So Jonathan Ross has once again courted controversy, this time not by what he has done but by what he hasn't done. Actually, it wasn't even him who didn't do it-it was something that wasn't done by someone higher up the ITV echelons. And what they didn't do was to show Tim Minchin, ginger-haired, bare-footed, anglo-Australian musician/comedian singing his specially commissioned song about Christmas. You can watch him singing the song here.
It seems that the issue is how offensive his song would be to Christians as he highlights characteristics of Jesus and makes modern-day comparisons. So let's see. Ok, his comparisons are edgy and not very glamorous, but he first highlights the fact that Jesus inhabited a time and space as a Jewish thinker (hence the Woody Allen reference). This is the truth of the incarnation. Then he highlights that Jesus did miracles and calls this magic. Then that he was born of a woman who was a virgin. He compares this to a lizard. And so he goes on in what is, to my mind, a very amusing fashion:-superman, zombie, vampire etc. It's funny because Tim Minchin is not a Christian, and yet in his song he affirms many of the central truths of Christianity, including, most powerfully I think, that when we minister to the lost and the broken we do so to Jesus. Tim is one of the lost and the broken and we are called to treat him as if he is Jesus. As he sings, Tim is Jesus. He is clearly fascinated by our faith as he sings about it so often. So rather than criticising or condemning, let's not take ourselves too seriously and instead celebrate the fact that so many people are now talking about the central truths of Christmas. And lets pray for Tim that those truths blossom into faith.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Turning away
How are we to respond if someone insists on turning away from us? Someone we love faces away from us and engages in harmful or unhelpful behaviour?
I guess this is how God feels about us pretty much most of the time-we humans are great at thinking that we know best and so utilise our decision-making abilities under our own steam. At a certain time in history, in a certain place, God offered a life-line to all who have ever turned away or will ever turn away, wherever, whenever. He didn't offer condemnation, but neither did he offer blanket acceptance of our bad choices. Instead he offered a person, a relationship, an opportunity. And he waited for us to make the next move.
We have much to learn. All too often we see-saw between shutting the door on those who hurt us on one side and putting up with more than we can stand or is good for anyone on the other. Perhaps we, too, must offer the possibility of a wholesome, regenerative relationship to those who turn from us. And then we wait...
I guess this is how God feels about us pretty much most of the time-we humans are great at thinking that we know best and so utilise our decision-making abilities under our own steam. At a certain time in history, in a certain place, God offered a life-line to all who have ever turned away or will ever turn away, wherever, whenever. He didn't offer condemnation, but neither did he offer blanket acceptance of our bad choices. Instead he offered a person, a relationship, an opportunity. And he waited for us to make the next move.
We have much to learn. All too often we see-saw between shutting the door on those who hurt us on one side and putting up with more than we can stand or is good for anyone on the other. Perhaps we, too, must offer the possibility of a wholesome, regenerative relationship to those who turn from us. And then we wait...
Monday, December 19, 2011
Unexpected places
I went out in the freezing rain with my young daughter this morning to deliver Christmas cards from our new church congregation to the local community. It doesn't sound like an exciting plan for a wet Monday, but that was where we were so off we went.
Just as we set off down the road I felt a small, gloved hand comfortably nuzzle into mine, the other hand tightly gripping Build-a-bear who had joined us at the last minute, complete with shiny rain mac and boots. And the delivering began. With each card I offered a tiny prayer, asking for God's blessing on the recipient, particularly those with that energy efficient type of letterbox that tries to remove fingers from the hands of any who dare to introduce something into them. Within a few minutes there was only one of us doing the posting, but the conversation never faltered. As we went my feet got wetter and colder and my nose runnier and my fingers number yet my daughter continued to comment on the features of each house and the generally chat about what we were up to.
So here's the unexpected bit-all too soon it was over. We'd delivered to the streets that we had cards for and it was time to go home for hot chocolate. But we both knew that we had been really blessed, that our afternoon together had been a rich and pleasurable experience.
I can't wait until next year's cards are produced...
Just as we set off down the road I felt a small, gloved hand comfortably nuzzle into mine, the other hand tightly gripping Build-a-bear who had joined us at the last minute, complete with shiny rain mac and boots. And the delivering began. With each card I offered a tiny prayer, asking for God's blessing on the recipient, particularly those with that energy efficient type of letterbox that tries to remove fingers from the hands of any who dare to introduce something into them. Within a few minutes there was only one of us doing the posting, but the conversation never faltered. As we went my feet got wetter and colder and my nose runnier and my fingers number yet my daughter continued to comment on the features of each house and the generally chat about what we were up to.
So here's the unexpected bit-all too soon it was over. We'd delivered to the streets that we had cards for and it was time to go home for hot chocolate. But we both knew that we had been really blessed, that our afternoon together had been a rich and pleasurable experience.
I can't wait until next year's cards are produced...
