Scary Christians

Opinionated, influential Christians scare me!

I heard the other day (yes it is hearsay) about an internationally recognised christian evangelist and teacher who preaches that the 'mark of the beast' is not bar codes, nor 666, nor even secret script embedded in Microsoft windows, it's Muslims.

Apparently, he announces that a 'good Muslim' wears symbols on his forehead and wrist and these mark him as an Anti-christ. (I seem to remember the Christian Scriptures advocating that Jews were to wear these same symbols of allegiance.) He goes further and suggests that any Muslim that is not intentionally seeking the destruction of non-believers, is in fact a 'bad' Muslim.

This kind of preaching scares me, I believe it is not only inflammatory but wrong, and I reject it!

Too often people sprout ill informed, biased opinions grounded on stereotypical, politically motivated agenda. Their pronouncements aim to inflame emotions by perpetuating and celebrating differences, of which there will always be multiple, rather than seeking and encouraging the common ground.

It would seem to me that this agenda of 'division' is itself anti-christian. Didn't Jesus seek to unite and include? Even when people opposed him ('Anti-Christs') he identified them and then sought to include them - accepting them as they were first and attempting to transform them by relationship.

I have some amazing Islamic friends: people that I respect, trust and honour. People that are open to dialogue, men and women for whom acceptance, love and peace are life scripts.

It's easy to have and declare an opinion - it's much harder to have and develop a relationship. If I'm serious about influencing people (and proving that my faith relationship is worth having) then I need to stop talking and start being a friend.

When Prayer Doesn't Work!

This has been an horrific week in New Zealand. A 15 year old went missing over a week ago and today the authorities are speaking to a 'person of interest'. A 13 year old, on her way to school, (in our neighbourhood) disappeared and was not missed for a week!

Then, 10 young people from a local Christian College were swept up in a canyoning accident which ultimately claimed the lives of 6 students and their teacher.

As the news swept the nation people prayed. Parents prayed that their children were not amongst those involved, and I have no doubt that the students prayed that God would save them, and yet 7 died.

To say, as some have, that four were saved because they prayed seems a little insensitive to me. Does that mean that God didn't listen to those that died, despite their prayers, or that God listened more to the parents of those that survived: or does it mean that they didn't pray 'right'. (How many thousands of Christians suffer, go hungry, are lonely, die each day - despite the fact that they ask God to get involved and make it different? Does God not listen to them? Or are they not praying hard enough?)

Don't get me wrong I am thrilled that some survived and I have no doubt that God heard their prayers, and even that God acted to provide for their escape. But I don't think we can say that God saved just because of prayer! I think there is more involved!

Could it be that God has a lot more information than we do - that our vision and understanding are finite and narrow - and that God doesn't always act in the ways that we dictate, or even as we understand compassion and love?

The amazing thing is they prayed! That's always the best and right thing to do.

The Party's Over...

The motivators and educators have spoken ... The leaders have cast their vision... the bands have played... the victory has been claimed! So now what?

Hundreds of people responded to the various challenges presented over the week. People promised to change the way they live, their priorities, their motivations, and their ambitions - but today they're back home and (if any thing like me) they are playing catch up and dealing with the realities of their present.

So how do we make sure the exciting, potentially world changing intentions of the moment are not lost in the tyranny of the urgent and the demands of the present?

Perhaps one way is through accountability!

Most times our decisions are made in private and because they are, we can pretend it never happened, we can pretend even God was too busy to listen, and let's face it we can ignore God! But what if we told one other person of our decision and by doing so asked them to keep us accountable, gave them permission to help us live up to that change?

Personal transformation happens best when we submit to and live in community - because a community of integrity presupposes a commitment to accountable relationships.

Just Action

Dunedin is the magnet that will draw 275 delegates to The Salvation Army's annual 'Just Action' Conference. Together the delegates will explore the possibilities for 'Freedom from Injustice'. But as I prepare myself to lead a workshop on global injustice, I am forced to ask a few questions like:

What is development? If our globe is unable to sustain the existing levels of requirement - that is where the minority have everything they need, and most of what they want and the majority fight to survive - what happens if the powerless and marginalised - the poor - do develop to the economically privileged level of material requirement. Does that just hasten an ecological Armageddon? If so, should we, the church, the Army, be committed to development?

Other questions come to the surface too: what benefit is globalisation - and to whom? what is community?

It's just one of the questions I'd like to ask at my workshop.

