008 : Colour, variety and balance

It was one of those events I really wanted to be part of and so I went along to Arnold Methodist Church for the Lent Retreat Day led by Liz Babbs. It is a church I am very fond of and have led and shared in fellowship with the people on a number of occasions. I must admit, I didn’t know what to expect, but having worked with Liz over a number of years, initially producing visuals for YouTube based on her Celtic Heart book, I greatly value the meditative work she has done. One piece of work which has always made an impact on me was taken from Celtic Heart and focuses on the theme of Journey.

Journey

My life has recently taken a new turn and I am deeply into discovering the next phase of my journey. Having completed over 10 years in an evangelism role, I am now waiting on God to discern what lies ahead. Interestingly, one of the lectionary readings for next Sunday is the start of Genesis 12 where Abram, the Father of the Faithful, sets out on his life-changing journey and, like me, not sure of where God will take him. The word comes to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you’. When we think that Abram was a sprightly 75 years of age, we may feel a completely new start in life needs to come sooner than that – not so in God’s mind. Of course, a journey need not simply be geographical. For Abram it led ultimately to the Promised Land. But a journey could be taking you to a new way of life, a new set of friends, a new way of believing and, most of all, a new way of understanding who you are. I read with interest my wife’s calendar which contains daily reflections. Today’s was ‘In order to be someone, you must first be yourself’. Do we really know who we are or are we pressured into being the person that fits into the mould created by other people, our job or our circumstances?

Colour, variety and balance

At the start of the retreat day, Liz asked us to reflect on how close we felt to God and what hinders our relationship with him. Well, we were not short of answers to reasons why our closeness to God is hindered in this frantic, technological and materialistic world. Then we reflected on what would make for a better life and we were asked to draw a picture. My picture was staring me in the face – it was the display of flowers on the table at the front of the church (see the picture at the top of this bulletin). For me, the things I desire most in life are colour, variety and balance. My thoughts went to the ivy we have in our garden at home which, sadly, has taken over one part of our garden. We now find the crocuses we planted some time back are struggling to make a show through the ivy leaves. It can be like that in life – some things take so much time and effort, they choke out the beauty of other things. Getting a right balance in life is one of the greatest challenges we face. Variety prevents us from becoming blinkered. Colour is what makes life beautiful. It’s so easy to get into a rut and finding that life becomes monochrome – doing the same things day after day in the same way. And, do you know what – that can even be true of our faith and church life!

Take time to reflect

And so, I really valued being a part of the day, even though I could only stay until lunchtime. It certainly made me think and pray more creatively about where God may be leading me next. In this time of Lent, we are, as Christians, encouraged to join Jesus in the wilderness, seeking God’s wisdom and direction. That means setting aside the normal rhythms of life and letting God’s Spirit speak deep within, revealing what’s wrong and what needs to change. It’s far more than just giving up chocolate!

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Liz Babbs (MEd) is a dynamic keynote speaker, writer & professional performer known for her wit & wisdom & for Communicating Christ Creatively. She’s author of 11 books & 6 CDs, has written for Zondervan, CWR & The Bible Society & performed at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her ministry is endorsed by the Archbishop of Canterbury & J.John

For more information on Liz Babbs, visit her web site

007 : Paul the Midwife

It really shows Christianity in a positive light don’t you think? I’m talking about the BBC programme ‘Call the Midwife’. It depicts Christian people as compassionate, sensitive and caring – not the usual negative stereotype we see in the media.

I reflect on St. Paul’s missionary endeavours. He went across the northern Mediterranean region planting new churches but he quickly appointed local leaders to be responsible for the on-going running of the church. He would act as advisor, mentor and sometimes critic when they went astray but he recognised that what he was developing was not for his benefit, but for the benefit of local Christians and the Kingdom. In a very real sense he was acting like a midwife – bringing to birth something that would be someone else’s child.

But have you ever thought that as Christians, we are called to be midwives? More and more people in our churches are getting involved in the formation of Fresh Expressions of Church. These range from Messy Church, through Café Church to various kinds of community gatherings and children’s activities, all with the aim of creating genuine, viable and sustainable Christian communities in their own right.

To be fair to those doing this, although they are involved in their formation, running and even financing, the form of church they are involved with may not be their church, nor would they necessarily want to be part of it long term. In a sense they are acting like midwives who bring other peoples’ babies into the world. They may be passionate about the new birth but they recognise that what they is for someone else and they must not develop an emotional attachment to the newly born baby.

Some are suspicious, if not critical of Fresh Expressions of Church fearing that the new, trendy form of church is going to replace the traditional model which they know and feel comfortable with. People have been predicting the demise of traditional church for decades and it simply hasn’t happened, neither do I expect it to. However, we need to accept that in some places, the traditional model, although not dead and buried, is on a life-support machine. Having said that, not all Fresh Expressions of Church will survive into the future in this fickle, consumerist society which we inhabit.

We live in a country where church-going is off the agenda for the majority. However, the need for the gospel is higher now than it has ever been. The survival of the Church will require self-sacrifice and total commitment by people who may never see the fruit of their labours. I have no idea what the ‘Church of Tomorrow’ will look like but I believe it will be very different from today’s model. Just to give you one example – Sunday School. These flourished in an era where church-going parents were Christian and their children needed a basic grounding in the faith while Mum and Dad went to the main church for solid and deeper teaching. Today’s parents are not in that position and they are as much in need of basic teaching on the faith as their children. This partly explains why Sunday Schools have seen a sharp decline in attendance while Messy Church, where children and parents worship and learn together, is flourishing. We need more initiatives like this, especially for people who value a church where they can participate rather than being preached at. These models are emerging but more resources, human as well as financial, need to be applied.

