Shopping Ethically

Image is from here

Duncan and I watched a documentary on SBS about the clothing industry in Bangladesh last year.  Appalling working conditions resulted in buildings collapsing, killing and maiming many people.  Those who were left amputees could no longer work and had to be financially supported by their families.  Their pay rate was disgraceful.  What really hit home was that I shop at the clothing chains responsible for all of this.  Greed!  It's such a blind spot for all of us.


After that, I couldn't buy any clothes made in Bangladesh with a clear conscience.  Now some Christians would argue that boycotting is not a solution, that if we don't buy the products then the people will be out of work, resulting in them being poorer still.   I was glad to see that Oxfam has released a list of the clothing companies that have signed the Bangladesh Worker Safety Accord.  There is a petition here to sign if you're interested.

But this only addresses the building safety and does nothing for fair wages and workers' rights.  I wish I could shop at some of my favourite stores now that they're on the 'nice' list, but, the truth is, they still fail in many other areas.

Shop Ethical is an online consumer guide (they also have a booklet and a smart phone app available) which details and rates each company behind popular brands according to their environmental and social impact.  And some of them fail big time - oh my!  Definitely a big conscience prick there!  They are evaluated independently (so not by any company seeking to badmouth their rivals or blow their own trumpet) - see the FAQs for how it works.  It's NOT about persuading people to buy the more expensive brands instead of cheaper ones - some of the classier brands receive a bad rap as well.  Nor is it about product quality - the product itself could be excellent, but the company who makes it exploits their workers in developing countries, tests on animals, and uses poor environmental practices.

Now I've taken the hard step of trying to shop ethically when it comes to food and clothes.  It's not easy!  Some 'good' brands are not available in small country towns.  Some of my favourites don't get a good rap. I love a bargain as much as anyone.  It's very tempting to pretend I never saw that documentary, that I never visited the Shop Ethical website or bought the app.

But I can't.  If I claim I love Jesus, then I must love my neighbour.  Not turn a blind eye because I want to shop how I want.  Not continue on my merry way because it inconveniences me, a rich, white Westerner.  Not support companies which exploit people made in God's image for profit.

This is one of my hopes for 2014 and beyond.  We each can make a difference.


This post has been entered in the January edition of the Christian Blog Carnival.  If you're a Christian blogger and would like to enter one of your recent posts, submit it here today.

The Pendulum: Church Music

I don't know if there is anything that divides churches more than music.  It turns supposedly mature adults into catty, nitpicky juveniles.

Too many hymns, not enough hymns, not enough Hillsong, Hillsong sucks, too many slow songs, too many songs with lines that repeat over and over....

For something that is meant to be about bringing praise to God, music can be a real pain in the butt.

When it comes to church music, I have eclectic taste.  Some hymns are good, some 1960s songs are good, some new stuff is good.  Whether it's rock, jazz, or even rap, there are good songs in each genre.

Music is about worshipping God and publicly declaring truths about Him through song in order to build each other up.

It's NOT about personal tastes.  Sometimes you just need to be mature and accept the fact that you will not like every song sung at church.  I once heard an older person complain that they don't like any of the music sung in Perth churches.  Really?  They've visited EVERY church in Perth in order to know that?  I seriously doubt it.

Despite what some people may think, hymns are not holier than thou.  Just because something was written between 1500 and 1900 and has Shakespearean type language does not make it a good or helpful song.

Here are the questions I like to ask of a song:

• Is it true?  Is it based on the Bible?  Not necessarily directly quoting verses (although songs based on Bible passages are really helpful in teaching you to memorise Scripture), but is it theologically sound?
• Is it understandable?  Some hymns are lovely, but if I'm honest, I'm not too sure what I'm actually singing about.  A song can't build up Christians if they can't understand the lyrics.
• Does it build up fellow Christians or does it cause unnecessary divisions?

Personally, I think songs need to have a good melody as well as good lyrics otherwise it makes it hard to enjoy singing it (I really don't like the arrangements of some songs), but that's just my opinion. 

So church music is not about satisfying the oldies with a certain quota of hymns, or having the latest funky Christian music in order to attract youth or non-Christians.

Before you judge a song because of its era, have a listen.  You might be surprised.

I sure have been.

This post has been entered in the March edition of the Christian Blog Carnival. If you're a Christian blogger and would like to enter one of your recent posts, submit it here today.

5 Things Les Miserables Reinforces About The Christian Life

 

I've been wanting to see the latest version of Les Miserables at the cinema, but I do wonder if it will top the 1998 version starring Liam Neeson (which wasn't a musical).  I watched that version for the first time a year ago and loved it...especially since I thought it reinforces a number of truths about the Christian life.

 

1.  God can change anyone.  No-one is beyond His grace.

2.  We can't free ourselves from the bondage of sin.  We need Jesus to do that.

2.  If someone is truly following Jesus, this will be evident by the good fruit they bear in their lives.

4.  No matter how much God has changed you and been at work in your life, there will always be people who doubt you have changed and will use your past against you.

5.  Despite opposition and persecution, do not take revenge.  Keep walking humbly with God and leave vengeance to Him.



This post has been entered in the February edition of the Christian Blog Carnival. If you're a Christian blogger and would like to enter one of your recent posts, submit it here today.

My Prayer For All Christians

It can be hard watching friends and family struggle with hopes deferred.

I know single people who would love to be married.
I know sick people who would love to be well.
I know unemployed people who would love a job.
I know farmers who would love a better season.

I try to remember to bring the desires of my brothers and sisters in Christ before our Heavenly Father.

But, above all, I want to remember to pray Colossians 1:9-12 for my fellow believers.  I want them (and myself) to value God above all things.  I want us all to keep being Christian whether the desires of our hearts are granted, deferred, or God, in His wisdom and love, decides it is in our best interest not to have those things.

