Is Big Better?

This year has seen New Zealand step back into a second lockdown.  We enjoyed so much freedom in Covid Alert Level 1 after coming out of the first lockdown that I think we grew complacent.  This lockdown has made me all the more determined to help people grow in Christ so we can live distinctively, refreshingly different lives which continue the mission of God whether we are in lockdown or not.

One of the issues we face is not being able to gather in large groups.  This forces us to think creatively about how our smaller gatherings and home groups can lead the way in God's mission.

The kingdom of God often turns our thinking upside down.  Read some of the parables of Jesus that begin “The kingdom of God is like…” and you will see what I mean.  Think of phrases from Jesus like “The last will be first and the first will be last” (Matt 20:16) or “The greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matt 23:11).

Sadly we all experience events needing to be cancelled.  But I wonder if one way God may be working for good through all those disappointments is to challenge our love affair with big.  We often ask “How many people went to …” even in the church.  We subconsciously think “big is better”.  But is it really?  Is a birthday party with 30 children better than inviting their 3 closest friends? Does a church service with 150 people honour God and progress God’s mission more than a small group gathering in someone’s home?

I expect this pandemic will continue to challenge us to find creative ways of sharing the good news of Jesus, and following the way of Jesus, in smaller settings.  I know Jesus spoke to the crowds, but he concentrated on the 12.  Perhaps for now the crowds will be our online work, while we concentrate on being faithful in smaller settings.  If we can’t hold a Christmas Dinner for 100 people, could we reach 200 people by having many little dinners in our homes?  I know some people in our church already live "missionally" in this way.  No big drama.  They simply share hospitality with their neighbourhood, being Christ's people in that place.  Building relationships.  Building the kingdom.  It will take all of us listening to God’s promptings and taking creative, mustard seed sized steps.  Perhaps small and simple can be best.

One resource I am finding helpful in this area is "Missional Small Groups: Becoming a Community that Makes a Difference in the World", M. Scott Boren (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2010).  Although this is written before the pandemic it's challenge is even more applicable now.  "We need to re-envision a way to empower normal groups led by normal group leaders that are full of normal followers of Christ to listen to God and live in such a way that they impact the world around them."p.11

A New Day Dawning - Introduction

Looking Ahead in 2020

I'm excited as I look to the year ahead at East Taieri Church.  I have written down a few of the things that I expect to be highlights.

Discipleship & Leadership Development

·         Growing resilient disciples who can thrive in post-Christian NZ.  Using insights from World Vision and Barna Group research published in “Faith For Exiles” by David Kinnaman.

·         We will honour the work of Christians in all fields (not just in “church ministry).

·         New Courses in the ET School of Ministry: Kingdom of God; What’s the Story? (faith sharing); …  We are also interested in combining resources with other churches running ministry/discipleship courses.

·         ET Leadership Summit: Fresh, actionable, inspiring leadership training from world class speakers on DVD.   29^th Feb 2020.

·         Our Ministry Conference 12-14th May will have RZIM's successor to Ravi Zacharias - Michael Ramsden speaking.  Our theme is: Tough Questions in Ministry Today - Standing for God and for truth and grace in a post-Christian world.  This is a huge opportunity to raise confidence in the gospel in NZ today.  Christians from all around the South Island will be attending.

Worship

·         Experiment with a new pattern of worship at 10am called “Mosaic” connecting with people’s different learning styles and ways of experiencing Jesus.

Evangelism

·         Alpha will again give us opportunity to see friends and family come to faith.  Dinner is Sunday July 26^th.

·         Training people in sharing their faith in a natural way (What’s the Story?)

·         Christmas Eve will be an event to invite our community to hear the good news of the Saviour’s birth.

·         We will develop practical 1x1=1000 ideas such as printing 1000 bibles to be given away by ET people .

Staff and Leadership

·         We look forward to our new youth worker, Larissa Pearce, starting in January.  She will be working 30hrs/wk.

·         We will recruit our new associate pastor!

·         SHFT will seek a second youth worker and an intern.

·         If we can’t afford a children and families worker, we will direct other leadership resources to this crucial area.

·         Recruit two new elders.