So, it’s time to ‘Call the Midwife’ and start missionary work that will bear fruit for tomorrow’s generation of Christian.

Birthday Long Weekend

View from Hotel des Nations
Saint-Germain

Wednesday 26th February 2014 we departed Eurostar from St. Pancras and stayed for 4 nights at the Horel Des Nations Saint Germain. This is my milestone birthday when the government starts paying me money instead of the other way around. It is a compact hotel but reasonably priced and in a good location. After unpacking we took the tube to Pont Neuf and walked past the Notre Dame. Then we went to Cafe de Metro for a light meal. On the way back to the hotel we dropped into a supermarket (Carrefour) and bought water, milk, chocolate and chocolate eclairs. I had a bath before sleeping.

Galeries Lafayette

Montmartre

Montmartre

Sacre Coeur

Chocolate Museum Montmartre

Iconic Metro Sign

Eiffel Tower

Thursday 27th : it started off rainy. We travelled on the tube to Galeries Lafayette where we started with a browse around and then ended up in the cafe on the top floor. Here we had a coffee and sat overlooking the south side of the town with a view of the Eiffel Tower, albeit shrouded in cloud. I took many pictures of the store with its magnificent dome. We then took the tube to Montmartre and walked through the streets in the direction of the Scre Coeur. When we got near to the Sacre Coeur we encountered the three people, two women and a man, pretending to be doing a survey with clipboards in hand. Actually they were pick pockets and were just seconds away from losing my wallet. I confronted them and chased them down the stairs taking a photo. We then went into the cathedral but were restless after our ordeal. We then walked into Montmartre and then along the boulevard de Rochechouart and boulevard de Clichy taking pictures of the metro and Moulin Rouge. On the way down the sun shone and I got some stunning photos of the Sacre Coeur. We also went into the chocolate museum.

On the Bateaux Mouches

Notre Dame

Mongolian Giant

Then it was off to the Eiffel Tower. Again the sun shone. We didn't go up but walked from Invalides to the tower and then over to the Trocadera. We then returned to the hotel and went out to the restaurant opposite the hotel. It was a very basic meal and had no atmosphere.

The appalling Indian Restaurant
Safran

Inside Notre Dame

From the top of the Galeries Lafayette

Place de la Concorde

Just look at that.
Calories of Justice

We had a lovely coffee and
hot chocolate in here

Some old saint

Fresco depicting Jesus' resurrection appearances.
This is his appearance to Thomas.

Notre Dame

Friday 28th : We caught the bus today which is also covered by the ticket. We went first to the Pantheon and changed onto another bus taking us to the Galaries Lafayette, via Printemps where the loos charged. We again went to the top floor for a coffee. After this we went to the river for a Bateaux Mouches trip. It was a cloudy day. The boat took us past Notre Dame and beyond. We walked around the north bank looking for a tea shop. The Pompidou Centre had huge queues so we went back to the hotel. We stopped off at the supermarket and bought some food to eat at the hotel.

Saturday March 1st : We walked to the river looking for an Indian Restaurant. Finally we found Safran which looked good. Later we were to find that this was in the touristy area and it was not as good as we expected. We the. Walked over to Notre Dame and went in. They have significantly improved it and the atmosphere was excellent. There was a service taking place but around the outside isles it resembles Sacre Coeur with candles and prayer places in all the main windows. We saw the wall plaques much better and they depicted scenes from the Bible.

We then went to Cafe Quasimodo where I had a chocolate Viennoise and a crepe. We then walked along Rue de Rivoli and boarded the tube to take us to George V so that we could walk along the Champs Élysées. Again we were approached by a group of pick pockets asking directions. It was the. On the tube to Galeries Lafayette for another tea and browse. We went onto the rooftop and had some stunning views in bright sunshine of Paris. We the. Went back to the hotel and then off to Safran for a very poor dining experience. My biryiani took a long time to prepare but they had left Margaret's on one side and it was cold on arrival. The service was very poor and with the clinking of glasses making a racket the atmosphere was appalling. We caught the tube back to the hotel and that was that.

Sunday 2nd : We had breakfast and caught the tube to Gare du Nord where I typed this blog. We woke to a cloudless sky would you believe. I slept a little on the train and we arrived on time at St. Pancras. The first class lounge was shut - it is only open during the week - so we went into Costa. The wifi is very flaky here.

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• The 5 day pass cost just over €34 each and covers you for bus and tube. This was a good investment as hopping on and off proved simple. I downloaded a bus map and already had a tube map on the iPad.

• The hotel (Hotel de Nations Saint-Germain) was in the Latin quarter near to the tube stop Place Monge which is on Rue Monge, a long road which heads south from Boulevard Saint Germain. The hotel was compact. We were in room 64 on floor 6. This is one of the bigger rooms. We had balconies off the bedroom overlooking the back of the hotel and one off the bathroom overlooking Rue Monge, with views of Sacre Coeur in the distance. The room charge if you go direct would be €120 for room only but you would also get a discount for direct booking and an extra discount if you've been there before. The wifi is flaky in the room but free. I was disappointed with the breakfast. We got it at the discounted rate of €12 each but it was adequate. The hot breakfast consisted of bacon rolls, sausages in sticks and scrambled eggs. There were cereals, fruit cocktail, yoghurt, tea and coffee. The location was good in that it was quiet and close to the tube stops. There were three close by plus a Carrefour supermarket.