It is devastating to watch a fellow Christian gain what they wanted, yet wander away from God.

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:36)

Whatever their circumstances, I pray that my brothers and sisters in Christ will keep being Christian until that last day.  That their love for God and desire to live His way will grow and grow.  That they will persevere in the race, and persevere with joy. 

This post has been entered in the January edition of the Christian Blog Carnival. If you're a Christian blogger and would like to enter one of your recent posts, submit it here today.

Please Vote For My Post

I've entered my post The Young Adult Body Part in the December edition of the Christian Blog Carnival and now they are having a competition where readers get to vote for their favourite post for the month.

Could you please take a minute of your time to vote for me by going here and typing 'I vote for The Young Adult Body Part' (or something similar) in the reply box? You will need a Google login to vote.

I'd be honoured.

They're going to announce the winner on Saturday 15th December so please vote ASAP.

If you're a Christian blogger, consider entering one of your posts into the next carnival on the 2nd January. It's a great way to get more exposure for your blog. Go here for more details.

The Young Adult Body Part

One of the most encouraging sermons I've ever heard was on the 1 Corinthians passage about the body which I posted yesterday.  I literally cried tears of joy and relief when I heard it.

You see, in the lead up to that sermon, I'd begun to feel like I wasn't part of the body of Christ.  Well, I was part of it, but not REALLY part of it, if you know what I mean.  I felt like what I had to offer wasn't what others wanted.  They wanted me to be something I wasn't; to be gifted in areas where I was lacking.  Most people understand the body analogy.  They know that the church needs all of the parts and that God has arranged them just so.  But often Christians want to rearrange them the way THEY want them.  They want certain types of personalities with certain gifts.  They want to be 'strategic' so they try to cut people to fit into the mission plan they've made.  Their intentions are good (they want people to be reaching out to others with the gospel), but they end up wounding their fellow Christians in the process because they are not respecting how God made them.

I have felt this intensely as a young adult.  I was a uni student when I heard that sermon and I felt inadequate because I wasn't an uber walk-up evangelist.  I felt like I was being pushed into leadership positions when I'm not really a leader.  It was like there was this stereotypical Christian young adult 'role' I was meant to fit into.  I quickly got the impression that all Christian young adults were outgoing, extroverted leaders who thrived on buzz, people, late nights, board games and playing casual soccer.  They led Bible studies, youth groups, and beach missions.  I remember my now brother-in-law's reaction when I told him I wasn't going on 'Bustrip' - 30 uni students on a bus travelling across Australia pretty much non-stop to get to a conference in Canberra and mission in Sydney.  He was horrified.  He told me that I was missing out, that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and that I'd regret it if I didn't go.  Well, guess what?  I haven't regretted it.  Not once.  I'm an introvert and the thought of spending three weeks with people CONSTANTLY gives me cold sweats.

I'm not saying people shouldn't ever step out of their comfort zones and try new things, or seek to be trained.  But some people are too pushy and I felt like I was trying to be conformed into a certain image, to be identical to other young adults instead of being encouraged to serve God the best way I could.

If we truly believe the body of Christ is a body, then we also need to realise there are different body parts within the demographics.  There are young adults who are loud, dynamic leaders, and there are young adults who help out quietly behind the scenes.

We need to accept that God has placed people where they are for a reason.  We need to celebrate the diversity of the body and support and encourage those parts we see as less flashy.

This post has been entered in the December edition of the Christian Blog Carnival. If you're a Christian blogger and would like to enter one of your recent posts, submit it here today.

Facebook Evangelism

Can someone tell me why Jesus was nailed to a cross?

A guy I went to school with had this as his Facebook status last week.  I paused when I read it.  Was he seriously wanting an answer?  Or was he just looking to stir?  You never know with some people.  I've never thought Facebook was a very good vehicle for evangelism anyway.  I've seen too many 'debates' turn nasty while a lot of lurkers were probably having a good laugh.  I would rather sit down in person, or have a private conversation via email.  Should I answer this guy's question?  After a few responses that seemed quite bizarre and way off track, I took the plunge.  But instead of going into a lengthy spiel, I just sent a link to Two Ways To Live as a response.  Two Ways To Live explains the Christian message really well and I'm grateful to have such resources available.

The next day, he wrote back:
So the man himself was tied to a stake not a cross and paid the ultimate price for other people's sins. (Silly little bugger wasn't he?) so where was his parents? Are they accountable for neglect?
If we accept Jesus is God incarnate then on the metaphorical cross God himself died, how does that work?
So the modern day JC would be crucified (murdered) by lethal injection, I suppose it would look a tad bit silly if a miniature needle replaced the 'cross' on all those necklaces.
So what makes a Christian different from Buddhist, Jewish, etc?
Then, what's the difference between English, Dutch, African, Chinese etc?
Isn't there only one JC? And one GOD? But they're the same so that's only one, but there's two present........
Oh this is all too much

I thought, well, he's serious, then.  He actually watched Two Ways To Live.  In previous comments he wrote about how he didn't understand anything from Scripture lessons in primary school, and was confused about all the different Bible translations there are.  I went to school with him for years.  Although I haven't seen him recently and he doesn't live nearby, he's a nice bloke with a bit of a dry sense of humour.  Therefore, I didn't take anything he said as a personal slur on my faith because I could see that he must be genuinely searching.  And he had so many questions!  Oh my!  How was I going to respond to them?  Should I respond to them?

But then I thought, I'd rather try and help him find Christ than not do anything.  Again I sent him a link saying it might help with some of the tough questions he was asking.  It was a link to the Christianity Explored Tough Questions page.  I didn't hear back from him after that.  But there are a lot of questions on that page so it would take some time if he was watching all of the clips.

