Religion or People

"When you held days of fasting every fifth and seventh month all these seventy years, were you doing it for me? And when you held feasts, was that for me? Hardly. You're interested in religion, I'm interested in people." Zech 7:5-6

When we do something over a long period of time we can sometimes lose focus on the reason why we do it. The people from Bethel had been following their days of mouring and abstinence for 70 years and were looking for God's blessing as to whether they should continue to hold their ceremonies as they had done for many years. God's response via Zechariah was as per the verses above.

It must have come as a bit of a shock to them. I doubt whether they were expecting quite that response. How would they have reacted? Would they be outraged or would they have mulled over the response and realised that, yes, they had indeed forgotten the reason why these times were remembered and they had become nothing more than some religious rule keeping.

As a denomination, the Salvos are still doing some things that were done years ago. But I wonder whether some of the things we do have become religious rule keeping or whether we still remember the original purpose. The response may be different from person to person.

Are we still interested in the people? A couple of verses on we read this:

"Well, the message hasn't changed. God-of-the-Angel-Armies said then and says now:
"'Treat one another justly.
Love your neighbors.
Be compassionate with each other.
Don't take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor.
Don't plot and scheme against one another—that's evil.'"

It's a constant message. Don't forget the reason for your existence. Don't get caught up in rule keeping for rule keeping's sake. Remember what is important to God not religious leaders.. And so on...

Remind me again God of your values and your love for people. Remind me again about the reason for doing the stuff we do.

Messiah's misfits

One of my memories of growing up was listening to brass band cassettes that my grandfather had received from Uncle Rog in England. These recordings were usually of British radio programmes such as Listen to the Band.

I sometimes have a bit of a chuckle when brass band people try to convince us that banding is popular or that there is a revival of interest in brass banding. The simple reality is that we get a mere 1 hour of banding per week on our radio and that is on two of the lowest rating radio stations in Melbourne.

However, thanks to the wonders of technology, we can listen to programmes from the other side of the world streamed on the internet. Today, as I have been working on a balance sheet and profit and loss statement I have had headphones on listening to the afforementioned 'Listen to the Band' programme on BBC2. Cory & Black Dyke massed bands played the magnificent 'Elsa's Procession to the Minster' which, incidentally, our own Preston Band used to play when we were more than a quartet!

My interest in brass bands compared to society's lack of interest reminds me of this verse in the Bible: "It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket. We're something everyone stands around and stares at, like an accident in the street. We're the Messiah's misfits." 1 Cor 4:9

Christians & brass band people both tend to be misfits in the eyes of the world. As Salvos we are double misfits I guess. Being a Christian often feels like trying to sell tickets that no one wants to buy. It can be tough. But Paul, who wrote this verse, was part of a group of people that had a massive influence in the world, even if at times it didn't feel like it to them. So, even though it often feels as though we are swimming against the tide we need to continue to be faithful in spreading God's message to those who need to hear.

God, help me to be faithful in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

The key to life

"One of the religion scholars spoke up: "Teacher, do you realize that in saying these things you're insulting us?"" Luke 11:45

I'm not sure whether the scholar was trying to be polite or was a bit thick. What a silly question to ask. Jesus had just said that their insides were maggoty with greed and secret evil. He called them stupid, frauds, hopeless, unmarked graves with rot and corruption under a nice grassy surface. And the scholar asked Jesus if we was aware that he had insulted them! Jesus then went on and gave them a bit more.

There is a bit of a problem when religious leaders seem to be totally oblivious to their evil and corruption.

Amongst other things Jesus said "you took the key of knowledge, but instead of unlocking doors, you locked them. You won't go in yourself, and won't let anyone else in either". That's a terrible indictment of the Pharisees.

In reality I guess we all have issues where our inward lives don't match up to the outward show we put on. Hopefully I am not as bad as a Pharisee but what an indictment it would be on me to have the key to life and not use it or, even worse, deliberately prevent others from using it either.

God, help me to become more transparent. Show me the hypocritical areas of my life where I don't seem to be able to see what should be obvious.

What would they see in 3 hours?

"In the next two or three hours Jesus healed many from diseases, distress, and evil spirits. To many of the blind he gave the gift of sight. Then he gave his answer: "Go back and tell John what you have just seen and heard:..."" Luke 7:21

John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to enquire of Jesus whether he was 'the one' or whether they were still waiting. Jesus could have just said "of course I am" and that would have been it. But he didn't. He made the disciples hang around for 2 or 3 hours and proceeded to heal lots of people. The actions were the proof, not the words.

