Evenings and Mornings

We can be assured that if we commit the day and our way to Him, He will make His plans and paths plain to us

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Recently, along with my daily reading of Gods word, I felt encouraged by the Lord to read a Psalm each day. I find the psalms both encouraging, and challenging. All of life is in the psalms and the psalmist often speaks from real life experiences.  But I noticed in some of the earlier psalms that David refers often to night times and mornings, and the way the Lord watches over him at these times, but also the way David responds to the Lord at these times too. I don’t know about you but I find the hours of the night a time where I often reflect on and sift through the events of the day. These can be good and productive times, but there are often times when the hours of the night bring distorted and worrying thoughts. When everything seems swirl around your head and become confused and sometimes frightening. David is no stranger to the night times and mornings of lives and what a difference knowing and trusting the Lord can bring to them. And what he says about them is both challenging and encouraging.

Night Time

Encouragement

In Psalm 3 we find David surrounded by enemies and on the run from his son Absalom. The words of the Psalm are David's declaration of how he sees the situation. “O Lord I have many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying God will never rescue him!" (v1 NLT). How many times in our life do we feel like the situations (enemies) that surround us seem bigger than we can handle. And those thoughts of how will my situation change, how will I escape these circumstances etc. loom large in our mind. Sometimes even the best shared thoughts and empathy of other people can reinforce the magnitude of the situation, which encourages us to think; there is no way out, nothing can change, it’s a hopeless case. But we can take heart from David’s declaration “But you O Lord are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who hold my head high. I cried out to the Lord and he answered me from his holy mountain" (v3 & 4 NLT). David put the Lord front and centre of the situation. Reinforcing the place of the Lord in his life, that it was the Lord of heaven and earth that was his shield, his glory, and the one that sustains him (holds his head high). David declares that he is not trusting in his own achievements or strengths, but that of the one who is over all and who has never been defeated. And because of that awareness and declaration he is at peace. “I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.” (v5 NLT). In other words I let go of my concerns, I stop carrying my worries, I put down the need to know how things would turn out and how change would be achieved, I stopped trying to look after myself/others. Instead, I slept (rested) and I woke in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. The Lord took care of him while he rested. This was such a good reminder to me to allow myself not to have to carry the concerns or find the solutions. But to rest on the understanding that the Lord has it in hand and will affect all that is needed to keep me and those I love safe. David reiterates further in Psalm 4 just so we get the message “Many people say “who will show us better times? Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O lord, will keep me safe” (v6-8 NLT).  

Challenge

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The word of the Lord is both encouraging, and directive. There are times when we need to do something in answer to the situations that trouble us. This can be challenging. I find one of the most challenging directives for my life is around anger. How quickly it can become inflamed in our lives, and result in words or actions that can hurt others or damage relationships for ever. Anger is a powerful emotion that demands action, either in word or deed against the one that has angered us. And I have always found that nothing done in anger is profitable to me or others. Yet even the knowledge of that does not stop me acting out of anger.  David must have experienced this because he gives one of the best pieces of advice to us, if only we can take it on board. Psalm 4v 4&5 (NLT) “Don’t sin by letting anger control you”. Excellent advice, but my goodness how hard it is to not let anger control you; how do we do that? Paul in his letter to the Ephesians gives direction about anger, he says “Don’t let the sun go down while you are angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” Ephesians 4v26 (NLT) which is good advice if you can get on top of your anger and put the situation right before you go to bed. But if that is not possible David gives some wise words in this area.  “Think about it overnight……And remain silent. Offer sacrifices in the right spirit and trust the Lord”. There are two keys here. One is; shutting up!! The hardest thing to do. If you’re not in the right place to speak without inflaming the anger more; shut up and sleep on it. But David advises not to leave it at that. He says if we then offer sacrifices to the Lord (pray and seek his face) in the right spirit, we can then trust the Lord to put the situation right, either by equipping us to overcome the anger and speak or act in the right way to heal the situation. Or let it go and trust him to put the situation right. This really can be a challenge but if we only dealt with anger as these great men of God advise, then there would be much let conflict in the world and the Church.

