My loss of faith with mankind
I was cycling to my Mum’s the other week. She doesn’t live too far from me, so I decided to give my two-wheeler a dust off. I was cycling on the road when I went on to a near-by cycle.lane. I slipped off the kerb, fell of my bike and banged my head. It gave me a scare as I’m epileptic, and any bump always freaks me out.
What happened next really worried me. At least a dozen drivers drove past me, and a pedestrian strolled past me close by. I couldn’t find my spectacles and spent a few minutes looking for them, with much squinting. I was completely alone and isolated even though I was near a busy road with a pavement in broad daylight.
It always gripes me when anyone tells me that we’re all generally good. I was in a situation where this ideal could shine… and it failed.
We must admit to our short-comings as ordinary human beings. I have struggled with the quote ‘It has seemed to me that most people are generally good, in every race and in every country where I have been’ (Langston Hughes). Sadly, this was a moment when this quote was not fulfilled. Our ignorances, ill judgments, and our prejudices cannot be dismissed.
Recognising our short-comings is in fact part of modern culture. The public form of confession from celebrity culture is a starting point, though this is not suppose to be an exercise of judgement on our part. This is setting an example of honesty and openness. This is not about everyone being public with their ‘dirty laundry’, but for each of us to know we have our own.
History has always underlined human failings. James 4:17 reads: ‘Anyone… who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins’. That simple pearl of divine wisdom is about being active in our good deeds, not to just believing it possible.
I hope noone else I know ever has to experience what happened to me that day. My only response is to make sure no one has to go through that again
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Faith in the opinion polls
Professor Dawkins was on BBC Radio 4 last week, esposuing again the reducing poularity of religion that has negative and destructive intentions (according to him). He publisied a poll on religion, asking participants their religious persuation, and their understanding of basic Christian doctrine and practises. The results from the poll (carried out by the Richard Dawkins Foundation) showed that those participating were not regular church goers, did not have understood some or all of the Christian doctrine asked, and only a third knew what the first book of the New Testament was. This survey has been seen by some as proof of a secularised nation.
There are a handful of diffiuclties with this poll. Firstly, it is comapring itself (a poll of over 2,000 participants) to a census that has tens of millions answering by law. Secondly, the questions asked in the survey are not the ones asked in the census. Thirdly, it is saying you are only a Christian if you ‘tick these particual boxes’, thereby believing that Christianity is about an alliegence to a rigid ideology.
I do believe there is some from this survey for the church to mull over for everyone. I would like to ask if there are church goers do not know some of the long-standing Christian doctrines (e.g. the Trinity, the Virgin Birth, Jesus as Son of God, etc.), then why not? And where will someone learn these things which are part of our belief in the God of Christ?
I would also like to suggest that, on light of this poll, that the 2021 census to keep the ‘religion’ section and to include a ‘Atheist/Agnostic’ box. The best way to speak about the religion in our country is not to look primarily at the state of the church and belief, but on the people who tick the box that effectively says ‘I don’t believe/I can’t believe’. We can only say for sure how secualirsed our nation not by looking at the church, but on the numbers found in the biggest of surveys.
The poll shows the continued need for the Church to strengthen the congregation’s understanding of the ways and works of Jesus Christ and His Church. The Christian faith is an intellectual, loving, and experiencial way of being. If anyone wishes to understand or to deride your faith, as St Peter writes: ‘… in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…‘ (1 Peter 3:15).
The image came from: http://gedlinghealthnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/survey.jpg
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A secular success?
I am reacting to a story about how the Secular Society have now made it unlawful for prayers to be said in local council meetings. This case was highlighted by an atheist council who felt ‘disadvantaged and embarrased’ by prayers by a local minister in council meetings. The Secular Society also spoke non-believers having their human rights breeched. The future campaign for the society is the exclusion of bishops from the House of Lords, prayers being banned from all Houses of Parliment, and for community schools being banned from daily worship.
I am struck by a lot of the claims here. It seems to be something resembeling a trantrum rather than a case of freedom of choice, free speech, and personal choice of lifestyle.
Firstly, to have prayers at council meetings banned, rather than to encourage councils to vote on this, is going the opposite way. To believe it’s a black and white issue, with no opinion in-between, is triumphantism over group autonomy.
To believe that someone’s human rights is being breached is comaparing atheism to human trafficking. A person’s opinion is improtant, but if this is to the detriment of other people’s lawful opinions shows the derogative practise of European convention that ensured everyone (not only one individual) can live as a full member of their community, country, and continent.
To exclude bishops from the House of Lords is to exclude 25 public figures (who serve the common good in this country) from a house of 788 (3% of the entire house). To believe that having such voices silenced in the Lords can also be seen as discriminatory. Becuase controversial ethical Acts have been rejected from the Lords, it is the bishops (rather than the majority of members) who are blamed for not adhering to a change in ethical opinion and belief. A number of members of the House of Lords are non-politicians; all of these voices are important in a fee democratic society that can choose for and against such decisions of choice.
