Category Archives: good news

good news

Not in your control

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When you were born you had no choice about it nor anything connected with it.  Your parents were not your choice.  Your skin colour, the colour of your eyes and hair, what kind of body frame you have have nothing to do with your free will.  When you were born and where were not your choice.  Most of the significant events of your early childhood were also outside your control.  You probably didn’t have any say in the kindergarten you went to nor your primary school and probably not even your secondary school.  Your relatives were not your choice.  Where you lived growing up and the places you moved to were also probably not your choice.  Whether your parents stayed together or divorced was also outside your control.

Likewise when you die what will happen to you will be completely outside your control.  You cannot prevent the dissolution of your body, soul and spirit into the dust and soul state that is coming at your death.  Whether, and how, you are resurrected is also totally outside your control.  What happens after you are resurrected is…… actually, according to the bible, you can have a say in that.

Jesus said: “Make peace with your adversary while you are on the way to the judge lest, when you arrive there, the judge throws you into jail.  You won’t get out until you have paid the last penny.”  (Matt. 5:25; Luke 12:58, 59).

He also says: “Do not fear those who, after they have destroyed your body, have nothing else they can do to you.  Fear Him, who after you have been destroyed can cast both your body and soul into Hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear Him!” (Matt. 10:28; Luke 12:4,5).

The Holy Spirit, Jesus and the Father want you to be with them forever.  Jesus said to His followers/ friends:

“Do not let your heart be troubled.  You believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many dwelling places.  If it were not so would I have said to you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go, I will also receive you to myself, so that where I am, you and I can also be.”

John 14: 1-4

Make peace with God through Jesus Christ by believing in His death for your failures on the cross.  He paid the price so you don’t have to (2 Cor. 5:21).  When you believe He will give you assurance in your heart that He loves you (Eph. 1:13, 14; 2 Cor. 1:22).

He will then take care of your body, soul and spirit on that day when you will have no control over your final destiny: the day after your death.

Discipleship Series, General Principles, good news

Our hope is in the next life not this one

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Our lives are hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, appears, we also will appear with Him in glory.  (Col. 3:3-4)

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens (Beatitude 1: Matt. 5:3)

Blessed are those who mourn now for they will be comforted (Beatitude 2: Matt. 5:4)

We are barking up the wrong tree if we are looking for fame or recognition as a follower of Jesus in this life.  The beatitudes can only be understood in this context.  We mourn now because we do not have the glory, honour and immortality we look for in this life even though we persist in doing good (Romans 2:7).  Jesus is quite happy that it should be this way.  He Himself lived a life of obscurity in the back end of the Roman Empire.  His followers should expect to do the same.

Place your hope fully on the grace to be given to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Cor. 15:19)

Rejoice in this hope for why would we hope for something we can already see?

...we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:23-25)

The hope in this case is the redemption of our bodies.  When we were born again our spirit was saved.  As we work out our salvation our soul is being saved until the day we die.  After we die and are resurrected our body will be saved.

Discipleship Series, General Principles, good news

The Self-Effacement of God

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It is a curious paradox of the Christian faith that the God we worship is one who simultaneously reveals Himself very clearly to those who are born again and hides in a dark cloud from those who are not.  Paul says that God has transferred Christians from a kingdom of darkness to a kingdom of light which I guess explains that.

When God was speaking to Moses before the Exodus He said that Moses would appear to be God to Pharaoh.  It seems that in the subsequent catastrophic and dramatic judgments and events Pharaoh and most of the Egyptians ascribed them to Moses rather than God – which seems astonishing.

Many people do that to church leaders as well.  Rather than understanding that God is the one who is enabling things to happen they see the natural abilities of man.  The blindness can go so far as to deny anything supernatural at all about the works of God in the world.  Despite the miracle of a Church that has persisted for over 2000 years and was started by a man who claimed to be God in the backside of the Roman Empire, who wrote nothing and lived and died in obscurity and despite the claims of billions since to have encountered Him in their lives because they have believed He rose again and is still alive….  Despite countless miracles of healing and changed lives that continue to the present day…. according to what Jesus said (and Paul says the same thing) you still won’t believe or see any of it unless you are born again.

According to the bible, you must be born from above to enter into the realm where Jesus – God – reigns (John 3:5). If you are not it will all appear to be nonsense (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Discipleship Series, General Principles, good news, Law & Grace

Kneeling to Pray

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The US NFL controversy (in 2017) brings up that old problem about a Christian’s submission to civil authority.  On the one hand Romans 13:1-7 is very clear:

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.”

