Are associations important?
Unreliable internet access, travel, and the normal busyness have thwarted my every attempt at a proper post today. What better time to empty out my links folder?
- 7,500 online shoppers unknowingly sold their souls: Fox News.
- This puts our financial woes in perspective.
- James Steinbach’s got a brilliant post on Associations (and why they might not be as important as you’ve been told).
- A pointed letter from John Newton.
“Of all people who engage in controversy, we who are called Calvinists are most expressly bound by our own principles to the exercise of gentleness and moderation.”
“Jesus was a virgin. His Bride wasn’t. He loved us anyway.”
- Michael Jenson: Five reasons why I don’t like lists of Bible verses.
I’ve posted some of the more transient (and funny) links on my Twitter account.
Honour Restored in Defeat
Only a couple of weeks ago I blogged about the slide of then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
It seems that the only group of people with less patience for Rudd than the electorate was his own party.
It still amazes me how quickly an elected Prime Minister was so quickly discarded in the space of a (relative) few hours.
The resentment that Rudd had nurtured against himself inside the ALP was so palpable that he barely had 20% support of his colleagues when he needed it most.
The ALP moved swifter than Mossad, the CIA and the former KGB in eliminating a perceived threat to its imminent electoral prospects.
I think Tony Abbott was right when he said that Rudd deserved the judgment of the electorate rather than to be hunted down at night and stabbed by his own.
No prime minister deserved such treatment, as Abbott pointed out in parliament that afternoon.
I do want to give tribute and honour where it is due.
Rudd, facing annihilation at a party room ballot, went with dignity without forcing a vote, and in the interests of the unity of his party.
What I found particularly moving was Rudd’s presence on the back bench during Question Time in the House later that day with a new Prime Minister sitting at centre stage.
It took character and guts for Rudd to do that and I believe those kind of magnanimous overtures will not be soon forgotten.
It is easy for any of us to be critical of others, but when you see such people fall it is never pretty.
All of us have clay feet.
We all make mistakes, we all go back on our word.
It’s just the consequences sometimes that are so excruciating.
Rudd was, during his first couple of years in office, virtually Australia’s most popular Prime Minister of all time.
Public opinion however changes more frequently than a rainy day in Melbourne. Those who are loved today can be loathed tomorrow- and vice versa.
So be consumed with the truth that God loves you, despite your sins, limitations and failures. So much so that He spared not His only Son.
That reality will free you to do what he has called you to do, regardless of what others think about you.
PS I was a bit irritated when Rudd, during his farewell speech thanked ‘God’ and and after calling God ‘him’ then qualified it with ‘or her’. With Australia now getting its first female prime minister, can’t God still be masculine?
Reader Response vs Authorial Intent
There were a couple of different posts I could have started this series with but I think this is probably the best bet. Let’s get on with the show!
Ways to Interpret
Through pretty much any artistic medium you have essentially 2 ways to interpret the message conveyed. The medium could be anything like music, art, poems or even books. On the one hand you can look at a piece of art and say “What this means to me is this” or “What this means to me is that” and the same can be said of music lyrics “Hey, you know when he says that line? For me I imagine he actually is talking about this”. People get careers in looking at something and giving their spin on the situation and telling people what they think this or that is really about.
On the other hand people can read the lyrics of a song and say “You know this speaks so much more to me when I found out what he was going through when he wrote this” or they can look at art and say “I was reading his biography the other day and he mentions why he used these unnatural shade of colors; he wanted to convey this”. When you and I receive a bill in the mail or see a sign on the road we all seek to find out what message was the person trying to convey rather than inputing what I think it means. We want the intended meaning because if we get it wrong it could have consequences.
Ways to Read
The same processes exist in the field of Hermeneutics. They are called “Reader Response” and “Authorial Intent”. When we read scripture we come to it with one of these 2 methods. We can either look at the scripture and say “Well, what this passage means go me is..” or we can say “Looking at the context, and the way he uses this word elsewhere we can say that Paul meant this when he said..”