• The travel card I got from the Post Office was a swindle. When you load money on in the first instance they give you a punitive exchange rate. After that you can load money at a better rate. We had no problem using it for purchases but soon used up the €200 I preloaded. You are charged if you withdraw cash at an ATM. Again if you take sterling you can exchange it at the various Bureau de Change places, many of which are on Rue Rivoli. You need to shop around for the best rate. However, using a UK credit cars, although you pay for each transaction, gives you the rate of the day and is a better option for large purchases.

• Pick pockets. - we are much wiser now. You need to keep all valuables securely stashed away. They can unzip pockets very quickly and work in groups, jostling you when they empty your pockets.

• Notre Dame - this is much improved and is as good as Sacre Coeur, perhaps even better because of its location. However, Sacre Coeur has the better views of Paris.

• Galeries Lafayette is by far the best department store. The restaurant on floor 6 is well priced and offers panoramic views of the southern parts of Paris with the Eifel Tower clearly visible. Above the restaurant is a terrace area which serves meals in the summer. The views from here are even better and there is a pseudo grass floor. Toilets are free unlike Printemps which charges €1.5.

• Certain tube stations have the old style Metropolitai sign. These we saw in Montmartre and Saint Michel.

• Book shops - on Boulevard Saint Michel there are a number of good book shops. These are worth browsing.

• Eurostar - if we booked this holiday again, I would book the hotel direct and Eurostar direct. With train only you can choose not only the time but the class. Sometimes, premier is cheaper than standard and gives you a free meal and wifi and PowerPoint. It takes about 2.5 hours.

Camera - I used the iPad mostly as a camera. It's disadvantage is poor zoom and control over special effects. However for convenience it wins easily. I used my cheap, light weight tripod for the camcorder at Montmatre.

© Roger G Johnson 2013

006 : The Paul I Never Knew About

But who is this man whose writings have dominated the New Testament and Christian Theology for the entire Christian epoch? Do we really know what he was like? Was he infallible in his understanding of the gospel and judgments about church planting and leadership? Here are a few things which you may not have spotted about Paul which give an insight into the man’s character and methods.

He probably never met the pre-resurrection Jesus

When Paul set out with Barnabas on his first missionary journey, he came to a place called Pisidian Antioch, not to be confused with Syrian Antioch where he had been a prominent member of the Christian community for some time. Here he gave a potted history of the Jewish people explaining that there is an appendix to the story they already knew – namely that the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy was in Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 13:16-42). This information about Jesus probably came to Paul second hand through those who witnessed his life, death and resurrection – people like Peter, James and John. Paul’s only encounter with Jesus was after the resurrection and is first recorded in Acts 9:1-19. But his encounter with the risen Jesus was sufficient to convince him beyond doubt of all that he had been told about Jesus. Many of us crave for greater assurance but have to rely on what we have been told – and experience for ourselves the reality of Jesus through prayer and our daily walk with him.

He was a natural, but determined leader

It’s impossible to read the latter chapters of Acts and the letters written by Paul without realising his forceful character and determination. Barnabas was the man who first integrated Paul (or Saul as he then was) into the Christian community in Antioch and was clearly seen as the senior disciple of the two. However, not long after the start of the first missionary journey, ‘Barnabas and Saul’ (Acts 12:25; 13:2; 13:7) is replaced by ‘Paul and Barnabas’ (Acts 13:42,43,46,50; 14:1,3,23; 15:2,35,36). It didn’t take Paul long to occupy the driving seat. Paul also had a reputation for being determined, and some would say, stubborn. On the first missionary journey, John Mark, a cousin of Barnabas left the mission and returned home (Acts 13:13). Some would say he couldn’t stand the heat but we don’t know how much of this was down to Paul. As a result, when Paul and Barnabas decided on another missionary journey, they fell out over John Mark in an irreconcilable dispute (Acts 15:36-41). Another example of Paul’s determination can be found in a hot dispute he has with Simon Peter and Barnabas (Galatians 2:11-14).

He used strong language

We are given a warning on TV if the following programme contains strong language or violence. Not so in the Bible. Paul was constantly under fire from a number of opponents and did not hold back in his letters when confronting them. In Romans 6:1&2 we read ’What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means’. This is how the RSV (The Really Sanitised Version) records it so as not to offend its readers. However, the USV (The Unsanitised Version) would render ‘By no means’ in much stronger language which I clearly cannot impose upon you. Paul was annoyed with the ‘antinomianists’ - those Christians who believed that having become a Christian meant that God’s law and moral standards no applied to them.

Another example is in Galatians 5:12 where he says ‘I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!’ Here, Paul is talking about those Christians from a Jewish background who insisted that no one could become a Christian without first becoming a Jew and being circumcised.

He was an untrained preacher

It is immensely rewarding to be involved in tutoring the students on the new Local Preachers’ course taking place in the district. They are receiving the kind of grounding which was denied Paul. In 2 Corinthians 11:6 he says, ‘ I may be untrained in speech, but not in knowledge; certainly in every way and in all things we have made this evident to you.’ You would think that a man who debated with the finest brains in the Greek and Jewish world in public places would have had some preparation – but he did it in the power of the Spirit and won many to the faith as a result.