On the other hand the Scriptures have some clear examples of Christians not obeying the governing authorities of the day. In Acts 4:1-21 for example Peter and John have been hauled before the authorities of the day who “commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.” Their reply was “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

The two passages above describe the dilemma faced by Colin Kaepernick and other By Mike Morbeck - Flickr: Colin Kaepernick, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30174119Christians like him who believe they are faced with the choice between honouring a flag / country and honouring Christ.

In fact we can all face the same dilemmas in some simple things like paying the full amount of taxes we owe or standing for the national anthem in Ireland as a Christian. If born again believers in the US have a problem with the President of that country because of his perceived stance on racism and decide to kneel during their national anthem as a result then what should we do who have an openly proselytising gay Taioseach and a lesbian Minister for Children?

Nothing? Perhaps. At least we can openly share the Gospel in this country. I would find it hard to come up with a Scriptural principle which says that we should oppose authorities (and only ever peacefully) over anything less than something I could not do even if they commanded me. For like Peter and John I can’t help but speak of the love of God expressed through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and of His wonderful resurrection life now living in and through me.

I really don’t want to make a fuss about anything else. It’s all secondary and not the main thing.

But if you believe God is calling you to take a stand on something like abortion or LGBT then who am I to say you are wrong?

Discipleship Series, General Principles, good news

Significance

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I was watching a documentary about the Voyager space missions called “The Farthest” last week.

For those who don’t know, the Voyager space missions took advantage of a rare planetary alignment to launch two space probes to explore the outer planets of the solar system. The missions started in the ’70’s and both probes are still transmitting back information to earth.

After watching the documentary and listening to the scientists and engineers who worked on the project, my overwhelming impression was one of pathetic insignificance. This is epitomized in a documentary by Carl Sagan who presented the speck of dust – the pale blue dot picture that was taken by Voyager 2 from somewhere beyond Neptune. Earth is seen as a barely perceptible speck in the brightest of the bands in the photo.

Many of the scientists talked during the documentary of how significant it was that mankind had managed to send a vehicle into outer interstellar space for the first time. But no, this is not Star Trek, not even close.

So I wake up for a morning’s quiet time with God.

“God I’m nothing.

Less than nothing.

We are all less than nothing.

Why do you bother?”

Then my sin – my falling short – pops up its ugly head again.

Like a fleshy root or fungal growth out of my flesh, like Alien it is too powerful for me. It looms large in my imagination, overwhelming me, threatening to completely take over my life and destroy it, me, my family and destroy Christ’s reputation in work, church, friends.

Whoa, stop, back up, it really is no more significant than I am. It’s also pathetic.

Then I hear a voice gently calling my name:

“Brendan”

“Yes, that’s pathetic little me” I think.

“Brendan”

Is that really the God of the universe calling my name?

“Brendan, I am LOVE, that’s why”

And then it all comes rushing back.

God is infinite powerful love.

He cares about me, us, everything.

One day He will put me to sleep and remove this sin that so easily entangles me maybe on my last mortal day, maybe before then.

In the meantime there are good works to do which He has prepared beforehand.  Works that He cares about, works that give us significance.

What a wonder it is to be called a child of God!

General Principles, good news

Five types of people: 1. Never Heard

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When it comes to entering into eternity it is possible to categorise people into 5 types:

  1. Those who never heard the gospel;
  2. Those who heard but didn’t understand it;
  3. Those who heard, received it and when the going got rough, gave up;
  4. Those who heard, received it and got worn down or deceived;
  5. Those who heard, received it and produced multiplied fruit.

This categorisation is based on the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, Mark 4 and Luke 8 as well as other Scriptures.

Category 1: Never Heard

The first category is those billions through the ages that never heard the gospel during their lifetime.  Scripture says this about them (Romans 2:14-16, NLT):

“Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.”

Evangelicals can hold some strange positions when it comes to those who haven’t heard the Gospel.  They often categorise them as the “unsaved” which makes no sense in the context of 1 John 2:2 (see also John 3:16-18, 1 Peter 3:18):

“He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”

According to Matthew 25:31-46, God and the saints (1 Cor. 6:2) will judge them according to their works and their relationship to the saints and God in their hearts (inasmuch as you did it to the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me).  Some will be shown to be sheep destined for eternal life and some will be revealed as goats destined to the second death.

Discipleship Series, good news

The Schoolyard

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Jesus said that the people of his time were like children playing a game in the public square:

16 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,

17 ‘We played wedding songs,
    and you didn’t dance,
so we played funeral songs,
    and you didn’t mourn.’

18 For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”

(Matthew 11:16-19 NLT).  

This could probably translate to a schoolyard in our time just as well.  In the passage he describes the reactions of the other children to John and himself.  They are playing the normal games and these guys just won’t fit in.