I wasn't sure what to do after that.  It wouldn't be appropriate for me to meet up with him in person (it would be better for him to meet up with another bloke).  He lives in Albany so I was trying to think of someone I could ask if he wanted to go down that path.  I prayed.  I prayed he would not give up searching.  I prayed God would open his eyes to who Jesus is.  I prayed he would go to a good Bible-teaching church.  I prayed that he would accept Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

What started as fear gave way to excitement.  I saw that Facebook can be a great tool for evangelism if used wisely.  I'm still cautious about jumping straight into debates.  I want to be wise with my words.  Maybe God had used me to plant a seed and would send someone else to water it.  For it is God's work after all, for His glory.

This post has been entered in the November edition of the Christian Blog Carnival.  If you're a Christian blogger and would like to enter one of your recent posts, submit it here today.

I Won!

The Christian Blog Carnival competition, that is.

Thanks to everyone who voted for My Prayer For My Church.

I really appreciate it.

If you're a Christian blogger, don't forget the next Christian Blog Carnival is on the 7th November.  I know the blogs I regularly read have heaps of good stuff that could be entered.  The submission form is here.

Please Vote For My Post

I've entered my post My Prayer For My Church in the October edition of the Christian Blog Carnival and now they are having a competition where readers get to vote for their favourite post for the month.

Could you please take a minute of your time to vote for me by going here and typing 'I vote for My Prayer For My Church' (or something similar) in the reply box?

I'd be honoured.

They're going to announce the winner on Monday so please, please vote over the weekend. :)

If you're a Christian blogger, consider entering one of your posts into the next carnival on the 7th November.  It's a great way to get more exposure for your blog.  Go here for more details.

My Prayer For My Church

A few months ago, a new pastor started at my church.  After a year of being pastor-less, it was great to welcome him, his wife and four kids who have moved from Perth.

Like I've witnessed at other churches, welcoming the new pastor was an exciting time in our church.  But part of me felt wary.  I've seen what can happen as the months and years go on.  The excitement dwindles.  The church expects him to be a multi-talented man with outstanding gifts in preaching, teaching, pastoral care, visits, hospitality, youth group, evangelism....then realises that the pastor is not perfect.  They start to compare him to previous pastors.  The pastor realises that in order for the church to grow and for God to be glorified, changes must happen...hard changes.  The Word of God must be preached even when it ticks people off.  When the pastor stops dancing to the congregation's tune, they turn against him.

My prayer for my church is that we won't burden him with our expectations of what we think he should be like, but encourage him to be the man God has called and made him to be.  That we won't put in our 'shopping lists' of things we'd like him to do.  That we'd stand back and let him and the elders lead us.  That we'd trust God by trusting them and submitting willingly to their leadership.

Bible Reading and Self Feeding

I've always been haphazard with personal Bible reading.  For a long time after I became a Christian, I rarely read the Bible on my own.  I almost completely relied on other people - church, Bible study, one-to-one - for my consumption of Scripture.  This wasn't because I hated reading the Bible; I just didn't think I needed to spend time sitting around reading it on my own.  I didn't get why so many Christians had 'morning devotions' or 'quiet times'.  It sounded all a bit too legalistic for me.

Emma, my dear housemate at the time, noticed that this was an area I struggled in, so she bought me a devotional book for a Christmas present in 2004.  I really enjoyed the book, but I still couldn't develop a consistent Bible reading habit.  They say it takes 21 consecutive days to establish a habit.  I never got close to 21 days.  By this stage, it was mainly due to my own laziness (busyness can only ever be so much of an excuse).

I've tried devotional books and reading plans, but they aren't really for me.  I found having set readings on set days to be quite unhelpful.  I would get stressed if I missed a day and get in a panic trying to catch up.  Eventually it would be all too hard and I'd throw in the towel.  Some of the devotionals were just way too light on for Scripture.  There would be a verse taken out of context, and the rest of the page would be the author's thoughts which often weren't even about the verse.  I know plans and devotional guides really help some people with self-discipline and structure, but that's not the way I learn best.  I think I need a mixture of discipline and freedom.  That is, I need a set time per day, but I need freedom to decide what I read.

Over the past few years, I've been challenging myself to read more of the Old Testament.  I started with 1 and 2 Samuel, then 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Jonah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah.  Now I've decided that I need some New Testament for a bit of variety so I've been reading Hebrews.  I think that reading OT, NT and then doing a topical study is the way to go.  Often I try and get hold of a commentary or study guide to supplement my reading.

As far as times go, I've tried early in the morning before I get up (I fell asleep in bed again), and at night before I go to sleep (often I've been too tired to really concentrate).  Lately I've been reading the Bible while having breakfast and this seems to work well.  If it's a work day or I have to be somewhere early, I only read a chapter of the Bible.  If I don't have to be anywhere in the morning, I read a chapter of the Bible, and then do either a chapter of a study guide or read a chapter of a commentary.  Sometimes I pray for a country using Operation World or I write in my journal.  Other days, either prayer is very rushed, or it doesn't really happen (just being honest here).

I'm always wary in writing about Bible reading as I'm aware it can create a lot of guilt.  A friend of mine reckons that if you feel you HAVE to do anything, then it's legalism, and therefore we shouldn't do it.  I agree partly in that we shouldn't be reading the Bible to try and win brownie points with God, or so we can feel superior to others.  But we also need to acknowledge that self-discipline is a good thing, and that we are sinful people who often use any excuse NOT to delve into God's Word (I know I do).  Sure, there are different seasons of life, and spending time with God might be easier in one season than another.  At the moment, reading the Bible at breakfast is working reasonably well for me (I'm wary about saying that as it sounds like pride and it could all fall in a heap again), but it might not work so well in a different season.  Yet, we also need to stop making excuses and need wisdom to realise when a season has ended (unless we're retired and spend all our time at home, we're ALL busy in different ways).  We're always going to have mixed motives in whatever we do.  I pray that I will read the Scriptures because I want to love and honour Jesus more, and not for any other reason.

