How many roads must a man walk down?

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.’ Proverbs 3v5&6

For some of you this question is known by you as the ‘Ultimate Question’ to life, the universe and everything as proposed by Douglas Adams in the ‘Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy’ (the answer to which was 42!). For others it is the first line of ‘Blowin in the wind’ by Bob Dylan.  Wherever you know this question from it is both a question of seeking personal direction and guidance but also of seeking to do so within a context of  a greater  understanding of our purpose for living. It could be argued that in both these examples they are being used as parodies of the impossible but even so they describe the human drive to find purpose to our individual lives and looking for that outside of ourselves – the answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind!

It is to this same question that the book of Proverbs brings its answer. For the book of Proverbs tells us that it is God given wisdom (i.e. wisdom from outside us, a wisdom that acknowledges a God from whom, for whom and to whom everything exists) that will enable us to find every good path (Provs 2v9). And our Proverb that I want us to look at today suggests that God makes our path for us. So this verse suggests that there are not 42 roads but one road that leads to fulfilment, peace and blessing – the path made for us by God.

If this is true this takes the pressure off when trying to find what God wants of us. It is not so much of choosing the one of many choices believing one is right and all the others wrong and fretting in case we take the wrong one and ruin our lives!  Guidance is simply allowing God to make the path we are on the perfect one for us. (c.f. Romans 8v28). So the question is how can we ensure that God is making our path straight and it is this Proverb that tells us.

• Trust in the Lord – make sure you know God as your Father and as a child trusts their father not just logically but sometimes irrationally may we trust God with all our heart – knowing that unlike our human fathers our heavenly Father is all loving, all knowing, all powerful. If you don’t know God as your Father or have wandered remember Jesus said he was the way to the Father (John 14v6) so pray to Jesus.
• Lean not on your own understanding – don’t look for answers from within to give meaning, direction and purpose . Don’t live for personal happiness. Look to God! Look to God’s wisdom in these Proverbs and the whole counsel of scripture. Look to those who know God and His words to counsel – this is why belonging to a church that seeks to apply the bible is so important. Be willing to share what you are wanting guidance for because it is not within you.
• In all your ways acknowledge God – in every decision, action, path bring God into it. We do this by obeying the commands of God we do know (see Prov 3v1). We do this by allowing God’s characteristics to rub off on us – love and faithfulness (see Prov 3v3). Finally we do this by worship(prayer, praise and tithing – see Prov 3v9). As you look to make decisions can you pray about it and can you bring it to the community of God to pray/praise about – if you can do this with peace the Lord promises to direct your path.

The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind. As we follow the principles of this Proverb the Holy Spirit will move and direct our lives and people may not know where we have come from or where we are going but they will certainly know something of the breath and power of God in our lives (John 3v8) 

Learn to Listen!

 

‘Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching’. Proverbs 1:8

 

 

Some research at the University of Kansas shows that there is a direct correlation between the academic success of a child and the number of words spoken to a child a day – the magic number is 30,000 words a day! The book of Proverbs is written as words spoken by a parent to a child and the implication is that the parent is God. Proverbs is God’s words spoken to us and is for our development (spiritual, emotional and physical!). This is true not just of the book of Proverbs but all scripture. But as every parent knows speaking words to children is no good unless the child is interacting with you and listening. And so the proverb for us today is the second principle of reading the book of Proverbs – listen to them!

What does it mean to listen to proverbs? Firstly it is to hear them by reading them or hearing them read. But listening is more than hearing as anyone knows who talks to someone who is not really interested in the conversation. So to listen is to value the person speaking and to value what they have to say. The book of proverbs emphasises this in the second part of chapter 1 by personifying wisdom. Wisdom  calls out to us and we ignore, disregard and undervalue her. God speaks wisdom to us through this book of Proverbs and all of scripture but we do not treasure or value it and so do not really listen to what it says. Instead we listen to the voices of sinners (1:10-19) which as wisdom is personified so perhaps the words of sinners is personified as the adulteress in 2:16-22 which lead us away from God with seductive and earthly wisdom.