Easter with General Burrows

It was obvious that The People’s General had not lost her passion for people as she moved amongst those gathered, greeting and affirming each person in turn. She sang in language with the Zimbabweans, reminisced with the Sri Lankans and the Scots, told stories of Salvationist ‘heroes’ in China – and each person felt like she had been there just for them.

The number of people attending the Easter meetings at The Meeting House in Auckland grew as people left each successive event inspired and challenged by the words of General Eva Burrows (Rtd).

Together those who attended were led on the familiar Easter journey from the garden - where wills conflicted - to the empty tomb. But each person left with a challenge reverberating in their hearts – if Christ was not raised, then there is no gospel, there is no eternal life, there is no freedom – what we do and are is senseless – “but there was a resurrection!”
A highlight of the weekend was the dinner to raise funds for the Sri Lanka mission team. Over seventy people paid to hear the General speak of her experiences as the International leader of the Army. Those gathered sat spellbound as she recalled audiences with heads of state; embarrassing moments with African Kings and alcohol; engagement with the poorest and champions of the poor (Mother Teresa); moments of panic in airline mishaps; and times of thrill in worship and fellowship.

Regardless of who you were you could not help but be inspired by this unique woman of God – and by the way in which God spoke through her – as if to each person individually.

General Burrows is on her way

It's all about to start here at The Meeting House, in Auckland. Newspaper journalists have rung, television and radio stations have booked interviews, the sound system is checked through, the leaders have booked lunch dates - and as we speak the General should be somewhere over the ditch (other wise known as the Tasman Sea).

Easter is a special time, and it has resulted in more questions than usual from our people. It has been a privilege to speak to the people associated with our Church about Jesus, the cross and Easter. Mostly they want to know what relevance Easter has for them, now! I'm not going to preach here - but it has caused me to make sure that all that we do here this weekend, in all the running around, that we make sure that we don't get so busy that we don't hear the questions, and we don't lose sight of the fact that if we fail to present the relevance of Easter then we have failed.

So, it's some pressure to put on the General, but it is equally pressure on the rest of us - because if the people don't feel accepted and welcome then the words will be irrelevant - won't they?

Religion That's Lost The Plot

I have long been suspicious of religion and the religious! I think I am now getting to the stage that I might even have to confess that I hate religion. I think I'm in good company in this attitude because, as I read it, Jesus felt the same way!

I don't know how many times I have heard a preacher tell me that the difference between Christianity and every other faith community is that following Christ is about relationship ("vertical to God and horizontal to God's creation") and all other faiths are religions (rule based constructs).

So, if that's true, why do so many Christians so slavishly adhere to a hybrid construction of 'man-made' rules and regulations? Why do charismatic leaders who espouse 'new' rules and more advanced behaviours - or regulations for belonging and believing - attract more and more people. (Is there some danger of cultic following here?)

I am not suggesting that there is no place for rules of living, of course there are! Rules for living in a civil society, and Biblically based principles of living form the foundations of living as good representatives of Jesus.

But, I object to being told that unless I live and operate the way you do that I am less of a Christian. Especially when many of the things you tell me are essential for being 'an effective Christian' are your personal (and contextual) additions. Additions that are essentially selfish lifestyle choices - some of which are great for personal health, well being and discipline - but not necessarily beneficial for relationship building and kingdom expansion.

Jesus said that the way the world would know we are 'effective Christians' is by our love for one another as a result of our love for God. His priority was making sure people knew they were loved, important and accepted: he was single minded in his desire to build relationship and develop capacity.

He took care of himself: he was disciplined (walked a lot!) and he adhered to many of the rules for living and faith allegiance. But he had a special name for the people that added more and more 'rules' for best practice and as a condition of belonging - expectations that made others feel inferior if they weren't living the same way - Pharisees.

I am not advocating for 'anything goes' Christianity - there are clear and sensible guidelines for living the Jesus Way. What I'm advocating is that the priority for ministry, and default for humanity, must be on relationship development.

If, as a result of adhering to your extra suggestions, I do not have time, or energy for my family, or others then haven't I lost the plot?

Unrealised Potential

There is nothing more frustrating than watching a talented person choosing to disengage from the opportunities and in so doing live a life of unrealised potential.

I know a man who is naturally gifted: he can pick up any musical instrument, listen to a tune once, and within minutes be playing that tune back: he can pick up languages quickly: he can converse on any subject with confidence in minutes: he can be friendly, disarming and outgoing - but he chooses to exist rather than excel - he frustrates me and, at times, I believe himself.