Morning

Challenge

So that covers the night time. What about the morning? David uses the morning to pray. David says “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord” Psalm 5v3 (NLT). If you’re not a morning person praying in the morning can be hard. Hurtling last minute out of bed and rushing off into the day, may work for you. But taking time to prepare yourself for the day by coming before the Lord is so much better. Setting the alarm a few minutes earlier and actually getting out of bed to commit the day to the Lord really does set your life on a better course for the day. But David adds an extra little insight to his prayer life that actually is so important. “Each morning, I bring my requests to you, and wait expectantly” it’s the word expectantly. In our church there is a plaque which says `Expect a Miracle` I find that so challenging.  Do I really expect a miracle, every morning when I pray, do I really wait expectantly for the Lord to take control of the day and answer my prayers how he wills. If I don’t then why am I praying? My prayer is that as I pray the Lord will help me to increase the expectancy in my heart so that I do wait expectantly and expect a miracle every day.

Encouragement 

Psalm 5 v7&8 (NLT) “Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your temple with the deepest awe. Lead me in the right path O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain to me to follow”. The encouragement that David brings is that because of Gods unfailing love we can enter his house. For David his place of worship was epitomised by entering the temple. Jesus says to the woman at the well that the time is coming when it will not matter where you worship the Father but only that you worship in Spirit and Truth.  And we can be can be encouraged that because Gods faithfulness, His unfailing love is renewed every day to us then we can worship with deepest awe because we know we are accepted, by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus. And we can be assured that if we commit the day and our way to Him, He will make His plans and paths plain to us. Thank you, Lord, for your unfailing love to us every morning and every night. 

Author: Jan Pearson

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Fear God..for judgement comes

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments

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As I write this blog we have just returned from a short break to Norfolk; some of my friends will think that I always postpone blogs until after breaks. Norfolk was a new place for us especially on the coast, with the incredible views, but also the wondrous site of the black glossy heads of the common seals bobbing over the breakers. We found ourselves in conversation with a couple from Yorkshire who made a monthly trip to the Norfolk Broads; they forsook the Yorkshire dales with its rugged outlook for the immense open Norfolk skies. 

Even at night, as we were in a secluded place and away from the Midlands light pollution, we saw the heavens filled with those beautiful star constellations which I was able to verify with my new app and my knowledgeable wife. So with stars and seals and sky and sea, what could be a better place to jump in, than the book of revelation?

 In chapter 14:6-7:

Then I saw another angel flying in mid-air, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language and people.  He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.

In recent years, I have returned to this passage many times and conclude that it is an enduring, unequivocal, declaration of truth. The Old Testament wisdom literature also concludes with something similar in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14:

Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the duty of all mankind.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.

Today we heard news about the floods in central Europe; they were accurately forecast and the authorities predicted the rising river levels and the ensuing floods. Residents were warned that a flood would come and that they should leave their homes. But despite the warnings from the authorities, some residents did not leave their homes. We all know, if we’re honest, how hard it would be for us to act on such a warning, even from trusted authorities. It’s especially after we have experienced a relatively comfortable lifestyle for many years. 

While we were walking around Norwich cathedral I was arrested by an image that I caught with my phone, but you can easily look up on the internet, search for  ‘Thomas Gooding’ or ‘the skeleton’.

Thomas Gooding was buried vertically inside Norwich Cathedral - in order that he could spring up and be first into heaven. His tomb is now known as 'the skeleton'. It features a wonderfully poetic epitaph:

All you that do this place pass bye

Remember death for you will dye.

As you are now even so was I

And as I am so shall you be.

Thomas Gooding here do staye

Wayting for God's judgement day.

If you have read this far, then read the epitaph again for this seems an appropriate place to conclude.

Author: Richard Windridge

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Standing in the gap - Strengthening the body of Christ (re-print)

If one part of the body (of Christ) suffers, then the whole body suffers, so sometimes we may need to stand in and support each other to make the body strong again.

Julie Roach

‘What have we got in common with a dry stone wall?’ is a question I asked myself as I added the picture to the right to my social media profile. I took the photo recently whilst on holiday and I was struck once more at the skill of the people that build these walls. What at first glance may appear to be a randomly constructed pile of stones is in fact an intricate and well thought-out structure. As we continued our walk, a little further, we saw a gentleman who was in the process of re-building part of the wall.  I noticed that he quickly, but carefully felt the stones to find just the right one to put in the gap. He continued, even as he talked with us and the wall took shape surprisingly quickly.