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Hard times
I'm not an economist. I know very little about micro or macro economic principles, but as much as I do know is this: our free-market capitalist economy is driven by any sort of productivity that is saleable, whether that be in manufacturing or in service industries. It is consumer-led rather than quality led. So to keep going it needs to continually find saleable forms of productivity. And as a system it seems to be struggling. We are in a global downturn as the many nations that have embraced "democracy" find that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, and the ones in the middle are increasingly miserable as they frantically try to keep up with the built-in obsolescence of their luxury goods. Our manufacturing base seems to be reliant upon making things that no-one really needs, and our service industry supports those who are succeeding within the system.
So in my ignorance I had a thought. Perhaps this down-turn is a Godsend, giving us an opportunity to speak into society about what is really important. Imagine an economy built upon manufacturing things that people really need, and a service industry that supports that, ensuring that everyone gets what they need. Price and wealth wouldn't matter because we would all have what we require. We Christians pray about this all the time when we ask God to "give us this day our daily bread".
So here's the big question...Are we prepared to do more than pray it? Are we Christians ready to speak out about what is really important in today's world and to stand against rampant consumerism, offering an alternative way of ordering our society that is built on foundations of rock (no, not the music!) rather than on shifting sand? Do we have something to offer to those in our communities who are struggling to keep up with their rising debts and don't even know why they have got them?
So in my ignorance I had a thought. Perhaps this down-turn is a Godsend, giving us an opportunity to speak into society about what is really important. Imagine an economy built upon manufacturing things that people really need, and a service industry that supports that, ensuring that everyone gets what they need. Price and wealth wouldn't matter because we would all have what we require. We Christians pray about this all the time when we ask God to "give us this day our daily bread".
So here's the big question...Are we prepared to do more than pray it? Are we Christians ready to speak out about what is really important in today's world and to stand against rampant consumerism, offering an alternative way of ordering our society that is built on foundations of rock (no, not the music!) rather than on shifting sand? Do we have something to offer to those in our communities who are struggling to keep up with their rising debts and don't even know why they have got them?
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Busy morning?
When people hear that I've just become a vicar they often ask me how many services I am responsible for on a Sunday. It's an interesting question, not least because at present it is the grand total of one. It has made me reflect on what it is that churches do. Is the main business of church to hold services on Sundays? Is this the measure of how Christ-like the community is that meet there?
I'm not so sure it is. As 'church' we are called to worship God, and an important way that we do this is to come together to sing His praises and to offer our prayers. We also re-balance our relationship with Him by sharing in Communion together and by studying the Bible, opening ourselves afresh to His guidance. But worship of God necessarily leads us on to engage in His mission, that of making disciples, of sharing our faith and calling our family, friends and neighbours into a new relationship with the God who made the universe and who loves them as His own children.
We are the carriers of good news, and it is the business of the church to share it. And to be honest, Sunday mornings aren't really the best time to do it.
Just suppose there are some people left in our locality who aren't in bed, working behind a till, watching their kids play football or browsing a car-boot sale. Why would they come to church unless they already knew what it was about? And if they did make it there without knowing what it was about, how does our liturgy look to them? Would this be the best way to kick start a relationship with God?
And a second part of our mission is to be agents for transformation within our communities, witnessing in word and deed to the truth of life in Christ. Again, Sundays aren't the best time to do this, because this is about being out there where the people are, letting them experience God's love and freedom and forgiveness as a free gift.
What Sunday services really are is a fuel-stop, a refuelling, re-energising space for church members to prepare for the real business of church that goes on for the other 23 hours and 6 days left of the week-the business of living lives of worship.
So I'm vicar of a church that meets once on a Sunday, it is true, but it seems to me to be a church that understands how to be a church. And we will see the kingdom of God in this locality!
I'm not so sure it is. As 'church' we are called to worship God, and an important way that we do this is to come together to sing His praises and to offer our prayers. We also re-balance our relationship with Him by sharing in Communion together and by studying the Bible, opening ourselves afresh to His guidance. But worship of God necessarily leads us on to engage in His mission, that of making disciples, of sharing our faith and calling our family, friends and neighbours into a new relationship with the God who made the universe and who loves them as His own children.
We are the carriers of good news, and it is the business of the church to share it. And to be honest, Sunday mornings aren't really the best time to do it.
Just suppose there are some people left in our locality who aren't in bed, working behind a till, watching their kids play football or browsing a car-boot sale. Why would they come to church unless they already knew what it was about? And if they did make it there without knowing what it was about, how does our liturgy look to them? Would this be the best way to kick start a relationship with God?
And a second part of our mission is to be agents for transformation within our communities, witnessing in word and deed to the truth of life in Christ. Again, Sundays aren't the best time to do this, because this is about being out there where the people are, letting them experience God's love and freedom and forgiveness as a free gift.
What Sunday services really are is a fuel-stop, a refuelling, re-energising space for church members to prepare for the real business of church that goes on for the other 23 hours and 6 days left of the week-the business of living lives of worship.
So I'm vicar of a church that meets once on a Sunday, it is true, but it seems to me to be a church that understands how to be a church. And we will see the kingdom of God in this locality!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Advent-beginnings or endings?
