Arguing well…. (Pt 1)
by Andy Mason on Nov.06, 2010, under Misc
It’s a big issue anywhere, but I reckon helping people deal with conflict has got to be up there as one of the big issues for discipleship on council estates. Anger, violence, harsh words, lack of self-control has got to be one of the most destructive sins we see again amongst friends and family. Of course, on the other hand, I don’t want to suggest that middle class self-control and ‘restraint’ is any more godly. We’re not talking about polite passive-aggression as any solution!
Firstly, let’s think about conflict amongst Christians. Surely, resolving conflict peaceably has got to be one of the key counter-cultural elements of the church community. This is a key way in which we are different from the world. How do we do it?Turning to the New Testament it seems to me that being “in Christ” changes everything about how we deal with one another. This is the starting point for how Paul views other believers e.g. Rom 16:2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11b, 12, 22. When there’s conflict in Corinth, what does Paul ask Euodia and Syntyche to do? they are “to agree with each other in the Lord” (Phil 4:2). Not just get on with each other, but to submit their conflict to their both “being in Christ”. This is the framework or atmosphere in which we are to view each other as Christians, and how we are to view conflict with one another. What implications does this have?
1. I cannot distance myself from you as if you are a thing or an object because we are united in Christ. Whatever issue divides us, it is smaller than Christ.
2. When I look at you I must remember that I am dealing with a member of Christ, yes even Christ himself. When I wound/lie to/manipulate/rage at/hate you, I am doing all these things to the body of Christ.
3. All Christ’s promises are as true for you as they are for me.
4. The Cross saves you as much as it saves me.
5. When I speak truth, righteousness and goodness, I am honouring Christ in you.
6. When I am cowardly before you or avoid confronting your sin I dishonour Christ in you.
The point is: being in Christ does not mean that we stop having conflict or diasgreeing with one another. It does not mean that we avoid open and truthful discussion. Nor does it mean that visible, immediate harmony is the ultimate goal. But, rather, it means that we handle these issues in a unique way amongst ourselves. We remember that we are “in Christ” right now and that sets the parameters for how we deal with the conflict. Look here for an excellent article on creating healthy peace within the church community.
Cut backs and the vulnerable
by Steve Casey on Sep.20, 2010, under Church, Connections
Historically, the church has lead the way in bringing dignity and life-enhancing opportunity to the vulnerable and disadvantaged. But as the welfare state and social justice agenda has developed the government has taken a lead role in meeting those needs. We should celebrate this. However, as government cuts are being imposed on all areas of public services gaps are going to be left and, alarmingly, it will be the vulnerable on estates like ours that are at the sharp end.
3 examples:-
- The local secondary school faces the possibility of losing staffing and activities around key areas in schools facing challenging circumstances such as attendance support, extra-curricular provision and pastoral support. This will be felt most accutely in schools of this nature.
- The local daycare provision for those with long-term disability and mental-health issues is being centralised, hence making it inaccessible for many of the most needy.
- The budget for elderly and shut-ins support is being reduced, so those most isolated will become more so.
The government have peddled the idea of drawing on social captial to plug the gaps. I can’t see it myself.
But perhaps this is an opportunity for us as churches to show our distinctives, and to demonstrate in practical ways the very Gospel we are so proud to speak about. Our Gospel says that while we were most vulnerable, with the least to offer and most isolated from the Lord, Christ gave Himself for us. What will it look like for us to model this Gospel to our communities as we continue to preach it faithfully?
Historically we led the way in building social capital that made the most difference to the most needy. Perhaps we need to be praying for wisdom to know where and how we can show this Gospel, as well as preaching it
The weight of a gospel worldview
by John Mark Hobbins on Jul.23, 2010, under Connections, Gospel
Where you get your information, knowledge and beliefs says a lot about who you are. Do your beliefs come from the Internet, your newspaper, your mum, your workmates? What you believe depends on your priorities.
So your worldview matters; but the way you apply and share your worldview matters as well. Knowledge can be shared – and if you happen to be in the circles where accurate knowledge is shared you will do well.
Many want people to benefit from knowledge and they will pass that on. But some will share knowledge only with people in their own circle.
We have the privilege of knowing the truth – because we have God’s word. How we use that knowledge will have a profound effect on those we choose to share it with and those we withhold it from.
We are called to “Go … and make disciples of all nations.” Our decisions about where we do or do not take that Gospel will have a profound effect on the information, knowledge and beliefs people around us acquire.
So, where should we place the boundaries for Gospel proclamation?
What’s the goal of planting a church?
by Andy Mason on Jul.19, 2010, under Church
Now I guess that this might seem like a rather obvious kind of question to ask! Surely the point is to build a new local congregation in an area where there wasn’t one?!!But as I think of it, that can’t really be the goal because it would seem to imply that any old congregation would do. As long as people are gathered together in ‘church’ that would be enough…. even if there was much sin, heresy and unbelief!
I find it personally helpful to keep asking myself this question because it clarifies what we are really about in church planting: we are about the glory of God. We want to see the worth and wonder of God displayed to the local area through the congregation. And, of course, this affects everything! It means that simply gathering people (i.e. the growth of the congregation) is not really a true indication of whether the goal is being reached. Yet, how often am I tempted to assess our ministry in regards to that issue!!
