A young couple in a church I attended in the US, claimed they did not need health insurance.  ”God would provide for their needs”, they firmly believed.   When they had a significant car accident and incurred hefty medical bills, the church asked its parishioners (who had been regularly paying their own insurance) to take special offerings to cover the costs of this couples medical bills.   This situation caused a fairly vigorous debate on “responsibility” vs. “faith”

In Australia, we are blessed to have a public health care system to fall back on.   But for how long is that sustainable?  As the baby boomers age, the percentage of our population who require expensive health services and aged care will dramatically increase.     This demographic change will provide fundamental challenges for our societies – particularly from a financial standpoint.

In previous generations, aging parents would have moved into their children’s homes to be supported.  However, with our increasingly busy, two-income family lives, along with advances in medical technology, we have shifted old people into clinical, but expensive aged care centres.   As a generation, the baby boomers did not have enough kids to support their population in old age.  So this issue will explode onto the scene in a few years.

50% of health care costs are incurred in the last 12 months of a person’s life.   All those costs achieve is delaying inevitable death.   The quality of life in those final 12 months is generally not good.    While I am not advocating euthanasia, I do wonder if it is responsible to be supporting an industry that is not sustainable.   There are also many other issues with locking away an entire generation in old peoples homes and villages.

Personally I think I would rather die at 80 with my bodily functions still operating, rather than at 85 in a machine-supported state.   I say that because I am confident in life beyond the grave.    For those who don’t know Jesus, it is understandable as to why they would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to push death back by a few months.

How should we as Christians approach these growing issues?

Blessings

- JC

Grassroots rebellion is growing.  Whether it be the Tea Party, the Arab Springs, London Riots, or the Occupy Wall Street movements, we  know one thing.  The masses are angry.   At one level, the common man has a right to be angry at our political and corporate leaders.  James tells us that it is the rich that oppress us.   But the frequency of the unrest on the streets, indicates that the days of our social status quo are numbered.

So how should we as Christians respond to these movements?

In response to Islamic Jihadism, one of my friends mused that we should have Christian Jihadism.   Anything less, is tantamount to fighting a battle with one hand tied behind our back.   But the Christian is called to a higher standard in our causes.  We must not only be right in our position, but also right in our approach.   We must respect authority even while disagreeing with it.  For the ‘Christian activist’, the ends cannot justify the means.

The result is that for Christian supported movements, anti-social strategies and violent behaviours are not an option.    At one level it feels like we have handicapped the Christian community and our values.   The church argument has often been made that we cannot legislate morality, so therefore we should not have political positions or passions.   We should just preach the gospel and not get involved.   While I agree we cannot legislate heart matters, we certainly can legislate moral compliance.   But the bigger question is ‘Should we spend our time trying to create a more just society through grassroots movements?’   ‘Should Christians be involved in public activism?’

What do you think?

Blessings

- JC

From a secular standpoint:

Modern Israel was established in 1948 by the United Nations as a safe-home of for the Jewish people post WWII.   Since then conflict and demographic changes have meant a return to 1967 boundaries is like trying to unscramble an egg.   The right of return principle is arbitrary.  Why not return the Holy Land to the Italians (Romans) or Greeks or the Jews again, or the Canaanites?  There is archaeological evidence that all those people groups occupied the same land before each other.

Historically, the West has politically supported Israel out of sympathy for the Holocaust and out of support for its democratic stability and economic growth in the Middle East Region.   Countering that, the West has been wary of Palestinian association with terrorism.   Yet, we cannot help but be moved by the suffering of the Palestinians.   However, both of these secular position are changing.   Western power and influence is fastly declining in a post GFC world.   Academia is leading a BDS (boycott, divest, and sanction) movement against Israel. Reports of regular skirmishes such as the flotilla raid or response to rocket attacks are resulting in Generation Y largely declaring themselves ‘pro-Palestinian’.

But the ripples of allegiances spread around the globe.   Political commentators have blamed the Democrats lost of the Ny-9 seat on Obama’s policies towards Israel.   While GOP Presidential candidate, Michelle Bachmann, has linked future US prosperity to its support of Israel.  Even more broadly, much of Al Qaeda’s aggression is claimed to be justified on the basis of the West’s support for Israel.   The Arab Spring uprisings are uncovering an anger towards Israel that was masked by corrupt dictators.

If the secular world could find a silver bullet to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, then it seems much of the world’s ails would be solved.  Many leaders have tried and so far all have failed.   Yet, all of the above seem like only surface issues compared to the religious passions that surround the Holy Land.

