Hope for the future

A friend of mine posted this on his Facebook, I find it really quite powerful, beautiful and challenging.

It's all about hope.

The gospel for EVERYONE

I have been taken aback a little recently by people's reaction to Jesus, as if the gospel 'was not for them'.
'Sorry mate, I don't want to talk about faith it's not for me'
'Sorry, I wish I had your faith, but I just don't'
'Go away, what you believe is weird. Do you believe in fairies?'
Are possibly some reactions to me talking about Jesus.
I am convinced that it is not my faith, life is an opportunity for all people. The gospel is not just right for me. It is right for all people. I do not have a special knowledge that makes everything work out, I just have faith in Jesus, which all people can have.

Just please come and find him. Don't miss a chance. Don't have ideas about Jesus before you have looked at his face...

The truth

'I simply am a sinner, failing in becoming more like Jesus...'

I had this sentance as the start of the description on this blog. This is a lie that Christians around the world have been taught and believe about their everyday life, and one that I haven't trusted and have meant to change for some time.
The gospel is clear
-We are dead to our old lives and alive in Jesus.
-We are no longer sinners, but saints.
-We no longer live in sin, but the spirit.
The devil lies to us by helping us label ourselves as 'sinners' when we haven't been since we recognised Jesus on the cross.
We are not ugly, unrighteous men of this world, we are beautiful, exciting, clean men of God's kingdom, with him being made perfect in our weekness.
We need to stop claiming sin in our lives and start living freedom. Stop looking back and feeling sorry and start inheriting God's life, love and legacy (3 L's, quality!).
We are co-heirs with Christ. His death made sure of that.
We are white as snow. His death made sure of that.
And we can live in Jesus Christ, no longer under condemnation because 'there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus'. His death made sure of that.
This is the gospel.

'God Bless Barack Obama?'

The bbc have just had a documentary about Barack Obama's faith and the impact it has on his politics. It was excellent.

A biography on the president, looking back at his heritage, his early work, his conversion, his campaign and his first year in charge.

I remember hearing about his 'mad pastor', who was quoted as saying "God damn America", during the election campaigns; the conservative Republicans making a big thing about how anti american (and on the documentary one republican says blasphemous...!) this pastor was. It appears Rev Wright was quoted out of context, and was in fact preaching a message of freedom, equality, and Jesus. He seems like a good, biblically correct guy.

Watching this program I could not help but think the makers were anti-conservative, anti-republican but still pro christianity. I am not sure whether this is truth, but the truth about 'bible belt' Christianity they portrayed was a frightening one; of subtle racism, of the importance of a feotus' life when millions lie and die in poverty around the world, of the hatred of homosexuality rather than the love of Jesus, of misinterpretation of Jesus' teaching, not of love, acceptance and equality. This is scary.

This viewpoint was portrayed by a representative of southern baptists, who are 'evangelical conservative' Christians (where have I heard that before), who seem to be evangelical in the parts of the bible they want to be and blind in the important bits. I am not sure who they worship and follow; American tradition, or Jesus.

I am convinced that political stance of the bible is that of liberalism; Jesus loved, Jesus accepted, Jesus showed equality, the Christian message (should be) is for all, not just Jews, but gentiles, not just white men, but men of all races, not just the poor, but the rich as well, not just the educated, but the working class as well, not just the poverty stricken single parent, but the spoilt public school student. All inclusive; background, race, class, education, sexual orientation (yes I said it, Jesus loves homosexuals as well), ability, beauty, past, future...

I am realising my faith is more and more liberal, but not because I don't understand judgement, hell and sin, because I think Jesus came to bring freedom from judgement, hell and sin.

I am convinced (not just opinion) that Jesus was and is liberal.

I loved the message that the black civil rights representatives brought.

I loved seeing Jesse Jackson cry at Obama's inauguration because of his and martin luther king's dream of black equality coming into fruition.

I love the idea of equality.

I love the idea of love.

(I fear I am on an American watch list now... the 'evangelical conservative Christians' are coming to get me.........)

8 years later...

a US military generally says there has been 'enough fighting', and that now it is time to 'talk to the militants' (full story here).

Shouldn't we have been talking from day one?

When has bullying with force ever been acceptable?

Nicene Creed

This is my faith.... "We believe in one God, the father, the almighty maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen" Summed up in Liturgy. There is a lot there.

Friends

Tonight we had our last time meeting as a group with an elder of our church, it has been such a nice time of growth in friendships, growth in faith and a growth of challenge.

I am sad we won't be meeting together more. Woods said we should do Come Dine with Me. YES PLEASE.

I am really blessed in Durham. I have several more years of 'planned' studying here, there is so much to do, so much that could be done, I want to be challenged more, I want to be changed, and I want to make a difference.