So we need to hear God’s words and also value them and treasure them. Thirdly we need to be careful not to speak our words over God’s word or as Proverbs 3:7 ‘Do not be wise in your own eyes.’ We can easily approach God’s word arrogantly thinking we know what the answer is and so not truly listening. We need to allow God’s words speak to us. We must be careful then how we read Proverbs and all scripture, not to rush through it but quietly allow it to speak to us as we read it through slowly, meditate on it, reread and look for God to lead you into new insight and revelation.

Finally there is no point listening without putting into practice what we have heard. Sometimes God’s words can rebuke us  (see 1:25) and we do not listen because we are angry by what is said. How often do I not listen to valid criticism about being a husband, father or minister because I am angered by what is being said. The same is true with God’s words we fail to listen because we become angry about what they say or the implications. We need to avoid getting angered by God’s words but to listen and put them into practice.

If we truly mange this we will find God’s words to be treasure and you will find every good path for your life (2:9). James in the New Testament repeats these principles in reading God’s word when he says ‘Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.’ (James 1:19) Determine to put this Proverb into practice by reading God’s word, giving valuable time to it and allowing it to speak into your life and situation and you will truly be blessed.

A Proverb a day keeps sin at bay

”The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’ Proverbs 1

The book of Proverbs is a book written to enable us to live right (Proverbs 1:3). They are reflections, wisdom and knowledge from God to enable us to live right. They are not promises that we can appeal to or blame God for when life is not going right. The other wisdom literature in the old testament (in particular Job) prevents us from using proverbs in this way. However they cannot be dismissed as simply ideals, they are proverbs that as we prayerfully reflect upon will enable us to live right by giving us knowledge, wisdom, prudence, discretion and ultimately guidance in the paths we should take. Therefore I may not believe that an apple a day keeps the doctor away but I do believe that ‘A Proverb a day keeps sin away.’

The Proverb I lay before you today is the pivotal Proverb on which all the others follow. For all knowledge, wisdom, understanding and guidance on how to live right we must begin with the fear of the Lord. It is not just a belief in God but a belief in a personal God who is our creator and for whom we were created. Our lives only make sense in relationship to God and so how we live our lives must be affected and determined by that relationship. Our lives are a precious gift and cannot just be thrown away without any relation or connection with God.

As Christians today we often want to distance ourselves from portraying a God who is to be feared. However if we believe in a personal God who is directly involved with humans and his creation it will produce in us affections of fear when we understand this personal being is a creator God, a God of immense power, of utter holiness and a God who is spirit. When we believe this it will also effect our behaviour as we live in relation to this God and we will want knowledge and wisdom of how to live right.

But as the proverb says the fear of the Lord is just the beginning of wisdom. Because as we begin to see that we do not live independent lives from God and as we get to know this God we see in Jesus that this God is a God of love, a God who is for us and who loves us and we are moved on from the affection of fear to the affection of love. As the apostle John tells us about the love of Jesus – ‘;There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.’ 1 John 4:18.

However this stronger affection of love, that ultimately transforms us when fear fails has the same consequence in that drives us with a far stronger determination to live right, as Jesus says ‘anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’ John 14:23

So whether from fear as a beginning or from love as the end let us seek to live right in relation to God, let us keep away from not living right (sin) and therefore let us take it upon us to learn a proverb a day that we may keep sin at bay! Unfortunately I will only help you weekly if you follow my blog but the rest is up to you.

Did James believe Christians should not need medical help?

James 5 verses 14&15 has caused much diversity of interpretation and practice. It seems to suggest that when you are ill all you need to do is to have the church elders anoint you with oil and you will be healed. The Roman Catholic Church have responded to this verse with one of the seven sacraments – extreme unction. This is to be only used in cases when a person is about to die (which may be a fair understanding that this is for extreme cases in that you have to call rfather than go to the elders) but their results  do not seem to correlate to the promise of this verse.

I am not claiming to be the authority on the exegesis of this passage or that I can clear up all understanding as there is a mystery to healing as it is in God’s hands not ours, but I lay out below some helpful insights that have allowed me to develop a pastoral practice.