Since I read yesterday's verse in Hebrews, I've been thinking a fair about Christian maturity.  When someone says, "He/she is a mature Christian," what do they mean?  How do you become a mature Christian?  As I've reflected on this, I think a lot of it is due to God's Word.  We need God at work in us by His Spirit, yet we also need to co-operate with Him.  We need to WANT to mature in our faith, and not be infants.  I was having a conversation with someone recently and they asked how long someone else I know had been a Christian.  I said that they'd been a Christian for a lot longer than I had, but the person responded by saying that that doesn't necessarily mean they are more mature.  I'm beginning to see that my friend was right, that time as a believer doesn't always equal maturity.  I'm not saying that someone who sits around and reads the Bible all day is necessarily more mature and godly either, but we need to WANT to grow and take some responsibility in this.  If God has revealed Himself in the Scriptures, then that is the logical place to know more about Him.

This has been a big kick up the bum for me.  We can encourage one another, but no-one else can take responsibility for this.  I have been blessed by ready access to the Scriptures, churches, conferences, books, sermons....Christians in China would love to be in my position.  I can't rely on my church, other Christians, or even my husband in this.  There will be times in my life where I may not be able to get to church, but doesn't mean I stop seeking God.  I hear a lot of Christian wives (younger than me) say it is the husband's responsibility to lead his wife spiritually.  Yes, I agree with that, but that doesn't mean that I become this kind of dumb woman who turns off her brain and just drinks in whatever Duncan says without being wise and discerning.  Duncan is not God, God is God, and my ultimate allegiance is to Him before my husband.

I'm no champion when it comes to Bible reading.  Satan will do whatever he can to distract us from this.  He doesn't want us to love and trust Jesus more in the way we live.  I still find Bible reading hard, but when I do it, I wonder why I thought it was so difficult.  Let me encourage you in this - have a desire to grow in the Lord by reading His Word, but remember Romans 5:8 during the difficult days.

Small Groups: When To Leave

This is going to be a tricky post to write.  Much of what I say here is what I'm wrestling with at the moment, so I'm not claiming any authority on this issue.

I've been a part of two types of small groups during my life - those that have an end date and those that are indefinite.  The first type is obviously much easier to leave.  If you are unhappy in your group, but not sure how to leave well, then it can just be a matter of hanging on until the end of the year or whenever the group has agreed to stop meeting.

The group that keeps on meeting together year after year is obviously much harder to leave.  This will require a deliberate action of leaving on your behalf.  Unless it's something obvious (like you're moving away), it can be hard to explain to the rest of the group why you're leaving.  Even if they know you've been unhappy or they've been treating you badly, there can be a sense of indignation from group members.

I've mentioned before in this series why small groups have been so beneficial to me in my Christian walk.  But like anything good they can be distorted and corrupted by sin.  There is the potential for Christians to be built up and (sadly) torn down by their small groups.

When mulling over whether to leave your small group, you need to ask the question, "Why should a Christian small group exist?"  I believe the purpose of small groups are:

To build each other up to love Christ and each other more through the study of Scripture, prayer, and being involved in each another's lives.

The reason I joined groups before I was a Christian and shortly after I became one was primarily to understand God's Word more so I would know how to follow Him in this world.  As my Christian walk progressed, my reason for being a part of groups changed slightly.  It was still to learn from the Scriptures, but I was now in a stage where I wasn't just a learner; I could also be a teacher.  God was molding and making me into the person He wanted me to be, and so I wanted to meet with others who were in the middle of this sanctification process - to spur each other on to love and good deeds.  For me, small groups were a way to get to know people much better than I could in a church context of 50-100 people.  After all, how can you love, care and pray for someone if you know nothing about them?

Having said all this, the next bit is the difficult bit.  If you have an idea of what small groups should be for, then how do you deal with meeting with fellow fallen, but also redeemed people?  When things get tough, do you quit or stick it out?

Here are some of the reasons I've been wrestling with as I've gone through the process of actively leaving a small group:

If there is not actually any spiritual learning going on
When I join a small group, I'm wanting much more than social chit chat.  I can get plenty of shallow-level conversations at church and other places.  I think Christian small groups should be deeper than that.  Some groups call themselves 'Bible study groups' yet there is no actual Bible study taking place.  One group I'm a part of do not even bring Bibles to the group and, if they do, they don't open them.  I don't mean that I want to study the Bible like an academic textbook either.  I want to really look at the Scriptures with others, discuss, wrestle and pray about what we've been learning and what it means for our lives today.  I don't want to watch DVDs of sermons and then have everyone discuss the weather.  That's lazy.  And I don't want to be in a group which thinks we need to rely on 'experts' to teach us.  I'm not saying the group necessarily needs to write their own studies, but we need to stop seeing the Bible as a book that is beyond our understanding.  Everyone I've been in a group with can read and is able to understand.  In this situation, I think all you can do is encourage the group to study the Bible and offer to lead some studies.  If they don't want to do this and people aren't being encouraged/challenged in their faith, then it's probably time to leave.

When there is a negative 'group culture'
I've had some shocking experiences in small groups.  Mostly these have been in all-women groups where I've been belittled by other group members.  Looking back, I don't think I handled it very well.  I should have confronted some people privately, but often it was the majority of the group who were being unkind.  In typical fashion, I thought of witty comebacks hours afterwards when I'd already gone home crying.  That's why I'm very against groups full of women of the same age or in the same stage of life where I've felt like the odd bod. (I also better add that I have had the privilege of being part of a couple of fantastic women's groups as well.)

A negative group culture can also mean where there is blatant sin going on and everybody is discussing it like it's one big joke.  Statements like: "I drove 120km/hr to get here and didn't see any cops." (everyone in the group chortles) or "My friend bought this sermon series and I burnt some illegal copies of it." (everyone chortles again).  This can be so discouraging when the very people who are meant to encourage each other to 'swim against the tide' (God's way rather than the world's way) are being anything but encouraging, and accuse you of being judgemental if you dare speak up.