If anyone can tell me of any community (i.e. no-church sponsored) school that has daily acts of worship, please inform me. I am unaware of any school, church-affilated and otherwise, who do this.
May the local church be a light to the world (Matthew 5:14), the house of reason (Proverbs 4:6-7), and an open house of uncoditional love (Roman 12:9-10).
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A post-Christian age
The UK has less than one in ten people attending a church service regularly (once a month or more). The Lord Spirituals have been blamed for having influence on potential law changes being passed through the House of Lords. Religious leaders are told to keep out of political discussion in the public arena. The neo-secularist mantra of ‘religion is the root of all evil’ has gotten louder. Yet, some how, there is a noticeable number of people who call the UK a Christian country. How is this possible? What viewpoint can someone have that says the church is a welcomed part of life for most people?
We must stand up and admit that we live in a post-Christian era, and have done for decades. We could sulk, hark back to a bygone era, point out the pluses of the Christian faith. Or we can be far more proactive and become more public with our faith. The idea of being nice and not causing a fuss has now been taken by non-church-goers. Giving time and money to charitable causes is seen as good, rather that Christian, acts.
The sooner we understand our place in society and how to live the life possible through faith in the Risen Jesus, the better.
I believe the classic hatch, batch, and dispatch ceremonies (i.e christening, weddings, and funerals) are a huge part of the outward image of the church. The local church supporting the local schools (both church and non-church), with Christmas services and assemblies for example. The vilage chapel providing creche, holiday club, and elderly people events have been part of church life for decades.
The church is the defining character of the greater good. This is possible through following the ways of the Jesus of the Gospels. We need to remember the actions of faithful of history and carry on their mission of shining the light of Christ in all things.
Image from: http://soctheory.iheartsociology.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/P1000682.jpg
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Are you the Christian Voice?
Tesco have received their worst sales and profit figures ever. The future of a lot of employees are going to be in jeopardy. The general public seem to have fallen out of love with the ‘Tescopoly’. The chain’s decline will affect literally millions of people. Christian Voice, the conservative focus group, say that this
is God’s judgement on the organisation, due to their sponsoring of the Gay Pride rally.
This does beg the question: What is God’s judgement? Is it felt on Earth? Is it purely an afterlife decision from the Almighty? Why Tesco and not marital affairs.co.uk (A dating website for married people seeking affairs)? Why not Caritas (the Swiss-based assisted suicide clinic)?
It begs another question: Can I make a call on when God’s judgement is happening? When Pat Robertson, the influential Christian TV broadcaster, says that the natural disaster in Haiti is a result of the (unfounded) use of voodoo to rid itself of French slave owners, it was heard by millions who were in agreement, amazement, or agitated by his statement.
If I follow the words of Jesus (what with being a Christian and everything) I find a more defined idea of divine judgement. In the Gospel of Luke, a tower of Siloam collapses, killing eighteen. Some of the followers asked if this was because of their sins. Jesus answered ‘do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent,you too will all perish.’ (Luke 13:4-5). Jesus does not talk about the reason behind the tragedy; He chooses to use an analogy about those who do not choose to follow His way will have a similar fate at the end of time (which is avoided by following Jesus – John 3:16).
In Matthew 24:35-37, Jesus speaks of His second coming, but does not know the time. The reason I include this verse is the unexpected nature of Jesus’ return, including God’s ultimate judgement. A theme that comes up in the New Testament is that it is the judgement at the time of the (sudden) second coming, not explicitly in the ‘here and now’.
To say something goes against your conscience is one thing. To say that any action affects or destroys an counter argument as divine judgement strikes me as arrogant. To say God is on the side of the conservative or the liberal, the dogmatic or the changeable, seems to believe that God is an ordinary human being who is easily swayed by arguments. Let’s keep to His path, knowing that God wants the best for all of nature and for all of humanity, including our friends, family, and all who we disagree with.
Tesco have received their worst sales and profit figures ever. The future of a lot of employees are going to be in jeopardy. The general public seem to have fallen out of love with the ‘Tescopoly‘. The chain’s decline will affect literally millions of people. Christian Voice, the conservative focus group, say that this is God’s judgement on the organisation, due to their sponsoring of the Gay Pride rally.
This does beg the question: What is God’s judgement? Is it felt on Earth? Is it purely an afterlife decision from the Almighty? Why Tesco and not marital affairs.co.uk (A dating website for married people seeking affairs)? Why not Caritas (the Swiss-based assisted suicide clinic)?
