Thou Shalt Shoplift

You may want to read that again.
I know I had to the first time.
It does indeed say “Thou Shalt Shoplift”.
And it was a BBC News Headline this morning, quoting a Priest in York.

A priest from North Yorkshire has advised his congregation to shoplift if they find themselves in hard times.
Father Tim Jones, the parish priest of St Lawrence and St Hilda in York, said people should steal from big chains rather than small businesses.
He said society’s attitude to those in need “leaves some people little option but crime”.

I don’t know that I’ve heard anything quite so ridiculous in a long time.

Surely, this goes against so many Biblical principles, anyone can see it’s not the way to go about solving peoples money woes!

Jesus said we weren’t to worry about material goods but know that God will provide for us. Maybe he should be telling his congregation to pray.

And isn’t the entire point of the church to support one another in faith but, I would say, materially too. Acts 4 says the believers shared all things in common. If we’re not going to do that we should at least have a system which enables us to support people who need it, whether they be congregation members or not.

Father Jones later said on the radio, “If one has exhausted every legal opportunity to get money and you’re still in a desperate situation it is a better moral thing to do to take absolutely no more than you need for no longer than you need”.

I’m sorry Father but the better thing would be for them to know that they can turn to the church who will make sacrifices in order to love them like God, who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave the ultimate gift.

I feel you’ve missed the point a little.

Bibles and the AGM

Last night was the AGM of the Edinburgh University Student’s Association.

Six to seven hundred students filled two lecture theatres, linked via the interwebs, to discuss some pretty controversial issues and vote on motions about them.

Last night’s agenda included:

• Bibles in halls of residence
• Energy Efficient student housing
• A no platform policy to ban the BNP
• Boycott of Israel
• Banning cigarette sales from EUSA outlets
• Stopping EUSA staff and representatives from travelling by plane

The main reason I was there was the bible one.

A few years ago EUSA stopped Gideon’s from placing Bibles in Pollock Halls and this motion wanted to reverse that, on the grounds of religious tolerance, freedom of speech and the general goodness/usefulness of the Bible.

I would love to see Bibles in every room in Pollock. I think it would be a brilliant thing, even if it drew just one person a tiny little bit closer to God. I disagree with the arguments against it put forward by those I know: that it is an invasion of privacy (you don’t like it, stick it under your bed), a waste of resources (people knowing God is priceless – humanly speaking), etc. etc.

I was all set to vote in favour, obviously. But as people spoke about it and I read the motion itself more closely, I began to question my resolve. One point in the motion says this:

 

“That any group or society representing any particular point of view who wish to provide

literature to be placed in every room in Pollock should be allowed to do so providing the

books are made available freely at their own expense.”

I can’t agree with that.

I don’t want any group to be able to put stuff into Pollock. I don’t want those who are wrong to be able to put stuff into the hands of students.

Of course I want the truth of God’s Word in there but I don’t want the other rubbish this would pave the way for.

I couldn’t vote in favour. I couldn’t vote against. I abstained.

And I feel terrible. Like I betrayed a lot of people. I guess I post this by way of explanation, apology and to make myself feel better. I’m sorry I couldn’t raise my hand.

The motion didn’t pass, by quite a significant majority.

I’m sorry.

Did I do the right thing?

 

Isaiah 58

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
And the Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to dwell in.

Sunday School Answers

My Dad emailed me this today having read it on (his new favourite site) Belfast Forum.  It made me laugh out loud. A lot.

Can you imagine the nun sitting at her desk grading these papers, all the while trying to keep a straight face and maintain her composure!

Pay special attention to the wording and spelling if you know the Bible even a little you’ll find it hilarious! It comes from a Catholic Elementary School test! Incorrect spelling has been left in.

1. In the first book of the Bible, Guinnesses. God got tired of creating the world so he took the sabbath off.

2. Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. Noah’s wife was Joan of Arc. Noah built and arc and the animals came on in pears.

3. Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt during the day, but a ball of fire during the night.

4. The Jews were a proud people and throughout history they had trouble with unsympathetic genitals.

5. Samson was a strong man who let himself be led astray by a jezebel like Delilah.

6. Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the apostles.

7. Moses led the jews to the red sea where they made unleavened bread which is bread without any ingredients.

8. The Egyptians were all drowned in the Dessert. Afterwards Moses went up mount Cyanide to get the Ten Commmandments.

9. The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.

10. The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery.

11. Moses died before he ever reached Canada. Then Joshua led the Hebrews in to the battle of Genitol.

12. The greatest miracle in the bible is when joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.

13. David was a hebrew king who was skilled at playing the liar. He fought the Finklesteins, a race of people who lived in biblical times.