If people were to spend 2 or 3 hours at Preston Salvos would they be convinced about God because of what they saw? If people spent 2 or 3 hours with me what would be the outcome?

Interestingly, the verse uses the word 'many' but not 'all'. Many were healed from diseases and many of the blind were healed. Presumably then, some weren't. So, we shouldn't expect a 100% strike rate or perfection in everything we do but, nevertheless, people should be more likely to consider God as a result of my actions than not. And actions do have more power than words.

Do I leave an impression?

As I was drinking my orange juice this morning at an eating establishment that shall remain unnamed, I became aware that the container was leaking. Apart from the fact that the puddle on the floor gave the impression that I had had an accident, some had also dripped onto my trousers. It is usually when you are wearing something light that this happens and today, of course, I was wearing something light and the stain showed up more than would otherwise have been the case.

A little later on as the 'orange juice' dried I noticed that it hadn't left a stain at all. Which just proves my long held suspicions that the 'orange juice' sold at this establishment contains little, if any, orange juice or anything else of any substance for that matter.

When you are in the habit of writing a blog, or are an minister of religion who preaches a sermon every Sunday, you start to think of christian applications for these incidents. Rather sad really! But I wondered whether what I am involved in or what I say or do leaves any trace. After the initial activity does my influence vanish without trace? Is the impact of my life as weak and fake as my so called orange juice?

Mike Pilley wrote this morning about fruit. You can read it here:
http://mrpilley.blogspot.com/2010/09/fruity.html
I hope the fruit of my life is a more powerful and real than my morning orange juice!

Underestimating people

"All who were there, watching and listening, were surprised at how well he spoke. But they also said, "Isn't this Joseph's son, the one we've known since he was a youngster?"" Luke 4:22

In the 'olden days' we used to regularly have visits from the band or choir of other Salvo churches. Quite often these were powerful weekends when people shared and God moved in the lives of the locals. I have often pondered on why there seemed to be a very strong presence of God when a group was visiting but not necessarily so when it was just a normal Preston meeting.

Luke 4:14 says that "Jesus returned to Galilee powerful in the Spirit". Yet, even with that power he couldn't seem to achieve much in his home town and was, in fact, run out of town.

The people there knew Jesus. They knew who he was and knew his background. Full of the Spirit he might have been but the locals couldn't see past who he was - the local kid from Nazareth. And so it was, I suspect, with visitors from other Salvo churches compared to our own people. When we don't know their past, all their faults and meltdowns, we can accept what God does through them. But when we know the past we can't see past their failings and so are unwilling or unable to accept that they might be 'powerful in the Spirit' and that God wants to work through them.

Maybe there are no real big black marks against them but if we have seen them grow up it's sometimes hard to accept that they might be, to use a Bruce McAvaney term, 'special'.

When I look at the people I see every week, and in many cases have known for many years, I have to remember that God can, and does, work through them. Ordinary, failed people they may be but I should never understimate God's ability to work through them.

An unbeliever's 'prayer'

"The king caved in and ordered Daniel brought and thrown into the lions' den. But he said to Daniel, "Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this."" Daniel 6:16

How much of Daniel's eventual safety was due to the faith of Darius? Even though he wasn't a Jew; even though he had signed into law, through arrogance, his own worship, he still trusted in God to get Daniel out of the circumstance he was in.

Would God have still saved Daniel even if Darius had wanted to kill him? Maybe, but I still have this feeling for some reason that God listened to the faith of Darius as well as that of Daniel.

God probably uses non Christians to fulfil his desires, or even answers their prayers far more often that we realise.

Who in my life right now is God using, and in what way, even though they may not profess a faith in God?

Help me God not to be so blind to the way you use all people and listen to even those who may worship other Gods or themselves.

God is real and knowable

"I, Jesus, sent my Angel to testify to these things for the churches. I'm the Root and Branch of David, the Bright Morning Star." Rev 22:16

"Under the Executive Minister, Dr Francis McNab, the large congregation has adopted a liberal and progressive theology that sits on the forefront of radical thought."

This is the boast on St Michael's Uniting Church website. I am quite liberal these days in a lot of my thinking but I have quite a way to go to reach the 'radical thought' that is a part of this particular church. Their God is not my God and their Jesus is not my Jesus. A reading of their Ten Point Charter leaves me with the same feeling as shaking the hand of someone with a limp hand shake! I'm afraid it totally lacks power and spark, in my humble opinion. Why?

