Teamwork

Corinthians is the go to text for Christians who want to talk about teamwork, but the mandate was actually given by God from and even before he created man.  In fact teamwork was built into our very DNA. 

Genesis 1:26-27 states we are created in God's image, a thought to keep in mind as we look at some keywords for the purpose of this exercise. These words I want to consider are "Let us make man...so God created..." 

So here we have God (one member of the trinity) talking to the others and he/she says "Let" (the proposal), in this form it is a suggestion or statement of intention. Next up is "us" (the who)  which is plural thus indicating more than one entity is present. We then progress to the words "make man" (aim/goal) which presents the desired result.  Finally we have the phrase "so God created" which indicates that the proposal was agreed upon by the who, whom then worked to achieve the outcome: Teamwork. 

Now let us refer back to the bible text and the details of the proposal; specifically the criteria that man was to be made in the image of God.   Now consider that the very creation of man was one which was a group task; how then can we function in the image of God if we fail to act as part of a loving team or community?  By acting as part of a respectful, loving team in harmonious pursuit of a goal, is in itself an act of honour to the creator for we are doing what we were created to do; to reflect his image. 

Now some may feel this is a tenuous idea, so let's examine the mandate given to man and woman by God after their creation.  Genesis 1:28 contains the command of God, and also the remit of man and woman that they are to be fruitful and multiply.  It is the multiply aspect that I am most interested in at this time. 

Simple biology tells us that we need more than one person in order to reproduce, and seeing as God considers free will a pretty big deal, I cannot envisage for a second that in his telling man and woman to reproduce he was encouraging or condoning one party forcing either their will or their body onto another.  We were to work in harmony by respecting, agreeing, and consenting; and by our doing so we would not only become one, but we would also be of one purpose. Thus his very command to multiply is implicit in saying teamwork was a requirement of our roles here on earth. 

It is also possible to make a case for the fall of man being a team effort, instead of what has historically and erroneously presented where the woman solely is to blame.  A reading of Genesis 3:6-7 presents us with the moment that the man and woman sin. In this we read that the woman eats the fruit, and then presents it to her husband who is with her. In this moment her husband has the ability to say no and refuse his consent in this course of action, but he does not; he and his wife remain of one mind, and it is upon the man eating the fruit that Verse 7 says "their eyes were opened".    Consider for a moment that nothing happened to the woman until the man ate the fruit, what are the implications of this?  

Now let's look at what happens after they have eaten the fruit. The text goes on to say that God came down looking for the man and the woman but they were hiding, and so God confronts them about what they had done, and what happens next is the first example of division and disunity between men and women in the bible. "It was the woman you gave me..." (Gen 3:12) and with one finely constructed sentence the man seeks to firstly distance himself from the woman and to blame God for the predicament that he finds himself in.   

Men and women were not created to be divided, we were created with a unified purpose and for a common goal. As Christians wishing to reflect the image of God to a fractious and broken world, we must find unity with one another and with our God. Back biting, sabotaging one another's efforts, gossiping, and causing problems within the church is not reflective of a loving God who with a clear mind and purpose set out to achieve a goal, but rather is an indicator of how far from God we really are. 

@TCStorm

No justice, no peace: The Revelation of God through protest

Suicide bombings in Iraq. Mass kidnappings in Nigeria. Routine murder by police in the USA of black men with impunity. Corruption in every nation and at every levelled government.  As a Christian I struggle with this picture of the world I live in.  I see the images coming out of the USA and the U.K., I watch as the #blacklivesmatter movement face off against the police and with decades of repressed fear, pain, anger and sorrow chant with their entire being, "No justice, no peace".

"No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace. "

And then I open my bible and I read, and I remember that chant, "No justice, no peace", and it dawns on me, they are right, but not in the conditional way in which they are warning police and politicians that they have had enough, but in a factual way for God is justice, and God is peace; know Justice, know Peace.

No God, no peace;  No peace, no God.  It's a pretty simple equation that stands scrutiny not because it is expressed in that form in any verse that can be quoted but rather that it is woven into the fabric of the bible and implicit everywhere. In The Books of Law found in the Torah, justice is a governing principle and is to be given to all equally, whether they are rich or poor (Lev 19:15), foreign or domestic (Deu 24:17).  In fact God goes as far as to curse any who deny justice to foreigners, orphans or widows (Deu 27:19).

Justice is not only however a theme of the bible, it is also a fundamental characteristic of God and governs how he interacts with his creation.  The Psalmist writes:

"But the Lord reigns forever, executing judgement from his throne. He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness. The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in the time of trouble." (Psalms 9:7-9)

Proverbs 16:12 is even more telling about rulership "A king detests wrong doing, for his rule is built on justice."   As Christians we proclaim Jesus Christ to be the King of Kings who will establish his kingdom that will last forever, well we need to recognise that one of the factors that underpins that kingdom, that makes him worthy of rulership, is justice.  

For a moment, I want you to imagine heaven.  Think of all the wonderful ways it's described in the bible, the ways it's been described in church or by your friends.  Think of all the wonders you imagine it contains, think of living with people from every tongue and every nation for eternity, think of how wonderful that must be.  And now take the justice out of your picture?  Not quite so idyllic is it?  Not quite so peaceful either.

No justice, no peace.

