Category Archives: Christianity

Arts, Christianity, Culture

Biblical exposition of friendship

FELLOWSHIP

1 Samuel 20-23

A narrative: True friends are closer than brothers

FRIENDSHIP is difficult to handle. In our intensely self-centred and suspicious culture, we trust few people fully and close relationships outside of partnerships invite sneers or allegations of sexual impropriety.

It is one facet of human life in which the ancients, even the Victorians, outscore us. Close friendship and the affection that goes with it was accepted as normal and healthy and did not require sexual expression. The book of Proverbs extols its virtues. For example, 27:10.

In the twelfth century AD, an Abbot of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire described friendship as a “foretaste of Heaven where no one hides his thoughts or disguises his affection”. Those were the words of Abbot Aeldred. David and Jonathan were friends like that.

Crown prince Jonathan, heir to the throne (14:49) was a strong and brave man (14:1). After David’s giant killing episode, they became such firm friends that Jonathan gave David the emblems of his authority (18:1-4).

In the unenviable choice between his father and his friend, Jonathan supported David against the patent injustice of Saul (19:1,4) and in an episode full of cloak-and-dagger secrecy warned David to flee (ch 20). Although parted, their bond remained secure (23:15-18) which must have been dangerous for Jonathan.

Theirs is not the only biblical example of friendship, but it is one of the most detailed. It leaves modern casual acquaintances standing. There can be no Christian fellowship without friendship. None. If we desire closer Christian community, it will have to start with personal friendship.


Standard
Arts, Christianity, Religion, Society

What is the ‘Sabbath rest’?

HEBREWS

open-bible-on-stand-3-chris-hearn

I’ve turned to Hebrews today (Hebrews 3,4) which poses the question, “What is the ‘Sabbath rest’”?

One writer has defined the ‘Sabbath rest’ as God’s purposeful, creative activity and the satisfaction which belongs to it’. This helpfully prevents the concept from becoming ‘quietist’ or merely vague. It is not a spiritual experience of ‘blessedness’ nor a state of inactivity or a description of Christ’s kingdom.

Jesus offered ‘rest’ to people willing to take his ‘burden’ of obedience and discipleship which is lighter than all attempts at self-fulfilment based on human work or leisure alone (Matthew 11:29). Lighter too than all forms of religion that prescribe labour to gain God’s favour: these only generate anxiety. Rest here is like John’s concept of ‘eternal life’, a relationship with God where we enjoy his renewing love.

The author’s aim is to encourage perseverance, rather than describe an experience or state of faith. His readers are tempted to ‘go back to Egypt’ – their old ways of Judaism. He wants them to remain faithful to Christ as supreme Lord.

He uses Hebrew ‘typology’, taking an Old Testament incident as a model of something else. It is an illustration, not an exhaustive exposition of ‘rest’ as defined above. The Israelites’ ‘rest’ in the promised land was incomplete; its full expression would be found in Christ.

Just as the Israelites disobeyed God and a generation died before the nation entered Canaan, so people today can say they follow Christ, yet disobey him and forfeit any claim to eternal life. They say ‘Lord, Lord’ but do not obey him (Matthew 7:21-23). Positively, God’s ‘rest’ therefore becomes:

. believing his promises, obeying his truth and living his way;

. receiving and using his gifts in order to serve him;

. enjoying the assurance of his love and confidence in his sovereignty which is ‘peace’.

Standard
Arts, Christianity, Religion, Society

The competitive Corinthian mindset

Unity in diversity

1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:1-19

IN 1996, there were 243 Christian denominations recorded in the UK Christian Handbook, an almost threefold increase in 20 years.

In one sense “the body of Christ” is divided today in a way that not even the Corinthians could imagine (1:10). Their divisions were caused by quarrelling and jealousy (3:3), yet another manifestation of the proud and competitive Corinthian mindset.

While it can be argued that the main historic denominations formed out of major theological rifts (such as the conflict over salvation by faith or works which spawned the Lutheran and Calvinist churches), sadly the “quarrelling and jealousy” of leaders has caused the modern multiplication of church groups (cf. 1:12; 3:4).

Consumer choice has become society’s holy grail, and independence its lowest common denominator. The disease also infects the church as we choose churches with subtly different spiritual flavours. To outsiders, it must look as if Christianity has many religions.

The New Testament urges leaders to sort out their differences. There is only one church, although it not restricted to one denomination (the “true” church is not an organisation but a fellowship of believers).

Today we can maintain the unity of our own group by learning to appreciate people’s different approaches to spiritual life which reflect our diversity. We can also find ways to work with others to present a united front to society. This is, however, harder work than sniping at each other.

Standard