Mission Facilities

·         The mission facilities group will bring a recommendation for the first step with new buildings arising from our concept plan. 

·         We will formulate a funding plan for this project.

Mission with our Community

·         Community on the Coast – getting involved in what God is doing on the coast.  Meeting neighbours, meeting together, Kai on the Coast shared meal.

·         We will have wider reaching impact in combating loneliness through partnerships with Neighbourhood Support and others.

·         We will grow our work with Taieri College.

Global Missions

·         We will continue to actively support God’s work through Malawi, Egypt and Thailand and through World Vision and TEARFund.

·         We will support Erica Aarsen as she prepares to leave as a missionary with SIM to South Sudan.

Euthanasia - The End of Life Choice Bill

I have been following the progress of David Seymour's End of Life Choice bill with considerable concern.  I realise this could come across as a Christian pastor against something (again!), but I would prefer to frame this as being in favour of life.  When I talk to people in favour of euthanasia I often discover they have personal experience of watching a loved one suffer through a terminal illness.  I empathise with them.  My younger sister died of cancer.  I was so grateful she had good pain relief that kept her comfortable most of the time.  I know this isn't always the case.  I was also grateful she asked me to pray with her for the first time in her last weeks.

So if you are in favour of assisting people to commit suicide then I understand your motivation of compassion and avoiding suffering.  However, I hope you won't be offended if I post the arguments I sent in my submission against this bill.  I am not making biblical or theological arguments, although those have been made - see for example Peter Saunders CEO of Christian Medical Fellowship UK.

My submission seeks to present arguments that someone who isn't a Christian and doesn't recognise the authority of the Bible, might still find compelling. 

But first a local story of a Dunedin woman who has appeared in a TVNZ documentary speaking against euthanasia.  Tetraplegic model, Claire Freeman battled depression and pain and was referred to a euthanasia clinic in Switzerland where she had planned to end her life.  Instead, when an operation went badly, she was forced to rest and sleep, and the pain subsided and she discovered a new chapter of her life.  Now she is a successful model and speaks out against assisted suicide.


I put other arguments from my submission below in case you would like to include them in some way in a letter to your MP to encourage them to consider the harm euthanasia can bring.

I recognise that people have real fears of suffering and want to be able to make individual choices, and that the bill states it is motivated by compassion, however I am writing to urge you to vote against this bill at its second reading for the following reasons.

1. The danger that this bill would threaten the lives of vulnerable people in our society including the elderly and those very disabled.  I have served as a minister in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand for 27 years.  During that time many elderly people have told me of their concern that they are not a burden to others, especially their family.  This bill would bring a new pressure on them, that they consider euthanasia.  Some unprincipled children looking to their inheritance could even put pressure on their elderly parents to choose to end their life before their finances are used up in providing care.

2. This bill would undermine attempts to reduce the suicide rate in New Zealand. Our society should not give mixed messages about suicide by suggesting it is acceptable, even desirable, under some circumstances.  In my pastoral experience, most people who commit suicide seem to have, at least for that moment, felt they were experiencing “unbearable suffering that cannot be relieved in a manner that he or she considers tolerable” (clause 4e).  Whether it is intended or not, this bill would increase public perception that suicide is acceptable.

Families frequently feel hurt, confusion and even guilt when a loved one commits suicide. In seeking to show compassion to allow a person to choose to end their life, this bill will inflict hurt on others who must watch on.

3. The destructive effect of this bill on the doctor-patient relationship.  I value the trust that often develops between a doctor and patient, and their wider families.  This bill would damage that.  A doctor could no longer be trusted to “first do no harm” (Hippocratic oath). 

When our health system is under pressure with an aging population, doctors and other health professionals could start suggesting euthanasia to patients as an option to be considered.  Our society is often too pragmatic and driven by economic benefits rather than principles.

4. The vague eligibility criteria in this bill.  Clause 4 would be very difficult for medical professionals to apply consistently and safely.  Time has shown how the eligibility criteria for abortion in NZ has in practice become abortion on demand under the mental health grounds.  The same would inevitably occur with this bill, until it became publically understood as “I have a right to end my life when I want to.”  The Select Committee agreed that “the bill is not workable in its current state...”

