Looking at Christ

This is a tool I've found helpful in making us aware of how differently different cultures operate.  Look at the different subjects in these lists (and think of others) and decide whether (instinctively, as a gut reaction) you would be happy to talk about them publicly or whether you would rather not talk about them. Which things are you happy to talk about with most people (work colleagues, acquaintances, even strangers in the street)? Those things are outside the box, in public space. Which subjects would you only talk about with your very closest friends, if at all? Those are in the box, private.  The surprising thing is that, although most of us would think it's pretty 'obvious' which things are inside and outside the box, another culture would put them precisely the other way around. Although there are lots of variations by personality and sub-culture, broadly speaking, my own culture would put most of the first list in the box and be happy to talk pretty freely ab...

I've been wanting to write this for a couple of years but never got round to it. Seems like now is a good time. This is the basic argument: if the verses in the New Testament that seem to suggest that Christ died for absolutely everyone without exception are actually all about Christ dying for people from absolutely every different people group without exception then it makes those verses all the more beautiful and sharp and powerful - they are verses that show that the very intent of the atonement was to win a fantastically diverse multicultural Bride. Definite atonement  Definite atonement or 'limited atonement' as it has been more traditionally called (that Christ died for the elect) is not what all Bible believing Christians see when they read the Scriptures. And I don't think for a moment that I'll be able to convince anyone to change their minds in 400 words. But just to sketch out what I'm talking about here is a brief presentation of definite atonem...

My notes from Duncan's second  seminar  at week two of the Keswick Convention. Sharply insightful and very practical. Thanks so much for this Duncan. Lord give me the grace to repent and do this. ----------------- Justification by faith – we’re all in the wrong, we’re clothed with Jesus’ righteousness - so we can take a critique, we don’t need to be defensive We don’t need a new strategy – we need repentance - acknowledge the prejudice in our hearts and cry out to God to change our hearts Narratives that we’ve been sold – e.g. middle class parenting better than working class values/parenting or this ethnicity is lazy or people with this accent are less intelligent – need to be challenged by getting to know people Take a missionary approach – rather than a colonising mentality. What are the wrappers of our Christianity that might be putting people off: Preaching – instead of alienating illustrations and assumptions we need to:  work on thinking thro...

My notes from Duncan's first seminar at week two of the Keswick Convention. Wonderful gospel framework. Powerful critique. Lord give me a the grace to receive this and repent. ----------------- Justification by faith – we’re all in the wrong, we’re clothed with Jesus’ righteousness, so we can admit we are wrong False gospel: “Becoming a Christian is converting to middle class culture” False discipleship: “Better yourself but stay in your lane”, “Majority culture disciples minority culture (not vice versa)” 1 Cor. 1:26-31  Not many were wise by human standards Not many were influential Not many were of noble birth But God chose… to nullify… so that no one may boast – gospel is subversive, nullifies pride and idol of class We need to help each other find our primary identity in Christ rather than to boast in our culture (which is what comes naturally) Jesus’ mission statement: preach good news to the poor (Isaiah 61, Luke 4, Matt 18 cf. Gal. 2:10) 'Pre...

I asked a friend who's been in the UK just over a year for his outsider's perspective. What are some of my (English) culture's particular sins that we are largely blind to or tempted to excuse within the church? He'd clearly already given this quite a bit of thought as he quickly gave me six: Dependence on government rather than God. In a place where systems work well and the state provides a lot of excellent services - health, emergencies, financial - it is easy to grow an entitlement mentality and a reflex to look first to the state as our provider and protector.  You say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” (James 4:13) That's how we operate. There is a presumption we will not only last the night and wake tomorrow but that we will almost certainly live for several more decades. We don't live as if we are a mist that vanishes. Materialism. Accumulation of stuff. Ambition for stuff. Wor...

Cultural difference is not really about different foods and clothing and surface cultural products (though it might manifest there). Cultural difference is about us not understanding each other. Culture is what is normal to us. It is the air we breathe. It is the way we think and see the world. It is what is natural. We can’t imagine how anyone could think or see or do things differently; and when we do encounter that difference it is with shock, surprise and disbelief. An example: A Ugandan is staying with a Norwegian family. The Norwegian mother is preparing the supper and asks the Ugandan guest, “How many potatoes will you have?” To one of them it is an innocent question. To the other it is deeply offensive. Why the difference? Our language and social reflexes are rooted in underlying systems of value that are usually unconscious and so deeply held they are close to being hard wired – one of us instinctively values efficiency and fears waste; another values lavish generosity...

I was deeply encouraged and also deeply challenged as I prepared on Acts 2 recently. Encouraged about the power of the gospel and challenged about my cultural-ethnic pride. First it was deeply encouraging. We have good news that crosses every language barrier the wonders of God (Acts 2:11) That’s the good news – the wonders of God – not the wonders of humanity, not the wonders of human potential, not the wonders of our cleverness and goodness and impressiveness – No – the wonders of who God is and what God has done – that is the good news. That God is nothing like most people think he is – he is a wonderful God, Father, Son and Spirit, overflowing love and goodness and kindness and humility – a love which caused God the Father to send God the Son to rescue people who hate him, rescue them from death and darkness and hell at incredible cost, by going through hell instead of sinners. Compare the apocalyptic passage from Joel (quoted at Acts 2:19-20) with Peter’s ser...

In an increasingly mobile, ethnically diverse, socially divided UK (and world) we need gospel workers who are sensitive (people-orientated, humble and compassionate), skilled (equipped and practiced in culturally-aware gospel ministry) and serious (both in zeal and knowledge). The question is, where do you find people like that? Are they born (born again) like that? Is there a training course or seminary programme that can produce that kind of person? Of course first and foremost we must pray for these workers (Matt. 9:38). Only God can give the life and heart and boldness and joy and gentleness necessary. But how, humanly speaking, do these workers arrive? Is there anything we can do to be part of that raising up? I'd suggest that a big part of the answer is: cross-cultural gospel ministry apprenticeships . Just to define that: Gospel = the news of the Son of God dying instead of wrath-deserving sinners and rising that we can be united to him by his Spirit as forgiven a...