So how then can we claim to love Christ and desire to go to heaven, but be so indifferent about justice?  How can it be possible to yearn for peace, but be unconcerned about injustice?  How can we comfortably call ourselves Christians when we ignore the pain and suffering that injustice causes?  Matthew 25:31-46 provides an overview of some of the things Christ is concerned with, and although being murdered wasn't on the list and I think it's safe to say if he is concerned about people going hungry, he is concerned about people being killed over theological differences or the colour of their skin. I think it's also safe to say that if we are not committed to stamping out injustice and coming alongside people in their pain we are refusing to help the least of His brothers and sisters; we are refusing to help Him.

Amos writes:

"I hate all your show and pretense- the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I won't accept your burnt offerings or your grain offerings. I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps.  Instead I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living." (Amos 5:21-24)

God doesn't care that you go to the most boring church imaginable, he isn't interested in your tithe and offerings, and that sweet sounding mass choir you have going on... He isn't even listening to it!  He is waiting for that mighty flood of justice from us; he is waiting for us to stand up and get involved. He is waiting for Christians to stand up and lead the world to the end of their search for peace and justice; he is waiting for us to lead the world to him.

How?

"No justice,  No peace.  KNOW justice KNOW peace".

@TCStorm 

Equality and the Boss

I have a question I would love serious help with. Can there be genuine equality where one party is the head or boss of the other party. 

To help me I have some definitions. 

Dictionary.com defines equality like this. 

the state or quality of beingequal; correspondence inquantity, degree, value, rank, orability:

promoting equality of opportunityin the workplace.

Dictionary.com defines equal as 

as great as; the same as (oftenfollowed by to or with): 

The velocity of sound is not equalto that of light.

2.

like or alike in quantity, degree,value, etc.; of the same rank,ability, merit, etc.:

two students of equal brilliance.

So now I will look up boss. 

Dictionary.com defines boss in two ways 

a person who employs orsuperintends workers; manager

a politician who controls theparty organization, as in aparticular district

Maybe I need more definitions but I am struggling to see how you can have two parties and one is the head of the other and there be equality. I think this needs help in explaining this one to me. 

Hero = Man?

I might still be concerned about this topic. Let me set the scene for you so that you are not lost. 

I watched a video on YouTube of a woman rescuing a baby and the mother. As the video played the commentator added the statement some think she should be called a hero. I sensed the question in the statement and thought that's strange. She saves the baby why not call her hero. She is to that mother and child. So I innocently go to the dictionary for a definition of hero thinking this should solve the problem. This is what I found. 

"a person, typically a man, who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities"

I was so surprised I thought maybe this is a mistake I will check another dictionary. Good we have Internet. 

1. 1a  :  a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowedwith great strength or abilityb  :  an illustrious warriorc  :  a man admired for his achievements and noblequalitiesd  :  one who shows great courage

2. 2a  :  the principal male character in a literary or dramatic workb  :  the central figure in an event, period, or movement
   

Seriously I was surprised and maybe a little annoyed that a 21st century definition includes the word man. So I thought check again. 

"a man of distinguished courageor ability, admired for his bravedeeds and noble qualities"

There it was again. No hiding it. Just plan and simple a hero is a man. Now I am lost for what to do with myself. I am being so serious. When did this happen how did this happen to me. I seriously thought that while sexism exists in the dictionary at least we wouldn't need sexism. I appreciate there is a historical element to the word but surely we have moved past this. But no. The woman who rescued the baby and mother still has to endure hesitation when referring to her as a hero. Why hesitation because by the dictionary heroes are men! What she did might be heroic but are we allowed to  call her a hero. 

I am still trying to figure out what to do with this new information. Hero a person who performs a heroic deed. As long as it's a man they are a hero. 

My prayer text.

Simply put. This is the text I am sharing that I am using to pray today. 

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV

Exploring Christianity- Home

Exploring Christianity 

I have the opportunity to explore the world of Christianity at the International Christian Resource Exhibition. It's a few days when most Christian churches, businesses and charities get together and exchange ideas. I am excited not only for the course but because it bought me home. 

I have moved to a whole other country and now what I have taught about home becomes reality. Home isn't where your house is. Home is where your heart is. My heart is full. It is full of many loved ones. Some I carry with me physically my storms. Others who live in my heart till I can come home to them. So I am home. I will see friends and family and have time to cuddle and kiss and listen and talk to them all. I am excited to do that. As a Christian though I did wonder about my idea of home. 

As a Christian when I walk around do people find home with me. Can they say that I have given them shared with them a peace of Gods love. Can I share a piece of the home that we are all desperate to be. Can I share with them the home that God has for us. Where the centre of the home is love and it gives peace and joy unspeakable. 

I hope that people have that experience. I hope that their home is with God whose love knows no bounds. 

Exploring Christianity and the big WHY

Exploring Christianity 

So annoyed. How can people talk about being regionally accurate to where the bible is set then concern themselves with cups. Then show me amazing graphics with white people! Oh my annoying. Seriously vexed! 

So I sat and tried not to judge. I had to make a decision in my head. What do I do? I like what they produced. I love the passion. I really like the resources. Do I bring the negativity? Do I just say what's up with that? I really didn't want to be negative but I was so annoyed. 

I waited. It finished. I watched. Then I couldn't contain it any longer. I approached the creator and ask the question. Why did you want so much authenticity in cups and buildings but the people are not authentic?! Then my surprise. 

They didn't even think about it. But when it was bought to their attention they changed it in season 4 and 5. I was so pleasantly surprised. Relieved and now happy. What had so upset me was quickly resolved with a question. Not an accusation. Not anger but simply a question. Why? 

The lesson for me. Ask why? Not in anger or frustration or irritation but because you want to hear the answer. Reserve judgement until you have the asked why?! Why, just might save you and them! Ask why that's my lesson for today.