He deconstructed and reconstructed his faith

It may not be obvious to those who have been drenched all their lives in Christianity that Paul came from a totally different background and belief system, namely Judaism. None could boast credentials matching those of Paul who was trained in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, one of the most respected rabbis of the time. Paul was a match for the best of them and observed the religious duties of a Pharisee to the letter. That is why the transition which started on the Road to Damascus was so dramatic. He had to undo his former faith which was based on strict observance of Jewish Law and embrace a totally different lifestyle whereby his trust was switched to Jesus (whom he had persecuted) and faith in the forgiveness which comes from God through Jesus. It was many years between his conversion and his first missionary journey, some of which were spent in a place called Arabia, not the Arabia we know but probably an area to the east of Damascus (Galatians 1:17), where he no doubt had to unpick his old faith and work out what it meant to be a follower of Jesus – a bit like unpicking a piece of knitting and redoing it in another stitch. Actually, many Christians go through a similar exercise in their own Christian journey - shedding beliefs which they inherited in childhood and adopting a more mature understanding of the faith. This is by no means easy and can cause some to abandon faith altogether.

There’s much more to Paul under the surface. You only have to read the puzzling letter of 1 Corinthians to see the trials and tribulations he experienced in setting up his fledgling faith communities. Nevertheless, we are left in the New Testament with the biography and writings of a remarkable, but flawed individual who has left an indelible stamp on the Christian Church.

It’s little wonder that Paul has always been a controversial and complex character and remains so for us today. Even the early apostles struggled to understand him (2 Peter 3:15,16).

005 : A product of their time

It was a cold, wet day in February but I finally made a long awaited trip to London to do the museums. On arrival at Kings Cross I boarded a heavily overcrowded bus and crawled through nose-to-tail traffic to Cromwell Road, not far from Harrods and the famous Holy Trinity Brompton, HTB to its fans. Undaunted by the tube strike which caused so much disruption to London commuters, I enjoyed a much needed coffee as I planned my tour around the Natural History and Science Museums.

At the Science Museum I embarked upon a walk down Memory Lane as I looked at some of the great inventions of previous generations. Stephenson's Rocket was a reminder of Britain's genius in the field of steam locomotion. The early days of motor cars was aptly displayed by a Model T Ford and various other cars of yesteryear. Man's first excursions into outer space were depicted by the claustrophobic Russian space capsules and various American rockets. Then there were the Penny Farthing bicycle, old-style telephones, typewriters and many other items which were brilliant in their day but were clearly products of their time. Although the invention lives on, the products have evolved into modern-day equivalents which make their forefathers both crude and even ridiculous. Imagine carrying around one of the early mobile phones which resembled a brick more than its modern-day equivalent. And who in their right minds would ride a Penny Farthing through the London streets? For all his brilliance, Robert Stephenson would be amazed at how the Japanese have taken rail travel to new heights of speed and efficiency.

This all made me reflect on how the church has responded to modernisation. So much of what we do today is also a product of its time. Not wishing to ruffle feathers I have to say that for all his brilliance, Charles Wesley wrote a host of hymns in the style and language of his day. Some of his hymns are timeless and will be treasured and sung by many generations to come but increasingly, today's Christians are warming to the modern-day hymn-writing skills of Matt Redman and his peers. Should we be surprised or concerned at this? And what about the style of worship in some churches? Sitting on wooden pews facing towards the service leader who is dressed in a black gown and holds absolute authority is mirrored only by a law court in today's society. What picture of God does that portray to people of this generation? Not only that, but we deliver the gospel by preaching sermons. Again, we have brilliant preachers who work tirelessly to prepare and deliver excellent sermons but today's generation is wedded to a different media - visual, interactive and instant. Are some of the things we do in church today products of their time? 

In a recent survey by the British Marketing Research Bureau the following findings were discovered :

Ø The Nativity : 78 per cent of 16-24-year-olds saying they were not convinced of its historical reliability.

Ø Almost a quarter of those questioned who described themselves as Christians admitted they did not believe certain aspects of the Bible's teaching about Jesus.

A separate study by Mothers' Union showed that more parents encourage their children to believe in Father Christmas than in the nativity.

The Bible is viewed through highly critical eyes and people today give far less weight to people in authority, be they preachers, policemen, judges or politicians. So why do we continue to do church in a manner which assumes a high degree of biblical knowledge and acceptance. Why do we still deliver the gospel message by word of mouth only? Is it wrong to question our tenacious hold on yesterday's traditions? The newly appointed head of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, has a daunting task following on from the entrepreneurial Bill Gates and the mercurial Steve Ballmer. On taking up the reins he said "our industry does not respect tradition – it only respects innovation”. Is that true in the church or do we give too much weight to tradition at the expense of engaging with today's generation and pioneering new forms of church?

There's no doubt that the men and women behind the amazing inventions I saw in the Science Museum were brilliant and visionary. But technology has evolved at a rapid pace and drives the way in which we live. The longer the church remains wedded to the past, the greater will be the gulf between church culture and the culture of people we brush shoulders with day by day. 

It will take courage and enterprise on the part of church leaders to embrace the challenges we face in this country. It will involve a great deal of heart-searching on the part of members, especially the older ones, to allow them to move the church forward in the 21st century. Where does your church stand in these exciting but challenging days?

But here's the rub. We are where we are today because of the skill, dedication and risk-taking of yesterday's entrepreneurs whose goods are displayed in the Science Museum and fondly remembered by like-minded people today. I'm sure they would be the first to say to this generation, "don't keep looking back but build on what we have done and move forward". Are we simply going to look back with admiration on past achievements or emulate their endeavours for the sake of tomorrow's generation? Ask yourself, "does the future have a church and, if so, what will it look like?"