From a religious standpoint there are different angles on Israel:

The Islamic fundamentalist standpoint:   The Islamic caliphate once included the Holy Land.  Given a Jewish state has taken back part of the caliphate, Israel’s very existence is an affront to the validity of the Islamic faith.   That is partly why Hamas and Iran are committed to Israel’s eradication.   Many muslims are waiting for the 12th imam (Mahdi) to finally usher in the peaceful rule they seek.

The Jewish orthydox standpoint:   The Jewish people are God’s chosen people who were given the Holy Land as a sign of their promised inheritance.    The Jewish glory days of David and Solomon were centred on Jerusalem and the temple.  The Jews connection to Jehovah and future redemption is linked to traditional practices surrounding the temple.

The Christian fundamentalist standpoint:    One Christian view is replacement theology (which sees NT references to Israel  as being replaced by the Christian church).  An alternative understanding is dispensational theology (which sees a revived Israel as a focus of God’s attention in the end times).   There are shades of interpretation in-between these two positions.  The many ‘Christian interpretations’ of Israel alone have have resulted in anger and division.

While the above summary of secular and religious views is simplistic, they demonstrate why a peaceful resolution seems elusive.

Personally, Romans 9-11 convinces me that even in this church age, God is not finished with the Jewish people.   However, I choose not to be dogmatic as to how this will unfold.   Even if modern Israel is pushed into the sea, my faith in Jesus will not be shaken.   Ultimately, peace in the Middle East – and the world in general – will only come once the Prince of Peace returns.    Since Jesus is our focus, let’s seek Christ more than the anti-christ.   Let’s pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  Let us preach the salvation gospel to the Jews, muslims, and gentiles living in the Middle East and the world at large.

Blessings

JC

I recommend the following articles on the anniversary event:

Time Magazine – What took so long?

NY Times – Artists Reflect Video

Today marks ten years since that fateful day. Six years ago today, I published my experience of 9/11. A portion follows here:

September 11, 2001, 9.55 am: I walk into my Biblical Foundations class at university and overhear a classmate saying something about a terrorist strike. I also hear something about the World Trade Centre towers falling. People shouldn’t joke about things like that. Imagine what that would be like, a skyscraper falling… just over an hour later I stand watching the news in the huge university amphitorium. The vivid, big-screen flashes of terror will never leave my mind.

Less than six weeks later I stand at ground zero, looking on in disbelief at a scene of utter destruction. There is no way to completely explain the atmosphere at ground zero, but a mixture of sorrow and horror is obvious on every face. The choking smoke mingles with the smell of rotting flesh. My eyes are stinging from the debris-choked air and all around I see nothing but pain. Every free surface is pasted with posters seeking information on missing loved-ones. Though there are thousands of people in sight, the atmosphere is quiet, contemplative, solemn.

As I peruse my photographs from that trip to Ground Zero ten years on, several stand out. In one, an Australian flag is strewn among the candles and flowers that cover the footpaths—an appropriate memorial to the ten Australians that died on 9/11 and a reminder that this attack was not against America merely, but against the western ideals that we hold dear.

In another, I’m standing next to Ground Zero underneath the sign for Fulton St. The significance of this is that my pastor at the time, John Vaughn, had been to Ground Zero a few weeks earlier and had pointed out that Ground Zero was right next to Fulton St. of the Fulton Street Revival. It was our prayer at the time that God would use 9/11 to bring similar revival.

It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years. With the benefit of time between then and now, let me share a few reflections:

• Terrorism is evil. It is the lowest form of cowardice.
• What happened that day was the beginning of a new level of Islamic aggression against the “Christian” west. The Muslims can be forgiven for mistaking the west as Christian since much of the west mistakes itself for Christian. Now, more than ever, we need to be clear about what it does and does not mean to be Christian. That said, if the Muslim fundamentalists had a more accurate view of the west as Secularist, they would still attack the west because the real issue is that the west is not Muslim—at least not yet.
• One of the most significant decisions coming out of 9/11 was the US White House decision to present this as an extremist problem rather than a problem with Islam itself. The White House made a concerted effort to affirm that Islam is not inherently extremist. This was a war on terror, not a war on Islam. Yet ten years later the war drags on. One has to ask the question, was this premise more expedient than accurate?
• We’ve now been at war for ten years. We’ve lost 29 diggers in the fight against terrorism. That’s less than a third of the 110 civilians we’ve lost to terrorism since 9/11. Was it right to go to war? Is it right to stay? Can the war be won? I wish I knew for sure.
• There is a sense in which we have already won the war on terror. What I mean is that you have probably never been substantially afraid of being blown up while shopping or driving or walking. When you send your kids to school, you probably don’t wonder if they’ll make it home safe. We basically live in safety. And regardless of the answers to the questions in the previous point, we owe that to our soldiers and the soldiers of other nations who put their lives on the line every day to keep Australia safe. We owe them gratitude and respect.
• 9/11 didn’t lead to a widespread revival of Christian faith. Certainly God worked through it in many lives, but there was no sustained growth in church attendance or reports of sweeping revival. Perhaps revival is not dependent on sensational world events. Perhaps we should be preaching Christ just as fervently now as we did just after the attacks. Perhaps God will send the increase when he chooses.

