find legitimate expression in:

a.  A pursuit of righteousness and justice, prioritising care for the disadvantaged. Often sacrificial, always involving self-humbling and the 'mortification of the flesh'. 

b.  Health and prosperity and a belief in God’s good intent to us, leading to sincere worship and commitment to pursuing lifestyle that will promote and develop these.

c.  Appropriating a theology of Holy Space and a commitment to being intentionally relational in that space.

d.  A blending together of a belief and commitment to the 3 primary colours of integrated, missional theology: Witness, Service and Evangelism.

Secondly, there will be a seeking for the presence, purpose and power of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to do the things Jesus - the things of the Kingdom of God. Unless there is longing and expectation for the Holy Spirit to come, then there is no service of the Kingdom of God.

Imagination and infusion in Jesus’ name.