004: Human Frailty

This is the text of an address I gave to the Praise Meeting at Sutton-in-Ashfield Methodist Church on Wednesday January 29^th. The Bible readings were Matthew 16:13-20 and 1 Kings 19:9-18.

It was during an ‘awayday’ with his disciples in a place named Caesarea Philippi, away from the madding crowd, that Jesus turned to his disciples and asked, “who do people say I am?” A strange question in many respects. Was Jesus having a mind-blank, or perhaps an identity crisis? The people of the Galilee region knew him, the miracles he had performed, his authoritative teaching on the Kingdom of God and his brilliant exchanges with the religious authorities. So, what did they make of him? The reply was revealing, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” I don’t know what response Jesus expected but it could have been along the lines of “a Galilean peasant”, “the carpenter from Nazareth”, “a great teacher and preacher”, or “a subversive trouble-maker”. All would be spot on but the word on the street was different. He was hailed alongside some of the greatest figures in Jewish history – the prophets.

This made me think about some of the prophetic figures of the modern day – people like Martin Luther King Jr., the famous civil rights activist who is remembered for his address to thousands from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. During what was quite a heavy address, his favourite gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson, shouted out, “tell them about your dream, Martin”. He then departed from his script and with his vibrating Pentecostal-style voice embarked upon his “I have a dream” speech for which he is so widely and warmly remembered. His dream was for his children to grow up with the same rights as white children and be free to live without discrimination and prejudice on account of the colour of their skin. They shot him.

And then there’s Nelson Mandela who spent 27 years imprisoned initially on Robben Island because he was branded as subversive. On his release, without a trace of bitterness, he worked his way back into the political system and they made him president. And another great figure is Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani girl who campaigned for the rights of girls and women to be educated without fear of violence from extremist Islamic groups. They shot her but mercifully, thanks to the prompt medical attention in Pakistan and later in Birmingham UK, she survived an horrific head wound.

The thing about prophetic figures is that they are ‘game-changers’. They are totally consumed by their message and spend themselves, even at risk to their lives, in seeing their dream become a reality. When their work is done, nothing is ever the same again. So when Jesus is considered to be ‘one of the prophets’ it was by no means an insult.

But one of the prophets mentioned in the list was Elijah. Here is a larger than life character whose primary passion was to restore true religious beliefs to a nation which had been hoodwinked into following false gods. The pinnacle of his career was the contest on Mount Carmel where he upstaged 450 prophets of Baal and had them slaughtered. Yes, it’s blood-thirsty but that’s what life was like in those days, you only have to watch the recent Channel 5 series ‘The Bible’ to see that. But the passage we read depicts Elijah in a very different situation. This man of enormous faith was suddenly reduced to a quivering wreck and cocooned in a cave on Mount Horeb in a state of suicidal depression. He was afraid of the death threats from Queen Jezebel, he felt his ministry had been a failure as everyone had abandoned the true religion, he felt abandoned by God who failed to come to his rescue and, with Elisha waiting in the wings to take over his role, he saw his future in terms of the scrap-heap of prophets. Not a pleasant state to be in, especially for a man of such high standing.

Elijah in the cave

But there was one other problem which Elijah faced, and it is one which some Christians are prone to. He was wedded to sensationalism – he expected God to always respond to his prayers in a miraculous or sensational way. Back in the 1980s I made several trips to the USA and watched with horror as the TV evangelists did their bit on prime-time TV. With their emotional addresses, high-profile celebrities and strong appeals for money, some of them built their kingdoms and tried to out-do their rivals. One such TV evangelist was Jim Bakker (yes with 2 k’s in his name). He was the founder of Heritage USA, a Disneyland-style theme park for Christians. He also had his organisation, PTL Power Ministries and his prime-time TV show onto which he would invite some top names. Sadly the names he invited were renowned more for their celebrity status and crowd-pulling power than their flimsy Christian credentials. But Bakker was a man wedded to sensationalism. Very soon his sexual misdemeanours and embezzlement led him to prison where, to his credit, he reflected long and hard about his downfall. Aided by people like Billy Graham, he looked again at the teachings of Jesus and realised how little he understood of the true gospel message. In his book, aptly entitled “I Was Wrong”, he unfolds the gruesome details of his human frailty.

A significant part of the reading from 1 Kings 19 talks about Elijah’s encounter with God in the cave. There was a mighty wind which dashed the rocks in pieces, a great earthquake and then a fire. But God was in none of these sensational occurrences. No, they were followed by ‘a still, small voice’ through which God finally got through to his prophet. Overawed by the holiness of the moment, Elijah hid his face but finally listened to the God who loved him. It was in that moment that God revealed the truth. He had not written him off or abandoned him but still had work for him to do, including the anointing of Elisha as his successor. Oh yes, and he affirmed his ministry by revealing that 7,000 had remained faithful – a fitting tribute to Elijah’s ministry.

And then there’s the question which God poses to Elijah twice – “what are you doing here Elijah?” It would be interesting to know whether the emphasis is on the word doing or the word here. I favour the latter because it wasn’t right for a man of God to be hiding away in a cave. Sometimes we sense God is distant, not because he has moved, but because we are in the wrong place. I remember a time when my son was revising for his A Levels and I was working away from home on contract. I became painfully aware that being away from home was the wrong choice when my rightful place was at his side helping and encouraging him.