14. Solomon, one of David s sons had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.

15. When Mary heard she was the mother of Jesus she sang the Magna Carta.

16. When the 3 wise guys from the east side arrived, they found Jesus in the manager.

17. Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption.

18. St John the Blacksmith dumped water on his head.

19. Jesus enunciated the golden rule which says do unto others before they do one to you. He also explained that man does not live by sweat alone.

20. It was a miracle when Jesus rose from the dead and mangaed to get the tombstone off the entrance.

21. The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 decibels.

22. The epistles were the wives of the apostles.

23. 1 of the opposums was St Matthew who was also a taximan.

24. St Paul cavorted to christianity, he preached holy acrimony which is another name for marriage.

25. Christians have only one spouse. That is called monotony.

Isaiah 59

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,

or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;

but your iniquities have made a separation

between you and your God,

and your sins have hidden his face from you

so that he does not hear. . .

a Redeemer will come to Zion,

to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.

You shall not covet

It’s all about to get personal again. You have been warned.

Commandment number 10.

Exodus 20:17

“You shall not covet . . .”

Commentary (from ESV Study Bible);

When a person covets, he allows the desire for that which is coveted to govern his relationship with other people; this may become the motivation for murder, stealing, or lying either to attain the desired thing or to keep it from someone else. Because of the way that coveting values a particular thing over trust in and obedience to the Lord as the provider, it is also a breach of the first commandment, which the apostle Paul makes clear when he refers to coveting as idolatry

I think most people assume this is a pretty easy one to keep, like stealing and murder it’s not too hard to avoid. Sure, we can get a little jealous sometimes but we never really think it’s that bad and we can quickly pull ourselves out of it.

Confession: I covet. I get jealous.

And I can’t quite believe about to share this with the world but I get jealous of people. I covet attention. I’m as bad as any 6 year old when they have a tantrum in the playground because their friend won’t play the game they want to.

I though I’d got past this. I thought I’d grown up. I thought I was confident enough within myself.

But it would appear not.

“coveting values a particular thing over trust in and obedience to the Lord as the provider” – I’m puting more value on the opinions and attention of people than that of God. I look to other people to provide my recognition and worth instead of God. And it does “govern [my] relationship with other people” – it makes me possessive,obsessive, paranoid.

I’m a chump. Broken and fragile, relying on God everyday to keep the neurotic thoughts at bay. Like I say, it was getting so much better. In reality it probably is, it just snuck up on me again. Just got to keep working on it I guess.

Bible Maps

Great resource here: biblemap.org

Isaiah 43

I love this chapter of Isaiah. I’ve read it again and again for three days, not wanting to move on, hearing God speak so clearly through it. Please, please go and read it: Isaiah 43.

Verse 1:

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.

I stick at this bit everytime, those last two lines in particular hold so much power. I don’t have to be afraid – of anything – because I am redeemed by the blood of Jesus. God calls my name, claims me as his own. I’ll never know/understand why but I know that it’s true and that’s incredible.

Verse 2:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.

Love this: we’re not garunteed an easy ride, we still have to walk through the waters and fire but God promises he will be with us when we do and will enable us to conquer them.

Verse 3-4:

For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my eyes,
and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
peoples in exchange for your life.

Did you read that? Do you see where it says you are precious in God’s eyes? That you are honoured and He loves you?That he gives men – one man in particular – for you?

Verse 5-7:

Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you.
I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”

Holiday Club. That’s what these verses bring to mind. God bringing people together from all over our community. And he created each of them, each of us, for his own glory; that he would be honoured and praised.

Verse 18-21:

“Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
The wild beasts will honor me,
the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.

Holiday Club again (I have it on the brain). We get very used to holiday club, doing roughly the same thing every year. We can get into the mindset of just trying to repeat what we’ve done before because it seemed to work then. But I think it’s important to let previous years go, as great as they were, and focus on here and now, 2009, and everything God is going to do. There’s a lot of new stuff happening (Senior Citizens’ Strawberry Tea, Chritstianity Explored course) and lots of changes been made (leaders, their roles, programme and activities). I think God’s going to do something new and amazing too. He’s going to make a way in the wilderness and pour his life giving Spirit out upon his people.

Verse 25:

“I, I am he
who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,
and I will not remember your sins.

ESV Study Bible

Got me one of these today.

It’s beautiful.