The real question we need to keep asking is whether or not the gathering is glorifying to God. Do we have a congregation that is becoming more mature and holy and pure? Do we have people who are serving and loving each other? Do we suffer with joy? Now, of course, people are always growing and many have to hear the gospel many times before they trust in Christ. But, we need to remind ourselves, for the sake of our own spiritual sanity, that the success of a church plant can only be assessed by the spiritual fruit it produces in the lives of new people – and not simply by the presence of new people. It’s even conceivable that numerical growth might, at times, even be a bad thing (!) if a church is only gathering in the long term and not converting. It may, conversely, be good for a congregation to diminish in numbers so that Christ will be honoured.
For leaders in big congregations this is perhaps easier to practice. But when your congregation is small and you’re desperate for it to grow there is a very subtle pressure to compromise on this. You just want to show that something’s happening where you’re working!!! Those of us trying to pioneer new work need to learn to bite the bullet on this and trust God for His church. We want real spiritual growth and not artificial growth through numbers.
Trusting God in financial planning
by Peter Froggatt on Jul.16, 2010, under Cultural, Resources
On the grounds that it never did me any harm, I sometimes force our children round
a stately home. Recently we were in Bodnant Gardens in North Wales. And what is
amazing is the utter confidence of the families who built the place. They laid down parks,
water features and avenues of trees, knowing that they would never live to see the garden
completed. It would take 200 years for the oak trees they planted to reach maturity.
But that didn’t put them off – they knew that their children, or grandchildren or great
grandchildren would still own it and would appreciate their foresight. This long term vision
is only possible when you have utter confidence, not in yourself but in your family, and in
the social structures that surround you. Putting it bluntly, if you are very wealthy and very
powerful you can plan a hundred years ahead.
If you are a little less wealthy and powerful, you can probably look twenty or thirty years
ahead. This is what many people do today. They plan for retirement: pension plans, nest
eggs, cruise money. Maybe some money for the kids, so they can put a deposit on a
house.
In our disadvantaged area people don’t save for pensions or retirement. The financial
horizon is much closer – maybe saving for the Christmas hamper, or a holiday next year.
If the books are balanced, it is week by week or month by month. Some others have an
even closer horizon – today’s fix, the next meal, enough to pay off the debt collector. Hand
to mouth, getting by. It seems to me that the distance to your financial horizon is a good
measure of your confidence, wealth and power.
Where does godliness come in? I’m constantly challenged by the generosity of many in
our area. And I think their financial horizon partly explains it. There is less saving going
on. Less worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have enough worries of its own. People
who are saving for retirement soon find an infinite number of good reasons to keep more
of their wealth today – economic uncertainty, growing aspirations, more things to leave
for the kids. The wise storing of the ant morphs, unnoticed, into the rich fool’s bigger
and bigger barns. This is the danger of wealth that the Lord Jesus spoke of, frequently.
So what is a godly financial horizon? The short answer is “eternity”. This is what we
are to learn from the shrewd manager in Luke 16: have an eye on eternal dwellings
as you use your money. It’s just that people who have less of it find it easier to do.
Church growth through prayer or through planning?
by Steve Casey on Jul.05, 2010, under Church, Discipling, Mistakes
I like a clear strategy, thorough-going administration and functional organisation. It makes me feel in control and as if I’m on top of things. It makes me feel as if the task of reaching people is not beyond me. I feel safe with a strategy, so I want people around me in my church that are gifted administrators and organisers.
And surely that’s what the Lord wants too, isn’t it? His churches will be built up, and His people will grow, by the power of efficient strategy and people who are able to make things happen. “Send me more of them, Lord,” I would pray.
But what happens when you are trying to build a Gospel-centred church family when few are administrationally gifted, most genuinely struggle to organise things and planning doesn’t come naturally? Well, if you are an idiot like me, try to beat them into organisational shape whilst begging God to transform them into the congregation that all the church growth manuals say they ought to be. Or else go back to your bible and realise that the Lord expands His kingdom rule through weak and feeble pray-ers who depend on Him over their own strategic ability and well meant plans.
I want things tidy, manageable and measurable so that I can feel in control of something that truly is beyond me. The Sovereign Lord doesn’t do tidy, but leads us to a heart of dependency.
I want a clear plan that testifies to my greatness as a leader. He wants to silence our pride and show that He alone is saviour.
I want to put confidence in worldly methods and boil Gospel ministry down to a manageable formula. He works to defy worldly wisdom and delights to anwer the prayers of dependent people.
Realising this is truly liberating. I no longer need to try to disciple people to be square pegs in round holes. I don’t need to train non-strategy types to be what they are not (needlessly frustrating and discouraging them along the way) .
Not all in our church families can plan, strategize, and push through a vision for Gospel growth, but everyone of God’s children can beg their heavenly Father for mercy, direction and saving grace. I can teach them all that! Until recently, I counted it a frustration that our church family has only a few who can drive through a vision – however, I’m beginning to think that in the long term it might be one of God’s greatest gifts to us. It means we have nowhere to turn but prayer, and we can all beg!