That’s enough of that. But I hope you’ll take some time today to reflect; to go to “the house of mourning” and “lay it to heart” (Eccl. 7:2).

God doesn’t owe us safety. Safety is a gracious trust from him to be used for his glory. And when safety is unsure, we are reminded that the world we live in is broken by sin—Adam’s sin and our sin. And we can remember that our greatest need for refuge is for refuge from God’s wrath. And we can remember that we have such refuge in Jesus Christ because he took God’s wrath for us!

We can rest and rejoice in that.

Grace to you.

In the scheme of things, the riots are distracting us from other unfolding tragedies – like the African famine, Syrian crackdown, and corporate and political greed.   However, the fear is that violence may spread beyond Britain and into the rest of the Western world.   The Arab world has  alread experienced uprisings this year too.  As we increasingly experience a widening gap between rich and poor, corruption in government and disaffection through multiculturalism, then  future riots are a matter of when not if.

But apart from lamenting the breakdown of society, what can we do?   Here are some thoughts:

1.  Train our kids well:  The seeds of this violence have been growing for decades.  ’Where are the parents?’ is a valid question to ask.   Determine to teach and train your children – or future children – about God and in godliness.    In 10 years time, will it be our toddler on the street seeking violence?   We will give a direct account for our responsibility in this area.

2. Don’t stop meeting with believers:   One sign of the end times is rebelliousness and disrespect for parents.    As such it’s critical that we select companions and communities that share godly values – for both ourselves and our kids.   I believe parents should be selective about their kids friends, potential spouses and our own company.   One of the reasons Hebrews specifically instructs us to not forsake church gatherings – particularly in the last days – is to help prevent us for falling away to despair and decay.

3. Pray    We should pray always, but particularly when we don’t have a solution.  With current events, we may not know how to pray, but the Holy Spirit has promised to intervene.   He converts our desires and expressions into beautiful words for God’s ears.   May our prays be longing not just for peace on earth, but also for a more intimate relation with our Father.

4.  Outreach.  Without being silly about safety, we must minister to the offenders and victims.   Outreach ministry should take the form of justice (correctly punishing the offenders) and compassionate care for the victims.   While our political and legal systems fail true justice most of the time, we must resist becoming vigilantes.   There is a big difference between self-defense and revenge.   In terms of  the how and when of compassionate care, it is most effective when applied locally and when it ministers to the person holistically  (e.g. financial loss, emotional trauma and spiritual guideance)

5. Celebrate:   We must look on the bright side of life.   God has saved us from our own barbaric hearts.  But for the grace of God, it could be us on the streets.  Let’s convert our sorrow about trashed cars into a helpful longing for our heavenly city.    Let’s celebrate our future eternal home where thieves won’t break in and steal, and we will live under the rule of the Most Just King of All.

- JC

• Housing is an appreciating asset not a liability  (i.e. house prices only go up)
• Mortgages are good debt, not bad  (i.e. borrow as much as the bank will lend)
• Rent is dead money  (i.e.  renters are poor stewards of money)

1. Let’s have a value adjustment.    As Christian’s we all have a physical and luxurious mansion being built in heaven  (John 14:2).   So let’s not be consumed by building our castle here on earth.

2. Let’s limit debt.   Debt is not a intrinsically a sin, but being a slave to debt is.   Let’s cast aside debt so we are free to serve Christ.

3.  Let’s model contentment, fiscal restraint and godly priorities in our buying habits and thought life.

4. Where we have enslaved ourselves, lets show ask for wisdom on how to recover.    It may mean cutting up a credit card, renting a home, or driving an old car.

At the end of the day, our life is not our house.   Our life is found in Jesus.   As the old song says, “This World is not my home, I am just passing through”

Disclaimer: I do have a home mortgage. Everyday I must remind myself of its correct place in my life. It is a struggle.

