Category Archives: Religion

Arts, Books, Religion

The ‘Home Preacher’

WITHIN REACH

THE second-hand book shop had a well-stocked “Religion” section. On the shelves, the books ranged from modern paperbacks within easy reach to leather-bound and possibly antique volumes on the higher ledges.

Craning my neck to look beyond recent titles, I made out titles like An Outline Of Christianity, Fleetwood’s Life Of Christ and The Bible Encyclopaedia. One book, however, stood higher and deeper than the rest.

It was The Home Preacher, with lessons, well constructed sermons and quotes for every day of the year, all of which are meant to be worked through at home.

It made complete sense. Home is where we are at our most authentic, often where we are most challenged, and where the example we set has a more lasting effect.

Few might aspire towards teaching directly from the pulpit, but every one of us blessed with a home and a family ought to aim to be a home preacher.

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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’.

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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.

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