A decision to leave a small group should not be taken lightly.  These people are your brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are all sinners and live in a fallen world.  No group will ever be perfect and if you leave a group after the slightest of problems, then you'll never find a group to commit to.  I'm also dead set against joining a church or group and only thinking of what you can get out of it.  Therefore, make every effort to at least try to discuss the issues you're having with someone in the group - either with the group leader or the person in the group who hurt you (I find this so, so hard!).  If they are unresponsive, then at least you can say you tried.

But there comes a time when you have to look after your own spiritual health.  If you're coming home from your small group every week feeling belittled, downcast and discouraged in your walk with Christ, that's not good.  When that's the case and you've tried to address the problem, it's probably time to move on.  Your departure may be the kick up the pants the group needs.

Some people will probably disagree with my reflections and that's fine.  I'd love to hear from anyone who felt they should leave their small group and how they went about it.

The Pendulum: Christians and the Environment

With climate change and the carbon tax still featuring prominently in Australian politics, it seems that many people I've spoken to seem to fit into one of two camps when it comes to election time:

The Environment Religion
We need to be spending our time saving the planet by reducing waste, taxing companies which pollute, having environmentally-friendly homes, recycling...and even having less children.

The Environment Doesn't Matter
If I want to get in my car and drive 10 seconds down the road instead of walking, I'll do it.  If I want to litter, I'll do it.  Recycling is too hard and I don't want to be bothered.  Bring on disposable plates, utensils, nappies...  God is going to create a new earth anyway.  Who are you to tell me how to live?

When it comes to following Jesus, I think there is a third way.  It's the way that recognises that making God's name known should be our number one priority, and that our main focus should be people...not animals, not the earth.  Yet, this way also recognises that God appointed people to rule over creation on His behalf, and that rule involves not abusing what He has made, but caring for it as we have been commanded to do.  Just because our world is marred by the effects of sin does not excuse God's people from this command.  The creation is still 'very good'.  Yes, God will make a new heavens and a new earth, but that does not free us from our obligation to care for this one.

I also believe that we are to enjoy this creation.  We are to delight in what God has made and thank Him for it.  We are to feast on the abundance of good things He has provided us with.  We are to worship the Creator and delight in beautiful beaches, forests and gorges.  The trouble is that the world gets this confused.  Many people make 'saving the planet' their religion and forget about the God who created it.

The other extreme is frugality.  Years ago there was a segment on Today Tonight called 'Perth's Biggest Scrooge'.  This featured people who reused their teabags and Glad Wrap, but the winner was a guy who refused to let his wife have a hot bath!  I'm not sure if these people were being frugal to save money or to save the environment, but I don't think this is the right way to live.  You can be wise in the way you use the resources at your disposal without being a stinge.

Personally I think many Christians could learn a lot from their non-Christian friends who try to live more sustainably.  I remember not long after I became a Christian, I got a lift with some Christian friends.  I was eating in their car and asked them if they had a rubbish bag.  Suddenly the window next to me came down and the driver turned around and smiled at me, indicating I should toss my rubbish onto the road.  Ummm....no!  I've met Christians who don't recycle because they think it's too hard or they don't read the instructions for what goes in the recycling bin and end up chucking in a pizza box with old pizza still inside it.  Yuck!  Come on guys.  It's not that difficult.  Each city/shire will indicate which items are recyclable and which aren't.  I don't know why some people ooh and aah like I'm some kind of saint when they find out we recycle.  It's such a basic thing that everyone can do.

Caring for the environment is not a religion.  Christians should be focused on telling the gospel to all who will hear so God's name will be praised throughout the earth.  But caring for what He has made is something we should do to bring glory to Him.

Amanda wrote an excellent post three years ago called Environmentalism or Frugal Living (or a Bit of Both).  Check it out.

The Pendulum: Suffering and Death

First of all, I'd better apologise for the morbid title!

I've been doing a bit of thinking lately about what the Christian attitude towards suffering and death should be, and have arrived at the conclusion that suffering is a normal and expected part of life for those who follow Jesus (1 Peter 4:12-16).  Not only is it expected, but it also has good consequences (we grow in character, perseverance and hope - Romans 5:1-5).

The problem is when some people start believing that suffering is good IN ITSELF.  Suffering is good because it has good consequences, but it was never meant to be a part of this world.  If suffering is so good in itself, then why will it not be a part of the new creation?  I've seen this error manifest itself in people not wanting to pray for others' safety or health because they think it is better for Christians to be suffering.  I remember being a part of a Bible study where someone rebuked someone else for wanting to pray for a safe plane trip for another group member.  Their logic was that we shouldn't bother praying for things like that because it might be God's will for the plane to crash.  I've met people who think it's wrong to pray for healing from cancer because God might be using the cancer to make that person more godly.  Well, yes no doubt He is bringing good out of it, but that doesn't mean that the cancer itself is good.  The attitude that it's wrong to pray for relief from suffering EVER can end up looking like a kind of masochism ("God, I'm not suffering enough - beat me!").  The Christian life is not a competition to see whose life is worse and who has suffered the most.  The reality is that all Christians WILL suffer at various times and to varying degrees depending on individual circumstances.  Jesus warned that if the world hated Him, it would also hate His people (John 15:18-21).

However, while I believe that suffering in itself is not good, the other end of the scale which says that if you are suffering from illness then you don't have enough faith, is equally as wrong.  I do not believe in a 'name it and claim it' kind of theology that says we can have heaven on earth right now as long as we have faith.  Firstly, it's about God's sovereignty - not our measure of faith.  Secondly, we live in a fallen world and Christians are not immune from trials such as natural disasters and sickness.  God never promised otherwise.