So, why did all this happen to such a great man of God? The answer is simple – because he was human, and human beings are frail. Any one of us can fall victim to fear and depression. As we get older, the body starts to decompose and no amount of prayer can reverse that process. St. Paul, in one of his letters to the church at Corinth tells about his ‘thorn in the flesh’. We don’t know for sure what this ailment was but three times he pleaded with God for its removal only to be told, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God’s response could be interpreted in many ways but essentially I believe God was saying to Paul, “don’t worry about your human frailty, I can use you mightily as you are”. Indeed Paul stresses that his own weakness is an opportunity for God to demonstrate his strength.

So Elijah had to learn the lesson about experiencing God in the non-sensational moments too. As preachers or teachers, preparing a sermon or talk when the well is dry, or as parents having to battle with unruly children or deal with the pressure of highly dependent elderly relatives, we too need to realise that God is just as close to us in these times as when the miraculous and sensational things are happening. Our human frailty is not an excuse for running away into a cave in a fit of depression. Basically we need to be real about life. We are ordinary Christian disciples serving an extraordinary God.

003d: Fresh Expressions of Christian PART IV

In PARTS I, II & III of this bulletin I explored some of the characteristics I have observed in people today and how they differ from previous generations. In particular I am concerned that we recognise that the next generation of Christians will be different from those of the past and that we don’t reject them or distance them from church life because of our unwillingness to embrace change. In PART I I explored these attributes:

1. They Walk the Walk but don't Talk the Talk
2. They don't like labels
3. They don't do Nostalgia as we do

In PART II I explored these attributes:

4. They want something that works
5. They are choice-driven
6. They don't do Nostalgia as we do

In PART III I explored these attributes:

7. They use the Internet
8. They are spiritually alert but institutionally allergic
9. They belong but won’t join
10. They network

So, where is the church in all of this? 
The church still fishes in the pool expecting to catch fish who will turn up at 10:30 each Sunday morning, sing whatever hymns they are presented with and accept whatever lesson is preached without comeback. Is it not right, when thinking about starting a Fresh Expression of Church, to start by recognising the nature of our Fresh Expressions of Christian? But the same is also true of our traditional church model. Bearing in mind the decline in church attendance in recent years, we are doomed if we think we can replicate what worked 50 years ago and expect growth. As Albert Einstein once said, ‘Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results’. Perhaps it’s time to take a good hard look at the people who don’t come to church and tune our approach in a way which will engage more effectively with them, without diluting the gospel itself.

But it’s no good griping about the problem. We need practical solutions. In my list of attributes I mentioned that choice is seen as a key facet of today’s culture. Let’s look at some ways in which we can expand our vision of what goes on each Sunday or midweek. I don’t suggest for one minute that all or some of these ideas can be adopted each week, nor by one minister trying to do it all. They could, however, be adopted periodically with a team of people, each with a different skill set. In my own church, great strides were taken to provide a choice of activities in the Sunday Morning service once a quarter. Of course there were critics but overall it enlarged people’s vision and understanding of Christian Faith.

We could call these ideas ‘Menu Church’ because they seek to offer people a menu of worship activities and styles rather than offering the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. It could also be that the start and / or end of the service brings people together for a short period of corporate worship and news sharing.

For small churches, then the number of options on the menu is likely to be small and the frequency of such Sundays low. A lack of break-out rooms would be one limiting factor. But in larger churches where the number of skilled leaders is greater, then a more regular pattern could be built into the church year. One idea is to hold Sundays like this around the major festivals or key moments in the Christian Calendar. For instance, Lent would be a good time to focus on prayer and meditation, Pentecost would lend itself more to family activities like Messy Church and so forth.

Menu church 

Activity 1 – Discussion Group
Many people outside of the church resist being preached at but warm to the idea of contributing to a discussion. Much of the Alpha course is devoted to unpacking the issues raised in the video or talk and, sensitively led, this can be the most fruitful part of the course, allowing people to ask the questions they would be too afraid to ask in other settings. You could discuss matters affecting the local community, items in the news, activities which take place in church or matters of faith.

Activity 2 – Meditation
Meditation was popularised in the 1960s when the Beatles were introduced to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Today you will find some commercial organisations offering meditation to its employees to help them in their work environment. Celtic meditation is becoming more popular and a local author, Liz Babbs, has produced a number of books on the subject (see www.lizbabbs.com). However, it is important to ensure that this is Christ-centred.

Activity 3 - Messy Church
Messy Church in particular has become very popular as a Fresh Expression of Church. But why not offer this as one option on Sunday morning? It is particularly suitable for a group of mixed ages. Just imagine the children with Mum, Dad and grandparents working together on a model of Noah’s Ark, discussing the story. Sunday lunchtime would never be the same again!

Activity 4 – Arts and Craft / Photography
Why not offer a session of arts and crafts where people can draw, paint, sew, knit or engage in a relaxing activity around a Christian theme? People of all ages can mix together and contribute equally. Likewise you could ask people to bring in photos they have taken which have some kind of special significance or spiritual meaning.

Activity 5 – Bible Reading
Yes, I know we have Bible readings in church but why not have an activity where the Bible can be read slowly and reflectively? Ignatian Bible Reading is a technique where people are invited to imagine they are part of the Bible scene. They imagine being one of the characters or asked to imagine what it felt like to be there, what were the other people feeling and so forth. It brings the Bible to life in a new way. There are other creative ways of reading the Bible like Lectio Divina where the Bible is read prayerfully, asking God to speak to you through his Spirit.