When the authors of Scripture (both man and God) penned their words they had an intended meaning behind it. It had a purpose. It is our job today to bridge the gap from their time to now and find out exactly what they were trying to say. It’s when we find out their message it’s then that we can derive a principle to apply it to our life.
We all can sit around in a Bible study asking the question “What does this passage mean to you?” and we we may very well get some wonderful testimonies and wonderful scriptural truths about God but if the meaning we’re giving isn’t found in the text, then despite the harshness of this I say: Who cares? Our authority is found in scripture alone and we very well may be teaching truth but if it ain’t found in the passage we’re in, move on.
Rather when we look at a passage we should ask “What message did the author intend to give in this passage?” When we begin asking this question of the text we begin to learn the messages left to us in scripture and can begin applying them to our lives.
Quick Tips
Before we leave I would like to offer *some* quick tips to help your reading of the Scriptures.
- Use a translation you understand. Don’t use one simply because everyone else is or because of the fact it’s the most popular one out there on the market. I’ve settled on the ESV after going through a couple but don’t take my word; do a little research and find the right one for you. Ultimately, you may stick with the translation you have already. In the end, the last thing you need to do is to go to a dictionary for every other word to help you understand what’s going on. You might as well learn the Greek and Hebrew*
- Stick to one translation. Consistency is key. Don’t jump around all the time, you will find it hard to get familiar with the text. If you stick to one even if it isn’t the best of translations over time you will develop familiarity and grasp the text better.
- Use a well designed Bible. Most Bibles are 2 columned and are paragraphed according to verses. This is one of the biggest hindrances to actually understanding your Bible. No where else do you see books organized in such a format. Get a Bible that is single margin and broken into paragraphs, it will immensely improve your comprehension of the text. If you can’t find a single margin, get a double margin and if you can’t find that then as a last resort get one with paragraph markings but trust me you can get single margin Bibles in pretty much any translation, including the KJV. Though the paragraph markings are fallible, so are the chapter and verse markings but unlike those they will generally improve, rather than hinder understanding. This will be one of the best investments you will ever make.
- Use whatever medium works best for you. Given your circumstances your best time for reading might be on the train or bus to work, reading a book then might be a tad hard. Try reading on your phone, iPad, laptop or even your iPod. I found when I was traveling my phone worked best. Some people are more receptive to sound rather than visual input. Do not be afraid to try something out of the ordinary if you find it works better for you.
- Read at the most suitable time for you. I generally read best in the evening but I can also do the morning if I give myself enough time to wake up. If I try straight awake I will either fall asleep or not absorb anything. There is no point reading when you cannot grasp what your eyes are gazing at. Find the best time for you. Despite popular opinion it isn’t sin to read at another time besides 5am when the Sun is still down.
Until next week,
*I’m not bagging out any translation in particular but some translations like the KJV or the NASB can be hard to read. On the other hand some translations can be too loose and you get little to nothing of real meaning. Such translations like this I would stick away from include The Message and the New Living Translation. This topic deserves a post on its own so when looking for the right translation for you get advice and do some research before making a decision.
Learning from Luther
Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) was one the most colourful and passionate characters in church history. As a principle reformer, Luther took complex issues and unravelled them into the common vernacular – allowing theologians and farmers alike to respond with childlike simplicity to the Gospel. We know and love the narrative. The lawyer turned Catholic theologian turned reformer. Modern conservative critics of Luther denounce his political militancy, marriage counselling, and his position on communion. The purpose of this post is not to exonerate Luther’s flaws or to condone them. I want to talk about Luther’s context and character traits that could spark similar passion in today’s theological world.
Luther lived in a world comfortable with error. Western Catholicism was pervasive, influential, and militant. The Avignon Papacy was a distant memory and the catholic church enjoyed the company of kings and queens. In many cases, the church’s judicial system overrode the national judicial system. For the average family what this meant was purchasing crude indulgences to facilitate relief for family members trapped in purgatory.
Luther knew the Bible. Luther’s understanding of justification by faith alone grew out of personal Bible study. During a period of time when his life was under threat, Luther was hidden away from the public while working on a Bible translation in the German (common) language. Luther was a part of the team that recovered some of the great themes of Scripture with the Sola statements.