In order to answer my question; ‘What have we got in common with a dry stone wall?’ at this point, I am like one of those stones right in the middle of the top row. Can you see where I mean? There are two stones leaning vertically into the middle, one is leaning to the right and the other to the left. In the middle there are two stones lying down horizontally, resting on the wall below them. The lower of the two horizontal stones is holding the two rows of vertical stones apart: and then there is me, the small one on top of it; acting as ‘a filler’, bridging the gap and playing just a small but significant part in strengthening the whole wall. Every component in the wall is significant and without any one of those stones the wall would be weaker and lose its strength. If a number of components were missing then when bad weather comes the wall would struggle and break down into disrepair.

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My point is that we all need each other and we need to value the part that both we and others play. If we were all the same: size, shape, skill set, age, character etc. then just like the wall would not have the same strength and the storms of life could break us into pieces. This is also the case for the unity and diversity of the body of Christ; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 ‘Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many’. God’s word then goes onto tell us why each of us are important and significant in the body of Christ; 1 Corinthians 12:17-20 ‘If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.  If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body'. 

Each and every one of us who accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour has a contribution to make to ensure that the body of Christ functions effectively. If one part of the body suffers, then the whole body suffers, so sometimes, just like the stones in a dry stone wall, we may need to stand in and support each other to make the body strong again.

As someone committed to facilitating children/adults to become the best that they can be: and as I strive to continually become the best I can be myself at any given time, I am extremely grateful that I have a diverse group of people around me that all act as stones in the wall. Each of us is prepared to fulfil our purpose in the group and in doing so we are also strengthening the body of Christ by loving and supporting each other.

So what have you got in common with a dry stone wall?  God tells us that we are important; Psalm 139:13-14 ‘For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well’. Just like the stones in a dry stone wall; without YOU the body of Christ would not be as strong and the people you interact with would miss out on the qualities that make you unique. May God bless you richly in making your contribution and fulfilling your role in the body of Christ. Praise God.

Author: Julie Roach

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Abraham’s Faith, God’s Plan

Like us Abraham wasn’t perfect, he made loads of mistakes and got things wrong, but God saw his heart.

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Romans 4 talks about Abraham’s faith in the face of impossibilities and gives us an amazing example of how we should live our lives with God.

So, I want to look at some verses in this chapter and consider what we might learn from the for our daily walk with God.

In verse 3 it says - What does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Firstly, Paul refers to the scriptures, this is always a safe place to start, which say that ‘Abraham believed God’. Note: it doesn’t say Abraham believed in God, but that he believed God which is why it was then credited to him as righteousness. How quickly do we turn to the scriptures and how much do we take them on board and do what they say? In other words, do we believe God for the possible when all we see is the impossible?

Paul goes on to talks about work and faith and then quotes the scriptures again from Psalm 32:1-2 where David says ‘Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.’

Do you know whether you feel like it or not, if you know Christ you are truly blessed. Paul then talks about this blessedness being for the circumcised and the uncircumcised, that is both Jew and Gentile. But very importantly in verses 13 to 15 Paul explains that this righteousness does not come through the law but by faith.

Verses 16 and 17 explain this really well but look at how verse 17 finishes off:

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. (NIV. Underline added)

Paul says that God calls things into being that don’t exist. So, what we can’t see God can. Abraham knew this truth and so believed God. Look at what verse 18 says ‘Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 

Against all hope! Abraham in hope! 'Believed.' What a challenge for each one of us, when we’re up against it and all looks lost, will we nevertheless, in hope, believe?

How does Paul say he did this? Verses 19 - 21 tells us. 

Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Abraham saw with his eyes the desperate situation he and Sarah were in, but I love what it says at the end of verse 20 and 21 ‘but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

How was his faith strengthened? In his situation he gave glory to God because he was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised. WOW!!

Paul then tells us in verse 22 - 'This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”'

Was this righteousness just for Abraham? No! It’s for us too.

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Paul finishes Romans 4 with this declaration: verses 23-25 'The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.'

Like us Abraham wasn’t perfect, he made loads of mistakes and got things wrong, but God saw his heart. Right from the minute God called Abraham to leave his home and just go, God had a plan and Abraham believed Him for that plan, even against ‘All hope’. God also has a plan for our lives, will we believe Him even when we’re faced with what looks like complete hopelessness?

We are living in the most dangerous and the most exciting times in history. How we look at these times will determine how we walk with God. We can look at all that’s going on in this world and fall into hopelessness, or we can look up and believe that we’re living in His-story, give glory to Him and be fully persuaded that He's able to do what He's promised.

May God bless you with believing that He has the power to do all that He has promised. Walk in faith child of God and be blessed. Amen.