"I, Jesus... the Bright Morning Star" said my reading today. I believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In Him I have meaning and hope. He is the salvation of the world. He is real, not abstract. Jesus was divine, not just a good man.

I worship you God. I thank you for being knowable and personal and a loving presence in my life.

Lasting words

It's 5 years to the day since I was lamenting a period of tough scripture readings (My reading plan at this time of the year has me in Ezekiel & Revelation each day). And as I shared it with Cathy Christelow I received an SMS back reminding me that there was a message in the Word for me that day. I just needed to persist.

I think of that advice often because some quite large slabs of the Bible are hard to read. Recently I have been finding it hard going again and I have a tendency to skip parts of my reading or only give it a superficial read and then wonder why I get nothing out of it. I have then grabbed my old journals and found that in other years I have obviously read the same passage with a different focus because back then I gained some interesting insights into what those passages meant to me.

Two lessons today:

1) There is no point in opening the Bible if we aren't focused on hearing from God. We have to believe that God's word has a message for us every time we open it up. Sometimes we just need to work a bit harder to find that message!

2) Words of encouragement are really important. We don't recall every bit of encouragement that we receive but sometimes we receive a word that sticks and keeps on giving year in, year out. So, a few words via sms from Cathy 5 years ago continue to come back to me on a regular basis.

Hearing from God

" I hear this most gentle whisper from one I never guessed would speak to me." Ps 81:5

It is so difficult to get your voice heard in the world. Often it is a case of not what you know but who you know that gets your voice heard. Other times you need to be loud or 'different' or controversial to get yourself some attention (cue the lunatic pastor in America or the Australian lawyer who think that burning religious books is smart).

This is the way of the world.

But not for the first time in scripture we see God coming in a quiet way (although other translations of vs 5 are less clear). We need to be consciously trying to engage God in order to hear him if he comes with a gentle whisper.

The Psalmist also says "I never guessed (He) would speak to me". Most of us would say that too. Who are we that God would choose to speak to us? If we don't have a high profile, if we don't have some influential person to open a few doors for us, if we don't do something outrageous to draw God's attention, then what hope do we have? Yet, God does want to speak to us.

Interesting isn't it that the God of the universe, the Creator, wants to speak to us and yet we don't think that he would want to and so don't spend time listening for his gentle voice.

At church we have come off a very busy weekend with lots of people returning for our 125th anniversary. It was loud both in terms of the music and the number of conversations going on between people who hadn't seen each other for some time. Some people leave events like that exilerated and energised. I came away drained. Maybe I just don't like crowds. But it has reminded me of the fact that in the frentetic pace of events and the loudness of gathered crowds it's sometimes hard to hear from God, even in a place designed specifically for that purpose.

God forgive me for not listening and not expecting to hear from you even though you have made it clear that you want to have this strong relationship with me.

World's most liveable city

"Astonished, passersby can't believe what they see. They rub their eyes, they shake their heads over Jerusalem. Is this the city voted "Most Beautiful" and "Best Place to Live"? Lamentations 2:15

When I read this I immediately thought of the line once bragged about by Melbourne - "Melbourne voted the world's most liveable city". So it also was with Jerusalem it seems. Yet eventually Judah was invaded and exiled to Babylon. It was the most horrendous time in its history. A classic case of price before a fall.

In the book of Obadiah we read of the judgement of Edom which was a mortal enemy of Judah. Obadiah wrote "you stood there & watched. You were as bad as they were. You shouldn't have gloated over your brother when he was down and out". And so on...

There are messages of pride and justice here.
Pride - Let's not think of ourselves better than we ought. No bragging. Times can change very quickly.
Justice - sometimes we stand, watch and gloat at an enemy's suffering. Eventually Judah ruled Edom. What goes around comes around.

God help me to leave pride behind and to help when another is suffering, not gloat over their suffering, especially if they are my enemies.

The shrinking army

"All the army officers....accompanied by all the people, small and great, came to Jeremiah the prophet and said, "We have a request. Please listen. Pray to your God for us, what's left of us. You can see for yourself how few we are! Pray that your God will tell us the way we should go and what we should do."" Jer 42: 1-3

So, how did it work out? At the end of the chapter Jeremiah says "Well, now I've told you, told you everything he said, and you haven't obeyed a word of it, not a single word..."

Two things come to mind: 1) When I read "all the army officers" I thought of the Salvos (only a Salvo would think of that!) - you can see how small we are. What should we do? There are some parallels there between the remnants of Judah and the Salvation Army. And 2) having asked for guidance they didn't listen to a word of God's answer.

