Compassionate Pastors and Divine Truth: Believe Belong and Behave

Lord renew thy church beginning with me.
Lord renew the church, that the church may renew the nations(s)


The need for this  prayer which under-girds this Internet Ministry, took on even  greater significance for me this week.


So too the quote which reminds me of what I do every  Sunday night : "I read my newspapers to see what men are doing, and read my Bible to see what men ought to do". - John Newton


The big news item for me this week was the report carried in the Daily Gleaner, our oldest and the more widely National newspaper, that a local pastor, Rev. Eniola Davis of the United church, was advocating the use of the  ' morning after pill'. This suggestion, reportedly was advanced as one of several methods - along with the increased use of condoms -  aimed at reducing the number of mothers having children who they cannot care for;  a very serious problem in  Jamaica. Later that week I heard him on radio discussing the matter with one of our top journalists, who also happens to be a member of the Anglican Church.

Internationally, the continued revelations about  the surviving Boston Bomber - the Russians are now saying that they wire-tapped the mother's conversation with the slain son, and they was a reference, though vague, to Jihad - and the terrible and still unfolding tragedy in Dakar in Bangladesh, where 377 people died in a collapsed building, dominated the news. And even now tonight there are reports that the building is on fire and threatening the lives of survivors.

Of course, sports will always be a big ticket item, with the " hard hitting" phenomenal Jamaican and West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle, rearranging the record books this week with his score of 175 not out in a Twenty 20 innings in the Indian premier league. And Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce anchoring the Jamaican women's 4 x 100 to a famous victory over the USA at the recently concluded Penn relays in the USA.

And so in the midst of this turmoil and celebration, what was the message from the Lord?

First up, a inspired note to the talk show host who had Rev. Davis on her programme.




            I know that you are a Christian of my tradition, and thus  I write to you in that context as a Christian journalist and lawyer. I heard you speaking emphatically yesterday about the morning after pill. That, according to the scientists with whom you had consulted, you were assured that the mode of action of the pill is to prevent pregnancy and not to abort. That is not my understanding as a family physician. And just to be sure I checked with an eminent gynecologist, who was unwilling to enter the debate, but admitted that one of the  actions of  morning after pill,  is to  prevent implantation. And this is why he was being cautious about the discussion, as some believe that abortion begins with interfering with implantation. But that's not, as far as I understand it, the point of departure for Christian ethical teaching. Once fertilization has taken place, and not implantation, anything willingly and knowingly  done to interfere, constitutes an abortion. And although he suggested that he was going to check on the research done by one of his colleagues in the USA, and get back to me, he admitted that the morning after pill could " wash out" a fertilized egg. Which is my understanding and why I, as a Christian doctor, I  do not prescribe it  to anyone. 

I suppose the debate will continue, but I thought the pastor was on shaky ground on this issue, as I don't understand what he meant by, when you quite correctly pressed him,  " the theological mind might disagree with him".  At best, to be fair, the statement seemed a bit disingenuous, as  theology  is the understanding of God, as revealed through Holy Scripture, and which revelation finds it's ultimate manifestation in the Living Word, Christ Himself. An appreciation of which ought to be the basis on which one becomes a pastor. I must confess that I was a bit disappointed with the position he adopted, even though the social issue about which he was concerned is very real, and deserves attention by the church. But I was in fact  also quite surprised, as ultimately as Christians, as the Word encourages, "we do not wage war as the world does". That's the only was we can remain "salt" and "light".
Peace.
LWJ