Activity 6 – Prayer Room / Boiler Room
I believe every church needs a room set aside as a prayer room. A few years ago, the Methodist Church embarked on a programme entitled ‘Pray without ceasing’ where an entire year was focussed on the topic of prayer. In the 24/7 Prayer Movement we encountered ‘Boiler Rooms’ – rooms set aside for and equipped in such a way as to allow people to spend long periods in prayer. There would be bean bags, pens and paper to allow people to write down their thoughts or create journals, candles, books and anything to allow people to engage creatively in prayer. There may be quiet spiritual music playing in the background. Teaching on prayer is sadly lacking in some churches. This could be the remedy. Also, you might have an activity where prayers are focussed on one or two situations – perhaps something happening in the community, a challenge faced by the church at large or prayer for healing and wholeness.

Activity 7 – Reading Room
Why not have an activity where a number of Christian books are available – prayer books, books on meditation, biographies – so that people can sit quietly for a period reading.

Activity 8 – Film Clips
You could show small film clips or items recorded from the news and allow people to discuss them from a Christian perspective. Again, sensitive leadership is needed so that it doesn’t turn into an argument. Also you will need to extend your CCLI cover but it is not expensive.

Activity 9 – Debate
I like to watch ‘The Big Questions’ which is broadcast on Sunday mornings with Nicky Campbell chairing a debate on spiritual or religious matters with prominent people involved (having recorded it earlier of course). Again, good leadership is needed here but it can help people to wrestle with matter of importance to their faith.

Activity 10 – Hymn Singing
Offer a session where two, maybe three hymns are sung and then the words and significance explained and discussed. This would help people new to faith to get to grips with some of the treasures of the past.

Activity 11 – Faith Exploration
This is an activity where an aspect of Christian Faith is explored and discussed. Many Christians struggle with some aspects of the faith and it’s good to provide a sensitive, non-judgmental environment in which to explore these together.

Conclusion 
Now I know that a lot of these are handled in house groups or midweek activities and some would argue that Sunday morning is neither the time nor place to do this. Some might also argue that it is diluting worship. Bear in mind that I am not suggesting that we replace Sunday Morning worship each week with these ideas but that they are offered occasionally. Remember that I am thinking not just of the people who come to church, but those who, with a little persuasion and warm invitation would like to come but are put off by an environment where all the regulars know what to do and strangers don’t.

Don’t expect the minister to handle all of this. A team approach is vital and will also energise people in a new way as they learn from one another. Also, don’t use all of these items each time; pick and choose which would work best for you and which suit the season of the year. You may also have other ideas of your own. Form a team, plan ahead, publicise it in the community, talk about it with your friends and prepare invites. As John Wesley famously said, ‘We have nothing to do but save souls’.

Of course, there is one factor I forgot to mention and I thank my wife for prompting me. All this must be undergirded with prayer!

003c: Fresh Expressions of Christian PART III

In PARTS I and II of this bulletin I explored some of the characteristics I have observed in people today and how they differ from previous generations. In particular I am concerned that we recognise that the next generation of Christians will be different from those of the past and that we don’t reject them or distance them from church life because of our unwillingness to embrace change.

In PART I I explored these attributes:

• They Walk the Walk but don't Talk the Talk
• They don't like labels
• They don't do Nostalgia as we do

In PART II I explored these attributes:

• They want something that works
• They are choice-driven
• They don't do Nostalgia as we do

Let’s look at some other attributes. In particular, consider your children, grandchildren, friends and neighbours, and see if you agree with these.

7 : They use the Internet
I mentioned in the last bulletin how odd it may appear to the younger generation to be confronted with a collection plate during the service. With the take up of internet shopping accelerating at a phenomenal rate, we need to recognise that the way we ask people to contribute to the finances of the church also needs to evolve. Should we not be more open and excited about the work we have funded and the impact it has had on the community?

Not only that but the old saying 'the Bible tells me so' has now been replaced by 'Google tells me so'. People use the internet as their source of wisdom and knowledge and are less inclined to accept what a preacher tells them on Sunday morning as the final word. And yet do we offer an opportunity for people to ask questions about what is preached and express their own views on the subject of the day? In this ‘Facebook’ age where people exchange their views openly and instantly, should we not provide similar opportunities with regard to what is preached and what we believe?

I heard of one church which handed out iPads to members of the congregation so that they could follow the order of service and sing hymns by reference to what was on the screen. I can hear your groans as I write this – “what if they press the wrong button; the battery gives out; the wifi goes down; they struggle to read the screen?” I personally would not like to hold my iPad as I worship God. For a start it might set my mind racing about the emails I haven’t replied to or tempt me to try out an app I have recently downloaded and take my focus totally away from what I am in church for. Not only that, but I find mobile devices so impersonal and can destroy the fellowship of the gathering. Even the use of projection equipment can be a turn-off when things go wrong. How I hate it when we are singing verse 3 and the projectionist has forgotten to advance the slide.

8 : They are spiritually alert but institutionally allergic

I know this has been overstated in the past but I do detect an openness to spirituality today which exceeds that of previous generations. This was clearly shown when Princess Diana died and people across the country poured out their grief in some quite extraordinary ways. Flowers were left outside shopping centres of all places, perhaps suggesting that these are the new temples of worship. Although the church played its part in the mourning process, people were not naturally drawn to churches as a place for dealing with their grief.

As I mentioned earlier, yoga, tai chi and other forms of spirituality are no longer frowned upon in society as they were in the past. And so, one of the major challenges we face in the church today is to recapture those areas which have been hijacked by spirituality merchants who are devoid of moral grounding.