I’ve tried to paraphrase it a bit, bring it up to date and look at it from a neutral observer’s point of view:

[A few days in] “So the other day we were playing the usual games of tag and the new guy – John – starts going on about something.  He not only doesn’t want to play but he starts up a new thing of his own over near the drinking fountain.  He doesn’t dress like the rest of us and he doesn’t go along with the gang.  I think he has special needs.”

[Sometime later] “John has managed to get a surprising amount of people to put their heads under the drinking fountain!   The teachers are getting involved now.  He has even been telling them they are wrong in what they are teaching in religion class!  Apparently he doesn’t agree with them saying one thing and doing another.  Keeps going on about judgement coming.  I don’t think the teachers like it much.  I still think he has special needs.”

[Later still] “John’s cousin turned up today.  The first thing he did was to go up and put his head under the drinking fountain.”

children-playing

[Later] “John has got expelled.  His cousin is hanging out with all the druggies, drinkers and girls who everyone knows have slept around. It seems like he has gone the complete opposite direction to his cousin. I don’t think the teachers like him either though.”

So I guess we all know how this ends.  But at the time Jesus drew this analogy (in Matthew 11:16-19) this was roughly where things were at.

Interestingly, it wasn’t that either John or Jesus were wrong even though they both had such polar opposite ways of approaching their relationships with their peers.  John is confrontational, Jesus is winsome (at least at this point – that changes later).   Jesus ends his little analogy with the comment that there is wisdom in both approaches.

I think teenagers in particular struggle with that breadth of acceptance of those they perceive to be different.  But they are not the only ones.

General Principles, good news

I desire mercy, not sacrifice

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There is a scene in “The Bible” mini series, reproduced in the film “Son of God“, where Jesus reaches out to Matthew, a tax collector.  If you have ever felt rejected by your peers, accused of being a traitor, or just generally outcast then it is not so difficult to identify with Matthew nor to respond to the glorious acceptance of the Son of God as expressed in these words from Matthew 9:

“Those who are well do not need a doctor, but those who are sick.  Go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” I haven’t come to call those who are righteous, but sinners.”

As Paul says in Romans 11: “God has given every one over to sin, so that He might have mercy on them all.”

Discipleship Series, General Principles, good news

Be Attitudes – repost

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This post first appeared in Aug 2015

The eight beatitudes are nearly the first thing Jesus says in the Gospels. They reveal His heart.

These are the types of people God has time for:

The poor in spirit. People with this attitude are the opposite to the pushy, showy type that is always in your face and who is full of self importance.  We all know someone who is “poor in spirit” but filled with the Spirit.  That’s because the Holy Spirit is, like Jesus, humble and gentle at heart.  These are the type of people that get into heaven.

Those who mourn.  In this life there will always be mourners.  At some stage we all are likely to mourn the loss of someone we love.  Jesus knows that and says He will comfort us.

Those who are humble.  I’m not sure what the difference between these are and the poor in spirit.  Nor do I know why they inherit the earth specifically.  Perhaps there isn’t supposed to be a difference.  The lowly in heart get both heaven and the earth.

Those who hunger and thirst for justice.    Jesus knew these guys would be satisfied.  He also knew at what cost that would be to Him.  There will be justice also for those who refuse to receive the grace of God and create injustice.

The merciful.  This is something we should all do. We will all need mercy.

The pure in heart.  These will see God.

The peacemakers.  Peacemakers are not looking out for their own wants, but are involved in reconciling opposing parties.  Everyone can see that they are children of the God of peace.

Those who do what is right.  You don’t have to explicitly do something in the name of Christ for this to apply to you. Anyone who stands up for the oppressed or does what Jesus would do might be persecuted for it.  These also are the types of courageous people God wants with Him in heaven.

Jesus’ followers.  Be prepared to be mocked, persecuted and lied about.  But be very happy about it when you are!

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3-10

Creation, Family, General Principles, good news, His Story, Worship & Song

The Infinitesimal Drama of the Virgin Birth

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Incomprehensibly constrained to the size of a pinhead, the Lord of the Universe marches down through the ages and arrives Immanuel in a young girl’s womb.

From the first glorious image of Adam through patriarchs and kings, Matthew parades the central march of God’s history before us and brings us to a place of wonder – a few cells in a wonderful dwelling.

“Did You wrap yourself inside the unexpected
So we might know that Love would go that far?”

That whole long march, funnels down and focuses like a laser on this tiny point.

Matthew 1.

Music taken from the album “Music inspired by the Story” 2011.  Song sung by Francesca Battistelli.