Luther feared God more than man. When Luther wrote the 95 Theses he was an insignificant Augustinian monk. The questions he asked were reformative within the context of the Catholic Church. Subsequent debates with church leaders in public forums and in print reveal a lion-hearted personality mirroring the young David before the Philistines.
Luther invested himself in others. Luther’s family house was a classroom for his own family and for his extended family that often joined him for meals. He influenced a whole generation of reformers. Protestant theology became richer and deeper because of the groundwork that Luther helped to prepare. Good teachers help students to go further.
We should not be thinking – “I should be more like Luther.” Rather, we should be thinking about the Sovereign God who gave Luther his abilities and sustained him throughout his life. Broad thematic principles in Luther’s life can be applied to our own context for God’s glory. Ask God to increase your passion for Him. Reading the Bible is great place to start.
~ Jeremy
Deputation: Special Ministry Preparation
I have seen many missionary presentations, but there is one that will always stand out to me. One Sunday night, Di and I visited a church where a missionary family was presenting their mission. They had almost finished deputation and were departing for their field. Their message and testimonies were polished. They shared the blessings of deputation. At the end of the presentation, the husband and wife sang “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart,” with fervency and joyful tears. The congregation was moved by their zeal.
If I had seen the same presentation a year earlier, I would not have given it much thought. But my situation had recently changed. At that time, Di and I were living in the US and applying to join a mission agency. If we were approved, we would soon begin raising support. So we were no longer casual spectators — we were prospective missionaries with many questions. As I considered that night’s dramatic presentation, I wondered: “What are we getting ourselves into?”
Deputation, anyone?
Generally, deputation is the process of appointing someone to act for the needs of another. When a missionary family is “on deputation,” they are presenting the spiritual needs of another people or country to fellow believers. Churches may then decide to “deputise” or appoint that missionary family to go and reach those people for Christ. When the appointed family has sufficient financial support, they leave for their field of service. Another term for deputation is pre-field ministry, which helps to describe deputation as a time of special preparation.
Before beginning pre-field ministry, I had privately felt deputation was an impossible mission because of the challenges of raising support from independent churches. One challenge is the upheaval: pre-field time usually involves changing jobs, selling house, and moving. It is normal for missionary candidates to travel to over 100 churches to present their mission, seeking support. Imagine visiting that many churches! Increased living by faith is another challenge. As a candidate makes the transition from regular employment to mission support, he is trusting that God will provide through sponsors, rather than directly through corporate paychecks for his labour. To be supported for ministry work is a privilege, but it also requires a healthy trust in the Provider.
Other difficulties include the struggle to schedule meetings with churches and the length of time needed to raise financial support. This last factor is the most ponderous. Spending two years (or more) to raise support seems so long. Many believers consider these realities of pre-field ministry and conclude that deputation is “not for me.”
Our pre-field experience
After careful consideration, advice, and prayer, Di and I determined to raise support in the US before serving the Lord in Australia. We joined a mission agency, Biblical Ministries Worldwide, and began deputation. As it turned out, our experience was not the typical pre-field experience. We did not need to travel extensively and spent more time with fewer churches. Eventually, God provided enough support through these churches and friends, so we could begin work in Sydney.
While I thank God for His incredible goodness, I am concerned for prospective missionaries and believers in general who may harbour the same attitude toward deputation as I did previously. What changed my opinion toward deputation? It was the realisation that pre-field ministry is more than fundraising. It is a special time of ministry preparation.
Deputation = preparation
After completing the Master of Divinity degree (also known as the “Master of Infinity” because of the time required), I was thankful for the ministry preparation along the way. School and local church ministry are important in preparing for vocational ministry. The ordination process confirms that a man called by God is set apart and adequately equipped for ministry. The pre-field process continues and enhances the preparation for service, shaping and developing you in ways that formal instruction and home church involvement may not provide.