The other disturbing trend I've noticed among some people I know is that when a Christian dies, it is suddenly all good.  Again, I think we should have mixed feelings when farewelling a loved one who belongs to the Lord.  We rejoice that they trusted Jesus and have gone to be with Him, and are now free from pain.  But, on the other hand, death has signalled a break in the relationship and it is good and right to grieve.  Death is not good in itself.  It has good consequences if you follow Jesus (you go to be with Him forever), but, like suffering, death was NOT a part of God's design for this world.  Death is a consequence of sin.  We rejoice that the sting of death has been removed and it is no longer permanent.  But we should not be telling people that they shouldn't grieve because their late friend/family member was a Christian.  That is wrong.  We still grieve, but with hope.

At times I have sat more on the cusp of avoiding suffering.  I have struggled to 'count it all joy' and still do.  In hindsight, I can look back at difficult times and not only rejoice that God brought me through them, but also changed me in the process.  But sometimes I just need to trust God, that He knows what He's doing.

Praise God that He uses suffering for our good and that the sting of death has been removed for those who love Jesus.

But bring on the day when things like suffering and death will be no more.

Calling All Theoblogians #11

Here's a thorny issue to ponder...

Can you be a Christian and believe in evolution?

Firstly, I'd better be clear on what I mean by 'evolution'.

I don't mean the kind of evolution that says humans came from apes.  I don't know anyone who claims to be a Christian and believes that.  I mean natural selection kind of evolution, survival of the fittest, and so on.  There are a growing number of Christians from the evangelical Anglican circles I used to mix in in Perth that don't believe in a literal six (24 hour) day creation.  There is no dispute that God created or could create in six 24 hour days, but they believe the word 'day' in Genesis means 'a period of time'.  They believe the earth is millions of years old, and not thousands which is the claim of Genesis.  I also get a sense of 'we are educated, scientifically-minded people who have moved past that idea that the earth was created in a literal week' attitude as if they think those who believe otherwise might as well believe in fairytales.  They think that believing in an old earth is no barrier to being a Christian.  These opinions have been voiced by a few people, but in no way reflect everyone.

Recently I read two books on this subject:

Refuting Compromise by Jonathan Sarfati has the tagline A Biblical and Scientific Refutation of 'Progressive Creationism' (Billions of Years), As Popularized by Astronomer Hugh Ross.  It is, as its name suggests, a response to another book written by Hugh Ross, who claims to be a Christian, yet believes the earth is billions of years old and has written a book about why he believes this to be the case.  The hardest thing about reading a book which is essentially a review of another book is that I haven't read the original book.  Therefore, I can only go on the bits of Ross' book which Sarfati quotes.  I probably should go and read Ross' book, but if it's as 'sciency' as Refuting Compromise, it won't be likely.  I found Refuting Compromise to be a painful read.  I didn't enjoy at all, but I persevered because I wanted to see if the book contained any 'gems' of wisdom.  It does, here and there, but most of it went waaay over my head, and I ended up skipping or skimreading a fair few chapters.  I felt I could have said what he said in about a quarter of the size of the book, but I also suspect this book isn't really aimed at someone like me (who has a very non-science mind).  Thank God for the chapter summary at the end which you'd probably understand more than reading the actual book if you have a mind like mine.  I've given the book away since I doubt I'll ever pick it up again, and Duncan has said he's not interested in reading it.  However, it's probably a really good book to read if you are into sciency stuff and can understand it

On the whole, I found The Essence of Darwinism by Kirsten Birkett to be a much more helpful read (I have read it before, but that was nine years ago).  Not only is it short (142 pages), but it makes scientific theories much more accessible to someone like me.  Basically it can be summarised in a few points:

• What is known as 'Darwinism' today isn't actually Charles Darwin's theory at all.  His theory has evolved over the years and there is considerable disagreement between scientists.  Evolutionary theory is not a proven fact the way many schools teach it to be.
• The evolutionary debate is always religious.  Why can't it ever be neutral without religion being an issue?  Because it involves us...people...our origins.  If we have evolved by chance, then there isn't really any meaning of life, and humans are no different from the rest of the animals.  Without God, humans are not special.  There is no morality.  We don't make sense without God.  Debates about evolutionary theory are never just about the theory - they are always within a framework.  Some of those who believe strongly in evolution are also staunch atheists.
• Genesis is not so much about the 'how' (the mechanics of creation), but the 'why'.  Genesis explains why God created us, who God is and how we should relate to Him.

While the book is mostly very helpful, I think it falls down in a few places and I found those places quite alarming.  While it is true that what matters most is the 'why' and not the 'how' and that Genesis does not say EXACTLY how God created, the 'how' still matters somewhat.  On page 127, Birkett says, We cannot say a priori that God made His creation work in this way or that way.  It may seem bizarre, even uncomfortable, to us that God developed humans from apes.  What of it?  Other people find it uncomfortable that God might have created humans instantaneously with no intermediate steps.  What we find uncomfortable or not is hardly the issue.  We do not and cannot dictate how God has worked.  But how can any Christian say that God MIGHT have created humans from apes when it is clear from Genesis that He didn't:

the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7).

There were also a number of her arguments in the Epilogue: What About Genesis? that I didn't agree with (get a copy and read for yourself).

I've never been a big fan of 'creation ministries'.  I think it is one of those topics that people like to get on their soapbox about (like baptism, the Lord's Supper or end times), but can distract Christians from the clear command and importance of spreading the gospel.  For this reason, I don't want to subscribe to Creation Magazine, nor do I appreciate people telling me I need to read it as if I'm a lesser caste of Christian if I don't.
But in recent times I've come to see that such ministries have a place and I certainly don't wish to discourage them.  I can see that the creation account may be a stumbling block to some people coming to faith and apologetics in this area can play a vital role.  But I think some Christians need to be careful in that they don't become TOO focused on this area and start arguments all the time.

