Inspirational book

I have, in this final week of holiday, just concluded reading one of the best pieces of critical, theological research that I have read for a long time; and moreover, written by a man 22 years my junior. But there is a maturity and commanding width of perspective in this work that excites and engages me in a way that few do. The work I refer to is that of a  Weslyan Pentecostal scholar, Matthew K Thompson, whose revised doctoral dissertation has been published in the Journal of Pentecostal Theology Supplement Series under the title, 'Kingdom Come: Revisioning Pentecostal Eschatology' (Deo Publishing, 2010).

Few contemporary Christian writers meaningfully grasp and present the hope that is held out to us in the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thompson masterfully demonstrates how that terribly misleading and ill conceived invention of J N Darby in 1830 - the 'pre-tribulation rapture of Christians' - tragically popularised in the Schofield Bible and the 'left behind' series of Christian fiction, has distorted both the Bible understanding of Salvation through Christ as well as our understanding of what it means to live by faith in Jesus Christ. But more importantly, Thomson outlines a simple and credible, whilst thoroughly Biblical, perspective which is insightful and helpful for those engages in teaching, preaching and reflecting on the nature of the end- times and the significance of biblical prophecy for today.

Don't be put off by the rather stuffy sounding title of the book. The content is food for your mind and balm for your soul. Buy it and read it carefully. The Bibliography and footnoted references are also excellent and a good resource for students of what the Bible can teach Christians about a future to hope and live for.

Get it through a library, if you can. Very expensive to buy.

Seeing Sinners

It is a great privilege getting to know pastors and congregations more here, in Bulgaria. The parallels with church life in Scotland are, not surprisingly, direct: for are not people everywhere those made by God to bear His image and reflect His likeness?

Men and women everywhere and anywhere are sinners who can be saved only by God's grace. And Christians are no exception: they are simply those sinners who have recognised that fact and who have also been told the Good News of Jesus Christ and gladly received it. How important that we don't lose sight of this. Pastors, elders, deacons, members: each one rotten to the core and capable of every sin imaginable, but that they find active support and aid from their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

If only we could keep this fact in focus. Christians so easily forget that not one of us has or will, in this life, completed the journey and process of transformational sanctification that carries us into complete maturity and Christlikeness. When we do lose sight of this, our perspective on ourselves and our expectation of others becomes warped. Christian living requires that forgiveness be unconditionally proffered by each one of us to others again and again and again. The pain that comes from struggling egos, disappointment, accusation, betrayal - this is all part of embracing and accepting others in love.

a wee look: keeking

In the past few days here in Bulgaria, I have had opportunity to be at rest and to reflect, read and pray. This morning I was able to read through the wonderful section of Isaiah 40 - 66, which is key in both our grasping the early Christian understanding of Jesus and Jesus' own self-identity and, indeed, the message of the 'good news' that he proclaimed.

I think a reading of and reflecting on this 'mini-gospel' in Isaiah should be mandatory for the Bible student; for the person who seeks to grasp what God chooses to reveal to us in His Word and how we are to understand it. Both the prophecies of the Old Testament and the visionary teaching of Jesus and, indeed, the message of the Book of Revelation, are largely defined by what is here presented.

The first thing we are faced with  is what it is that God wants us to understand: that the height of knowledge for us in knowing more of Jesus. And after that? Still more of Jesus. This is why there is no 'keeking' over Jesus' shoulder to see what is really going to happen next in world history. For the answer is: yes, the final word from God for us to grasp is His Word is life in and with Jesus. Every prophecy, every pointer, wherever we look between Genesis and Revelation, takes us to gaze forward from the Old Testament times or backwards from the New Testament or in these present times towards the focus of our Saviour's Cross and Resurrection. The victory and resolution that is found in him and Him alone.

When God touches the lives of men and women, it is like a stone skimming across the water, jumping across the waves before it reaches its terminus. We sense the touch of God taking us forward. And then that taste, that foretaste, always takes us to gaze afresh of the mystery revealed to us through our being drawn to participate more in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Here isthe true understanding of biblical prophecy. When we grasp where it always leads us - and not to spurious timetables and convoluted theories of end-time scenarios - then we truly grasp the deeper meaning and power of its mystery made effective and outworked in our lives now.

Truth ain't always simple

Speaking to Ian Randall this morning, he managed to find me a wonderful quotation from C H Spurgeon (Sermons Vol 18, 1872) . In expounding the passage 2 Timothy 1.6, Spurgeon opines, 

'when we can find anyone who can confer some spiritual gift upon us, we will be glad to have their hands laid on our heads; but we don't care for empty hands ..... empty hands it seems to me are fitly laid on empty heads; but we don't care for empty hands'. So much for Spurgeon's thoughts on ordination!

Now, this is not a polemic against ordination. Although it is one reason why we don't promote ordination for all. Nor would I would follow Spurgeon here, but that is not the point. The truth out there is complex. Spurgeon was Reformed in many ways; but was complicated. This is what reality is like. This is why truth is met with us incarnate, in Jesus Christ

This is one of the important reasons for continued professional development for those who would lead others in the paths of Jesus. Not that they they become arrogant, but remain humble when faced with the reality of apparent paradox and deep, interpretative problems. Our Baptist Union must hold onto this reality: truth ain't always simple.

תּוֹרַת יְהוָה תְּמִימָה מְשִׁיבַת נָפֶשׁ

 תּוֹרַת יְהוָה תְּמִימָה מְשִׁיבַת נָפֶשׁ    

 Psalm 19.8 - The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul

One of the most damaging legacies of Darby's idosyncratic interpretation of Biblical prophecy, his consequent misreading of Paul's writing on 'Law' and his bifurgated distinction of dispensations of 'Law' and 'Grace', is the contradiction found among some in both stressing the authority of the Bible yet, perversely, dismissing the ethical teachings and imperatives of the Lord Jesus as irrelevant to the present dispensation - the 'dispensation of grace'.

This is so contrary to an integral reading of the Old Testament and the New Testament as complementary in presenting the full Word of God. 'Torah' is not simply rules and regulations now redundant in the face of God's mercy. It is 'instruction' in the full sense. Jesus gives full expression and realisation to all Torah, being the very embodiment of all that it is and represents for humanity. We need to hold on to all the precepts of God's Word. Grace unseasoned by Godly imperatives and instructions is not God's grace at all.

Discerning the Seasons

It is good to be back in Prague, mixing with colleagues and friends from across the world. It is good too that I can find access to the magnificent Christian library of IBTS, taking time to read and reflect.

I was struck by the devotions this morning in chapel, centring on Luke 5.33-35. There are times of 'feasting and drinking' in the Christian life, when the sheer joy of the Lord's presence and fellowship are overwhelmingly rich and abundant. But these do not last forever - nor should we seek to make them do so. If we do, we will create somethings false, which may well detract us and divert us from the path of faith.

There are also seasons of scarcity and difficulty when we must fast and seek the favour of the Lord again. 

The wisdom lies in discerning which season we are in.