Richard Dawkins

Here is a sophisticated and witty critique of Dawkin's book by an internationally-acclaimed American philosopher, Alvin Plantinga. Well worth a read, though you may not like it if you are a 6 day creationist.

Have we found the bones of Jesus?

There's been much hysteria in the press after the release of a new documentary about the tomb of Jesus (and of course Mary Magdalene) being found. I have to say: this does get a bit tiring.... But, lots of people watch this kind of stuff and are either further confirmed in their unbelief or they have their faith rocked.

See here for the article in the Guardian.

See here for a thorough critique from a NT professor.

Fundamentalists, secularists and cults

In the Guardian supplement yesterday (27/2) there was a long article on "Britain's new cultural divide...between those who have faith and those who do not." It basically summarized some of the recent debates between vociferous atheists and believers, and presented a vision of Britain as a country divided between "fundamentalist believers" (including presumably evangelicals), "fundamentalist atheists" and "thinking liberals" (of all different kinds of beliefs). I was struck by several things:

1. Obviously, the article had all kinds of superficialities, biases and terminological confusion, but essentially it summarized well the fragmentation of contemporary society. There is no longer any coherent belief system to bind us together - society is coming apart at the seams somewhat.

2. The need for Christians to be temperate, articulate and thoughtful for the sake of the gospel. We should not be afraid of being labelled "fundamentalist", but on the other hand our public (and of course private) manner, rhetoric and language should be such that invective against us is automatically exposed for what it is (e.g. Colin Slee calls us "anti-gay bigots"). I think we need great discipline and wisdom here because I think we're remarkably bad at it.

3. We are, in sociological terms, a sect/cult and should get used to it. In sociology a sect is something like a small religious group that exists in a state of tension with the predominant religion. The predominant religion of our culture is 'agnostic pluralism', and we are no longer the official religion in any meaningful sense of the term. We love to differentiate ourselves from JWs, Mormons etc by using the derogatory language of 'sect' - but, sociologically, they are just a small religious group like we are. Let's not hanker after cultural acceptance, but rather embrace marginalization for Jesus!

Theologians and arrogance

Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." This would seem to teach that to be a good (=wise) theologian, amongst other things, requires that you listen well to other people and take advice. How easy it is for me to go with my intuitions and to run with my 'clever conclusions'. Yet, a good theologian is, here, a humble person and a teachable person. In a sense, you have to be holy to be 'clever'. More, a good theologian knows that listening means community - we need mentors to teach us and correct us. So, the great theologians are those have learnt to discipline 'what seems right to them' by listening to advice and living in community. Our intuitions are more often than not misguided! I imagine that the cleverer you are the harder this is to take on board because you are used to your intuitions being praised. This proverbial wisdom is so contrary to much of the academy where the emphasis is upon building your portfolio of publications and being novel. The whole academic machine is built upon a culture of individualism, personal reputation and innovation. Humility and wisdom, though, go hand in hand. Let's listen to each other and so become wise!

Planting a church in an ugly city

There is a huge difference between what we see as beautiful, and what God sees as beautiful. That is why so few evangelicals are seriously willing to reach the inner cities (i.e. live and work there). And until we get that straight in our heads we will never reach the inner cities for Christ.

"God is far more concerned with a crowded bus queue than a glowing sunset, a noisy market-place than a starry galaxy, a towering tenement than a snow-capped mountain, a bustlling city than a sequestered retreat. God is far more concerned with people than with anything else He has created..... We tend to associate the presence and the power of God with the glory of the heavens and the beauty of the countryside. But God's highest creation is more in evidence in the bustling din of a city rush-hour than in the relaxing peace of a rural landscape.... God is more concerned about 'people' than about 'places', and more concerned about re-creating beauty of character than merely admiring beauty of nature." (Roy Joslin, Urban Harvest)

What will change our hearts? Look at Jesus....

"When Jesus Christ came down to earth form heaven He 'moved' from a 'very desirable residential area' to live in a 'very undesirable residential area'....He lived in a neighbourhood which had gained a bad reputation: 'Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?'" (Roy Joslin, Urban Harvest)

He made this incredible move for me. When I see that then moving into the inner city and seeking to reach people there for the Lord Jesus will not seem like a sacrifice. I will be able to do it with joy - for I am a restless sojourner in this world. I am looking for a beautiful home, not here, but in glory with Jesus.

Why don't we grow more as Christians?

John Newton (vicar in London and writer of Amazing Grace) addressed this question of the lack of growth, inconsistencies and sins of Christians. Why doesn't God deliver us from more of them? He has some incredibly insightful answers for us:

Firstly, "... he teaches us more truly to know and feel the utter depravity and corruption of our whole nature, that we are indeed defiled in every part. His method of salvation is likewise hereby exceedingly endeared to us; we see that it is and must be wholly of grace; and that the Lord Jesus Christ, and his perfect righteousness, is and must be our all in all."

