CALL THE NEXT WITNESS

In John's Gospel there is a strong emphasis on witness. The writer is keen to make sure we know that those who testify about Jesus are reliable.

He also reminds us that the job of the apostolic church is to continue to witness to Jesus. The power to do this comes from the Spirit.

'Cafe Church' provides a safe space for us to practice witnessing to each other. We share food and drink, sit at table together, and have conversation with each other about the gospel and how it relates to our lives.

This is the blurb on the church flier for the latest series for the evening service at Pudsey Parish Church, in Pudsey, West Yorkshire. Cafe church is a fascinating beast. It is steadily becoming more defined, although it is a shame so few people come. The worship tends to be more intimate and prolonged. There is food provided at 6pm to give plenty of time to eat and drink before the service starts properly at 6.30pm, although tea, coffee, etc are available throughout. Here are the dates/themes/readings for this latest series:

29/08/10
Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of John
Isaiah 33.13-22
John 3.22-36

05/09/10
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of the Father
Isaiah 43.14 - 44.5
John 5.30-47

12/09/10
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of the Bread
Isaiah 60
John 6.51-69

19/09/10
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of Moses
Ezra 1
John 7.14-36

26/09/10
Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of Abraham
Nehemiah 2
John 8.31-38,48-59

03/10/10
Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of a Healed Man
Nehemiah 5.1-13
John 9

10/10/10
Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of Apostles
Nehemiah 6.1-16
John 15.12-27

17/10/10
Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of the Counsellor
Nehemiah 8.9-18
John 16.1-11

Call the next witness - 1.The Witness of John (29/8/10)

The Witness of John

Sunday 29 August 2010

The first part of the ‘Call the next witness’ series at Cafe Church.

John 3:22-36

Paul Ayers preached on two points:

1. Who John the Baptist is not
John explicitly states he is NOT the messiah (Jn 3:28)
Application: All people should point away from themselves to Jesus. Do I, by my actions, try and claim the glory for myself, failing to give Jesus the honour due him?

2. Who Jesus is
John points to Jesus as the bridegroom of his people. Three great claims:

a. Universal REVELATION (v. 34)
“The one whom God has sent [Jesus] speaks the words of God”
There is a fullness to the revelation of Jesus, both his words and life. There is no one else on earth we might turn to; it’s not ‘Jesus +’. The key word: UNDERSTANDING
Application: As revelation we can learn new things about Jesus and from Jesus, in his word. We should also be deepening our understanding of his thing. Are we receiving fresh revelations? Are we deepening our understanding?

b. Universal AUTHORITY (v.35)
“The Father…has placed everything in his hands”
(cf. Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:1-3)
Jesus has been given authority in creation, in judgement, but also in everything between. God in Jesus is at work in events now. The key word: PROVIDENCE.
We show our belief in God’s activity by a) Thanking Him, and b) praying to Him.
Application: Do we act in full belief that Jesus is in control of every circumstance, situation and crisis. Or do we act as though we are unwittingly tossed about by the storms of life waiting for heaven?

c. Universal SALVATION (v.36)
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life”
Having eternal life is not a transaction. I turn up to heaven with a card proving that I believe Jesus and am therefore saved. I do not get saved because I had faith in Jesus. The act of believing in Jesus is the act of salvation, for it is by grace we are given the faith to trust Jesus. Key word: RELATIONSHIP.
Therefore, to have a relationship with Jesus is to be saved.
Application: Do I see my salvation as a by-product of my beliefs, or do I seek to cultivate a relationship with Jesus?

In conclusion, it is important that we are reminded that the words quoted above are John the Baptist’s. It is as though he is stood before us saying: “The one whom God has sent [Jesus] speaks the words of God. The Father…has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life”. We are called to respond to this witness.

Journaling

I have been keeping a journal for many years, since I was about 14 years old. It has formed an invaluable place to record events in my life, record my feelings, and reflect on where I'm at. One thing I'm mindful of at present, is the general lack of spiritual content.

At the same time, I have received very little actual advice on how to journal.

To that end I've searched a little online and found a good rubric - SOAP - which has immediately helped me recognise how I should journal as a Christian. In part it is about recording what God has been saying to me, specifically in scripture, but I wonder also the degree to which I should be attentive to the changes in behaviour. Like observational scientists, sometimes it is true that a person who doesn't see themself and especially those 'sin triggers', they are more likely to repeat.

