I may have written on this before… sorry… hahahaha… But even if I have I think it’s something worth reflecting on again .  It’s harsh, so buckle your seat belts and enjoy (or not) the ride

I watched a video recently of a preacher calling prosperity into the lives of his congregation through prayer… Everybody responded, naturally, I mean who doesn’t like the idea of earning more and living better?  His ministry, it would appear, was succesful also – there was a LOT of people crammed into that building – they were clapping and cheering and taking notes… but again, who wouldn’t do those things if they thought that they brought a big fat cash blessing…?

I have 2 thoughts on the topic.

1) Absolute Arrogance

Every Sunday in every country on every continent people hear prosperity teachings… things like pressed down, shaken together and pouring over or Jesus came so that we may have life and life in abundance get thrown around to inspire people to give more, attend more, pray harder, read more, serve longer… We have honestly given ourselves the idea that IF we are good christians God will bless us… BUT IT’S CRAP… and just quietly it’s both arrogant and offensive to live in that mistaken mindset…

Here’s why.

In 2009 I travelled to Fiji – I preached in a few churches and did some leadership training with a bunch of youth leaders… I met a guy there called Richie.  Richie is a pastor’s son – he is a strong, intelligent and good-looking guy with a BUNCH of dreams… Things that HE wants to do in the name of Jesus.  I had the privilege of praying for Richie one evening and watching the Spirit of God come upon his words and upon his music. His passion was always people… it always will be… The struggle for Richie is that there isn’t a lot of money or resource where he comes from.  food is scarce amongst the people in the surrounding villages, the church is like a lean-to – random bits of timber or sheeting nailed together as best it could be… There isn’t entertainment like there is here, not a great public transport system, he can’t just send out a mass text or email because not everyone has access to that kind of technology……… by the standards of a prosperity preaching church Richie (obviously) just isn’t connecting enough with God… or maybe he doesn’t tithe enough… perhaps it’s because he doesn’t read as much as other people? BUT IT’S CRAP… That night amongst those people Richie prayed as hard and as passionately about seeing God touch his community as anyone I had ever seen… His love for God is genuine – his commitment to seeing people FIND God is real… His financial situation and that of the community he lives in has NOTHING to do with how christian he is… because truthfully – if it was the measure – he would be living better than me… than all of us…

Truth is after travelling throughout large parts of the third world I have met 1000′s of people like Richie. Christians who give up EVERYTHING to serve God… missionaries who left their homes, pastors who run 5 or 6 churches in 5 or 6 different villages every week, doctors and nurses who administer medication for free every single day of their lives… I am not worth more than them… and frankly assuming that my blessings are as a result of my faithfulness to God is a slap in the face to those people… and they deserve better from us than that.

2) Absolute Ignorance

I believe that we are blessed so that we can be a blessing.  The bible tells us that to whom much is given much is expected… And for some reason we think that going to church, being involved in a ‘team’, going to a small group, paying our tithe, sponsoring a child, even going on a short-term mission trip is somehow going satisfy God… as if that even comes close to the blessings we have because of him?!

We know the statistics about poverty – we know how many hundreds of innocent children die every day of preventable diseases, we know that water is the biggest killer on the planet, we know that most of the world lives on less than $2 a day… we know it… and yet somehow we still believe that those things I mentioned before are somehow enough?

I remember a conversation that Jesus had with the Disciples about forgiveness – how many times should I forgive he was asked… Jesus response was profound… and gut wrechingly, life changingly, pain stakingly DIFFICULT… you must forgive them seven times seventy seven… What Jesus was trying to tell them was: YOU CAN NEVER FORGIVE THEM ENOUGH… ever… it’s ongoing, it’s always, it’s with everything you have… And our life is meant to be lived that way…

If we aren’t constantly giving, constantly praying, constantly serving then we aren’t doing it enough… And (this is where it gets brutal) if you think that it’s okay to live at all in excess while God’s children suffer then your living in absolute ignorance…

Sorry for the downer…….. we’ll… kinda… hahahaha

Adam

I spent a bit of time reflecting on how angry Tim is at the institution we call ‘church’ and if you read my last post you will see that I at least acknowledge his right to feel that way and even go so far as to agree with him on a few thoughts…….. That being said Tim is at risk of himself being painted in the same unjust and hypocritical light he paints the church in…

For centuries the church has been criticized for standing on it’s ‘soap box’ to condemn the decisions man makes away from God… Murder, adultery, jealousy, greed, manipulation… and yet as loudly as they have stood against them they have lived in them… and for the outsider looking in it would seem that the church doesn’t put it’s money where it’s mouth is…  You say God is love? then why worship in multi million dollar facilities when children die of curable diseases?  And honestly Tim, that frustrates me too… BUT I want to remind you that the largest independent aid organizations in the world are christian organizations… Salvation Army, World Vision, Compassion International, Samaritans Purse… the list goes on… The fact is ‘The Church’ is responsible for delivering Billions of dollars of aid to third world countries every year… But you choose not to acknowledge that… Or even see it?