Secondly, "..by what believers feel in themselves they learn by degrees how to warn, pity and bear with others. A soft, patient and compassionate spirit, and a readiness and skill in comforting those who are cast down, is not perhaps attainable in any other way."

Conclusion: God is sovereign even over my sin, and uses it - amazingly! - for my good and spiritual growth!

What's the point of Jesus's miracles?

It's pretty popular to think of Jesus's miracles as simple demonstrations of who He is i.e. His power over sickness, demons, creation. This means that Jesus's main goal with miracles is simply to demonstrate that He is who He says He is. I wonder, though, whether this is a too-reduced view of the miracles.

It seems to me that the miracles do not just simply show us the power of Jesus (though they do do that!), but that they demonstrate the nature of that power and what it is for. In other words, the miracles of Jesus do not just show that Jesus is Saviour, but what kind of Saviour He is and what kind of salvation He is bringing. If Jesus was interested in simply showing sheer power then He could have done things that were more obviously spectacular (Muhammed apparently split the moon in half!). Instead, He does things that have meaning for the kind of salvation He brings.

His miracles have a purpose; that is, they reveal the kind of world He's making. The miracles are essentially the future kingdom or new creation at work now. They are signposts to a renewed world. They are the renewed creation breaking through - a place without sickness, without evil, without death and a place where we will flourish under the King. The miracles show the Creator standing in the middle of the fallen world and starting to renew it and re-order it according to His intention. So, the calming of the storm does not just show that Jesus is sovereign over creation, but depicts the Creator re-ordering the hostile elements in the cosmos for the sake of His people (represented the disciples!). Jesus is renewing the world for His people. It's looking forward to the re-genesis of the world.

St Johns

If you haven't seen it yet, you can now visit the St Johns blog/website here.

Power Politics 2

Some more thoughts on the relationship between the church and politics.

1. We are all political, whether or not we claim any 'involvement in politics' or have explicit ideas about government. Life is constantly lived in the light of power, implicit ideas of what is good for me and for others, and a relationship to governing authorities. We cannot actually be 'apolitical'.

2. We must recognize that politics can never be separated from worldview/worship. This was obvious in the ancient world, but is masked behind a veil of liberal secular neutrality in modern society. Politics always invokes 'gods', morality and a vision of the good life. There is no neutrality with regards to God and the kingdom. Whereas the world always seems to think spirituality is really about politics, we say that all politics is really about spirituality.

3. As Christians, then, we cannot avoid politics or political choices. The whole of life is under the rule of Christ and everything must be related to Him.

4. The political stance of the church is based upon the coming of the kingdom of God. This is all about the creation of a new world order. It is very political in the sense that the world will gain a new ruler (Jesus) and a new administration (kingdom) with completely new policies (law of Christ)! The vision of the new creation (Rev 21-22) is all about God bringing in a new political system of heaven ruling earth - the rule of Christ (Ps 2). The old corrupted world order will be overthrown (Rev 19).

5. The Church is, then the in-breaking of this future world order now - it's a foretaste of the reign of King Jesus. It's the new creation already at work in this world. In that case, the church is, de facto, heavily political in that it says that all power belongs to Jesus, that only his policies can work. We represent the politics of new creation and are governed by King Jesus. Note that a lot of the language describing the New Testament church and its internal processes is heavily political and drawn from the realm of government: assembly (=church), presbyters, citizens and city, nation/people, kings/kingdom. The weird thing about us is that our politics really belong to the re-created future world ("my kingdom is not of this world") and not to this world. This DOES NOT MEAN a privatized, individualized approach to following Christ. Our following of Christ has huge social and economic implications but the context of living this out is most properly the church (e.g. Acts 2 and the redistribution of wealth).

6. How then do we relate to the politics of this world?

Firstly, we still live in the old fallen creation even as we represent the new creation. We submit to its structures and ways (Rom 13), even as we know that they are passing away and ultimately irrelevant (to the extent they do not acknowledge Christ).

Secondly, we witness to the kingdom's way of doing things, but not on the world's terms. We live out our own politics (peace, a new view of power, love, justice etc) even as we submit to the structures of this world. We are the new paradigm of humanity and we are the destiny of the world. We are a public sign of what society and culture might be if they accepted the kingdom.

Thirdly, because they are irreparably fallen, idolatrous and corrupted by sin, the governing systems of this world largely rival Jesus, and their policies largely contradict the policies of the kingdom of God (state as Babylon in Revelation, generally negative view of the 'powers' in the NT). This does not mean that everything about them is bad, nor that they are as bad as they could be. From one perspective, they do good. As Romans 13 makes clear, they find themselves under God's sovereign rule and are used by Him for the good of His people (note the 2nd person is used in that passage). And, of course, many Christians find themselves in these systems trying to do good and live out their discipleship. The point here is that our hope is not really for Christian governing authorities in this world - rather it is for the coming of the kingdom of Jesus.