Why are many people so quick to trust carbon dating, yet doubt Genesis?  One 'sciency' friend of ours has said that if people believe science is true, then they are completely missing the point of science.  Science is a theory, not a fact, and that theory continues to evolve.  Science needs to be reinterpreted by Scripture, not the other way round.

I don't think Genesis is meant to be read in the same way as an apocalyptic book such as Daniel or Revelation which have different meanings for the word 'day' (i.e. the 1335 days in Daniel).  Genesis is a narrative and, despite the opening chapter being very poetic, there is no reason to doubt that the word 'day' does not mean a literal 24 hour day.  After all, it says there was evening, and there was morning, the 'x' day.  Sarfati argues that the Hebrew word yom is what is used for the word day in Genesis. This means an ordinary day (sunrise to sunset). The Fourth Commandment for Sabbath rest makes no sense unless the days of the working week were the same as those of creation week.

I've also come to see that if you fiddle with Genesis, the rest of the Bible starts to cascade.  If Genesis needs to be reinterpreted to fit with science, then which other parts of the Bible need to be as well?  I'm wondering if the need to doubt the literal six day creation is coming from a desire to 'fit in' with non Christian friends rather any scientific 'proof'.  We don't want to to look like weirdos for believing something that seems so ludicrous to the rest of the world.  We want our friends to come to know Jesus so badly that we often compromise what the Bible says and water it down to make it more palatable to them.  The trouble is, if people doubt that all of Genesis is true, what does that say about their claim that the Bible is inerrant?

Thoughts?

Any other books you recommend on this topic?

The Lovebook

I've blogged enough about how fed up I get with Facebook.

But over coffee with a friend, the topic turned to Facebook and I realised that I was not the only one discouraged by narcissism.  My friend and I talked about how or even if we could change the Facebook culture of "Look at me....look at me."  We admitted we often succumb to the temptation of gaining attention for ourselves while neglecting others.

Then the answer came from Facebook itself.

The 30 Day Facebook/Lovebook Challenge was created by a guy called Scott Stirling.  Here's an extract of what he wrote on the Lovebook page:

So much of our lives, especially on Facebook, is all about us. Heard a message (twice!) by Penny Webb at Riverview that got me thinking; its time we focus on others instead of ourselves.
So starting at the beginning of next month, I will be taking the challenge of updating my Facebook status with a positive, true and encouraging comment about somebody else who I know. They'll be tagged in ...the comment, and if you agree with the encouragement, like it and/or comment on. One click at the encouragement multiplies. One click that could change someone's day, or even their life.
It'll be a different person every day, for 30 days. Here's the catch; I challenge you to do the same. One status a day that's not about your own status. One sentence a day where instead of posts that boast about ourselves, we 'love on' other people.

So, inspired by Meredith, who completed the 30 day challenge, I began to write less posts about myself and more about others.  This is not to blow my own trumpet.  Encouraging other people is so easy, yet so difficult at the same time.  I have not done the challenge on consecutive days.  In fact, I've only done 19 days so far and I started in July.

I've also realised that Satan will do anything to stop Christians encouraging others.  He has got in my ear so many times, whispering to me to give up.  At first I was only going to do seven days, but I felt God speaking to me to keep going and do the full 30 days.  So here I am, up to Day 20.  These are some of things I've been hearing from Satan that I've wrestled with along the way.

"You won't encourage that person.  They hate attention.  They'll get embarrassed and then hate you for drawing attention to them on Facebook."

"You hate it when people don't reply to messages, Sarah.  You know some people will not care less whether you said something nice to them.  You're wasting your time."

"You'll look like a tryhard suck.  Save yourself the embarrassment."

"But think of all the comments and likes you could get if you wrote about yourself."

It's strange that something so small as writing an encouraging post about someone on Facebook has turned into such a spiritual battle for me.  Every time Satan whispers his lies, I've had to grit my teeth, declare them to be lies, and remember what God says in His Word.

Galatians 6:9-10 is such an encouragement to me.  We must not grow weary in doing good because we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  God never promised I would see this harvest.  He never promised that people would feel encouraged and thank me for it.  Although the temptation to seek accolades is always there, I have to remind myself that love and obedience is never a waste of time.

So when I hear that voice telling me no-one will ever be encouraged, I hear another one rebuking it.

"But what if they are?  What if someone was really down and your words lifted their spirits?"

Convicted

Last week, Duncan and I went to his boss's house for Bible study.  While we were waiting for the other group members to arrive, we sat down with Duncan's boss and his wife who were watching At Home With Julia.

For the benefit of international readers and those who have not heard of the show (though it's hard not to if you live in Australia), At Home With Julia is a spoof of the life of current Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and her partner, Tim Mathieson.  The show also features a number of well known Australian political figures.

I thoroughly enjoyed the five minutes I did get to watch.  While Julia Gillard's mannerisms are exaggerated, it was still quite funny.  Not laugh out loud funny, but amusing all the same.  I made plans to watch the next episode.

But when Bible study finished that night, I felt somewhat differently.  Our Bible study group has been using a series called The Truth Project which explores foundational Christian beliefs, but in a really unique way.  Last week we looked at God's relation to governments - that while they have the potential to do much evil, they have been instituted as God's representatives and we are to honour them.  The presenter quoted Romans 13:1-7 and it was then I felt convicted that I shouldn't watch At Home With Julia anymore.  When Duncan and I got home that night, I told him that I felt convicted and challenged based on what we had been learning, and he said, "Yeah I was thinking the same."