Why?

Perspective… Your perspective has been so clouded by the apparent hypocrisy of the church that even when it DOES do something good you don’t see it… and that my friend is unfortunate – because everyday on every continent around the world something beautiful happens as a result of a very real God being reflected through his church… and I would LOVE for you to see it …

Here is where you need to be careful Tim, you stand on your soap box and you condemn a group of people for the choices they make… and whilst some of them need condemning you need to be aware of the fact that people like you are watching you make those comments… and they are watching the things that you do… and asking of you the same questions that you are asking of the church…

Does he know how many lives that (insert item here) could have saved?

Is he aware that 1000′s of children die every year to produce clothing made by that brand?

Unfortunately Tim your human… as are the people charged with leading our churches… and as such your fallible… and you make decisions that aren’t always in the best interest of the world…  and you want me to be okay with that???? Sure bud – I’m okay with that … I just hope one day you can be okay with it too……

Peace

Adam

I recently had the privilege of seeing Tim Minchin perform his new show with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra… First up the guy is an INCREDIBLE showman… he is funny, he is intelligent and he is extremely talented…  That being said – he HATES the church… and our expression of what God looks like.  So much so that he has hundreds of thousands of people around the world singing his humourous exaggerations about what the church looks like and how irrelevant it is… His show this time was no different – going so far as to call God a **nt.  Obviously, I don’t like it… and my being there is in no way meant to seem as a support of that opinion…

But I figure I can have 1 of 2 responses… one, do what most christians do and get frustrated with his ‘attitude’ and his ‘unwillingness to reason’ and write the guy off completely… or two, get fascinated as to WHY someone would reach that conclusion and improve HOW we communicate the gospel better… I chose option two …

And honestly, that is a MUCH harder choice to make because it means we… I… Have to look INWARD at our… my… own error and ask the tougher question – how did we… I… contribute to this mentality?  Not just with Tim, but with anyone?

Honestly, Tim’s frustration is valid… and to remove his right to be frustrated is not a path we have authority to go down… so what is Tim’s frustration?  He is frustrated by some of the things that frustrate many who opposed ‘The Church’ in recent years… our perceived focus on money, questions around why a loving God would let people starve, why middle class people pray middle class prayers while kids die of curable diseases, why churches have multi million dollar facilities and multi million dollar budgets without a perceived accountability to how THEIR money is spent… and of course like many ‘intellectuals’ – using the bible to prove God’s existence to someone who doesn’t hold the bible as credible seems like stupidity… at best…

All that laid out – do we really WANT to learn from someone so ‘critical’ and so ‘unteachable?’  short answer: yes, and the future of the church depends on our ability to listen to our critics… And most importantly – how do we do it without compromising the gospel…

For starters there is no short answer to any of his, or anyone’s, frustrations – but that doesn’t mean as a church we aren’t responsible for trying to address them… And honestly, SOME of his frustrations need to be looked at, scrutinised and addressed INTERNALLY and others are things that will not change without an acceptance for the need to have faith.

Take our nature for prayer… we pray for US all the time – for our church to grow, for our programs to improve, for the healing of our family or friend, for financial prosperity… and those things ARE important… but externally, looking in, it does look selfish… and hypocritical for God to do MORE for us when it would appear he has done so little for others… truth is – we know God has done EVERYTHING necessary for life and godliness through the full knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. (2 peter 1:3).  But the part of that puzzle we always leave out is that PART of that everything is in us… is us… part of God’s response to the plight of the hungry, the naked, the imprisoned, the sick and the homeless is us… and we don’t take the call to THEIR needs as seriously as we take the call to our own… and that IS sad…

What about money? for decades people have accused the church of being ‘money focussed’ – and we have argued it and justified it and largely ignored their feedback as ‘opposition’ rather than seeing it as a chance to change our perceptions… I wonder how many churches are even committing 10% of their total budget to missions… or 10% of their total budget to local community work?!  I promise you this: No body is going to wake up on Sunday and decide to go to church for the first time because you have a new lighting desk… they would go if they felt like you actually cared about them… and about their community… but they don’t feel that – and that is our fault…

I wonder how Tim would criticise the early church? how would he criticise a movement of people who committed everything that had to the service of the kingdom and to the caring of the poor? How would he criticise a community that shared and divided everything – regardless of race, regardless of stature, regardless of gender… could he criticise a movement like that?