9 : They belong but will not join
The church used to work on the “believe, behave, belong” model where becoming a member was conditional on people understanding and accepting our doctrines and living respectable lives. This has now switched around totally to the “belong, believe, behave” model whereby people are encouraged to join in first in the hope that the influence of mature Christians will influence their beliefs and these new beliefs will influence their behaviour. But we also need to recognise that although people may like to join us, membership in its traditional form is a big challenge. This is seen not only in churches but also in political parties. In this age where people like to dip their toe in the water before diving in fully, the need for explorer groups is acute so that people can make their own mind up before making a full commitment. In the past, evangelism has been geared around the “bring people back to the faith they have abandoned” model whereas today, the vast majority of people never had any faith upbringing to turn back to. You only need to look at the statistics relating to the number of children attending Sunday School today as opposed to 60 years ago to see that.

10 : They network

Traditionally, churches have been planted in a locality in order that it will attract the people who live in that community. The Anglican Parish system works on this basis and it can be a touchy matter when a church in a neighbouring parish starts to do outreach beyond their parish boundary. And yet, people today spend more and more of their time with people in their network rather than people in their community. How many of us know our neighbours well? I am a member of David Lloyd where I play racket sports and use the gym. This is one of my networks and some of my time is spent socialising with people in the cafe-bar as opposed to hitting a squash ball against a wall. These are people who don't live near me but with whom I have developed a bond of friendship. Many people today spend more time with work colleagues than with their neighbours or, dare I say it, with their families. To expect people like this to have an allegiance to a building down the street is an unrealistic expectation. This is why the Fresh Expressions of Church movement gives serious focus to developing church within our networks. Of course, the biggest networks in use today are Facebook and Twitter. Try compressing the Sunday Sermon into 140 characters for a tweet!

For discussion:

7. One of my wife’s colleagues was quite surprised when he discovered she was on FaceBook. How has your method of communicating and discovering what’s happening in the world changed over the years? Has your church kept up with this change?
8. ‘I’m spiritual but not religious’ – you sometimes hear people saying this. What do you think they mean and would you agree with it?
9. What does church membership mean to you? Can you be a Christian without going to church?
10. How well do you know your neighbours? Would you feel comfortable sharing your faith with them?

© Roger G Johnson 20

003b: Fresh Expressions of Christian PART II

In PART I of this bulletin I explored some of the characteristics I have observed in people today and how they differ from previous generations. In particular I am concerned that we recognise that the next generation of Christians will be different from those of the past and that we don’t reject them or distance them from church life because of our unwillingness to embrace change.

In PART I I explored these attributes:

·        They Walk the Walk but don't Talk the Talk

·        They don't like labels

·        They don't do Nostalgia as we do

Let’s look at some other attributes. In particular, consider your children, grandchildren, friends and neighbours, and see if you agree with these.

4 : They want something that works

The old children's song goes, 'Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so'. Along with love, truth is seen as a hallmark of Christian faith. However, people today are less likely to ask "is it true?" They are more likely to ask "does it work?" People are attracted more to those who live an authentic Christian life rather than someone who tells you what you should believe. To put it another way, people trust authenticity more than authority.

Today truth is relative and people who claim to profess absolute truth are viewed with suspicion. It’s only right that people should question what the Bible says and the claims it makes. James 3:17 says this, ‘But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.’ Open to reason means that you can argue with it, pull it apart, meditate long and hard over it but in the end, God's truth will speak to you through the still small voice of the Spirit.

5 : They are choice-driven

Most of us take a trip to a supermarket each week for the weekly shop. We probably take it for granted that for each item we buy, there are 3 or 4 alternatives waiting to be chosen. Choice is a given today. I drive a Ford but there's no law which says that everyone should do the same. And yet, the culture in many churches is a one-size-fits-all approach. The preacher decides the hymns, the readings, the theme and how long the whole thing will last. Who would think of going for a meal in a restaurant where you are given a menu with a single choice on it?

People today are much more discerning about what they choose. They don't see one religion as having the whole truth and may well dip into various religions or spiritualities. We used to give this approach the name New Age - a pick and mix approach to faith and life-style. Many today turn to yoga or tai chi to aid their mental and spiritual wellbeing and yet these used to be banned in church -  still are in some. I will write in a later bulletin how we might cater better for this choice-driven or consumerist culture.

6 : They support causes, not institutions

Every year, millions of pounds are raised for Children in Need and Red Nose Day. Similarly, vast sums of money have been donated to the poorer countries of the world through Live Aid. And yet, in some churches, they still pass around the plate so that people can drop their offerings in to support the upkeep of the institution. What would a young 21st century person with no prior experience of church make of that? Are they tempted to ask ‘do you take Master Card?’ or ‘can I use Paypal?’ Does the use of a collection plate convey the message that the church is forward-thinking and engaging with the issues of today’s world?

People are more likely to give generously to a cause which they believe in and can be seen to make a positive difference rather than donating into an amorphous pot of money which is used to keep the show on the road. How often have you heard the preacher explain where the money will be used before the collection is received?

For discussion:

4.   ‘The Bible tells me so’ – how do you respond to this phrase?

a.   … in matters of science like the creation of the world

b.   … in matters of life-style like co-habitation and marriage

5.   We are a consumerist society – is this a good or bad thing?

6.   Do you know where the collection goes and how well it is used?

a.   Are there better ways of allowing people to contribute to the church financially?