Author: Kevin Hunt

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God's People in Exile

Throughout history the church has been more effective as a persecuted minority than as a dominant power.

In the LORD I take refuge. 

How then can you say to me:  “Flee like a bird to your mountain!

For behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrow on the string

to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”  (Psalm 11:1-3)

David, before he became king, was in trouble. As if it wasn't enough to be arch enemy of the Philistines he was relentlessly pursued by king Saul, whose jealousy

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drove him to ruthlessly crush all opposition to his despotic leadership. David had friends, loyal companions who were looking out for him, and who therefore were advising him to flee for safety. But their well-intentioned warnings were motivated by fear, so David would have none of it, choosing instead to take refuge in the Lord. The fear was of secret attack from unknown adversaries lurking in the shadows; the antidote to trust in God who alone can be trusted.

The 'foundations' refer to the fundamental principles that hold society together. When these norms of community behaviour are torn down there is no longer any protection for the innocent. Anarchy breaks out and chaos follows, and upright citizens can do nothing to halt the declining ethical and moral standards.

So when cultural correctness crumbles, can righteous people still make a difference?

In David's time power struggles and revenge killings were the order of the day, but when he became king he was able to establish justice and equity, because he let the Lord rule.  In the following generations apostasy prevailed, standards dropped, and eventually the whole nation found itself in exile. Was it all a waste? Could the righteous do nothing?

God allowed Israel, then Judah, into exile as a punishment for their disobedience, but not without the hope of restoration.  There in captivity, yet culturally and creatively free, the greatest and most influential writings were produced.  Babylon marked the end of leadership by corrupt and idolatrous kings but allowed a resurgence of Jewish tradition.  Here the Torah took its final shape, study halls were established, and leadership passed to God-fearing rabbis.  We gentiles owe our biblical understanding to texts preserved and copied during exile. It is true that some for a while 'sat down and wept by the rivers of Babylon, refusing to sing the songs of Zion' (Psalm 137), but later adapted, flourished, studied and became 'a light to the gentiles' (Isaiah 60, Luke 2). In the books of Esther and Daniel we get glimpses of how exile gave rise to influence, opportunity and to hope.

Here is a paradigm for our own times. The foundations of British culture, once built on Judaeo/Christian standards, have been disintegrating, perhaps even deliberately destroyed. The symptoms don't need spelling out - just listen to ten minutes of any news bulletin and all the signs of a broken society are evident. What boiled over on our streets recently has been simmering for decades with no moral compass to restrain it.  While Moslem clerics were able to demonstrate calm leadership the church was effectively silenced.

The Christian church in the UK is entering a kind of exile. Sidelined and muted, under duress from competing religions, no longer representing a majority, considered to be culturally irrelevant, consigned to a social ghetto, pressurised, but being purified. Just as God used exiled Jews to preserve His word and be a light to host nations, He will also use a repressed and subverted remnant of faithful followers of Jesus the Jewish Messiah.  Power and influence by the church may have waned but God's authority has not. This story is far from over.

Back To Jerusalem

Throughout history the church has been more effective as a persecuted minority than as a dominant power. 'Christendom' brought complacency and heresy, with a distorted evangelism that emphasises a social rather than a saving gospel. Political correctness outweighs prophetic confrontation, and eco-credentials are rated higher on the agenda than biblical principles. This kind of compromised church has little influence on the world because it has allowed in the world's influence, permitting, even welcoming, unacceptable and unbiblical moral and ethical standards. 

So it's time for God's people to be driven into exile, into a wilderness to be purged of institutions, denominations and traditions, pursuing holiness rather than happiness, righteousness rather than reputation. There to be purified and empowered for the task of gathering lost souls into the Kingdom of God. We live in the certain hope that Jesus will return and will reign forever. In that hope we, his 'ekklesia', - his 'called-out assembly' - must encourage one another to continue in repentance and faith in Christ, being filled with Holy Spirit to equip us for mission. 

Lord we thank you for being our refuge. We thank you for these days of opportunity and for the coming revival. We thank you that even when the foundations fail the righteous prevail. By Your grace we will serve You today. Jesus, You have our 'yes'.

Author: John Plumb

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Stewards - not Owners

The person who can cheerfully hand over his life work for God to others and still fully support them in it has become a true worshipper in spirit and in truth.

John 3:30 'He must increase, but I must decrease.'