5. This bill unhelpfully elevates individual choice over society well-being. Individual choices should not be allowed to damage the society we live in.  This bill will do that by trying to be compassionate to an individual, but neglecting the wider effect of legalising euthanasia on the vulnerable, the medical and caring professions, and society’s overall value of the sanctity of life.

I urge you to vote against this bill and avoid serious ramifications for our society.

What's Up God? Pursuing God's Will Together

http://www.etchurch.co.nz/resources/study-guides

East Taieri Church is beginning a discernment series this weekend.  Some might argue the title is a bit flippant, but we are trying to highlight that the key to discerning God’s will is building your relationship with God.  We ask God and trust God to answer and lead.  We also want everyone to be a part of this.  I want everyone to be encouraged that they can hear from God.  Discerning God’s will isn’t just for pastors, elders or leaders.

I think this is a discipleship issue.  We need to be people who are being transformed by the renewing of our mind...then we will be able to test and approve what God's will is... (Rom 12:2)  We grow closer to God and discern His voice more and more as we allow God to mould us and bring growth and transformation.

My hope is that people will share stories about how this happens for you.  I hope we all grow in our ability to discern God’s will individually, and as groups, teams and a church. 

I have prepared a discernment guide which is available at church and on our website. I have drawn heavily on Ruth Haley Barton's excellent book "Pursuing God's Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups"  The discernment guide has space to write things. Our aim is that people will give us feedback on what they sense God is saying – either on the tear off feedback page, or by emailing to office@etchurch.co.nz

This is about discovering more about who God wants us to be and what God wants us to do.  In the language of our vision statement it is how we become a thriving church, responding to God's grace and passionately living out our faith, wherever we live, work and play.  How we work alongside others to develop thriving communities where people feel connected, known, loved, and valued.

Martin.

1x1=1000

Since returning from study leave / sabbatical last year I believe God has given me renewed vision for many, many people discovering the new life that comes through faith in Christ.  I'm calling it "1x1=1000 Impact Lives."  The idea is that one person chatting with one other person can multiply to the point where many, many lives are impacted with the good news of Jesus.

I know that people in New Zealand can often seem reasonably content with their lot, at least on the surface. However, we are finding more and more people who are asking the big questions of life.  Perhaps it is the uncertainties of our age with global terrorism and political upheaval from Brexit to the election of Donald Trump, to the turmoil in the Middle East.  Perhaps it is dissatisfaction with the chronic busyness of juggling work, family, sport, study, and the all pervasive news and social media in our digital world.  Whatever it is, Christians seem more willing to invite their friends to consider the big issues of life, and their friends seem more willing to respond and explore.  As I have said elsewhere, I think an invitational culture and showing excellent hospitality will be a key quality of healthy church communities in the years ahead.

Tonight we have our next Alpha Dinner and we are showing the new Alpha Film Series.  I am very excited about it because of the quality of the film, and because of the numbers we have coming to the dinner.  If all those who have said they will come arrive, this will be our largest dinner for a long time.  Click on the picture of Bear Grylls who makes a guest appearance in the first Alpha film if you would like to see more. or read my May post on The Alpha Experience below.

A large Alpha Dinner will be fantastic, but a growing Alpha movement is only one expression of 1x1=1000. Already some churches on the Taieri are planning special Christmas events to which people will be invited. Other creative ideas include: family fun nights, country gospel evenings, ski camps, parenting courses, cafes, business breakfasts,... all providing different settings where friendships are made and something of the good news of God can be explored.

Now is the time for bold steps, that will impact lives.
Martin.

Following Jesus in a Digital World

We were delighted to have James Beck from The Parenting Place join us at East Taieri Church last weekend.  James spoke on Sunday morning and at our EPIC youth on Sunday evening, as well as giving an excellent workshop on Monday evening.  Some of my reflections:

People of all ages found it very helpful to be applying a biblical Christian worldview to topics like sex and technology.  While these aren't always dealt with openly in churches, I'm delighted to be part of a church which isn't afraid to address these issues.  Good, healthy conversations have started.  That may be the most important result.  Interestingly, many of the "technology" articles on the Parenting Place website are also found on the "communication" section.

