On the news recently was a piece about Pentecostal pastors in England telling members with HIV to stop taking medications and instead rely on God's healing. And ill people became worse.
And it became a news item because it was scandalous news. And as a Christian who believes in miracles and healing, I agree it is scandalous. Not speaking about any case in particular, there is a real danger that when healing by faith doesn't appear to work, we tell people that they didn't have enough faith, or that there must be some kind of sin in their life holding back the power of God.
However, the truth is that we all have sin in our life, and nowhere in the Bible do we read of Jesus telling people to stop any kind of medical treatment. It's not an either or... Either have faith or get medical treatment. We should pray for wisdom and discernment and also listen to the advice of medical experts. And we should pray for healing of mind and body.
But it's yet another example of a horrific impact on the witness of the Christian church. Add this to the list of things such as sexual abuse in Christian schools or abuse by monks, nuns, priests, the apparent intolerance of homosexuality.
If I wasn't a Christian, I'd want nothing to do with the Church!
And yet, the stories we don't hear... The love, the mercy, the compassion, the feeding the poor, the giving comfort, the amazing, selfless acts of kindness and generosity. The list of positives far outweighs but is sadly not as newsworthy.
But after my anger at the news item of the pastors telling people to stop treatments died down, I spoke to God. I told him how frustrated I was and how angry I was at the poor witness of Christians throughout the world (myself included). How were we to convince the world that being a Christian is worthwhile?!
And after listening patiently to my rant, I got a sense of a reply. I got a gentle reminder that no-one is perfect. In fact, no-one is actually good enough. And this doesn't stop God loving us one little bit. God isn't calling us to good behaviour. He's calling us into relationship.
It was a reminder that Jesus is calling everyone into closer relationship with him, not just the "unsaved". We need to love and show forgiveness to our brothers and sisters as well as the world. And we need to show love and forgiveness to ourselves.
My anger helped remind me of Grace. Thank you God.
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Sunday, 21 July 2013
our sense of identity
Some recent discussions among some Christian friends of mine were on the subject of being Counter-cultural. One said that he believes maintaining integrity with the Bible means always being counter-cultural.
This stirred another musing and reminded me of my undergraduate psychology studies of Social Identity Theory.
As human beings, a large part of our sense of identity comes from comparison with our in-group (where we belong) and our out-group (the others!).
As a travelling Scot, I know only too well that this identity is fluid. In the city where I live, there are divides depending on where we live. Jokes are made about the other end of town. This can be a strong identity, especially during sporting events. Warmth towards our in-group (as long as they don't violate our core values, but we'll be much more forgiving) and hostility (at times) towards the other group.
Until we have an inter-city rivalry. Then, we shift our focus and our local differences diminish (along with some hostility) and we face a new "common enemy".
Until we look south (or north or whatever direction your nearest rival nation is). Then we have a sense of national pride. This can continue, and no doubt would do so in the event of extra-terrestrial contact...
But how does this relate to Christians? Well, in our national Church, we've been debating the issue of homosexuality. This has caused division, pretty much into 2 camps, with some brave exceptions of those resisting the divisive nature of this debate. As long as the focus remains on a single issue, where people are predominantly in one camp or another, then an in-group and out-group can start to emerge. I've noticed this first hand. I've started to feel more than usual warmth towards other Christians who I might not normally spend much time with, because on this issue, we are on the same side of the fence and I feel a need for emotional support and a sense of community. However, I've equally felt an increase in hostility and irritation towards other Christians on the other side of the fence, and I have begun to associate many traits I disapprove of with membership of this group.
The rational, educated part of me knows what is going on, but the emotional part of me still feels it.
I believe this is in part because I am getting my sense of Christian identity from community membership that is fluid and easily divided. Bring up another debate (like switching sporting events) and I would no doubt find my sense of identity shifting slightly once more as the defining lines are readjusted.
Christians can run the risk of having 2 groups... The us and them, the saved and the non-believers. On the one hand, this can help remind us of our mission of reaching the world with the message of God's love. However, it can easily shift to a condemnation of non-Christian behaviour and a reluctance to associate with the out-group. Just look through the book of Acts and you will see that this is not a new phenomenon as the Jewish believers were struggling to know how to worship alongside the previously unacceptable gentiles (probably one of the best examples of an in-group and out-group bias).
