Sometimes I think we just get too accustomed to the Biblical narratives. There is nothing like the response of a young person to a biblical passage to shock and awe us anew.
I can remember once getting a youth group to perform a dramatization of the parable of the talents for a Presbytery meeting where I was leading the Bible study. At the end of the run-through a young woman was visibly shaking with anger... "Are you going to explain this to us? You need to explain this to us! The others all gambled and Jesus went off at the one who played it safe!"
Yesterday the RE lesson for grade 7 was based on the story of the prostitute (and, yes, that is the title used in the resource) washing the feet of Jesus. As soon as I used the title a boy's hand went up, "are you allowed to use that word in school?" After reassuring, I moved on and after talking about Jesus allowing this woman to wash his feet I asked the class if they would let that sort of person get that close to them. A girl in the back row visibly cringed and shrunk back into herself. I think she gave the right answer, as did the rest of the class in quite strong voice immediately after. I'm not sure that I have enough love to let the prostitute wash my feet either... I can only hope God continues to teach me how to love.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Why do we preach?
I was reading some of John Wesley's "An earnest appeal to Men of Reason and Religion", and some of it really struck home. If interested, it was found on pages 390-391 of John Wesley Edited by Albert C. Outler:
"...you preach to a great number of people every night and morning. Pray, what would you do with them? Whither would you lead them? What religion do you preach? What is it good for?" I replied, " I do preach to as many who desire to hear, every night and morning. You ask, what would I do with them? I would make them virtuous and happy, easy in themselves and useful to others. Whither would I lead them? To heaven: to God the judge, the lover of all, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant. What religion do I preach? The religion of love: the law of kindness brought to light by the gospel. What is this good for? To make all who receive it enjoy God and themselves: to make them like God, lovers of all, contented in their lives and crying out at their death, in calm assurance, 'O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be unto God, who giveth me the victory through my Lord Jesus Christ' (cf I Cor. 55.57). "
So, why do we preach?
"...you preach to a great number of people every night and morning. Pray, what would you do with them? Whither would you lead them? What religion do you preach? What is it good for?" I replied, " I do preach to as many who desire to hear, every night and morning. You ask, what would I do with them? I would make them virtuous and happy, easy in themselves and useful to others. Whither would I lead them? To heaven: to God the judge, the lover of all, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant. What religion do I preach? The religion of love: the law of kindness brought to light by the gospel. What is this good for? To make all who receive it enjoy God and themselves: to make them like God, lovers of all, contented in their lives and crying out at their death, in calm assurance, 'O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be unto God, who giveth me the victory through my Lord Jesus Christ' (cf I Cor. 55.57). "
So, why do we preach?
Monday, February 23, 2009
Transfiguration Sunday - on discipleship
Yesterday was Transfiguration Sunday, and we were having an abbreviated service to allow time for a congregational meeting. So my children's address had to do double duty as a sermon (not altogether a bad thing).
I was reflecting on the Transfiguration, and wondering why Jesus was only revealed in this way to a limited number of his disciples for a limited time. Surely he could have done this at any time he would want. But then I thought of bright lights in darkness: the shock in a child's eyes if you turn on the lights of they are talking after lights out. No wonder the gospel records that Peter goes out and says something that shows a complete lack of understanding - Peter always has to say something. The disciples did not know what to say, they were just kangaroos transfixed in the headlights of Christ's glory.
When I was in research one way we used to soften light was to use mirrors. A mirror can be used to take a small part of the light of a bright object and reflect it into an area of shadow. So, can discipleship be seen as being a mirror. A mirror serves to assist the light to shine into the darkness. A mirror does not produce any light. A mirror does not need to understand electromagnetic theory or practical optics - a mirror reflects because that is what a mirror does. I pray that God polishes us all into more effective mirrors for the world.
But now I have a second image coming into my mind : a mirror works only in constant connection. This does not really express the cycles of our lives in ministry - those of going out and coming back. When my sister was in her early teens, she was really keen on a collection of toys called glow-bugs. They were moulded plastic figures made of a dullish yellowy-green plastic. But when they were exposed to sunlight for a few ours, and then taken into darkness they shone with a soft green glow that would last all night. As a physicist, the knowledge that the light the toy gives off is less energetic than the sunlight appeals to me - we can never shine with the full glory of God in this place. But isn't that more like our lives of worship, witness and service? If we fail to enter into the presence and appreciation of God, or if we fail to enter the dark places of the world, we can never reach our full potential nor appreciate what we truly are - bringers of the light of God's love into the world. Now all I have to do is work out how a glow bug can point back to the source of its life (as the mirror does), rather than just displaying what is happening.
Any comments?
I was reflecting on the Transfiguration, and wondering why Jesus was only revealed in this way to a limited number of his disciples for a limited time. Surely he could have done this at any time he would want. But then I thought of bright lights in darkness: the shock in a child's eyes if you turn on the lights of they are talking after lights out. No wonder the gospel records that Peter goes out and says something that shows a complete lack of understanding - Peter always has to say something. The disciples did not know what to say, they were just kangaroos transfixed in the headlights of Christ's glory.
When I was in research one way we used to soften light was to use mirrors. A mirror can be used to take a small part of the light of a bright object and reflect it into an area of shadow. So, can discipleship be seen as being a mirror. A mirror serves to assist the light to shine into the darkness. A mirror does not produce any light. A mirror does not need to understand electromagnetic theory or practical optics - a mirror reflects because that is what a mirror does. I pray that God polishes us all into more effective mirrors for the world.
But now I have a second image coming into my mind : a mirror works only in constant connection. This does not really express the cycles of our lives in ministry - those of going out and coming back. When my sister was in her early teens, she was really keen on a collection of toys called glow-bugs. They were moulded plastic figures made of a dullish yellowy-green plastic. But when they were exposed to sunlight for a few ours, and then taken into darkness they shone with a soft green glow that would last all night. As a physicist, the knowledge that the light the toy gives off is less energetic than the sunlight appeals to me - we can never shine with the full glory of God in this place. But isn't that more like our lives of worship, witness and service? If we fail to enter into the presence and appreciation of God, or if we fail to enter the dark places of the world, we can never reach our full potential nor appreciate what we truly are - bringers of the light of God's love into the world. Now all I have to do is work out how a glow bug can point back to the source of its life (as the mirror does), rather than just displaying what is happening.
Any comments?
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