James recommended many helpful, practical resources such as "Our Pact" - a free app which can help parents and children put in place agreed boundaries on smartphone use. "The Big Weekend" is a CD resource available from the Parenting Place for $25 which helps start conversations on topics such as sex and puberty, preparing children for the teen years ahead.

When it came to dealing with pornography, James mentioned the website: "Fight the New Drug". Statistically, most children will have seen some kind of pornography (perhaps by mistake) by the time they enter the teenage years.  Filtered internet can help avoid that, but the best filters are the ones that you help your children develop in their own head - self-control and character.

We also have some books available in our church library.  One new one called "Right Click: Parenting Your Teenager in a Digital Media World" has practical ideas for parents and discussion questions.  It has helpful chapter titles like "How can I help my family actually be together when we're in the same room" and "How can I supervise what my kids are saying and sharing without making them feel like they're under surveillance?"

However, the biggest opportunity I saw from our weekend was not just for parents establishing better internet safety boundaries for their children (important as that is) but in helping children appreciate that their identity need not be dependent on what others think of them, or say about them on facebook or instagram.  Nor is identity found in sport or academic success, or work, or relationships.  We can help young people discover their true identity is in Christ as someone made in God's image and loved by God. They are someone God sent Jesus to die for so they could have life to the full.  Living by grace, knowing they are loved and accepted means a young person is far less likely to give in to sexting (a message where someone tells them they are attractive and asking for a picture of them naked), or flattery from an online predator who is grooming them.

It is scary to hear how many digital messages we are all exposed to daily which tell us we aren't attractive enough, or sporty enough or smart enough...  However, we have the opportunity to counter this by telling our young people that we love and value them as they are.  And that God loves and accepts and welcomes them just as they are.  By God's grace, we will all grow and develop, but the acceptance message comes first.  As a preacher, and a parent, I found that a helpful reminder.

I am excited when biblical thinking is applied to real life issues in helpful ways.  The relevance of a Christian worldview to these practical life issues challenges our often unspoken assumption that "church" is only about the "religious" part of my life and has no relevance to weekday issues.  No more artificial secular/sacred.  The fantastically good news of Jesus is relevant to every part of our lives.

Martin.

Life to the Full

Today at East Taieri Church we began our "Life to the Full" series.  We are taking three weeks to look at sex and technology and how they can be a part of the full life that Jesus offers, but how they can also be damaged and distorted, leading to pain and hurt relationships.  We will also be presenting practical strategies to keep ourselves and our young people safe in a digital age.

But first things first, I attempted to give us a biblical framework to help us think Christianly about sex and technology.  Sex is part of God's good creation.  "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. ²⁵The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame." (Ge 2:24-25)
But creation has fallen from what God designed us to be.  This damages and distorts things, including sex and technology.  Thankfully the story goes on to the forgiveness and new start that is possible through Jesus Christ whatever we have done or seen.  This framework guides our thinking and our conversations.  If your child comes to you and says they have looked at pornography or sent someone a sexual text or picture – don’t go off the deep end.  Deep breath!  The conversation might look something like:

“Thank you for talking to me!”

 “It is very human to be curious about sex, God has made us sexual beings.  But that thing is a fake idea about sex – it’s part of the way the world is broken and messed up by sin.”

"Isn’t it good that God knows about this problem and has made forgiveness possible and gives us a new start.”

They need to know you don’t approve, but don’t shame them.  Show them God's love and grace. Give them hope.

Don’t yell at them about rules and boundaries – “You’re never going on the internet again…”

Remember the biblical story and the way grace triumphs over law.

Remember the promise that God’s spirit takes the external law and writes it in our hearts transforming us.

 Rules and boundaries have their place, and you can have a conversation about that, but the most important thing is a conversation about redemption and character development (including self-control).

We need appropriate boundaries, but the big goal is developing character so we behave in a godly way when no one is watching.

You can listen to the whole sermon on Tuesday when it is put on our website here. 

Next week we will have James Beck from the Parenting Place here to help us understand the pressures people face in a digital world, and how to develop strategies to keep people safe – especially our children and grandchildren.  The Parenting Place has some great practical resources that are understandable whether parents are Christians or not.