But is this an unavoidable issue, or can we do something about it?
There are some lovely verses in Hebrews 12 that go:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
As we run the race, we must avoid the temptation of comparison with others. This can lead to pride, arrogance and group blindness (if others we love do something, it must be okay!). Instead, we need to focus with effort on Jesus and our relationship with him. Of course, we need fellowship with others and we have a great commission and warnings about being corrupted by the world. However, it is not here that we should get our identity. This can lead to the elder brother syndrome of believing certain standards must be met in order to belong or be accepted. It can also lead to internal division (one of the acts of the sinful nature mentioned by Paul in Galatians).
Instead, we should assess ourselves individually by looking into the eyes of Jesus each and every day. Instead of looking for approval to our left or right, we need to look up for guidance, while reaching downwards and outwards with love.
This stirred another musing and reminded me of my undergraduate psychology studies of Social Identity Theory.
As human beings, a large part of our sense of identity comes from comparison with our in-group (where we belong) and our out-group (the others!).
As a travelling Scot, I know only too well that this identity is fluid. In the city where I live, there are divides depending on where we live. Jokes are made about the other end of town. This can be a strong identity, especially during sporting events. Warmth towards our in-group (as long as they don't violate our core values, but we'll be much more forgiving) and hostility (at times) towards the other group.
Until we have an inter-city rivalry. Then, we shift our focus and our local differences diminish (along with some hostility) and we face a new "common enemy".
Until we look south (or north or whatever direction your nearest rival nation is). Then we have a sense of national pride. This can continue, and no doubt would do so in the event of extra-terrestrial contact...
But how does this relate to Christians? Well, in our national Church, we've been debating the issue of homosexuality. This has caused division, pretty much into 2 camps, with some brave exceptions of those resisting the divisive nature of this debate. As long as the focus remains on a single issue, where people are predominantly in one camp or another, then an in-group and out-group can start to emerge. I've noticed this first hand. I've started to feel more than usual warmth towards other Christians who I might not normally spend much time with, because on this issue, we are on the same side of the fence and I feel a need for emotional support and a sense of community. However, I've equally felt an increase in hostility and irritation towards other Christians on the other side of the fence, and I have begun to associate many traits I disapprove of with membership of this group.
The rational, educated part of me knows what is going on, but the emotional part of me still feels it.
I believe this is in part because I am getting my sense of Christian identity from community membership that is fluid and easily divided. Bring up another debate (like switching sporting events) and I would no doubt find my sense of identity shifting slightly once more as the defining lines are readjusted.
Christians can run the risk of having 2 groups... The us and them, the saved and the non-believers. On the one hand, this can help remind us of our mission of reaching the world with the message of God's love. However, it can easily shift to a condemnation of non-Christian behaviour and a reluctance to associate with the out-group. Just look through the book of Acts and you will see that this is not a new phenomenon as the Jewish believers were struggling to know how to worship alongside the previously unacceptable gentiles (probably one of the best examples of an in-group and out-group bias).
But is this an unavoidable issue, or can we do something about it?
There are some lovely verses in Hebrews 12 that go:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
As we run the race, we must avoid the temptation of comparison with others. This can lead to pride, arrogance and group blindness (if others we love do something, it must be okay!). Instead, we need to focus with effort on Jesus and our relationship with him. Of course, we need fellowship with others and we have a great commission and warnings about being corrupted by the world. However, it is not here that we should get our identity. This can lead to the elder brother syndrome of believing certain standards must be met in order to belong or be accepted. It can also lead to internal division (one of the acts of the sinful nature mentioned by Paul in Galatians).
Instead, we should assess ourselves individually by looking into the eyes of Jesus each and every day. Instead of looking for approval to our left or right, we need to look up for guidance, while reaching downwards and outwards with love.
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Romans 1
There is an excellent article exploring Romans 1 and who exactly Paul was talking about in this passage often quoted to condemn all homosexual activity.
http://www.acceptingevangelicals.org/2011/10/bible-focus-part-4-romans-1/
God bless,
MM
http://www.acceptingevangelicals.org/2011/10/bible-focus-part-4-romans-1/
God bless,
MM
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