• In using the example of Job in verse 11 of this chapter, James cannot be suggesting that Christians should not suffer physical and emotional ailments. In fact his argument in the first part of this chapter is that of persevering in suffering.
• Surely the ‘trouble’ (literally the evil blows) we are to pray about in verse 13 would include physical suffering.
• The happiness of verse 13 is not the happiness of blessing but the courage that the Lord will finally show his mercy and compassion. The same Greek word is translated courage in Acts 27 v 22 and v 25. When Paul is in a storm with everyone fearing for their lives and he has ha a visit from an angel. The happiness that comes from the Lord speaking to us.
• In the context of these two descriptions, he talks about being sick or without strength. This is not a minor ailment but may also suggest a loss of faith and hope in the situation, a loss of spiritual strength. There is no courage as the Lord seems distant. This then may explain why ‘sins will be forgiven’ follows, not that the sickness is a result of sin but that the spiritual loss of hope and courage is a turning from God in the suffering. It is interesting to note that the medical profession suggest a very high percentage of illness are a result of emotional distress such as resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness, stress – many of which are sins.
• This may also explain why the chapter ends with a call to be a righteous pray-er (someone in a right relationship with God) and the call for us all to draw people back to the truth.

With these insights I believe there is a sickness and suffering in which we find courage from the Lord and have heard from him that he will heal us or that ‘his grace will be sufficient’ (2 Cor 12:7-10) but other times the sufferings and sickness cause us to lose courage and faith. And the anointing with oil is the outward sign of the inner grace of the strength and courage of the Spirit.

Therefore our Christian practice is to pray for the sick at all times and usually with the laying on of hands, and healing comes as a sign of the Kingdom. There are times when suffering or sickness can cause a spiritual sickness/weakness/questions/doubts and then anointing with oil in faith brings the power of the Holy Spirit with either immediate physical healing and strength but certainly a spiritual wholeness and courage. The Elders with the wisdom and gifts to discern what the Lord is saying in the situation.

These are difficult verses but as churches we must respond in faith and pray for the sick and weak and see the power of Jesus. If others have other insights that help us make sense of this passage I would be glad to hear from you.

Signs and Sermons

For those listening to my sermon ’Does God heal today?’ from the Wallingford Baptist Church website, here are the images I used that hopefully will make the introduction now make sense.

For those not listening to the sermon they are simply a reminder that signs can be confusing or misleading but are meant to be there for us as warning or as a help. As we come up to Christmas we remember the shepherds that first Christmas were given a sign that God had finally come into the world and was acting to save it – the sign was a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, Jesus Christ (Luke 2:12). For many this sign has been misunderstood but for us Christians it is a sign that needs to be acted upon. For the shepherds they acted on it and went on a search. This Christmas follow their example and search out the Christ child and discover how he is good news.

John in his gospel in the bible tells us that the miracles of Jesus were also signs (John 2:11) of the glory of Jesus and that God has come to the earth and signs that the Kingdom (reign) of God had come and at the end of Mark’s gospel (16:17) we read that signs would also follow those who believe. Which takes us full circle back to the question of the sermon ‘Does God heal today?’. I believe the answer is yes, that God heals people through the church as we pray for the sick. We do not see everyone who is prayed for made well but those that are healed are signs that the Kingdom of God is near and among us. One day it will fully come when all sickness will be gone and death itself will be destroyed but until then as a church we should pray for the sick and look for healing as signs of the good news of the glorious coming Kingdom. Let us not limit the signs to healing but understand our calling to be far more reaching as we receive our commission in Luke 4:18-19.

How to get rich quick!

I was listening to Michael Moore on Newsnight as he was explaining the reasons he and others were demonstrating in Wall Street in New York and at St Paul’s in London. As I tried to interpret what he was saying I was reminded of how Jesus talked about ‘mammon’ which although often simply interpreted as money or wealth coveys a much deeper idea of a personality. As Richard Foster says of this term ‘Jesus is making it unmistakably clear that money is not some impersonal medium of exchange…..Mammon is a power that seeks to dominate us.’ Jesus is saying we make money an idol and as such as Christian’s we must topple the idol. Could this be one way of describing what is happening in these protests, people are seeing the power and personality of money, seeing it as an idol and are drawing our attention to it. Would Jesus be protesting? Should I be?

Then I realise that the problem is not out there but in me, that I have made money a god, that I worship and serve money. I see my happiness and security can be found in money, so I serve money by seeking it at all cost to provide me with security and happiness and as Jesus said we cannot serve two masters, so I end up serving money and not God. This is surely why Martin Luther said ‘There are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the heart, mind and the purse.’ We see this in the ministry of Jesus as he spoke more about money than about heaven and hell combined and he challenged the rich to topple this idol in their lives, often with extreme measures such as ’sell all you have and give to the poor and them come and follow me’.