Until next time,

Martin.

The Alpha Experience

Today at East Taieri just over 150 people had a taste of the Alpha Course in what we called "The Alpha Experience".  Why?  Because Alpha have launched a new film series which is outstanding, and because we want people to be a part of the global Alpha Initiative that is seeking to make the biggest invitation of a generation, and because every time we run Alpha at least one person discovers new life in Christ.  Even for those who have done Alpha before viewing the new film series helps ensure they can confidently invite their friends, knowing that it will be good.

This year at East Taieri Church we are aiming to invite 500 people to our Alpha Dinner 3rd August.  Some people may well say "No thanks" but we are praying that at least 75 people will say "Yes" and join us for dinner.  If you missed this Sunday and would like to see the Episode of Alpha we will show at the dinner so you know what you are inviting people to - click on: view Episode 1 "Is There More to Life than This?"

Why set numerical goals for Alpha?  You could argue that these are just numbers.  But each number represents someone God loves.  Each number is someone who needs forgiveness, community, meaning and purpose and eternal life.  Setting prayerful numbers helps us discern what God might be calling us to do.  It helps us plan and take appropriate steps.  For example, 75 guests at the dinner means we need a larger venue than usual.  500 invitations means we need everyone at East Taieri to invite at least one person.  That means we need to promote the course well and encourage people to invite others.  Hence the Alpha Experience.  We need to equip and coach people in building relationships and making the invitation.

More about the big picture behind the Alpha goals in my next blog.
Martin.

What is Ahead in 2017?

What is Ahead in 2017? 

East Taieri Church

Each year I find it helpful to list some prayerfully planned highlights that connect with our strategic plan and operational goals.  These things will help us move toward our Church vision:

We will be a thriving church, responding to God's grace and passionately living out our faith, wherever we live, work and play.

Together we will work alongside others to develop thriving communities 

where people feel connected, known, loved and valued.

Our theme for the year is “Inspire – Lift Up Your Eyes”.  We believe God is calling us to trust that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…

Evangelism:

·         Ravi Zacharias visit to Dunedin.  Stadium Event!  One of the team – Jade Te Uri Karaka will speak at our March Business breakfast at Aurora Café.

·         Journey to Easter - Stations of the Cross display in the Hub leading up to Easter. Invite the community to experience it.

·         Alpha in 2017 is “Invite the Nation” – Globally the biggest invitation of this Generation.  Aiming to have 500 invitations go out and praying for 75 guests at the Alpha dinner.

·         Develop the 1x1=1000 vision through prayer and encouraging faith sharing.

Worship:

·         Work on the results of our 10am service survey and see growth and health in this congregation.  Train up new service leaders for 10am

·         Develop the 9am gathering before worship.

·         Continue to explore fresh expressions of church.

Discipleship and Spiritual Growth:

·         We will start 3 new life groups and have 2 small group networking nights

·         Continue with the Hard Questions Café discussion setting for Christians who aren’t engaging with church and people wanting to explore deeper issues of faith.

·         See greater resourcing for God’s mission in people giving time, money, and using their spiritual gifts.  The Abundant Generosity series.

·         Appoint a new youth director.

·         Settle Caleb Griffith – our new youth worker into his role and help him create opportunities to connect with our community and disciple our youth.

·         Address internet safety and issues of sexting and pornography in our “Life to the Full” series including a visit from James Beck.

Community Ministries:

·         Feasibility study for a community hub.

·         Funding sourcing and reporting framework established.

·         Grow our connections with community groups, such as  TCC Food Bank, Emergency Response, Mosgiel Business Assn, Neighbourhood Support.

·         We will enhance well-being and connectedness of seniors through a mid-winter lunch.

·         Run three toolbox parenting courses.

·         Run Children's holiday programmes

·         Continue with Business breakfasts ( 3 per year). Explore the possibility of a special invitation only  Dinner with a guest speaker

Communications:

·         Explore the use of mailchimp for email updates, including updating supporters of community ministry.

·         Explore possibilities for a new phone system to replace our old failing PABX system and obtain funding to resource this.

Mission Facilities:

·         Obtain an initial design concept for our future mission facilities on the East Taieri Site.