Sent from my iPad

Comment: This matter has disturbed my soul all week, as this issue brings into very sharp focus how Christians are called to establish God's kingdom  here on earth. So this is no simple matter! To that end, establishing  God's Kingdom, I searched and searched the Scriptures, looking for any reference to how the early fathers of the church, and indeed Jesus himself treated unbelievers and unbelievers. As this is the crux of the problem.  Separate and apart from the obvious  question of whether or not the morning after pill, can cause an abortion, which is my understanding. Does the christian faith hold a  different standard for the non-christian,and for  the unbeliever than  for believers? In the sense that, since fornication, sex outside of marriage is a sin, how do we as Christians, whether doctors, pastors, or journalists, offer advise on birth control to unbelievers? Do we hold the position, that the worse thing that can happen to a woman, and her family in this world, is  to have more children than she can manage. Similarly, the question may very well be posed, if the worse thing that can happen to any person is for them to contract HIV/AIDS or any other serious STD? Or is it to die without repentance and therefore to perish?
How did Jesus treat with Sin? Did He ever once tell people to " hug up sin", that it was ok to fornicate until you believe that He died for you? Did he not tell the woman who was hypocritically accused of fornicating by those who were involved in the very same thing...." Go ye and sin no more"!  Or to the invalid at the pool at Bethesda after he had miraculously healed him.." stop sinning or something worse will happen to you" - John 5: 14 . Didn't He die on a cross, to demonstrate to the  entire human race that sin is a terrible thing, and that the wrath of God awaits anyone who has not repented of his or her sins? Did not Jesus die on a old wooden cross so that all -  and all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God-  who believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life? So how should we who represent Christ on earth respond to the tribulations we see around us, and even within our own church? Should we attempt to be "more compassionate than God", and  and ignore the fornication and concentrate on relieving the 'wretched of the earth', the poor and the vulnerable, from the  trials of having too many children, and of being exposed to HIV/AIDS? Should we bring the good news of the gospel to everyone first, that since Jesus died and was raised again to new life, anyone who believes in Him , and repents of his or her sin, can, in Christ,  live a new life. And with the power of the Holy Spirit, resist any temptation?  Whether it be to indulge in sex before marriage, to retaliate when insulted or injured or persecuted, to keep malice, to spread gossip, to steal, to watch pornography, to lie, to use foul language! Do we " try the gospel first", and if they do not believe, do we then accept that,
 " this abstinence thing" is just not going to " cut it", and move right along and give out the condom. Thus having cleared our consciences, because we tried, we feel that there is no other option but to " save them ' from themselves and from the threat of unwanted pregnancies and HIV/AIDS? And in any case, why are we being s hypocritical and uncaring, as weren't we, sinners just like them too, and perhaps even now, before we came to repentance and accepted the salvation which comes only by believing that Christ died for our sins? And if we do not help, are we guilty of " condemning" people, and maybe the wider society, of exposure to HIV/AIDS and the dangers of too many children in a society?

Of course by now, we realize that this is how the world, and not insignificantly, how Satan would have the children of God, think or stand accused, and even be persecuted,  as  being uncaring, and living in the dark ages.

One of the passages that stuck in my mind as I searched the Scriptures for answers, and the Lord validated it by leading me to the same kind of passage again at another time is the kind of explicit message for the Lord as found in the following :

" And if anyone causes one of these little ones  who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with tow hands go onto hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where
' the work does not die,
and the fire is not quenched'.
Everyone will be salted with fire.
Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."   Mark 9: 42-50.


It is not that I  am accusing anyone of being less than faithful to Christ, as this reflection has profound implications for me as a Family Physician practicing for nearly thirty five years. And I have been 'guilty' of giving out condoms, prescribing birth control pills, to unbelievers, with and without counseling and sharing the gospel. In fact in my early years, I would be complicit in abortions, in the sense of writing letters referring patients, until the Lord brought me to my senses. And since then I have had many challenging times with patients insisting, colleagues disagreeing, and even at an international forum on Reproductive Health, was questioned about the " sense of" my being there, since I was opposed to any kind of abortion - defined in my mind as interfering with a fertilized egg.  But the question still remains, do we try to be "more compassionate",than God,  reinterpret His Word,  and find some way to justify our actions in the light of this serious social issue. I am convinced that this is another " Damascus" road experience for me. And not just for me but for those who would respond to Jesus' invitation; " If anyone.....let him deny self, take up his cross and follow me". As our Lord does not force anyone to walk as He walked,and therefore there is to be  no taking up the sword to cut off anyone's ear, as Peter did.
Our role is to preach, and live, the  gospel of the One who loved so much, and  had so much compassion for the ' wretched of the earth', those kept captive by the devil, that He suffered and died, as prophesied, for the sins of the entire human race.

The other message came from the writer of one of the great hymns of the church and which word I quoted last week - coincidence?...., I think not.    " Here O my Lord I see thee face to face.


THE ROD, THE SERPENT AND HOLINESS

Horatius Bonar

Verse : 2 Kings 18:1-7

Against evil, divine truth is quick and powerful. It acts like some chemical ingredient that precipitates all impurities and leaves the water clear. It works like a spell of disenchantment against the evil one, casting him out, and casting him down. It is  " the sword of the Spirit", with whose keen edge we cut our way through hostile thousands. It is the rod of Moses, by which we divide the red Sea, and defeat Amalek, and bring water from the desert rock ( see Exodus 14: 16; 17:6). What evil, what enemy, within and without, is there that can withstand this unconquered and unconquerable Word?
Satan's object at present is to undermine that Word and to disparage its perfection. Let us the more magnify it, and the more make constant use of it. it is indeed only a fragment of man's language, made up of human letters and syllables; but it is furnished with superhuman virtue,
The rod in the hand of Moses, what was it? A piece of common wood. Yet it cut the Red Sea in two. That serpent on the pole, what was it? A bit of brass. Yet it healed thousands ( see Numbers 21:9) Why all of this?
because that wood and that brass were connected with omnipotence, conductors of heavenly electricity.