Well, we are a shrinking army, in the western world anyway. But do we listen to God when he gives his answers to our prayers? Often we, both individually and as an organisation, go to God with our request and also secretly with the answer that we almost demand God gives us. If the answer doesn't fit, we won't listen to it.

The end of chapter 42 is quite gruesome - "So now let me tell you what will happen next: You'll be killed, you'll starve to death, you'll get sick and die in the wonderful country where you've determined to go and live." They certainly got their comeuppance. We have to be careful not to ask God for an answer and then refuse to listen to it and wilfully do the opposite.

What sort of mindset do I have?

I find it interesting, but not surprising, that I don't feel like reading the Bible at the times that I really need to read it. Today is one of those days. I have received some news that hasn't exactly made me a happy chappy! One sage piece of advice that I received from Kevin Grigsbey when he was our Corps Officer (minister) was that he never mailed a letter until the following day that he had written when he was angry. So, I won't blog today on my thoughts. Yet, as I opened my old journals from previous years I read something that I needed to read. So, even though I didn't feel like reading Kings, Chronicles, Jeremiah & Revelation today I have still received a message that I needed to hear. This is my 7th Sept 2006 journal:

"The evil mindset spread to the leaders and priests and filtered down to the people...." 2 Chr 36:14.

People in leadership positions have a lot of pulling power over the people they lead. Their influence can be considerable. When we look at countries such as North Korea or Cuba we see countries ruled by the influence of one man. But they wouldn't survive if their influence had not spread to other leaders and the military.

Evil leaders tend to spread fear but leaders of God need to lead in different ways.

It is a challenge to us and to me to think about what mindset we have and what is being filtered down to others we have the privilege of leading. We have a responsibility to ensure that the mindset we spread is one that demonstrates the characteristics of God.

God, with the influence that I have, help me to be an influence that brings people closer to you and demonstrates your values.

Who is God... really?

"Am I going to put up with questions from people like you, Israel? As sure as I am the living God, I, God, the Master, refuse to be called into question by you!" Ezekiel 20:31

As we have moved into a kinder, gentler era where everyone can believe whatever they like, we have subtly redefined who God is. In fact, we could possibly suggest that all generations do it as we are tempted to make God in our image. So, God from one generation to the next looks remarkably like the generation of that time.

We tend to call God into question. Sometimes in our kinder, gentler generations we say "Nah, God doesn't judge like that. God is love." In the more barbaric generations such as the Crusades we have tended to take judgement into our own hands as that is what we assume God would want us to do.

God, in Ezekiel says "I refuse to be called into question by you." We don't have any right to question God's judgement just because he doesn't happen to fit our mould at the time.

This is where we need to read the scripture with eyes open to see who God is...really.

God, help me not to be blinded by the here and now and, in the process, completely miss who you really are.

Have a nice day

In what job would you find the grumpiest people? How about newsagents? When I visit the two newsagents close to work I get the feeling that I am a major interruption to their day. I usually have to wait to be served even if there are no people in the shop, then I am greeted with a surly look. No smile, often no eye contact, no thanks and maybe a gruff "do you want that it a bag?". Today I was made to wait (no one in the shop), no eye contact, definitely no smile but I did get "have a nice day" (minus the smile and eye contact) as I left!

I sometimes watch Christians too. Do we act differently when people know we are Christians to when they don't? And, does it matter? Well, yes and no. Yes, because if we are known to be a Christian (for us Salvos, maybe when we are in uniform) then people often form an opinion of all Christians on the basis of the behaviour of one. Suffice to say then that they often accept or reject God on the basis of our behaviour. On the other hand, no it doesn't make a difference because we are God's representatives whether other people are aware of it or not. And who knows what opportunities will present themselves if we come across as people who actually care about those we are dealing with.

As I read our Pastor's blog (Major Daryl) currently serving in Haiti, there is a recurring theme. It's about being a real follower of Christ. No flashy tee shirts screaming "look at me I'm a Christian"; not using our position of power over people (UN trucks refusing to sit in traffic like everyone else); not being the boss by standing and watching or giving orders but by earning respect by pitching in and doing the hard yards.

My 'friendly' neighbourhood newsagent has once again reminded me of how important it is to try and not stuff up the relationships that I have with the people I meet. With every contact that I have during the day, whether I know the person or not, is important to act in a way that doesn't trash the name of God.