You see, that while Julia Gillard may have some amusing quirks and she is not the leader that I voted for, I still need to honour her.  She makes many decisions that I don't agree with, but she has been placed in her role by God.  She may find the show about herself to be absolutely hilarious, I don't know, but I think for me to watch it would be disrespectful.  We Aussies live in a culture that loves to poke fun at anyone important.  We kind of expect it, but that doesn't always make it right.  If I was an important leader, I'm not sure I would want a show like that made about me.  The ladies at tennis were talking about it yesterday and one said she was surprised the ABC even let it go to air.

I think Aussies can learn a lot from our overseas friends.  When I lived in Perth I met many international students who were shocked that we mock our leaders and refer to them by their first names.  I think we can still have a sense of humour, but learn from our overseas friends about showing respect - NOT like those countries who have a big picture of their dictator in the middle of the city or make it a crime to criticise the government at all.  Despite what we may think, Julia Gillard is not on the same level as us.  She is our leader whether we like it or not.

But the whole point is not about honouring Julia Gillard - it's about honouring God.

Some people may be able to watch this show in good conscience.  I cannot.

Picture is from http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2011/07/18/1226096/912405-at-home-with-julia.jpg

Awesomely Awesome

What is with the overuse of the word ‘awesome’ today?

Everywhere I go, someone describes something as ‘awesome’. A cake is awesome, holidays are awesome, a TV show is awesome. I have even been told that I’m awesome. Really? That’s very flattering, but if I’m honest, then I really can’t say that’s true.

The Macquarie Dictionary (1991) defines awe as:
1. Respectful or reverential fear, inspired by what is grand or sublime.
2. Power to inspire fear or reverence.
3. Fear or dread.
(page 117)

In light of that definition, can a cake really be awesome? You fear a cake? Do you bow down before it in reverence? Really?

A cake is not awesome, it is tasty.

If the dictionary definition is correct, then there are very few things that can truly be awesome. Personally, I don’t want to use the word awesome to describe anything but God. It’s not about being legalistic or nitpicky. For me, it’s about acknowledging that our mighty God is the one who is truly awesome.

So why do people overuse the word ‘awesome’?

I don’t get it. Please explain….

Marriage 101: Movin' On Up

When you're single it seems to be perfectly acceptable to have non-matching cutlery, wobbly furniture from the op-shop, and shabby decor.

When you're married, it's not!

I found that out pretty quickly, and to tell the truth, it shocked me.

The question we got asked the most, besides the kids question, was when were we going to buy a house.  When I answered, "Possibly never," the shocked expressions astounded me.  Is buying property what all married couples are expected to do?  We get our house rent-free as part of Duncan's job.  We have never had high enough incomes to seriously consider buying a house, and even if we did, we're not sure if we want to get tied down with a mortgage.

I'm not saying it's wrong to buy a house, but I have noticed how when you get married you're expected to get in line and plod along in trying to keep up with the Joneses.  It creeps into the church in subtle ways.  Suddenly fellow Christians are giving you advice on investment properties and new furniture.  I get tired of speaking to married people who constantly talk about renovations (that are done in the name of trends rather than necessity), private schooling, and trips to Ikea.  I've had fellow Christians laugh at me because I don't have a iphone, ipod or iwhatever.  No, I'm not joking!  Maybe they assume that now I'm married I should be putting my cash towards that stuff....upgrading.

I think married couples should be using their money for the glory of God and not to keep up with peers.  Buying a house has the advantage that you can plant yourself in one area and use your house as a base to reach out in hospitality and build relationships.  Renting has the downside that the owner may decide to sell without warning, or put the rent up and you are forced to move away from your church, friends or workplace because of a lack of available properties in your desired area.  But who cares if a married couple has op-shop furniture and a 3x1 instead of a 4x2.  You can't take material stuff with you when you die.

I can honestly say that I don't care whether Duncan and I buy a house or not.  We won't be swayed by pressure from others because God has already given us what we need in order to be hospitable.  Although I do wish married Christians would share God's Word with each other more than Ikea catalogues.

Calling All Theoblogians #9

I suspect the answer to this question may well be, "It doesn't matter," but I'm going to ask it anyway.

When a Christian dies, do they go to be with Jesus straight away, or does every Christian (dead or alive) have to wait until Jesus returns?

A few years ago, I was having a conversation with some friends and their housemates about this issue.  All of these people are Seventh Day Adventists, and Adventists believe in the doctrine of 'soul sleep' (see their Official Belief No. 26 from the Seventh Day Adventist homepage). They believe that when a Christian dies, they remain in an unconscious state until the second coming of Christ.  1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 is one passage in Scripture where they get this belief from, but there are others.

This belief differs greatly with the opinion of many other denominations which believe a Christian goes to be with Christ the second they die.  I've heard many people say, "They've gone to be with Jesus," after losing a loved one, and they get this from Luke's account of Jesus' conversation with the repentant thief at the crucifixion:
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42-43)

My Seventh Day Adventist friends believe that since the original text contained no commas, where you place the comma in the English translation completely changes the meaning of the verse.

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (This sounds like the thief will be in paradise with Jesus TODAY).

"I tell you the truth today, you will be with me in paradise." (This sounds like Jesus is telling the truth TODAY, but that does not mean the thief will be in paradise today).

A number of Christians believe that they will go to be with Jesus as soon as they die, and will be looking down on their loved ones from heaven.  For one lady I know of, this enslaved her because she believed her late husband was watching her so she felt pressure to dress in a way that would please him.  My SDA friends don't believe this because they argue they wouldn't be in much of a paradise if they could see their loved ones suffering on earth.  I'm inclined to agree with them there!

One pastor I know said he thinks it is both.  That when Christians die, they go to be with Jesus, but also a lot depends on the coming of the new creation.  He said it sounds ludicrous to think it could be both, but he thinks Scripture presents it as both.

I also suspect this question is unanswerable simply because you'd have to die and come back to tell people what it was like.  But I thought I'd throw it out there anyway to see if anyone can shed some insight on the Scriptures I mentioned.