Final Comment: The Christian life and its involvement in society, has as its foundation the love of Christ which found its ultimate manifestation on the cross of Calvary. And the supernatural power of the Almighty God! The kind of  power  which was manifested in Christ's Resurrection from the dead, on that first Easter. If that love and that power is missing in the Christian community; if people are not responding to the good news of salvation of the Gospel; if persons are opting not to take up Christ's invitation to follow Him: then the answer is not to resort to the " common sense approach" of our former life, but rather, by obedience, to seek to reconnect to the supernatural power of divine truth. As what God has done He certainly can and will do again, for His own glory and power. And He who raised Jesus from the dead, He who parted the Red Sea, can, in and through an obedient church, rescue our people from having too many children, from HIV/AIDS and from all manner of evil.

But the first step is to repent and believe. Then, belong and then behave, as a friend told us in Bible study this week.
I pray God that as we  continue to celebrate the achievements of our sportsmen and women,  we will  even more so celebrate Christ, whose supernatural power is available to  rid the world of terrorists, irresponsible factory owners - the one in Bangladesh was caught fleeing near to the Indian border and brought back to face charges  - STD's and too many children.
But we must commit to  waging war with weapons of divine power and not our very fertile, and even compassionate imaginations.

Boston, Syria, Jamaica and Divine Intervention

Copley Square is in the heart of Boston city. So my wife tells me, having spent a few weeks there some time ago during a training course. And that's how she became a Boston Celtics fan. I know of at least two Anglican Priests who went to Cambridge for post graduate  training,  en route to becoming Bishops. And their wives went with them for a time. Then this week all hell broke loose there! And so we became privy to the finest details of all the circumstances surrounding the Boston Marathon bombing,  mourned for the victims, wondered what went wrong in the minds of those two brothers and realized that this world was becoming smaller and smaller, and more and more dangerous.

While all of this was taking place in the USA, with CNN placing all its focus on Boston, a ticker tape running at the bottom of the screen today, quietly announced that 586 person had died in one single day in Syria. Now Syria is a place we read about a lot in the Bible, and has been in the news for some time because of the civil war taking place there. So we were not unaware about the carnage taking place in that nation. But so many in one day. Have mercy! And they have no equivalent of CNN there to inform us about the gruesome details and therefore the impact on the rest of the world is not nearly as great as it is in Boston where 3 persons died and many more were injured. What a world we live in and are about to bequeath to our children and grandchildren!

This week for me, was one of walking with a Prince, literally, and being in the company of a  Prime Minister, a Governor General and the Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition,  and other senior leaders in my country as were  host to the cousin of Queen Elizabeth 11, HRH Prince Michael of Kent. An internationally acclaimed road safety advocate,  who came to celebrate with us, the Jamaica  national Road Safety Council, on the occasion of  our 20th year as a National Institution. How did we meet a Prince? In Costa Rica, via Chile, and then in Moscow.  How come? By simply a twist of fate or by Divine Intervention. I believe the latter.  Suddenly the world has in fact gotten much smaller indeed.

So in the midst of all this madness and celebration, what did the Lord say, through his Word, and " beyond the sacred page" as one of my Bishops likes to say.

First of all this matter of " Divine Intervention"  came up again. A debate which , in the language of the journalists,
 " continues to have legs" , continues to be current, ever since the Minister of National Security in my country, raised it during a speech at a church service. The context was the recent  rash of murders, the circumstances surrounding these murders, and his efforts and that of hard working members of the Police Force to date to deal with it. And his conclusion was that, despite all what has been tried, the madness continues, and so he declared that only " Divine Intervention" could solve the murder problem in Jamaica, and went on the outline what he meant by that, including galvanizing the entire society around this major national issue. As expected, many have taken him to task for even raising the issue of Divine Intervention, concluded that he was out of his depth and have been calling for his removal.

Now, even the most casual observer could not fail to note, that as with the tragedy in New Town Connecticut, during the Inter-faith service for the victims of the bombing in Boston, President Obama reached for the Scriptures for words of comfort for the American people. And so it is against this background, I believe that the Lord sent this early morning message, and I in turn sent it to a group of people including some journalists and government ministers to whom I have been writing about the " Correct faith". The question is, is it only Jamaica that needs Divine Intervention, or in fact the whole world?


THE MESSAGE

This morning whilst praising the Lord in my devotions and reflecting on words of that great hymn:

Praise my soul, the King of heaven....and in particularly the words:

....ransomed, healed , restored forgiven,

who like me his praise should sing; 

I began thinking about this matter of "Divine Intervention". And realized it's not a small matter.

In fact in the eyes of the Lord it may very well be a defining  moment in the life of this nation and raises the question " In whom do we trust". Ourselves as individuals, our collective will and power as a nation? The Police Force, the JDF, the resources at  our various Universities, the collective power of the Private Sector, the power of the State, the power of the media, the financial power of the IMF and the bi-laterals,  Petro-Caribe? Who!