I am going to do another piece entitled ‘Thing’s Tim Minchin could learn from the church’ – but I think it’s always better to look internally at growth and change before we try and look at what needs to change externally…

much love,

adam

You can check out the promo video below (if it doesnt work click here: http://vimeo.com/12871679) and follow the link at the bottom to check out the website

Adam

http://www.forestedge.org.au/

We arrived in Matamata just in time for dinner and I was met at the door by Bret’s wife Heidi and my good friend Katie Waa… I was shown to my room where I found a bed full of goodies and surprises to make the trip ‘special’ – and I can tell you A LOT of thought went into the little things those 2 ladies made me… .

I haven’t ‘done’ a whole lot yet – there is 400 kids playing just outside my window on a sports camp – so I have gotten involved a little with chores around the campsite to make things easier… I shared at staff study last night but don’t have any more ministry untill the leadership weekend starts on Friday…

Tonight though *big grins* I am heading into Hamilton… Catching up with my good friend Ben for coffee and then dinner with 2 young people who moved over here from my youth group in Melbourne… love. it. I need to mention Courtney in here as well because if I don’t I’m likely risky severe punishment maybe even certain death… *waves at Courtney*

I have to also add that I am honestly impressed with myself having posted through Romans EVERY DAY… I didn’t think I’d be disciplined enough to do it… Not sure yet what book I will read next (leaning towards Second Peter) and I’m also not sure if I will continue posting my thoughts as a journey through the bible chapter by chapter – thoughts and suggestions appreciated .

Romans 16 is what I call a ‘P.S.’ chapter… Paul, it would seem, officially signed off on his letter at the end of the last chapter when he finishes with the word – Amen. And while this chapter is no less important than any other Paul does what to make it clear that the main content of his letter is finished and these are some after thoughts… some house keeping even…

Paul wants to remind them (it seems to me) of the wider community of the church world-wide… At that time churches met in smaller groups in houses around the cities – not in large congregations like we see today… and in that setting it can be easy to see the church as small and insular… But by signing off with the mentions of people from all over the world the church gets a reminder of just how big the whole movement is… and I can imagine those moments being exciting for a church forced to meet underground…

I think it’s important for us to remember our brothers and sister’s in Christ also… in the church next door and even the churches over seas… God is doing a mighty work – and if we consider our church as the length and breadth of his Kingdom we are selling both Him and us short… when was the last time you spent time with Christians outside of your regular community??

Think about that this week .

See you soon… Ak.

Thing one: (I’ve always wanted to call a point a ‘thing’ haha) – You are good: “I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.”

Paul, who has been exceptionally blunt throughout his letter to the Romans wants them to know he recognizes that they are doing well.  He doesn’t want to leave them with a sense of dissatisfaction – but a sense that they have indeed pleased Paul and indeed pleased God…

Thing 2 – But I’m holding you accountable: “I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me” It really could almost be a continuation of point 1… But it answers the question ‘why?’

Okay Paul – you say were good people then why the barrage?? Paul tells them here that it was about accountability – He wanted to remind them of whats important, remind them of what to focus on, remind them of the relationship between Jews and Gentiles… not because they didn’t already get it but because everyone needs accountability… a little reminder or refocus…

Aaaaand thing 3 – Look after me when I come: “But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.”

It was obviously encouraging for any church to know that one of the apostles was coming to visit… Paul wanted Rome to know that he was (eventually) on his way… But this was just as much about respite for Paul as it was encouraging for the church – Paul was Roman citizen and quite frankly was looking forward to spending some time at home… “Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.”

Perhaps as a person in ministry these 3 points are something you need to read right now – if they are I hope God reveals what he needs to.

much love (ps NZ is warmer than Melbourne *grins*)

Ak

Romans 14 is a fairly well-known passage – a lot of people who quote it might not know that they are quoting from Romans 14 but they are quoting it none the less .

And generally more than all the other verses it is verse 21 that gets the biggest mention… “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.”

But what exactly is the significance?