It begs another question: Can I make a call on when God’s judgement is happening? When Pat Robertson, the influential Christian TV broadcaster, says that the natural disaster in Haiti is a result of the (unfounded) use of voodoo to rid itself of French slave owners, it was heard by millions who were in agreement, amazement, or agitated by his statement.
If I follow the words of Jesus (what with being a Christian and everything) I find a more defined idea of divine judgement. In the Gospel of Luke, a tower of Siloam collapses, killing eighteen. Some of the followers asked if this was because of their sins. Jesus answered ‘do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent,you too will all perish.’ (Luke 13:4-5). Jesus does not talk about the reason behind the tragedy; He chooses to use an analogy about those who do not choose to follow His way will have a similar fate at the end of time (which is avoided by following Jesus – John 3:16).
In Matthew 24:35-37, Jesus speaks of His second coming, but does not know the time. The reason I include this verse is the unexpected nature of Jesus’ return, including God’s ultimate judgement. A theme that comes up in the New Testament is that it is the judgement at the time of the (sudden) second coming, not explicitly in the ‘here and now’.
To say something goes against your conscience is one thing. To say that any action affects or destroys an counter argument as divine judgement strikes me as arrogant. To say God is on the side of the conservative or the liberal, the dogmatic or the changeable, seems to believe that God is an ordinary human being who is easily swayed by arguments. Let’s keep to His path, knowing that God wants the best for all of nature and for all of humanity, including our friends, family, and all who we disagree with.
Image from: foylepride.org/resources/CiaranmCDaid1.jpg?timestamp=1284881251274
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To Tebow or not to Tebow? That is the question…
Tim Teebow has had an interesting couple of months. If you don’t him, he has become the quarterback (read: linchpin of the entire team) for the Denver Broncos in the NFL (that is, American Football). He has had incredible success (despite his short-comings), and his team are a step further towards being World Champions. What has been getting as much coverage has been his celebration after his team scores. He goes down to one knee, bows his head and says a little prayer. Considering that, like other sports, there is an explosion of excitement when your team scores, it goes against the grain in a big way. When he played at university, for Florida ‘Gators’, he was know to write Bible references under his eyes(rather than a simple line for his anti-glare eye black).
This has started a debate in the US media about professional sport and religious expression. Can a player express his or her faith during a game? Are you upsetting other faiths by sharing your publicly? Should all things about God be left behind before the opening bell/whistle/klaxon?
My reflection on this is a little left-field. Firstly, should all expressions of honouring the dead come under the same scrutiny? Secondly, does this mean that openly praying before and after games come under this rule? And thirdly, is excluding God possible in anything?
One of the attributes of God is that He is everywhere. Psalm 139 has God present in the heavens, on the earth, and even in the depths of death. Jeremiah 23:24 tells us that we cannot hide ourselves from God. Proverbs 15:3 has God seeing all that is good and evil.
From my personal prayer life, The Bible’s teaching, and from my experience as a member of the church, I have found His ever-presence something of comfort. I am never alone in my life, He is looking out for me, and He cares about all that I do. I can’t exclude God in anything, that’s what I believe.
This debate is not going to go away. At least the argument for Tebowing can be clarified.
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Hope for Hope’s sake
Hope is a human desire. I have no doubt about that. From childhood onwards we believe in something that is not yet attainable. Our capacity to dream has given many great thinkers the ideas, designs, and aspirations that have shaped history. From Reformation to the iPad, hope has been the inital idea and the driving force behind it.
No believing in hope can lead to a so-called ‘healthy cynicism’, a sense of purposelessness. It can also lead to a questionable response to charity and other acts of altruism. Hope is, for example, why students attend exams; Hope makes our daydreams in to action; Hope can motivate us to keep hold of our beliefs.
I believe that a sense of hopelessness has affected our belief in humanity. A recent survey had 10% of people believing that an unruly child at age 10 is a lost cause. Aged 10?!? What does that say about us? Does this mean our society would rather such children grew up to be unable to positively contribute to the wider community? Am I naive in believing that each human being has the capacity to mature and transform their life?
Injecting hope in our day can make an immense impact. Progress is only possible when we believe in hope. I can’t imagine living without the not-yet possible. I wouldn’t like to believe in a life whose mantra is ‘If you don’t try, you don’t lose anything’.
The Bible tells us that ‘Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.’ (Hebrews 11:1). Faith and hope go hand in hand. I believe therefore I hope, I hope therefore I believe. The Hope found in the everlasting God is rooted on always having someone and something to believe in. There is always hope somewhere, and the Church is part of this hope-sharing mission for the world.
What I want to underline is that negativity is short term, hope is eternal.
Picture from http://mrbenblogs.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/hope_2.jpg?w=300
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Advent Adventure
I find this time of year fascinating. Hallowe’en’s finished, Bonfire Night is over, all that’s left is Christmas and New Year. Yet in late November you’re aware that Christmas decorations would be odd, having parties for the season is too early, and we are left in a form of limbo in our lives. We are awaiting the waiting period to Christmas.