And for those Christians in the media and in government, in whom do you place your trust?

When you go to bed at night! When you send off your children to wherever! When you fall ill?

When you worship in church?  Apart from being the prism through which society learns of and understands news events, when do you take a personal stand like the proverbial dog when his master is being attacked. When do you defend him. As this is not just about Bunting and his competence, or his resolve. Listen carefully to the response of the secularists, those who do not trust in the God of Gideon. "There is no divine intervention that is going to rescue Jamaica, so let's get on with the job and fight the criminals ourselves....as other countries have done" . 

Which by the way, is precisely what Bunting was saying, but he contextualized  the struggle in which all have a role to play, in this now very controversial statement .

Why describe God as the God of Gideon?  Because the story of Gideon serves as a powerful example for understanding the relationship between God and man.

" Early in the morning, Jeru-Baal ( that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Median was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. The Lord said to Gideon, " You have too many men for me to deliver Median into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own  strength has saved her, announce now to the people........" Judges 7:1-3 NIV

Perhaps it's time for us as individuals, who go to church Sunday after Sunday, to decide like Joshua....as for me and my house we will serve the Lord....in whom do we place our trust?

As that is the issue which has been raised by Bunting whether we perceive it or not. I would suggest, very humbly, that this is no ordinary news item to be analyzed and discussed by other persons. But an opportunity that the Lord has provided for us to decide if indeed,  we have been " ransomed, healed, restored and forgiven", only, only by divine intervention. In the Name of Jesus Christ in Nazareth, the crucified and risen Savior. Amen

sent by my iPad

Comment: The motto " In God we trust " appears on  one of the bills  or coins n the USA. Every contender for the office of President of the USA always closes his or her speeches by  exhorting " God to bless America".  What does this really mean. Do they remember,as we should that the God to whom they send their prayers and exhortations is the same God who told the children of Israel through the prophet Gideon that His Sovereign will is that He should get all the praise and glory and honor. And not the Minister of National Security , nor the President of the USA, or Prince Michael or Queen Elizabeth 11, nor Margaret Thatcher, nor Nelson Mandela!

Perhaps we need to meditate on he words of hymn we use in the Anglican Church as we celebrate holy Communion.

Here O my Lord I see thee face to face......and then the last verse which says;

I have no other help but thine; nor do  I need

another arm save thine to lean upon:

it is enough, my Lord, enough indeed,

my strength is in thy might, thy might indeed.

The Second one came just yesterday. Again as I was conducting my devotions in the early morning, the following message came to me. And I sent it out again to some journalists, but a smaller number this time.

THE MESSAGE

David sinned greatly with Bathsheba. Saul sinned also. Both were confronted God's prophets. Nathan and Samuel. One was restored and became even greater. The other lost his crown forever. What was the difference between the two Kings? Saul tried to justify himself, to  explain away his sin of disobedience, whilst David repented immediately. And out of that experience, he  wrote Psalm 51,  which has helped so many persons who have sinned greatly to repent.
Repent and be restored today, for as in the days of Noah, and in our present " Boston" times, you never can tell what the day will bring.
Peace.
LWJ
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from LIME.

 Comment: My country continues to  debate  the moot,  " who run tings: God or man" ! Who is in charge?  In whom do we trust? Who should we obey?  The sad thing is that this debate has been ongoing for Millenia. As this is the very same issue which Satan raised with Adam. Did  God really say that? Did He really mean that you should not eat of the fruit of the tree of life?  And consequently, it took Divine Intervention, borne out of Divine love, for the debate to end.  On the Cross of Calvary!  When by the Blood of Jesus " every stain of sin, every stain of rebellion",  was washed away and cleansed by the Blood of Jesus. And until, and unless, as a people, as a nation, and  as a world we accept the verdict on the cross, the madness in Boston and in Syria, and in Jamaica will continue. Regardless of whether Presidents, Kings or Prime Ministers or journalists think otherwise. For the world is indeed a very small place in its destiny is in the hands of the Sovereign God of  Abraham,, of Gideon and of Jesus Christ of Nazareth - the Crucified and Risen Lord.

Amen

Of Princes and Heads of State and Christ the King and Son of God who died on an old wooden cross

So Margaret Thatcher, the ' Iron lady' of British politics is dead. Her passing dominated the news both locally and internationally  early this week. A no-nonsense lady she was, with passionately held views about governance in the 21st century, and which  inflexible position  alienated some, but  at the same time, endeared her to others. Even in death she proved controversial with many greeting the news with celebration, with one wit wishing, ' may she rust in peace', whilst others attributed to her the turn around in the fortunes of British Industry and Trade.