With maps and tables and notes and pictures and explanations and references and articles galore!

2752 pages, 2 million words of sheer biblical geekiness.

I expect it to serve me well for many years to come.

The best bit, though, is it’s got God’s words in there – “in highly readable 9-point type, in a single-column, book-text format”.

1 John 2:6

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Acts 5

Last week in staff devotions we read chapter 5 of Acts. It’s the infamous story of Ananias and Sapphira who lie to God about how much money they are giving to the church and drop down dead. Just like that. Dead.

It’s easy to read this passage and try to explain it away with previous medical conditions and impeccable timing to make a good story. It’s also easy to read it and cast God as a vengeful and power crazy tyrant. But neither are true.

This story challenged us all about holiness: the holiness of God and the holiness he requires of our lives.

Lying seems to us to be a lesser sin. It’s not like murder or even theft. Depending on the “size” of the lie, it’s down there somewhere with swearing and slander. But it’s clear here that God takes it very seriously – there are no levels of sin with him, only right and wrong. And he requires “right” from us, it’s just that we can’t provide it because “we have all fallen short of God’s glorious standard” (Rom 3:23). That’s why we need Jesus. But what about Ananias and Sapphira – surely God should just have forgiven and forgotten?

I think God is setting a precedent here. He’s saying, “No – amongst my people it will be different”. This is the very beginning of the Church, the formation of the colony that God is going to use for His purpose and glory. He is not going to let sin and deception creep in so early. In 1 Corinthians 5 we see something similar as Paul instructs the church to remove from their fellowship a man who has been “living in sin with his stepmother”. They are to do this so that he may be “handed over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns” (v.5) and because “this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough” (v.6).  In Corinth the people were proud when they ought to have been mourning. The man needed to be removed so that he could see his need for repentance. We’re all broken and we need to be accepting of people but we should not, cannot, be accepting of sin without repentance.

This leads to thinking about how we deal with sin in the church. Are we willing to say to one another – with love and humility – “I don’t think you should be doing that”? Are we willing to listen and accept it when people do say such things? I think the answer to both of those questions, the majority of the time and certainly for me personally, is no. We have taken on too much of society’s individualistic mindset – their problem is their problem and they’ll deal with it in their time or my problem is my problem and I’ll deal with it in my time. But as Christians we are told to hold one another accountable, to rebuke one another, to pray for one another as we fight temptation and sin. God doesn’t stand for sin, neither should we. God forgives sin when we’re repentant, so should we. God loves all his children, so should we.

Stanley Hauerwas, in his book Resident Aliens, has some interesting stuff to say on this passage (pgs 130-133, if you have your own copy). Possessions are the first crisis the church hits. But it is not greed that Peter accuses Ananias and Saphira of, it’s lying. Materialism and self deceit are attempts we make at gaining security. We’ll do anything to feel secure; rationalise and make all sorts of excuses for out covetousness and idolatry. But “the ethical stance of these early Christians, with their peculiar beliefs about money, was a concrete application of their theological assertions. The church was called to be a colony, an alternative community, a sign, a signal to the world that Christ had made possible a way of life together unlike anything the world had seen”. This wasn’t Ananias and Saphira’s only option, or even the logical step – “Peter really believed that the gospel, and this community it produced, had the power to convert even ordinary, selfish, materialistic people like us into something resembling saints”. God provides. This is the first time the word “church” is used to describe the followers of Jesus and through his people, the colony, the church, God provides.

It says at the end that “great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else“. Where’s the fear? Where is our understanding of the Holiness of God that invokes reverence and awe? Where is our terror at the thought of being struck down when we turn from His ways? How have we allowed the understanding of God’s character, and the story of his people, to stray so far that now he is nothing more that old guy sitting on a cloud?

How does God challenge you through this story?

What is our response?

Scriptorium

Today I spent a couple of hours in the prayer room in the city centre (http://www.247prayeraberdeen.org/).

It was great. Just to take a some time out and focus entirely on God – something that has been missing in my life recently.

The first station is the Scriptorium, where people are encouraged to copy out a passage of scripture so that by the end of the two weeks there will be copies of Genesis, Isaiah and the Psalms fully handwritten by the people of Aberdeen.

I love this idea! I sat down with Isaiah and started at the middle of chapter 62 where the previous person had left off. This is a brilliant way of making yourself really read what the Scripture says. As you write you can’t just brush over parts or rush through bits, each and every word must run through your mind and you are forced to consider the implications of each sentence.