I have a feeling this group, these friends and these past weeks have sparked something up, a passion in love, that will encourage me to go...

Because I give a damn.

Yes please

Simpson summed it up last night.

What he summed up I am not 100% sure.

He said, simply, that "sharing the gospel should be a by product of a godly life", so not necessarily something we strive for, but something that comes naturally out of our everyday lives with Jesus.

No more events. More love. More power. More Jesus.

Catching up

Just got an email from a mate I hadn't spoken to in years, I felt we were on the verge of losing touch.

It made me pretty joyful to hear from him.

Big fan.

So much has changed. There is so much to be thankful for.

The most horrific film I have ever seen

I just watched requiem for a dream on bbc iplayer. It is horrible.

My response is this; when people but their hopes and dreams in earthly things like fame, fortune, television, drugs, other people they get depression, death, loneliness and insanity.

Our rock, our only rock is Jesus Christ, when people put their hope in him they get eternal life.

I am shocked and shaken.

Sacrifice for the church

I recently read this really interesting article in the times ... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6976975.ece

It is written by a vicar's wife about the treatment of Vicars in their parishes, by their parishioners, by the church of England etc, and how this affects a vicar's well-being and family. As a Vicar's son I was really interested by this article; the thought of ordination as a sacrifice from a graduates perks, the idea of Vicar's having a union because they are being treated badly by their superiors and stress or job security in the work.

A Vicar's role isn't just a 9-5 job, it is a life, the church (the people and building) can take over your every day, your every evening and weekend, this has an impact on a Vicar's family as well, who grow up as church being part of their life (not necessarily a bad thing), and have to be on their best behaviour at all times because 'their Dad's the vicar'...

The article is very harsh on the idea of priesthood, suggesting it isn't really the best idea, or the best job for an individual, it may not be, but the reason why men and women go forward for ordination is not for the perks, for the virtually non-existant wage or for a free house. People become vicars because they want to make a difference, they want to serve a community, they want to see God's kingdom furthered and they feel called by God himself.

The gospel talks about death to our old lives and new lives in Christ, and sacrifice of what we want, need and know for a life relying on the Lord. In becoming a Vicar, men and women are acting out this sacrifice, they have made the decision to follow Christ and then taken the step to work for him full time, this is a life they are willing, happy and excited to take.

I guess becoming a Vicar is deciding to serve your Lord, to serve a group of people, a church or an area, to try and help bring God's kingdom on earth. And like the thousands of people before them, like the apostles in the new testament, Vicars and all Christians, sacrifice their own lives for their Lord. A low wage, a rubbish house, unfair bosses, ungrateful parishioners are small prices to pay in return for the glory of our Lord Jesus and the security that brings.

Ministry is still an exciting and enthralling prospect. We shall see.

Making Goodness Fashionable

"Making Goodness Fashionable" -William Wilberforce; hero, giant, freedom fighter.

I heard this quote from William Wilberforce recently, I love the concept. Wilberforce trying to change the public mindset away from arrogance and selfishness into love, kindness and goodness.

The phrase is beautiful.

I don't know much about the man other than he was at the front of the fight against the slave-trade and there was a film made about him, he seems a good old chap.

This quote got my mind racing; racing through my own life, racing through memories, racing through thoughts about life at university, racing through the future, racing through the lost, racing through the gospel, racing through the poor and sick, racing through the rich and wealthy, racing through my arrogance and selfishness, racing back to 'True religion' (see blog from last year) and settling on hope.

How different would this world be if it was fashionable to help others? If it was cool to sacrifice our time and life for others? If goodness and kindness were expected not surprising?

In his book 'For What It's Worth', Simon Guillebaud mentions this (this is where I heard it), he talks about how Wilberforce and others brought Great Britain back into morality and decency using the idea of Goodness being fashionable.

For many in the UK today the opposite of goodness is fashionable; drunkenness, selfish ambition, greed, love of money and possessions, harsh treatment of strangers, injustice, violence, racism... Often this list includes me, so please excuse my hypocrisy.

I would love to see the next Wilberforce making goodness fashionable. I fear Bono or Bob Geldof are todays equivalent, and if so, I think more needs to be done. We need to realise there are more important things than spending £20 on a night out, more important people than ourselves, like the poor, the sick, the bereaved, the homeless, the single-parent, the young carer, the faceless and nameless afghan, the Somalians who are not pirates, the innocent prisoner, the oppressed.

We can do so much, as students, as citizens, as people, as Christians to love and help others, to make a difference.

So I set out this challenge, to myself and anyone who cares; let us live like we give a damn, let us work like we give a damn, let us love like we give a damn, let us serve like we give a damn and let us Make Goodness Fashionable through our words and deeds because we give a damn.