Tomorrow, those of us involved in the promotion of road safety, along with Government officials will welcome another Brit. This time however, not a politician, but  a member of the British Royal Family. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent,  will be a guest of the local National Road Safety Council. And whilst here he will meet with high ranking members of the state, visit several locations and deliver the keynote speech at an Awards Banquet where former Prime Ministers, and the current one, will be honored for their leadership in this area of national life. Having been involved in the planning for this event, one has gotten a fair taste of how the, 'high and mighty', live and move. It 's been  quite an experience dealing with Palace,  Kings House and Jamaica House, protocol and convoys and the trappings of power.

Finally, also in the news this week, two high ranking members our society had very public ' emotional moments'. And they were not unrelated. One, the wife of the Governor General, following the news of the shooting death of a policeman by criminals, in delivering a speech, admitted that on account of the dastardly act, involving someone who had once been part of the security detail at Kings House, she felt like leaving Jamaica and going elsewhere.  Of course, very quickly and during the same speech, she reaffirmed her hope in her country and desire to be a continued  part of the process of building a better nation. The other, was the Minister of National Security, whose mother had died recently, and he, also on reflecting on the number of killings that had taken place in our country recently, despite the best efforts of the police, suggested that only divine help could rescue this country. and in doing so got all choked up.  He too, in the same speech, explained that divine help, in his view, would come through more involvement of various partners in the society working together... with the Lord's direction ( my words) ...to achieve that goal.

As you can imagine both comments provoked much debate on the social media and even main stream media also, with one prominent journalist  arguing that God only helps those who helps themselves- thus betraying a widely held, but highly inaccurate understanding,  of the God of the Judeo-Christian faith.

So in this midst of all of this news of the rich and the powerful, the famous and the mighty, the Lord spoke.
First of all, perhaps appropriately, through the mind of one of the great theologians of our time, a German pastor who lived in the time of Hitler, and whose quest for power in the early days, he warned his people, and urged then to resist.
The following notes were sent to leaders in my church, in three part message. I will add comments to each section.

Excerpts from The Essential Writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer


Bonhoeffer: The same before and after Lent.

I continue to be fascinated by him and also severely challenged.
Excerpts from :

Jesus Christ and the Essence of  Christianity: December 11, 1928

An Address to the Church in Barcelona.

SECTION ONE


Whether in our time Christ can still occupy a place where we make decisions on the deepest matters known to us, over our own life and over the  life of our people, that is the question which we will consider today.
Whether or not the Spirit of Christ has anything  final, definitive, and decisive to say to us......we all know that Christ has been, in effect,  eliminated from our lives. Of course we build him a temple, but we live in our own  houses. Christ has become a matter of the church, or rather, of the chuchiness of a group, not a matter of life...Religion plays the role of the so called Sunday room into which one gladly withdraws for a couple of  hours but only to get back to one's place of work immediately afterwards.

However,  one thing is clear: we understand Christ only if we commit ourselves to him in  a stark " Either-Or".  He did not go to the cross to ornament or to embellish our life. If we wish to have him, then he demands the right to say something decisive about our entire life. We do not understand him if we arrange for him  only a small compartment in our spiritual life. Rather, we understand  our spiritual life only if we orientate it to him alone or give him a flat " No".

However, there are persons who would not even bother to take Christ seriously in the demand he makes on us by his question: will you follow me wholeheartedly or not at all?  Such persons had better not mix up  their own cause with with the Christian  one. That separation would only help the Christian cause, since they no longer have anything in common with Christ. The religion of Christ is not a tidbit after one's bread; on the contrary, it is bread or it is nothing. People should as least understand and concede

Comments: The essential question that mankind of all ages.... whether Kings or Princes, whether Prime Ministers or Governors General, whether paupers or people of insignificance to the power brokers..... must grapple with, is whether or not, the Son of God has any role to play in our lives! And if so we have to accept the fact that He demands an input into our entire life, and not just a part of it.


SECTION TWO

Ethics and religion lie in the direction of human beings towards God. Christ, however, speaks alone, entirely alone, of the direction of  God to people; not of the human way to God but of the way of God to human beings..........The essence of Christianity lies in the message of the sovereign God to whom alone belongs glory over all the world.  it is the message of the eternally other, the one who is far above the world, yet who from the depths of the divine being has mercy on the person who gives glory to God alone. God is the one who goes on the  way to people in order to seek vessels of God's glory where human persons are no longer anything, where they become silent, where they give way to god alone.

Here the light of eternity shines down on those who are ever neglected, insignificant, weak, ignoble, unknown, inferior, oppressed, despised; here it radiates over the houses of prostitutes and tax collectors........here the light of eternity has been cast on the toiling struggling, and sinning masses. The word of grace spreads across the a stale sultriness of the big cities, but it halts before the houses of the satisfied, the knowledgeable, and the " haves " of this world in a spiritual sense. It speaks  over the death of individuals and peoples, its everlasting word: I have loved you from eternity; remain with me; thus you will live. Christianity preaches the unending worth of apparently worthless and the  unending worthlessness of what is apparently so valuable. The weak shall be made strong through God and the dying shall live....