Exposure to multiple churches and ministries: The pre-field process is like being on a ministry team, where you can interact with many churches. It is fascinating to personally observe and evaluate how other like-minded churches are worshiping, learning the Word, and reaching out to their communities.
More experience in the school of prayer: The challenges of deputation chipped away at our self-reliance. Those who need to raise support find themselves constantly turning in prayer to the Lord of the harvest. The power of friends’ prayers also becomes more apparent. I found that a stronger prayer lifestyle is the most common reality for men and women who have spent time in deputation.
Confidence that God has gone before you: Related to prayer is the joy of discovering answers to prayers. It is challenging to find supporting churches. But God answered prayers in ways we never imagined. Every missionary can share unconventional stories, because we serve an unconventional God!
New opportunities to serve: Pre-field is a time of promotion: we promote our vision, the specific mission field, and the needs of the people we intend to reach. But pre-field work is essentially a ministry to others—for God’s glory, not ours. How is deputation a ministry? As missionaries present their mission to churches, they get to share testimonies of God redeeming and calling them to serve Him. They serve by encouraging other believers to lift up their eyes to God’s harvest and to join in His work, locally or elsewhere in the world. Serving also means preparing sermons and special talks, listening patiently to others in churches and homes, and managing correspondence and paperwork.
For most missionaries, pre-field ministry seems disjointed because of the constant traveling to multiple churches. It’s also hard for them to keep involved in their home church when they are away. But deputation is more enjoyable when you go as servants. A businessman might look at the typical process of visiting many churches and think, “How inefficient!” True enough, but a servant thanks God for another opportunity to serve this way, whether a church supports him or not.
If you are considering mission work, don’t be deterred by deputation. God uses this experience to prepare more effective, God-dependent servants for His kingdom.
“Depend upon it, God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supplies.” Hudson Taylor
Ben Kwok
When you’re the broken arm in the body of Christ
Teaching, cleaning, painting, singing… life is busy in the body of Christ. But what about when it isn’t? What about when you can’t teach and you can’t clean? You’re too weary to paint and you’re too empty to sing?
I think we generally find it easy enough to minister in the body. We are part of the family and we expect to do our part. It’s easy enough being the biceps of the body, but what about when you’re the broken arm?
The humility of helplessness
There are seasons in our lives when we cannot minister to others as much as we’d like. There can be many reasons for this:
- We may be physically ill.
- We may be mentally or emotionally unable to function.
- We may be in all out warfare with our own sinful desires.
- We may be legitimately overworked in other areas.
- We may be seeking to address some sinful habits in our lives.
- We may be facing a trial that is threatening to overwhelm us.
There is something deeply humbling about meeting with the body and not ministering to others but instead letting others minister to us. So humbling, in fact, that sometimes we refuse to do it.
.
The frustrating patient
It’s a classic scenario. The teenage boy with a broken arm who’s climbing trees and playing sport. Mum keeps telling him he’s got to go easy on the arm, but he just can’t slow down.
When ministry is pride
To refuse to admit our weakness in moments of helplessness is pride. To insist on carrying on meeting the needs of others while avoiding the help of the body is to fail to admit our own need for the ministry of God’s grace through the body.
In other words, to focus on ministering when we should be focusing on our relationship with God is a deep offence against God.
- It is a practical denial of the gospel which rests on our admission of helplessness.
- It is a response of pride that avoids admitting weakness and helplessness.
- Worst of all, it assumes that Christianity is about what we do for God instead of what God has done for us.
Can helpless people minister?
I am not suggesting that helpless people shouldn’t minister. If helpless people couldn’t minister, Christians couldn’t minister because admitting our helplessness is the foundation of gospel living.
What I am saying is that there are seasons of life when we should probably step out of our role as creche worker or usher or teacher for a time. There are seasons when we should not, or cannot, minister as we would like to.
In those times, our hearts may condemn us. We may feel guilty for not doing as much as we used to. But we need to see the deep-seated pride that drives that thinking. We need to recognise that if God has put us in a place of helplessness for a time, that healing will come as we allow the body to minister to us in our need.
By and by, the broken arm will heal. And we will once again do the heavy lifting for a while.