Fourthly, we are to serve as we can, to seek the good of all men and the justice/righteousness of God in all we do and to influence for good wherever we are - including in our corrupt political system. It may be bad, but we don't have to let it be as bad as it possibly can be (i.e. slavery). All the time, though our hope is for the coming of Jesus. We are aliens and pilgrims in the political order of this world.

Any opinions?

Good deeds

"A sinner’s supposed good deeds count for nothing against the insult and injury done to God. To insist otherwise is to argue that the domestic of a prince was not a bad servant because he did not spit in his master’s face so often as he performed acts of service." (Jonathan Edwards)

Edward's powerful point: our good deeds cannot 'atone' for our bad ones. Only the cross can do that.

How we get revival

According to Isaiah 58, the promise of revival and the flourishing of the church depends upon certain conditions, most of which are a little surprising (at least to me they are):

1. An end to demanding (i.e. fasting) but superficial religosity (vv.1-5)
2. Corporate justice and an end to oppression (v.6, 9)
3. Good work ethics (v.3)
4. An end to verbal and physical violence (v.4, 9)
5. Sharing of the vital necessities of life with the disadvantaged (v.7, 10)
6. Opening of our homes to the poor (v.7)
8. Help to the suffering (v.10)
9. Devotion to God (in perpetual Sabbath worship) (v.13)

What is very striking in this list is the emphasis upon corporate justice and aid to the disadvantaged/poor. It would seem to indicate that lack of concern for the disadvantaged/poor is a major reason for God's judgment on His people, and repentance from that is a very significant condition in personal and corporate revival. Preaching, prayer and worship that ignore these issues must therefore be like the false fasting of vv.1-5. I'm feeling a little disturbed.......

Lots of Bible but no prayer?

Many of us recognize that our prayer lives are really not what they could be. And those of us who are evangelicals would most likely say that we're good on the Bible, but not so good at prayer. There are plenty of times I've thought to myself, my theology is good, but I admit (with supposed great humility) that I'm not so good at prayer. I wonder, though, whether my situation (and yours as well???) may be a lot worse than my initial thoughts have suggested.

Is it really possible, given that our dealings with God are in the framework of a covenant, for me to hear from God but not speak to Him? Can I really say that I've heard Him but don't really want to speak to Him? Isn't God's word meant to be relational and so be inviting me to speak back to Him? If God's word is simply information to be appropriated then of course my speaking back to Him is less vital. But if God's word is relational, and a constant invitation to know Him, then how can I really say that I've got it if I don't pray?

My suggestion is this then: if we're not good at prayer, we're not good at the Bible either (though I may have a lot of Bible information in my head). There cannot be a wedge between the two. My Bible knowledge is no greater than my prayer life.

Power politics

Here's a suggestion about how we should engage in politics.....

So often, Christian engagement with politics is considered only from the perspective of issues (i.e. is this policy right or wrong, with or against the Scriptures?). Now, of course, these are proper and important concerns, but is that all there is to our engagement with politics?

I was looking at Luke 22 yesterday and was struck by Jesus's very familiar and famous words to his disciples, "The Kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves." This is a comparison of two very different kinds of politics. And the difference is not found in the policies (though of course there would be many!) but in the way one approaches power itself. The distinctives of the disciples are not just their opinions, but how they approach power itself. In other words, this is more than having a different kind of a policy - this is a completely different way of approaching politics itself. The disciple is uninterested in power games, rather his power is found in and through servanthood. These words come, of course, in the context of the Passover before Jesus's death. We have a Lord who became like "the youngest...as one who serves", and a Lord who thereby accomplished the most powerful thing the world has ever seen.

The church is a powerfully political institution, not because we have our own party and MPS, but because we model a different way of thinking about power itself. We challenge not just the policies but the very order and basis of the world's way of handling power. We're not one more lobby group among many, rather we're an alternative to worldly politics itself. Our politics is Jesus and His kingdom.

Let me know what you think!!!!

Great Resources

Here are some great written papers by Tim Keller on church planting and general church life.

Here are samples of free talks by Tim Keller on various topics. I think it's great stuff from one of the best preachers I know of.

Desiring Heaven

"There have been times when I think we do not desire heaven;
but more often I find myself wondering whether, in our heart
of hearts, we have ever desired anything else. . . . It is the secret
signature of each soul, the incommunicable and unappeasable
want, the thing we desired before we met our wives or made our
friends or chose our work, and which we shall still desire on our
deathbeds, when the mind no longer knows wife or friend or
work. . . . All your life an unattainable ecstasy has hovered just
beyond the grasp of your consciousness. The day is coming
when you will wake to find, beyond all hope, that you have
attained it."
C . S . L E W I S (The Problem of Pain)

We don't need to manufacture a desire for heaven (=new heavens and new earth) - it is already latent in our souls. We already have it as human beings. Our problem is that we bury it under a whole heap of other things and think that these things are what we really want. I think CS Lewis would have us dig down into our desires so that we might uncover what our desires are really about.