When the crowds left John the Baptist to follow Jesus, he said "this is the assigned moment for Jesus to move into the centre, while I slip off to the sidelines". John 3v30 (KJV) John thought like a steward.

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A steward simply manages something for the owner until he comes to take it back.  John knew that the crowd leaving him for Christ was never his to begin with. God had simply placed them under his care for a period of time to accomplish certain purposes. With John this was apparently just fine.

John's view of stewardship presents us with an important principle. For his crowds, maybe our careers, our assets, our natural and spiritual gifts. Are these things owned or merely managed in the Name of the one who entrusted them to us?. Our answer depends on whether we are called or driven. Driven people consider them owned, called people don't.

When driven people lose things, it's a major crisis (ownership, position, possession), however, when called people lose them, it's not a crisis, why? because their calling is (stewardship to a person) the person being the Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing who he was not, was the beginning of John knowing who Jesus was, and john being a steward he didn't aspire to anything beyond that.

In 2 Samuel 7:1-13. Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around. 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "see now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains." 3 then Nathan said to the king, "go do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you." 4 But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying. 5 "go and tell my servant David, thus says the LORD; "would you build a house for Me to dwell in? 6 "For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7  "Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying 'why have you not built me a house of cedar?'"  8 "Now therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, 'thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel.  9 "and I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 10 "Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously. 11 "since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house. 12 "when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 "He shall build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 

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Whilst king David had set his heart on building the house of God, for years his thoughts had being centred on this project and his savings dedicated to it's fulfilment. He had prayed about it and had even been given a heavenly plan of how it should be constructed. Then came the disappointment, you may think when Nathan the prophet had to tell him that the LORD said that the work will be done by someone else.

King David accepted this disappointment as God's appointment/will, as he continued preparing the materials, handed over the plan to Solomon his son, and encouraged him to complete the task which had being his life ambition/stewardship.

This was true worship for it proved he was not at all concerned for himself, but to be a good steward only for the glory of God. The person who can cheerfully hand over his life work for God to others and still fully support them in it has become a true worshipper in spirit and in truth.

So my brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ may I just encourage you by saying what is success as God counts success, it's when others hear you, but follow Jesus, it's when others see some quality in you that causes them to fall more in love with Jesus, only when that happens and feel like you've lost nothing in the process, you can truly say father I've done what you called me to do.

I pray may the Lord richly bless and keep you as you in faith run the race, finish the course that He may say well done my good and faithful servant in Jesus Name.  Amen

Author: Herbert Jean

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The Goodness of God

We don’t want in our comfortable 21st Century Western Christianity to be brought to our knees weeping and wailing before almighty God when faced with the challenge of His goodness. But when we really see His goodness that is precisely where we find ourselves

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Here is a quote from an unexpected source – The ‘Atheists for Liberty website’: “On March 31 this year, Richard Dawkins appeared in an interview with Rachel Johnson on LBC, where he made headlines after identifying himself as a cultural Christian. After stating he was “slightly horrified” to hear about when Oxford Street in London began promoting Ramadan instead of Easter, he explained his belief that England is a culturally Christian country. “I’m not a believer, but there is a distinction between being a believing Christian and a cultural Christian. I love hymns and Christmas carols and I sort of feel at home in the Christian ethos, and I feel that we are a Christian country in that sense.”

I guess, firstly, I never thought that I would be agreeing with Richard Dawkins about anything! However, I can empathize with the sentiment that he expresses about the absence of public signs of our Christian heritage - he mentions Easter – with me it was both Easter and Christmas. Notably, I was deeply saddened that after having listened to “Messiah” at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham last Christmas, Jan and I walked the length of New Street amidst the decorations and symbols of several other religions, but not a single Christian emblem anywhere to be seen.

I first came across Richard Dawkins as a student as the author of a book “The selfish gene” (published in 1976) which explained evolution from a gene’s point of view. Genes contain our DNA and the code that instructs our cells to make us what we are physically – for example: an ant, a rabbit or a human being. The code also predetermines some aspects of behaviour – so for example male lions who have just taken over leading a pride will often kill all of the young cubs – you could say that this behaviour was ensuring that the new leader’s genes were past on to the next generation rather than the outgoing leader’s genes. 

Dawkin’s theory was that gene’s force creatures to work in their own self-interest – they are “selfish” and predispose living things (including us) towards ensuring their own survival for future generations. This of course gives a problem when it comes to explaining altruism (willingness of someone to sacrifice themselves for someone else’s benefit). In the natural world there are many examples of altruism – take worker bees that have “given up” the right to reproduce in the “interests of the colony” – how is this “selfish genes” at work?.