Wider Ministry:

·         Three short term mission trips will be planned. Thailand Jan 2018, Malawi June 2018, Vanuatu youth team July 2018

·         South Island Ministry Conference in May

Christmas Gifts

Why do we give gifts at Christmas?  The materialistic part of us might calculate that giving a gift is likely to result in us receiving a gift in return. The Christian tradition of giving Christmas gifts comes from at least three sources.  

First, a Christian called Nicholas of Myra, a real-life, 4th-century Byzantine monk is reputed to have handed out bags of money to the poor.  St Nicholas is a possible origin of the modern day Santa Claus tradition of secret gifts arriving by night. Some traditions even have him out of modesty throwing purses with gold coins in a window so no one would see him.  Another version has him throwing the purse down a chimney. 

Secondly, gift giving reminds us of the wise men giving gifts to the baby Jesus.  It has been observed that these gifts, given as an act of worship, provided for Joseph, Mary and Jesus when they fled to Egypt to escape Herod's murderous plot.

Thirdly, giving gifts reminds us that God is the most generous gift giver of all.  He gave us His only Son to die on the cross for us and save us from sin.  This is the best present of all.

Sadly, in New Zealand these days, Christmas can often reflect excesses of the pagan celebrations of December that the early Christians sought to replace.  In winter festivals like the raucous Roman festival in honour of Saturn, god of agriculture, people would lift their spirits by drinking to excess and giving one another many gifts, such as pottery figurines, edible treats like fruit and nuts, and festive candles.

Interestingly, the three examples of Christian gift giving are quite different to that.  The biggest gift of all was from God to all humanity.  The wise men gave precious gifts to Jesus as an act of worship.  St Nicholas focused on giving to help the poor.  May we all receive again God’s gift of grace.  May we respond in worship by giving generously back to God’s mission.  And may we give to those in real need.

Happy Christmas,

Martin.

A Sugar High

This week I have been eating on $2.85 a day to raise funds for TEAR Fund to fight human trafficking.  It has (mostly) been a great experience.   As I mentioned last week, the objective is to identify with those in poor communities who live on $2.85 a day.  These people are particularly vulnerable to being sold or trapped and trafficked into modern day slavery.  Women and children are often forced to work as prostitutes.  TEAR Fund works to strengthen communities so people are less vulnerable, to rescue and rehabilitate people from slavery, and to bust up the human trafficking networks.  It’s been great to be able to raise money to help. Thank you to those who have supported me.  As I write I have raised around $200.

One interesting experience from the week.  It was a colleague's birthday on Wednesday.  She is also doing live below the line.  One of our team kindly made a cake and worked out that each slice cost 35 cents, so that we could eat some without blowing our budget.  It felt good to be able to celebrate, and yet do so in a way that kept us "living below the line".

The other interesting experience was the sugar high that hit me.  My body must have got used to doing without sugar.  This week my budget has stretched to some extras, but the extras have been a piece of fruit.  Not quite the same sugar load as a piece of cake.  About 5 minutes after eating the cake I felt the sugar kick in.  The rest of the team noticed it and gave me a bit of a hard time.  It lasted about 45 minutes.

Several reflections:

First, I was surprised that if I was careful I could manage a couple of little luxuries - even on $2.85 a day.  I couldn't afford a cup of real coffee obviously, but I did manage a few instant coffees.

Second, it made me realize how my body must normally be full of calories and stimulants like caffeine.  Our culture promotes high energy, excitement, entertainment and stimulation.  One of the most common and scathing criticisms we level at something is that it was Boring!  To connect with people in this culture we need to be high energy, exciting and stimulating, but I believe we also need to bring a refreshing (Paul Windsor would say "intriguing") challenge to our culture so that we don't "entertain ourselves to death".

Third, sometimes it takes an out of the box experience to have the shock value necessary to refocus my global vision to see and identify with the world that God loves and sends us out in mission to make a difference.

Thanks for reading,

Martin.

Live Below the Line

Live Below the Line

I have a pretty comfortable lifestyle as a pastor of a church in New Zealand.  I guess I don't make as much money as I might if I had stayed working in chemical engineering, but I have plenty.