As I step forward with my journaling, I also recognise that there is an inevitable time commitment to recording more than just facts!

Prayer:
Father, I ask that you would help me learn to journal with more of an eye for what you are syaing, what you are doing, and what I am being called to do in service of you and others. I ask that as I journal you would stir me to action, walking each day with a deeper sense of my discipleship. Let me in all things attend to your voice, and may my childlike devotion be pleasing to You, my Lord, My Father, My God. Amen.

Spiritually bored? Me?

Another excellent think from Deep Breath Ministries:

Have you ever been spiritually bored? If Jesus asked for a reason, what would you tell Him?

This is a tricky one for me - spiritually bored? What does that even mean, to start with, and then has that ever applied to me?

My initial reaction is 'no', for I cannot yet think of a time where the definition (so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness) has ever applied to my spiritual walk.

I am reminded of St John of the Cross and his writings on the 'Dark Night of the Soul' when God withdraws from a person, and normal spiritual habits are dry and disconnected from a person. This has never happened to me (although I have wondered if this lack is a sign of continued spiritual youthfulness and sinfulness, but also born out of a silly competitive streak - all that I've read makes me think the Dark Night is not a nice experience!)

It's fair to say that disinterest with God and his things almost always springs out of sinful behaviour, disobedience, and, frustratingly, human nature. It is not that I am bored by God; when close to him my life is full of colour and light.

Perhaps when I think about boredom, and I draw this conclusion, I should consider the second part of the question and honestly tell Jesus that I am weak, broken and sinful. Not that this is an excuse, simply an opportunity to be reminded how much I need Jesus. He is not a teaching programme or partner to become dissatisfied with, or a product to want an upgrade. My drift is my fault, and I should simply repent, and recommit to draw close.

Each day I need to be reminded of this need: that I need my Saviour.

Evelyn Underhill and the challenge of worship

"We spend most of our lives conjugating three verbs: to want, to have
and to do. But none of these verbs has any ultimate significance until it is
transcended by and included in the fundamental verb - to be."

Evelyn Underhill

Today is the commemoration of Evelyn Underhill in the lectionary, a woman I knew very little about, but realised that I have encountered her name recently. Richard Foster devotes a chapter in his excellent spiritual disciplines' guide, Spiritual Classics, to her. While I have limited time to write on her life and works (although an impressively erudite entry on wikipedia is not a bad place to start), I am deeply inspired by the entry Foster puts in, including two 'discussion' questions, and three suggested exercises (this, by the way, is why I love Foster's writing so much - he is so practical).

Underhill writes,

"The tendency of all worship...shows how strong a pull is needed to
neutralize the anthropocentric trend of the human mind; its intense
preoccupation with the world of succession, and its own here-and now desires and
needs"

I find this so encouraging, as someone who loves worship. Often I've heard people suggest worship is a wasteful distraction from the task of evangelising, being Jesus to the world. I've often agreed; after all, worship will continue in heaven for ever, so I've often assumed it is one of the pleasant foretastes of the hereafter.

However, Underhill challenges me to accept that worship itself is a prerequisite if I desire to draw close to God, for I am (by nature) focused almost entirely on my needs, wishes and dreams. I am selfish - my daily sins highlight this acutely. Worship then is not purely about adoration (although this is a valid element - giving God the glory that's his), nor is it about the pleasant feelings, the rush/thrill of the Spirit (although this too has value in assuring us of God's presence with us), but worship thrusts us into the heart of God - it works, gracefully, by helping me unclasp my heart, and reach out to touch God's.

When I consider Foster's question about obstacles to worship I can think of many, but one in particular comes to mind: my critical spirit. I am constantly thinking about the music, the sound, the band, the singers, the arrangement, the volume, the fact I'm not playing, the fact I think what is being done is poor...when the truth - the bare truth - is that I am not being hindered in my worship by anything externally, but purely as a result of my arrogance.

God is not a God to be denied access because the songs are played too slow, or too fast. For certain some music when done badly is an unhelpful distraction, but I must learn how to attend to God, in his glory at any time and any where, in any circumstance. The point being that 'times of worship' are a blessing for I've made the space in my busy life to worship God, and in so doing be changed. I choose to not worship when I'm like this.