His theories were the source of much vigorous debate both scientifically, ethically, and as a well-known and “evangelical atheist”, with followers of Jesus. In an on-line essay Neil Shenvi summarises Dawkin’s approach like this: “What is it, (Dawkins) goes on to ask, that leads some individuals to be loving and altruistic to the degree that there is no possible benefit to themselves and rather the certainty of permanent loss? What can we learn from individuals whose behaviour is simply not explicable in terms of maximization of their own fitness? And this brings him to Jesus. Not, Dawkins would hasten to add, because he considers Jesus in any way unique, but because Jesus seems to embody precisely this standard of selflessness, compassion, and universal love”.

So here is someone who confesses that they are not a believer but do value “cultural Christianity”. I would say that many want the benefits of being in a Christian country without wanting to actually participate in the faith or follow its author. It’s a bit like parents wanting the benefits of a church school but not the God from whom those blessings and benefits originally flowed – or the trappings of a church wedding without belonging to the community of faith and body of belief that makes the covenant between God, a man and a woman real.

As we are now seeing, day after day and week after week, the dilution of active participation in the Christian faith but still expecting its blessings and benefits does not work and in the end even those good things that “cultural Christians” treasure will be no more. These shadows of treasured blessings cannot exist without the substance. Without the reality there are no shadows.

It reminds me greatly of some lines from the BBC adaptation of “pride and Prejudice”. One of the Bennet sisters (Jane) has just agreed to marry the person that she is in love with (Mr Bingley). She is speaking to her sister (Elizabeth) saying something like “Oh Lizzie! I’m so happy! Can you believe that everything would work out in such a wonderful way”? She then expresses a wish for her sister to be similarly blessed and happy. But Elizabeth, knowing her own heart replies: “If you were to give me forty such men, I never could be so happy as you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness”.

And that’s it – Elizabeth is right – without following Jesus, without a transaction with the Holy Spirit, apart from experiencing God’s goodness and kindness, we cannot have the blessings, they are beyond our reach. The trappings, sentiments and practices of Christianity cannot on their own save our souls. There is a cry for the church to be relevant today – the world wants us to modernise and “fit in” and go along with a sham godliness; the world wants to tell us what to think and what to believe – It wants to tell us what “goodness” is and what is “good”.

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Richard, a brother in our church who spoke recently about the message of the gospel of Mark reminded us that Jesus has pointed us to what is good. In Mark 10 v 18 Jesus says: “Why do you call me good?” … “No one is good—except God alone”. When Richard spoke about this I felt both the conviction and excitement as the Holy Spirit gave power to those words. This is Jesus reminding us through scripture: “No one is good—except God alone”! As Richard says it is understanding this goodness and contrasting it with everything we are, which brings us to repentance. Many want a bloodless and repentance-free gospel. A nice feeling, good singing, being assured of God’s love. We don’t want in our comfortable 21st Century Western Christianity to be brought to our knees weeping and wailing before almighty God when faced with the challenge of His goodness. But when we really see His goodness that is precisely where we find ourselves.

In scripture Job, who had been through such sorrow at the end of it has a revelation of God’s goodness. He says: “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Who could imagine God’s goodness woven through what Job went through? But there it is - Job is overwhelmed by his encounter with God and seeing how His goodness transcends all that we are and all that we can do… What can we do in the face of such overwhelming goodness? Well, when we come to the end of ourselves, our arguments and our justifications, we can throw ourselves on His mercy. He wants us to be partakers of His goodness as well as brought to repentance by it – but we can’t be partakers until we have been convinced and convicted. Then just when we are in despair of any hope God the Father shows us His ultimate goodness – Jesus…

Romans 2 v 4: Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

This is the message for all humankind. In the story in Mark 10 Jesus remarks that it is very hard for comfortable, rich people to enter the Kingdom of God – because as Richard says “why would they want to repent”? Paul add to this other kinds of comfort and in 1 Corinthians 2 v 26 - says:

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

Everyone – even academics capable of mental feats that most of us can only dream of – if they want the “happiness” that goes with “Christianity” must come to terms with God’s goodness through repentance, and become followers of Jesus. Without this its like chasing shadows… you think that you have something – but not really….

Author: Chris Pearson

May God bless and enrich your life

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