That's part of the reason I’m doing the “Live below the Line” next week. Monday to Friday I'm eating for less than $2.85 a day.  I’m doing it to raise money for TEAR Fund and their fight against human trafficking.  There are an estimated 21 million people trapped in slavery worldwide.  Women and children are especially vulnerable.  They are often taken or sold from very poor communities, they are taken to brothels and forced to work as prostitutes.

We can help prevent this happening, rescue and rehabilitate those trapped in slavery, and prosecute those responsible – bust up the criminal human trafficking networks.

So sponsor me if you want to help at this link:

https://livebelowtheline-2016.everydayhero.com/nz/martin

But I’m also doing “live below the line” to remind me that I live a wealthy, comfortable lifestyle, while the majority of people caught up in human trafficking come from poor communities who live on $2.85 a day or less. (807 million globally).

It changes something inside me when, with God's help, I say no to the deceitfulness of riches and yes to attempting to live more simply so I can give generously to those in need.

Martin.

How To Love Those Who Spit on You

Prompted by God through our current preaching series in Luke, and remembering a challenge from Dallas Willard to get serious about discipleship, I decided to write a resource that would help us "love our enemies and do good to those who hate us." Luke 6:27

I post my attempt below.  I welcome any comments or suggested improvements.  For those reading who are Christians, may you grow as an apprentice of Jesus.  For those reading who would not describe yourselves as Christians, may it give you an insight into the surprising, refreshingly different kind of life that I believe Jesus calls us to live.

How to Love Those Who Spit on You

Jesus has shown us what life in the Kingdom of God is like (e.g. Luke 6:20f) but how can we actually live like that?

Loving people who spit on us is too hard for us.  Instead of just trying harder, we can train as an apprentice of Jesus in everyday life.  This is really just one example of living a distinctively different life because you are following Jesus.

Jesus is the Way.  His Spirit is the means. His example is our pattern and inspiration.

 1.      Consider the Goal – Jesus call to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. (Lk 6:27)  Be inspired by Jesus example in Luke 18:32 and Mark 14:65; 15:19.

2.     Face up to where we fall short of this goal.  Be specific in prayer with God.

Repentance is not an emotion.  It is not feeling sorry for your sins.  It is a decision.  It is deciding that you have been wrong in supposing that you could manage your own life and be your own god; it is deciding that you were wrong in thinking you had, or could get the strength, education and training to make it on your own; it is deciding that you have been told a pack of lies about yourself and your neighbors and your world.  And it is deciding that God in Jesus Christ is telling you the truth.  Repentance is a realization that what God wants from you and what you want from God are not going to be achieved by doing the same old things, thinking the same old thoughts.  Repentance is a decision to follow Jesus Christ and become his pilgrim in the path of peace.  Repentance is the most practical of all words and the most practical of all acts.  It is a feet-on-the-ground kind of word.  [from Eugene Peterson’s “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society” pp.25-26]

3.      Ask God to help you see what is going on inside you.  (You might need help from a trusted friend or advisor).  Why do you find it hard to love those who spit on you?  Is it because you hate it when people don’t like you?  Are you are scared what they might do to you?  Do you feel criticized when people don’t like you?

4.      Choose or develop a spiritual discipline (a spiritual training exercise) to address the issue you face.  (This is something you can do that will put you in a place where they Holy Spirit can do what you cannot).

a.      If you find yourself answering back and then regretting it, try experimenting with the spiritual discipline of silence.

b.      If you find yourself doubting your own self-worth as someone created in the image of God, then meditate on Psalm 139, or the love of Jesus expressed to the woman in John 8:1-11.  This is about being secure in Christ.

c.       On the other hand, if you find yourself being arrogant or stubborn, you may need to seek God for humility.  The spiritual discipline of confession could help you with this.

d.      If you are fearful for your safety, memorize some verses that reassure youy that God is on your side.  E.g. Ps 27.

e.      If you find yourself looking for the approval of others for your feelings well-being, then spend some time alone with God trusting in his approval and love.

f.        If you find yourself isolated and feeling alone when someone is spitting on you, then spend some time with trusted friends who can support you.

g.      If you find yourself growing in anger or frustration toward the person, try praying for God’s blessing in their lives.