For news and political junkies like myself, our present news cycle is riverting consumption.  However, current events can also be quite a depressing diet.  Once we have seen off one crisis, two more pop up.   The continuation of these events have made us tired and nostaligic.   We long for the days when life seemed simpler, more moral and more secure.

But simply longing for our problems to be fixed does not work, so we submerge ourselves in the banality of facebook, reality tv, and social gatherings.   Alternatively we obsess with political and ideological involvement hoping to heal the world and make it a better place.  In Australia, we are blessed to be somewhat isolated from the worst effects of some of the global crisis, but nevertheless, the creep of globalization has drawn us into the vortex of world affairs.

But how should we as Australian Christians respond?   Firstly, we should take comfort that no crisis is a surprise to God.  Not only is God all-knowing, but He has told us that these types events will occur.   They are part of God’s plan for redemption in preparation for His return (Matt 24:14).

Secondly, we should be on our guard for false Christs.  Our ever present temptation is to look to government instead of God.  We worship the false security of our worldly nesteggs, forgetting that Jesus taught us that earthly possessions will corrupt and disappear.  We must replace our ‘temporal Christs’ with the treasure of our eternal Jesus.

Finally, as followers of Christ, we are not to worry, but rather we must renew our minds by having our thinking transformed. (Romans 12:2)   As we revel in God’s grace and mercy towards us, we will relax in God’s promise that we are not destined to judgment, but to rest.    It is not our job to save the world, it is our job to love the Saviour of the world.

Blessings

• God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Yet God also laughs at man’s rebellious attempts, Islamic or otherwise, to overthrow the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. I don’t want to get carried away with glee over the death of an evil man, but as a redeemed sinner I can smile today in the knowledge that God’s justice is sure.

• Bin Laden’s death day was divinely appointed, after a long life of violence and hatred, and despite a superpower’s best efforts to kill him for almost ten years. God does permit such evil men to live on. Still:

• Thinking back to that September 11, would anyone have predicted that the US would fall to its knees — not to terrorists, but to creditors? The nation’s finances have become the greatest threat to Americans’ national security. Bin Laden’s death is significant but this triumph will be quickly forgotten.

• How awesome are the elite soldiers of Seal Team Six! Supported by tireless intelligence work, their brave assault produced a stunning victory. The operation was meticulously executed by men honed by the daily grind of disciplined training. There are no casual weekend reservists on this team. These men are on-mission.

Onward, Christian what?

Ben Kwok

Her swollen face disappeared between her knees as she retched once again.  Sitting on the cement curb near the outpatients at Vila Central Hospital, Shelley and her mum were waiting for results from blood tests earlier in the day.  Scans had already confirmed a diagnosis of kidney failure; the real question was “What next?”  For twenty-four year old Shelley, her heart could not forget two year old Miriam, her little daughter.  Watching her weep for her baby’s future, her eyes both anguished and exhausted, I could hardly speak for grief.  How do we respond to such sorrow in a way that glorifies our God?

Besides these every day encounters with individual struggles, countless stories of personal pain from natural disasters have racked our region with sorrow and loss these last few months.  And now with the horror of the Japan earthquake and tsunami, thousands more have been literally swept away in an inescapable torrent.  Isn’t your heart bleeding for those who have lost so much, for those who will never have another chance to respond with faith to God’s love?

Whether we grieve for an individual or for a nation, what are we doing about that grief? News headlines surround us, but what are we doing about that news?  What should be our response to the stark reality that mankind is far from controlling his own destiny as these life circumstances clearly demonstrate?  How do we respond to the truth that every person in the world has a ticket to leave this life though he knows not what is written on it?

We must help in practical ways. The laws of God’s kingdom are laws of giving, so let’s give and give generously.  Those who suffer are fellow human beings, made in God’s image, for whom Jesus died.  Whether a neighbour in crisis or the afflicted far away, give of your time, your resources, your self to help alleviate their suffering.

We must pray. Pray for God’s love and grace to flow in practical ways through His people.  Pray for the gospel to be shared with power. Pray for repentance for sinners.  Pray for healing for the nations.

We must speak up. Tell that grieving friend of God’s love and mercy in Christ.  Let her know that in the midst of sorrow there is hope in Jesus alone.  Share a verse; pause to pray aloud; honour the name of Jesus.  Let’s not think that our well-meaning platitudes and intellectual reasoning have the power to minister the healing balm of the gospel.  We need the power of God as we share the Word of God, bathed with the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.

Who knows?  Perhaps these disasters, perhaps the personal crisis Shelley is facing (and others like her), will be the beginning of a spiritual harvest.

When [Jesus] saw the crowds,he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  Matthew 9:36-38