Comments:  The fundamental difference that the Christian message offers is that, in Christ,  God is no longer an unfamiliar and distant Almighty God, but One who has reached out to mankind; One who has revealed Himself to mankind in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. And so God in fact inclines to the sinner, the sick, the weak. And not to those who think they have power, and are healthy and have no need of God. That's why, unlike some of my countrymen and women,  I thank that God that our Minister of national Security is " having an experience of a dark night of his soul". And appealing, desperately or not, as some would characterize his " emotional moment', to a God who inclines to the helpless.

SECTION THREE

Has Christianity only pointed to another religion, a new idea or culture? Has it shown only a human way to God that has not yet been used? No; the Christian idea is the way of God to people and has  as its visible objectification of this, the cross. Here lies the point where at which we are accustomed to urn away shaking our heads about the Christian cause. The cross was probably first set at the center of the Christian  message by Paul. Jesus has said nothing about this.  And yet the correct meaning of the cross of Christ is nothing else  but than radical development of the concept of God held by Jesus himself. It is, so to speak, the historically visible form which this concept of God has assumed. God comes to people who who have nothing but room for God - and this hollow space, this emptiness in people is called in Christian speech, faith.

This means that in Jesus of Nazareth, the revealer, God inclines to the sinner. Jesus seeks the companionship of the sinner, goes after him or her in boundless love. He wants to be where a human person is no longer anything. The meaning of the life of Jesus is the demonstration of this divine will for sinners, for those who are unworthy. Where Jesus is, there is the love of God. However, the demonstration becomes complete not when Jesus or God's love exists where the human person lives in sin and misery, but only when Jesus also takes upon himself the fate that hangs over every life, namely death. That is when Jesus who is God's love really dies. Only then can persons be certain that God's love accompanies and leads then through death.

The death of Jesus on the cross of criminals, however, shows that the divine even finds its way to the death of the criminal. And when Jesus dies on the cross with the cry, " My God, why have you abandoned me". ( Mark 15:34), does this mean that God's external will to love does not abandon people even when in the experience of being abandoned by  God, they are plunged into despair?  Jesus dies really despairing of his work, of God, but that of all things just signifies the culmination of his message that God so loves people that Jesus takes death upon himself for their sake as proof of God's own will to love. And,  only because in the humiliation on the cross Jesus demonstrates his won and God's love for the world, resurrection follows after death. Death cannot restrain love. " " Love is stronger than death".

That is the meaning of Good Friday and Easter Sunday; the way of God to people, leads back to God. In this way Jesus' own concept of God is joined together with Paul's interpretation of the cross. Thus the cross becomes the central and paradoxical symbol of the Christian message.......

The answer to another question follows from this interpretation of the cross of Christ.: what are we to think about other religions? Are they as nothing compared to Christianity? We answer that the Christian religion as religion is not of God. It is rather another example of a human way to God, like the Buddhist and others, too, though of course these are of a different nature.  Christ is not the bringer of a new religion, but rather the one who brings God. Therefore, as an impossible way from human to God, the Christian religion stands with other religions. Christians can never take pride themselves on  their Christianity, for it remains human, all to human. They live however by the grace of God, which comes to people and comes to every person who opens his or her heart to it and learns to understand it is the cross of Christ. And, therefore, the gift of Christ is not the Christian religion, but the grace and love of God which culminates in the cross.

Comments: Many are quite mistaken about Christianity. It's all about God 's grace and mercy, as manifest in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. And not about rules, and regulations, protocols and the enjoyment of the trappings of " God's power".  Such other things belong in Palaces, and Kings House and Jamaica House. And to other Religions like Islam, Jehovah's  Witness, and Judaism. That's why the Seventh Day Adventists, and others, need to be so careful with their restrictions and laws and edicts. Less they stray from preaching only Christ and Him Crucified, and whose life's journey and revelation of God climaxed on an old wooden cross on Calvary. Shocking to the human sensibilities, but the essence of the power of God. Young Bunting has caught a glimpse of the truth. We must encourage him in the face of strong opposition from " powers and principalities".

Finally a message to all who struggle in life. And which message was sent to friends in that club, in the following way:


The challenge may be: Illness; Leadership; persecution; walking with Princes and Kings and Prime Ministers whilst remaining faithful to God; even death, even sudden death.  But in the midst of it comes a word from God. That His love is indeed new every morning;  and sufficient.