As a person passionate and committed to identifying and releasing capacity (or potential) in the people I work with there is little more disapointing than working with people that refuse, (or choose not), to see that their engagement in the community could make an amazing difference. Not just for the community, but for their own self worth and sense of achievement.

It's when you hear of another person 'letting you down' (and perhaps letting themselves down) that you begin to wonder whether you have what it takes to make a difference. When I consider the past I know I do, but the immediate present can tend to overshadow the reality of a lifetime!

Perspective is an essential tool for capacity developers but often frustratingly illusive.

When Visions Become Reality

It's nearly always exciting to hear from friends, and that was especially so when I had the chance to chat with an officer from The Salvation Army in Rwanda.

It's almost a year since I arrived in Rwanda - I spent five weeks there working with a team to provide water and sanitation and to see that come to fruition was an amazing buzz. But even more of a buzz was to be part of a community - the people where so warm and inviting, they could have been defensive and wary, (they had every right to be), but instead they invited us strangers in, they shared the little they had - but perhaps most profoundly they shared their stories and their lives.

Whilst there I also had the privilege of investigating the possibility of building houses and a community centre - when I left it was just a dream, a paper vision.

So when the Major told me that the community centre is finished and the houses started, I was thrilled. But despite the thrill of the tangible and essential necessities of life that are being provided you know what excited me most?

The news that today, as a result of the relationships built between local Salvationists and the community there are 19 new senior soldiers and 16 new junior soldiers. We went there to transform lives through the provision of essential material needs - but through mutual friendship, trust and respect lives are being transformed in much deeper ways.

It's the Small Things

It's not unusual for me to be sitting in my office, surrounded by all the things that apparently need attention (not just the reports and returns for HQ) but instead of ploughing through them finding myself staring out the window wondering - does all this really matter? It's not a frequent event, but at times I ask myself whether what I spend my days doing, what I use most of my energy on really matters.

In my mind I know it does. But sometimes that's not enough. (Am I alone in this?)

It was after another one of those days, when I felt like I had been hitting my head against a brick wall; I was tired and just a little frustrated when the man sought me out. He was new to our group, but he told me that he was interested in what I had said, he hadn't heard it put like that before, and could I show him how to find the passages to which I had referred so that he could "check out if what I said was true"?

Encourgaement can come in many forms and from unexpected sources but is almost always a powerful motivator, but the most precious encouragement is that which comes from people who have nothing to gain by being nice!

International Cultural Festival 08

The day started early with a dead truck... with no other way of getting marques, tables and equipment to the site... we took off for the hall, hopeful that a miracle would happen - it did! There waiting for us was one of our members, with a truck - "just in case we needed him".

We were set up and ready to go when an Indian Meditation and Vegetarian Food tent set up next door to us... so we moved our (far from vegetarian) sausage sizzle as far away as we could. The tents (thanks HQ) were great, with visibility from a good distance people came to see what the Sallies were doing at a Festival like this!

The air was soon swirling with the sounds of African drums, Indian, Thai, Pacific Island and American Indian music - and accompanying them on his squeeze box a regular attender of our Corps Drop-In centre provided music in our tent. Our tents provided a place for people to sit and rest with a cup of coffee (or tea) and a muffin or sausage - many took the opportunity and were soon joined by one of our members to share a chat and a few moments.

People from all nations meandered throughout the 200 or so tents sampling the smorgasbord of food and drinks - amongst them were the people of The Meeting House (red shield) shirt, giving out chocolates in the shape of the Army shield and stopping to tell people why the Sallies would be there.

"A lot" of children lined up to have their faces painted, and take ownership of a balloon sculptured pet.

It was a great day - the rain stayed away, mostly: the people of the community were reminded again that The Sallies are in their community: the members of The Meeting House were reminded of the reason and the people for whom they exist.

No Church!

This weekend The Meeting House will not open it's doors for Church. One Sunday each year we shut the doors and head down to the park - where Auckland City Council expect 40,000 people to attend the annual Auckland International Cultural Festval.

So, we take the church down to the Park. With a lot of other groups we will set up a big tent (with a huge red shield on it) and we'll provide tea/coffee and muffins or cup cakes, paint children's faces and provide a sausage sizzle. We'll be a presence in our community.

It's a fun day! But it's also being the church.