It's been a new beginning for me and the family lately, starting at a new church in a new role just as we start a new liturgical year (and the kids all have birthdays!). It is a time of excitement, of anticipation, of promise.
At this time of year, a time of a new beginning, the church begins by reading a passage from the Bible that looks to what they anticipate will happen at the very end of time. They focus on the ending. It seems as if the plot is somewhat mixed up.
Now normally I'd be pretty disappointed if I started to read a book and right at the start it told me whodunnit, or that there was a happy ending. I would lose any sense of suspense. But there are exceptions...the movie 'Pulp Fiction' where we see one strand of the story begin where another will eventually end, a biography I read last year called 'Stuart, a life told backwards' about a homeless man, an interesting novel I once read called 'The irresistible inheritance of Wilberforce'...sometimes the narrative is enhanced by fast-forwarding to the ending.
It's like this in the church calendar...endings lead to new beginnings so that's why they shift their focus from Christmas (which you may have noticed is just round the corner) to a time of new creation, where there is no pain, violence or suffering.
When we are suffering and wish it would end, or have lost someone or something and wish it hadn't ended, it may helpl to think in terms of endings providing new beginnings. This is not an easy thing to do. Without wanting to deny the reality of our pain, we must all surely hope for a time when it finishes, though. When our situation changes. And all change brings with it the possibility of new beginnings. And new beginnings bring hope.
At this time of year, a time of a new beginning, the church begins by reading a passage from the Bible that looks to what they anticipate will happen at the very end of time. They focus on the ending. It seems as if the plot is somewhat mixed up.
Now normally I'd be pretty disappointed if I started to read a book and right at the start it told me whodunnit, or that there was a happy ending. I would lose any sense of suspense. But there are exceptions...the movie 'Pulp Fiction' where we see one strand of the story begin where another will eventually end, a biography I read last year called 'Stuart, a life told backwards' about a homeless man, an interesting novel I once read called 'The irresistible inheritance of Wilberforce'...sometimes the narrative is enhanced by fast-forwarding to the ending.
It's like this in the church calendar...endings lead to new beginnings so that's why they shift their focus from Christmas (which you may have noticed is just round the corner) to a time of new creation, where there is no pain, violence or suffering.
When we are suffering and wish it would end, or have lost someone or something and wish it hadn't ended, it may helpl to think in terms of endings providing new beginnings. This is not an easy thing to do. Without wanting to deny the reality of our pain, we must all surely hope for a time when it finishes, though. When our situation changes. And all change brings with it the possibility of new beginnings. And new beginnings bring hope.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Alongside
Two people are out running. One seems very fit, the other less so. The fitter one turns to the other and says "You know, I find it really helpful running with you. I run much better, I am able to go faster, you really push me in a way that I just don't when I run alone".
Less fit runner has been struggling, secretly contemplating dropping back a little and then diving into a bush to hide. The pace has been right at the very limit. The thought had occurred that this fit friend must be feeling hampered, slowed down. It has just felt all wrong until this moment.
So what's going on?
Often in life we may feel like we're holding our friends, family or colleagues back in some way, particularly at times of stress or great personal difficulty. We may feel like we are a burden, and assume that they would be better off without having us around so much. Yet we may have failed to consider that even in our times of weakness and struggle we can be positively influencing those around us. It says really early on in the Bible that 'it is not good to be alone'. This principle seems to be at play here-the lone runner does not perform as well as the one with company, even though the company is apparently struggling.
Don't isolate yourself when you struggle and don't be afraid to ask for help. You just don't know how you may be helping.
Less fit runner has been struggling, secretly contemplating dropping back a little and then diving into a bush to hide. The pace has been right at the very limit. The thought had occurred that this fit friend must be feeling hampered, slowed down. It has just felt all wrong until this moment.
So what's going on?
Often in life we may feel like we're holding our friends, family or colleagues back in some way, particularly at times of stress or great personal difficulty. We may feel like we are a burden, and assume that they would be better off without having us around so much. Yet we may have failed to consider that even in our times of weakness and struggle we can be positively influencing those around us. It says really early on in the Bible that 'it is not good to be alone'. This principle seems to be at play here-the lone runner does not perform as well as the one with company, even though the company is apparently struggling.
Don't isolate yourself when you struggle and don't be afraid to ask for help. You just don't know how you may be helping.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Why Christmas?
Have you ever wondered why Christians celebrate the birth of a baby? What’s the point? Suppose we accept that it all happened just the way the Bible tells us it did, what’s that to you or me? More importantly, what’s that to God? Seems like a bit of effort to go to…trying to squeeze an infinite and all-powerful being that is beyond the universe into a tiny, weak, new-born baby called Jesus. But that’s what happened. So why?
Before that first Christmas humans were separated from knowing the God of love, light, peace and passion who made them because they’d fallen into some bad habits, living selfish lives and not valuing each other. The Bible calls this sin. But God still loved the people he had made, and his heart ached for a way to get them to choose to live in the light. By identifying with us and our desires and temptations he showed us that we can choose right over wrong. From now on. And that is good news for all of us! Why not come and celebrate with us this Christmas?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)