Like training for a marathon, these exercises all take time to bring results. 

5.      Can you forgive the person?  (Remember – forgiveness doesn’t mean they don’t need to face justice).

6.      If it is safe to do so, and you believe there is opportunity for reconciliation, consider how you could meet with the person to seek reconciliation. 

Some questions to think about and discuss:

• ·         What do we do about relationships that don’t improve?  What did Jesus do in that situation?
• ·         Are you tempted to focus on the “sovereign work of the Spirit” side of the triangle, and neglect the others?  Why might that be?

Walking Where Jesus Walked

One of the great privileges of our time in the holy land was walking where Jesus walked.  I don't mean the precise locations which after 2000 years are often disputed or uncertain, but the towns and villages, roads, hills and lake sides where Jesus walked. It has made me aware of both Jesus' humanity and his divinity.

Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth

 His humanity first of all.  Bethlehem, Nazareth, Capernaum, and even Jerusalem, are ordinary places. Life goes on in these towns and cities.  We experienced bustling markets in Jerusalem and saw people fishing in Galilee.  We visited the church of the annunciation in Nazareth and imagined the angel telling Mary she was to give birth to the Saviour of the world. Quite apart from the fact that she was a virgin, it must have been difficult to think that anything so miraculous could happen there.  "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

Fishing Boat on the lake of Galilee

When Jesus got up each morning there is a sense in which it would have been like any other morning. The empty slopes up from the lake of Galilee where Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes were ordinary hills, yet they became filled with the extraordinary.  We were sailed on the lake and the team members spoke about what God was saying to them through the time in the Holy Land and Galilee in particular.

The challenge for all of us is to expect, recognise and participate in the extraordinary things that God will do in our ordinary day. I'm not saying that there aren't special kairos moments in the history of salvation. I will say more about that in a moment. However, we can't wait for the "superspiritual moments" or the "superspiritual people."  God has always worked through ordinary people.  I believe God delights to do mighty things through humble people.  Isn't that what the announcement to Mary was all about? Even if one doubts that God exists, one cannot doubt that some extraordinary things happened in this place.

On the other hand the very miraculous nature of the events pointed me to Jesus divinity.  Just like the disciples in the boat after Jesus had calmed the storm on Galilee, I found myself thinking, "Who is this that even the wind and the waves obey him?"  We drove by Cana where Jesus carried out his first miracle turning ordinary water into the best wine of the wedding.  This picked up a theme of our sabbatical for me, "What miracle do I need Jesus to perform?"

Door at the Church of the Annunciation

The divinity of Jesus was also apparent in the unfolding of salvation history.  Although the birth of Jesus occurred in an ordinary town to a humble peasant girl, it occurred at a special time in history. When Jesus began his ministry he said, "The time (kairos) is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near, repent and believe in the good news."
Christians over the centuries have revered the holy sites we visited, often building churches there to remember the events.  Some tourists are put off by the gaudy monuments and icons remembering what happened there.  Certainly there is a danger of worshiping the place instead of the one who was at work there. However, overall I found it helpful to remember that these everyday places have in a sense been "set apart" (made holy) by the special events that occurred there.  The door at the church of the annunciation depicts the life of Jesus, surrounded by the earlier events that prepared the way for this new relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

This pictorial telling of the Bible stories has been a common theme throughout the churches of the Holy land and Europe. In days gone by, many people couldn't read.  Perhaps that will become more important for Bible stories again in cultures where people read books less and less.

1st Century ruins at Capernaum & church over Peter's house

One final reflection on the divinity of Jesus.  One notable difference between Jesus and other rabbis of his time was that usually students/apprentices/disciples sought out a rabbi they wanted to follow. Jesus on the other hand chose his disciples and called them to follow him.  This was very real to me as we walked on the shores of Galilee, past what archelogists are almost certain was Simon Peter's house.  Jesus invites us to follow him.

The site of the Sermon on the Mount near lake Galilee

I remember a key moment in my call to ministry reading Jesus words in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) and an exposition of these chapters by Don Carson.  There was a sense of that call being reaffirmed as I sat praying and re-reading those words of Jesus on the site where he delivered them.