When I think of favourite times of worship however I am reminded, often, of St Aldates and the experience of being both a musician and worshipper at the same time. I ahve often enjoyed return trips as it's refreshed my spirit. In all honesty it might simply have been the thrill of standing with so many other worshippers - where your voice simply blends with others, or is unnoticed if it drops out to silently pray. Songs that move me to tears.

But I am also acutely aware of the time after our daughter died, when singing was impossible - words were too hard to sing. Being stood with other worshippers was the difference. My wife and I chose to stand in the congregation, even when we couldn't bring ourselves to join in, partly through a sense of anger at God, sometimes we were overcome with emotion.

I still long for times of worship in church that are dramatically uplifting, where the music and the congregation come together to produce a sound that is by nature beautifully worshipful. I still long for extended worship, where there's space for me to simply receive from God's spirit as I'm stood in his presence - worship is our attempt to welcome him in. For sure he's with us always, but oh, how pleasant it is when he comes and moves amongst a congregation.

Evelyn Underhill was a mystic - looking constantly for ways in which we might better appreciate the beauty around us - to seek God's presence - to seek a profound 'union' with Him. I long for the daily pursuit of this presence.

I shall in the meantime, worship with fresh vision - looking for God alone, and doing so in the hope it might make me more into his Son.

Streams of Living Water

Have finally picked up 'Streams of Living Water' by Richard Foster today - a steal from church for 50p. Am delighted to have the chance to read it.

Already I've been challenged.

To what extent, day by day, do I allow my reading and meditation of Jesus' life in the gospels to affect my day-to-day walk:

"We are, to be sure, reconciled to God by Jesus' death, but even more [!], we are 'saved' by his life (Rom. 5:10) - saved in the sense of entering into his eternal kind of life, not just in some distant heaven but right now in the midst of our broken and sorrowful world." [italics original] (Foster 1998, p.3)

One of the formation questions Foster suggests we use is about our encountering Jesus in scripture. I have often thought on the simple song "all of the Bible has Jesus in it" as the framework for this question, but perhaps I am too naive and slow-to-learn to commence answering this question - or seeking to find an answer - without first learning to place a premium on time spent reading the gospels to see what Jesus was like and how I can imitate his life to find freedom in my own. I love this idea that in imitation I can be 'saved' in this life - reminds me of Psalm 103.

As I continue to read this book, I will devote more time to the Lectionary readings that place me in the gospels. And I will ask - how should I shape my life to better imitate Jesus.

REFERENCES
Foster, R. (1998) Streams of Living Water. London: Harper Collins

Advice for life?

I am so grateful that God has given us plain, home-spun, common-sense. Today I finally started to chat to a colleague on my teaching course about their relationship situation.

She's happily seeing three separate guys, enjoying their company and time, but nothing serious. However, she was clearly in a quandry worrying about the fact several of them were being 'needy'. As we chatted it became quite obvious, to me, that my friend was uncertain about whether to pursue these relationships.

I appreciate that for Christian girls the first criterion used when evaluating the potential of a possible suitor has to be, first and foremost, their love for Jesus. Do they submit to Him as Lord? If this is a negative then, sorry, it's a non-starter.

My friend is a Sikh though, so my advice was simple - use two questions to check a guy:
- How does he treat his family, specifically his mum? and
- What are his friends like?

These two questions when answered honestly, remembering that men engaged in the chase are prone to chamelion-esque changes to personality in order to impress a girl, will provide a pretty fair assessment of a man's character, which is, ultimately, more important than his bank balance, looks, ambition, car, or anything else.

As I asked these two questions I felt tremendously relieved. Firstly, I was not offering specific advice; no cliched pros or cons for one or another friend she was seeing, nor was I given a tale from my experience. Put simply I provided two questions that my friend could ask and come to her own conclusion. Secondly, God gives Christians the capacity to understand the human condition better than some. It is a responsibility of ours to dispense Godly wisdom that will ensure friends and family enter into peaceful lives.

I was greatly encouraged by God to have been used in this simple way. I welcomed the opportunity to serve.