I ARISE TODAY
Patrick Ireland

Verse: Psalm 4.....though I walk through......I will fear no evil.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guide me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From the snares of the devil,
From temptations and vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar or anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

And this Blessed Assurance of God's love for us  finds its ultimate manifestation on the cross of calvary where God in Christ died for us and for all mankind.
May God's peace be with all today and in particular in the days and weeks ahead. And indeed for ever.
LWJ
Sent from my iPad

Insecurity at home and abroad: Never Again says the Lord in and through Christ Jesus

The Anglican Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman islands, Dr. Howard Gregory addressing the recently held 143rd  synod of the church, quoted the rally cry of the Jews after their experience with the Holocaust, " Never again", in respect to how, in his view,  the political leaders here have used populist policies or have been distracted by electioneering, thus leading to the economic predicament that the country faces.

The young North Korean leader Kim Jong-un seems to be  either  blissfully unaware, or singularly unimpressed,  by a world, which is for the most part, united in its determination that, " never again" shall we have nuclear war on this earth. Not after the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki! So as the North Koreans continue to threaten the USA and its allies with a nuclear attack, even the China, who support the Pyongyang regime, felt the need to issue a thinly veiled rebuke that " no state should sow chaos, and that they would allow mischief on their doorsteps. Suddenly the world seems a more dangerous place.

Back home in my country, on my way to church this morning, in the midst of a very bustling part of city Kingston, the now familiar yellow police tape, surrounding a crime scene, announced yet another murder. At minutes past 7:00 am this morning! Perhaps it's time to follow the example of the Bishop and cry out as a nation, " never again", shall life become so cheap, and come to a such sudden and inglorious  end on the streets of our cities. No doubt this is part of the reason, along with the inevitable political machinations,  why there is a veritable media frenzy over reports in my country that the Minister of National Security was held up whilst spending time with friends over the long Easter weekend. The sentiment is that " never again" should he who is responsible for the security of the nation, be placed in such an embarrassing, and potentially dangerous, situation.

Also in the news was President Obama's decision, occasioned by the consequences of " sequestering" in the USA, to give back a small part of his salary. In a largely symbolic,  but perhaps politically astute, show of support of those who have been badly affected by the cut back in government spending. Accordingly the Jamaican government, in general and our Prime Minister in particular, have been under pressure from the local media to follow suit.

In this midst of this, what can only be described as, reckless International adventurism by North Korea, murder most foul in my country, and calls for sacrifice, so that never again, shall we walk this way as a people and as a world community, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Creator of North Korea, China, the USA and Jamaica spoke. The Almighty God who holds the future in His very safe hands, regardless who seem to have power in the world, spoke in clear terms.

A MESSAGE TO MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND GOVERNMENT AND CHURCH LEADERS...THURSDAY MORNING

Yesterday I was led to these words, which came to me as I began my devotions with praise.

When he (The Holy Spirit) comes he will convict the world of guilt in regards to sin and righteousness and judgment.  John 16:8 NIV

Then this morning, again as I began with praise, I was led to the words of this glorious hymn which we sing regularly in the Anglican Church:

Praise my soul, the King of heaven............ransomed healed restored forgiven.

Finally, a reflection on this profound truth, of how I, and all mankind whether you believe or not, have been restored by grace to a right relationship with God after we all have sinned and turned away, led me to the famous passage of Jesus restoring Peter. He who had denied Jesus three times.

" When he had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ' Simon son of John, do you love me more than these"....John 21:15. And not insignificantly, Jesus posed the question three times.

Sometime during Holy Week, not sure when, I heard the following, " Jesus came to tell us that man should not live by bread alone.

Take home lesson from all of this: I doubt very much if you can really love the Lord Jesus, unless the Holy Spirit has convicted you of Sin......how we have denied Christ in our lives in one way or another. Whether like you my friend carrying the sin of unbelief that in Christ alone there is salvation,  or for others ignoring the great offer of mercy extended by God.....or knowing him and committing all kind of evil as many of us have done.

So my friend perhaps you are , potentially, in a better place than others who claim to love him, but have never admitted, nor understood how far away from God they or we all were, until Christ died for all of us. For them the words of the Revelator is important:

" I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth"

Revelation 15-16

The problem for you my friend, and all who depend on their intellect and who claim to have no need for Christ, the only way to God,  in their lives, those who live by bread alone, and not by every word that comes from God, is that the next few verses are very challenging.

You say, ' I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

But then comes the great offer of hope and restoration again;

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

I recall reading many years ago a quote from he who was once an atheist, C. S, Lewis, something to the effect, that if we could ever see how filthy we appeared before a Holy God we would recoil from our own shame.

I pray God that, while the offer stands available,  you, and others, will  accept and believe in the God,  who is,  in the words of the hymn writer,  " slow to chide and swift to bless", and who came  not for the healthy, but to call sinners like me and you to repentance.

Peace.