How can I be converted from money. How can I make money serve me and how can I serve God with money. Jesus tells us the answer in Luke 12:13-34, it is to be ‘rich toward God’, to make yourselves rich with God.  Jesus said God knows we need ‘stuff’ but  even ‘stuff’ should point us to worship and seeking after God. John Piper, using Ephesians 4:28,  says there are three ways of living with ‘wealth’:

1. you can steal to get – is this the problem of our unethical banking system in that it steals from others to get rich?

2. you can work to get – the level most Christians fine themselves and feel morally and ethcially good about.

3. you can work to get in order to give – and this is the New Testament teaching of how we demonstrate we are ’rich with God’ . How we show that God is our reward and not materialism. This is not about amount or choices or comparisons but about a conversion of the heart. 

Let me leave you with Richard Foster’s six Christian principles of economics (found in his book  Money,sex and power) that he has gleaned from scriptures and which would be a good place to assess our economics both globally (banks), locally (business) and personally.

• As Christians we affirm the goodness and necessity of work.
• As Christians we affirm work that enhances human life and shun work that destroys human life. (can I add ‘family life’)
• As Christians we affirm human value above economic value.
• As Christians we affirm the need to enter into each other’s space in the employer-employee relationship.
• As Christians we refuse to buy or sell things frivolous.
• As Christians we refuse to take advantage of our neighbour.

So let us topple the idol of  wealth or ‘mammon’ by repenting with our actions by using our wealth through thanksgiving, generosity and giving to the poor to show we are rich toward God, that we are seeking treasure in heaven and not on earth. Let money serve you as you serve God!

How to support marriages

Having just preached a sermon on what is to be created male and female, I have been convinced that one of the churches main functions has to be to support marriage. Why?

Can I suggest that marriage is a visual and imcarnational demonstration of the gospel. It is one of the few evangelistic strategies espoused by scripture. As churches we spend much time, energy and money on a great variety of evangelistic tools but spend little time, energy and money supporting marriages. Is this because we haven’t understood marriage. From Genesis 1 we can see that marriage is more than a human idea, intention or institution. In marriage we reflect the image of God as the theologian Karl Barth drew to our attention. Genesis 2 goes further and shows us that in marriage we demonstrate the nature and character of  God to help (the same word used in Psalm 121 of God) and to redeem  (to leave and cleave). The New Testament completes the picture when the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5 shows that the marriage relationship is a visual enactment of the gospel. Marriage is when each member makes a commitment to love one another unconditionally and that means being prepared to die for that person, to show the love Christ has for each of us. At the heart of marriage is sacrifice.As a visual demonstration surely that is why there are such strict rules about the leaders of the church and their marriage relationships.

So how should we support marriages?

• Support weddings – take marriage preparation seriously, take responsibility over the ceremony to ensure it a demonstration of the gospel and make it a community celebration (family, church and local)
• Support leaders – recognise they have a greater responsibility in making their marriages show the gospel. Give them time for their marriage. Allow paid leaders two days off a week. Send them on conferences together. Pray for their marriages.
• Support the married – teach on marriage including romance and sex, put in the church calendar marriage refresher or MOT sessions, babysit, don’t fill up evenings and weekends with church stuff, allow the married to serve and worship together. Help them live out their marriage in community being a blessing to the church.
• Support the single – teach that singleness isn’t second best. Singleness is also a demonstration of the gospel (1 Cor 7:32-35) as it can show Jesus is more important than any human relationship. Teach that physical sexual expressions and acts are confined to a marriage relationship but this does not mean denying we are sexual beings. (for more on this read Rob Bell’s ’Sex God’. Do all you can to help singles feel part of the church family and help them express their sexuality in this environment and in serving humanity.
• Support the divorced – divorce is NOT the unforgivable sin. How we support the divorced can also demonstrate the mercy, forgiveness and healing power of the gospel in community. Lead them to repentance and forgiveness and out of guilt and shame. And remember Jesus demonstrating that in relationships we all fail, fall short or slip up (John 8:7)

If we do this then we are supporting visual demonstrations of the gospel that reaches every area of our community and perhaps that is why I like this animation about evangelism so much. Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk8ERxqCZqQ