Advent is a warm-up act, a nostalgia trip, an opportunity to prepare for a time of something special.
A big lesson from Advent is that it is a time of waiting. One of the big issues of the economic crisis we’re struggling through is the fact that we’ve all believed that we can have it all right now. I can mortgage a house without considerable savings. I can pay for a new kitchen on the never-never. I expect to be able to get what I want, and not worry about the consequences.
An attitude of restrain is always going to be unpopular. But we can learn so much from merely holding back. In a way, Advent is like Lent version 2.0; a time of reflection, self-assesment, and refocusing.
A challenge for us at this time is simply to re-evaluate ourselves. Am I able to be still in my week? What is most important to me? What’s happening in the future for me?
Advent is a time of waiting, reflecting, and preparing. A wonderful anecdote for the Christmas rush.
What’s the true meaning of Christmas?
It’s Advent time and the sermons are being written. Irregular church goers make their regular pilgrimage. The regulars are excited with a full chapel. Now for the message… The theme of ‘true meaning of Christmas’, ‘Easter is what it’s all about’, and ‘Keep coming back’ are good for the season.
I believe there needs to be additional themes for the season. How about some of these ideas?
‘Christmas – A New Hope’. Jesus’ birth is a turning point in history, where the access to God starts on a one-to-one basis. We find hope in believing in the omnipresent Son of God who wil be with us for all of eternity (ff Matthew 28:20). All prayers are heard, anyone can belong to the community of faith, and imperfection is not unusual on the road with God who accepts you and morphs you into holiness and perfection that last for eternity.
’A New, New Way’. Jesus came into the world to complete the way of the people of Israel and to open up the new way of God. The temple of God, the eternal presence of God, and the way of God lives in one man. To follow His way is to experience what it is to follow the way of the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David.
‘The New Beginning of Everything’. John’s Gospel begins with the words ‘In the beginning…’. It is a repeat of the beginning of the Old Testament (or Hebrew scriptures), with the onus of something starting again. Jesus is our opportunity for a Mulligans or a do-over in our lives. Telling the God of Jesus Christ that we want to start again in life, and asking for God to put it right, we can start all over again in our life of faith.
’Jesus – The Meaning of Life’. Further along in John’s Gospel it reads ‘The Word was made flesh…’ (John 1:14). The Greek word for Word is ‘Logos’ (λόγος) means a number of things. It’s where we get the word logo: a picture or group of words that are dynamic. We can also read Word (with a capital ‘W’) as the Hebrew Scriptures becoming visual, alive, and physical in one man. This Greek word is also where we get the word ‘Logic’. The reason for existence, the ultimate point of understanding, and the start of our search for the meaning of life was born in Bethlehem thousands of years ago.
The Christmas story is exciting, deep, and a defining point of what it is to be human. This point of history starts of God’s salvation story for humanity. The gateway to the divine was born for everyone to meet.
Good News for Christmas and beyond.
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What were we protesting about again?
I have previously blogged about my hope that the Occupy protests around the world would stand highlight the issues of corporate greed, rather than the protesters themselves. My wish has been unfulfilled.
I agree that the church started with a mixed response (Reaction to such protest will do), but we have reached the stage where the intentions of the protesters are far outweighing the cause they congregated for. The Occupy movement is also in Bristol (where I live): This too has had more bad press than good. The global movement (in the US and Germany, amongst others) has caused similar ill feeling. The talk of indefinite residence of tents, legal action, bad behaviour, and annoying resolve has made the cause less significant. This is not how it is meant to be. What kind of response is expected? What action from which authority will appease such protesters and create a better world for many more?
I’ve heard about the current Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker, and how he protested, as a councilman, in 1999. He was so dismayed by an area where open drug trafficking was rampant that he went on a ten day hunger strike living in a tent in the very area this was happening. He then lived in a modern mobile home in the area, and stayed for 5 months. His protest for better social housing, law and order, and education for the residents eventually lead to the council bringing in such change. His diligence and public support lead to greater social change for many. I believe that a culture of avarice for the few has lead to millions of people being affected.
I believe that the electorate need to stand up and tell the banks and traders this. I believe that a new form of capitalism (much closer to Adam Smith’s ‘On the Wealth of Nations’) needs to be practised. I do not want the right to dissent to over-ride the human rights of those who have lost so much from the economic downturn. I would also like to argue that you and I are also part of this problem. The sub-prime mortgages, the ease to get credit cards, the living beyond our means? We have made decisions that have affected our home-life and the world as a whole. Jesus once said: ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?’ (Matthew 7:3). The Bible, again, speaking about the modern world.
This is an important message: The main thing is to make the main thing the main thing. I pray that this becomes a mantra for the Occupy movement.
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