A couple of verses in particular stood out for me, Isaiah 62:10-12 (The Message):

Walk out of the gates. Get going! 
   Get the road ready for the people.
Build the highway. Get at it! 
   Clear the debris, hoist high a flag, a signal to all peoples!
Yes! God has broadcast to all the world: 
   ”Tell daughter Zion, ‘Look! Your Savior comes,
Ready to do what he said he’d do, 
   prepared to complete what he promised.’”
Zion will be called new names: Holy People, God-Redeemed, 
   Sought-Out, City-Not-Forsaken.

I really felt the need to pause over these verses and felt that God was speaking to me about the Church of Scotland and the events of the past week. 

My initial reaction to the outcome of Saturday’s debate was shock, which became anger and then pain. For more than a moment I considered walking away from the CoS when it came to finding a new church in September. It seemed that God had abandoned us; and we – the CoS – had certainly abandoned him. I couldn’t understand why God would let such things happen and was ready to jump on the Fellowhip of Confessing Churches/ Free Church move band wagon. 

But in these verses God has given me hope.

Jesus told Peter that he would build the Church “upon this rock I will build my church and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (Matt 16:18). God keeps His promises, always. And, even though it might seem that the complete opposite is happening, God will not let his church be conquered. He will return, He will bring justice, He will redeem the church that now seems so forgotten. It is not forsaken.

And only He can rescue it: not us, never us. Ephesians 16:12 says: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” We can’t win that battle and we certainly won’t have victory in the war. Our task is to stand firm. As we studied Revelation over the past few months this came up time and again: God’s people didn’t go on the attack but were called to be faithful and maintain integrity:

• Revelation 3:8 You have little strength yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.
• Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children – all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.
• Revelation 13:10 God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.

We are told to prepare the road and raise the flag – to show the way to Jesus, and make sure His name is declared and God’s Word lifted high within this land.

So, in three verses and twenty minutes, God said all that!

What’s He said to you in the past few days?

Daniel 9:17-19 & Proverbs 3:5

Scripture often puts it better than I can. Anyone else get the feeling they’re not the first person to be in whichever situation they find themselves in? These two arose in different circumstances this evening but really struck me.

Daniel 9:17-19
O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his supplication, and for your own sake Lord, let you face shine upon your desolated sanctuary. Incline your ear, O my God, and hear. Open your eyes and look at our desolation and the city that bears your name. We do not present our supplication before you on the ground of our righteousness, but on the ground of your great mercies. O Lord, listen and act and do not delay! For your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people bear your name!

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding.

100 most read Bible verses

. . . from Bible Gateway.com 

Here’s the top ten: (follow the link above for all 100)

1. John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
2. Jer 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
3. Rom 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
4. Phil 4:13: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
5. Gen 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
6. Prov 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
7. Prov 3:6: in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
8. Rom 12:2: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
9. Phil 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
10. Matt 28:19: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Revelation

Couple of weeks ago we finally finished our study of Revelation at Staff devotions with Chapter 22.

For once I was able to understand what was going on and see how it is relevant. It actually poses many challenges we should take heed of.

I love verse 2: The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. (See also Ezekiel 47:12) And we don’t half need it. There’s so much pain and brokenness in our world and try as we might, we’ll never be able to fix it. Only Jesus – by the power of his death and resurrection – can do that. 

We discussed what our reaction should be to the people described in verse 15: Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie. The passage itself provides some clear answers:

• we are to declare biblical truth – v10 Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book
• we must continue to live righteously – v 11 let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy – whilst also loving and serving these people
• we must remember that Christ will ultimately judge – v 12 Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.
• we must leave the invitation open and always point to Jesus – v 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

It’s not always easy but it is what Christ requires of us.

And verse 17 is just brilliant:

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

You can almost here the longing in it. Just come. Just come and be with your Father who loves you – no more pain, no more confusion, no more barriers. Just God and you. The image I get here is of God as Father, sweeping his children up onto his lap and holding them. The invitation is open to all, everyone; no matter their past, no matter their future; God calls to us all.

So, Revelation is done. Here’s what we all said we would take from it, though I can’t remember who said what:

• Christ is coming back!
• God keeps his promises
• the need for urgency against sin and for salvation but also the joy that we can have in knowing we are saved (and what we are saved from)
• God’s power and sovereignty (that was my one!)
• God is Alpha and Omega – there’s nothing outwith him

Revelation is tough going but I’d recommend giving it a bash with a decent commentary and someone to thrash it out with certainly helps.

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

   Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!