Paul is clearly trying to settle a dispute in this part of Romans… or at least clear the air on what was an obviously contentious issue for the church at the time… As both Jews and Gentiles learnt what it meant to do church together (for the first time EVER) there was obvious culture clashes… this is normal and expected…

Paul begins to unpack the questions that each demographic has around food and alcohol – providing room for both beliefs within the Kingdom of God… His prefix, of course, is that whatever your stance IT MUST come from faith…

I remember having discussions with my old leadership team about the issue of drinking alcohol as a youth leader… I am against the idea… Biblically I take verse 21 of this chapter very seriously… and I take it seriously because in a practical sense alcohol amongst our young people is as big an issue as anything else they face… it is simply out of control… If that isn’t enough reason to take verse 21 seriously then nothing is… lol.

The team had to ‘umm’ and ‘ahh’ about it for months – one of them even took a stand for a year before going back on it… and this it would seem is something that Paul is more than nervous about…

In verse 22 and 23 he brings it back to the question of faith… and he defines for us what it is:

“So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”

I guess if your thinking about whether you should drink or not… you really shouldn’t…

sorry if this is rushed… and sorry if it comes of brash… my plane boards in 5 minutes… eeeeeeeeeeeek.

bye.
Ak.

The setting I find myself in has become all too familiar… I have a system now with check in and departure lounge – I know where all the power points are too – it means I can plug-in my laptop one last time before flying out.

This time – the same as every other – I have a HOT Hudson’s coffee on the chair next to me – I stop typing only to take another sip. My iPod is on shuffle (xavier rudd atm), my phone is already turned off and I’ve made all the last-minute purchases I need for the trip.

Maybe it’s sad – the fact that this has become natural – were we ever supposed to have a routine for this kind of thing? There is definitely something not right about this experience… but it has little to do with the regularity with which I find myself here…

Whats sad, for me, is that I feel like im always here on my own… and please before you switch off assuming this is a plea for friends or for fellowship – read on – you may be surprised… It’s not about needing friends, or about having a companion – in fact I would do this trip 100 times over and not regret it… (song change: between the trees)

It’s about balance – here I share a lounge with 100 other people – honeymoons, holidays, business trips… I often wonder where are our missionaries – why don’t we have people leaving abroad to serve God and serve people more often? I wonder how many other christians will feel this same way in this same lounge next week as they embark on a journey of their own…

Me (song change: death cab), I long for a world where we line up for trips like this one – even if we all go on our own – just to know that we are all doing this – that we are all fighting to share hope and truth with a broken and often forgotten world. There are 2,000,000 church goers in Australia – but how many of us are mission goers?

I am – and i always will be – bring on the familiar check ins and the routine departure lounge, bring it on indeed. Perhaps i will see some of you here with me one day . (song change: colbie calait)

adam

I will say, before going any further, that reading through Romans like this has been great – and whether or not I post through the next book on my blog I will probably read through it and study through it the same way…

So, what’s the big coincidence?

Romans 13:1-7 reads: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full-time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

I figure this is as good a time as any to tell you my thoughts on Politics…

Thought 1: The Chasers probably summed it up best last week when they wrote a song called ‘They’re all ****ed’

Now while I don’t condone bad language – It probably sums up exactly how I feel… lol… That is that all parties have policies that do not line up with scripture… that makes voting as a christian very difficult.

Thought 2: If you can’t live to the proposed policies of your preferred party – don’t vote for them… lol

So many people vote for parties who make completely unsustainable promises… Before falling for the nonsense spend a month seeing if it is possible for you to live the way they are suggesting… If you can’t do it – why would you vote for it?

Thought 3: God will grant you the desires of your heart.

And it’s this point that, in the light of Romans 13, I want to unpack… briefly… hahaha…

Often people think that when God says that He will grant the desires of our heart that He is only talking about the ‘good things.’ I remember working with a girl who went for a job interview for a full-time job waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay outside the area of her giftings… (imagine me auditioning for Australian Idol… lol)… I asked her about it and she said she was praying about it and that if the door opened and she got offered the job then she would know that God wanted her to have it… because God will grant the desires of our heart…

BUT unfortunately the truth is God is willing to grant us the evil or unnatural desires of our heart also… I don’t even have to go outside of Romans to read about it… “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts” and “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts” and again “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.”

And if we look through the OT we see plenty of examples of God allowing people who he knew would be bad leaders for Israel to lead because that is what the people wanted…

All that being said: We need to be extremely careful who we vote for and why… Because God will give us the leader that we want… not that leader that he wants… and when he does he expects us to honour them and follow them – even if we realize that we don’t agree with them… If your bible wasn’t open when trying to decide who to vote for – you might want to start opening it now for next time …

Ak