LWJ

Sent from my iPad

Comment: the key point here is that since Christ came as man, since He died on the Cross at Calvary, and since He was raised by power on that fateful Easter Sunday, " never again" will mankind be separated from the Almighty God.  Never!  Never again will evil be allowed to rule the earth, and ruin the life  which man was made to enjoy - close fellowship with the Creator God. Yes, there may be well be very difficult times ahead for mankind. In fact nuclear war may yet happen again. Who knows! But because of that one fact of life, that God in Christ  came and became man, suffered and died, and was raised from the dead, we can celebrate the victory over sin and death and evil. Whether in Pyongyang, or on the streets of city Kingston where life has become so cheap. The key things for all mankind to apprehend, whether they be King, President, Prime Minister or pauper, is that all of us are " wretched, pitiful, blind, poor and naked, before a holy God". And that we need to purchase " gold, white clothes and salve" from God, in and through the shed Blood of Christ the lamb of God, so that we may  become rich, clothed and see - gain the righteousness that comes in and through Christ and Christ alone. So that truly , " never again" will we be subject to the wrath and terror of God - much worse than even nuclear disaster.

Finally, this morning during my devotions, whilst praising an Almighty God, and being led to read Songs of Solomon about the mystery of a woman's  love and marriage,

again, the words of John the Revelator came into my head.

 
 " Day and night they never stop saying:
 
 Holy, holy, holy
 is the Lord God Almighty,
 who was, and is, and is to come.........
 
 You are worthy, our Lord and God,
 to receive glory and honor and power,
 for you created all things,
 and by your will they were created
 and have their being.......
 
 You are worthy, to take the scroll
and to open its seal,
 because you were slain,
 and with your blood you purchased men for God
 from every tribe and language and people and nation.
 You have made them to be a kingdom of priests
 to serve our God,
 and they will reign on the earth......
 
 To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
 be praise and honor and glory for ever and ever.
 
 Revelation 4:8-5:13 NIV
 

 
 
 
Then I was reminded on the words of a wonderful hymn which, inter alia, among other messages, speaks about how we may love this Almighty God, even though he is so powerful. because of Christ.

My God, how wonderful thou art,

thy majesty how bright,

how beautiful thy mercy-seat,

in depths of burning light!

How dread are thine eternal years,

O everlasting Lord,

by prostate spirits day and night

incessantly adored!

How wonderful, how beautiful,

the sight of thee must be,

thine endless wisdom, boundless power,

and awful purity!

Oh, how I fear thee, Living God,

with deepest, tenderest fears;

and worship thee with trembling hope,

and penitential tears!

Yet I may love thee too , O Lord,

almighty as thou art,

for thou hast stooped to ask of me

the love of my poor heart.

No earthly father loves like thee,

no mother, e'er so mild,

bears and forebears as thou hast done

with me thy sinful child.

Father of Jesus, love's reward!

What rapture will it be,

prostrate before thy throne to lie,

and gaze and gaze at thee.

Final Comment: It is a shame, and a great travesty, that He who by the shedding of His precious Blood, purchased man for God from every tribe, and language and people and nation,

should be the subject of much debate rather than obedience in this " modern " world. Like the Jews, we who love Him who we fear " with deepest tenderest fears", He who " stooped" and became man so that we can love him, commit to saying, " never again". Never again will we allow sin to rule over us. We may sin, we may do what is wrong and even evil, but it shall not rule us again ever. Because we are assured of forgiveness in and through Christ Jesus, once we repent with a sincere and contrite heart.

Never again will we allow the desire for vengeance to rule over us - and threaten an entire peninsula. Never again will we allow our sexual desires to rule over us - and thus provoke the firestorm that is raging in our country about how to prevent teenage girls from getting pregnant whilst in schools. One suggestion is to give out condoms. Clearly coming from a worldview that does not believe that the worse thing that can happen to anyone, is not to die, or to contract AIDS or to get pregnant, but to be eternally separated from God, because of persistent disobedience. And woe to those who cause " these little ones to sin".

Never again will we allow our desire to survive, despite the most difficult circumstances, to push us to the point of taking someone's life,  in order that we might live - thus opening the gates of murder and envy and malice, all of which conspire to cause blood to flow on the streets of city Kingston.

But that cry of never again, coming from the depths of human misery occasioned by the horrors of the Holocaust during World war 11, can only be assured when we place our trust in He who holds the future. The Almighty God who allowed  His people to cross the Red Sea on dry land, but ' the horse and rider of the Egyptians, He threw into the sea", and they perished.

I pray God, that Kim Jung-un may come to his senses and seek peace instead of war. That leaders in America and in Jamaica, at all levels, may acknowledge the greatness and mercy of God in Christ Jesus, and seek Him , and pray, " while you may be found; surely when the mighty the waters rise. they will not reach them ". Psalm 32:6

For when knows when the waters of life may rise suddenly and find us unprepared and unprotected.

In Jesus mighty name we pray..

Amen!