What did I miss?

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What did I miss?

 Early one evening I went for a walk through local streets. There were houses old and new, trees in stark late winter beauty and a man walking a pony on the path (oh yes indeed).

Then I came to a park with its old trees, sprawling grass and well-tended shrubs. Behind me was a view to the Sydney Harbour Bridge with its familiar shape. To the west - a beautiful sunset that halted my steps as I gazed at the rapid fade from bright orange to twilight pink.

There were others in that park - a cluster of 20 or so people poking about at the augmented reality game that was the flavour of the month. Their eyes and fingers were glued to the artificial reality of a screen. The beauty of the sunset came and went unseen by their eyes.

It's easy to criticise the Pokemon players and feel superior. However, there is also a question.

What do I miss seeing because my attention is on clamorous immediacy? What do I miss of earth's offerings, let along those of realms unseen? How much do I miss of God's fingerprints?  How can I better open my inner and outer eyes to see ponies on paths, sunsets in parks and more? How can I avoid being one of the seeing blind?

Taking choices (seriously)

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Taking choices (seriously)

Think about our daily choices. Even before leaving home for the day we have decided when to get up, what sequence to follow for our morning, what outfit to wear, what to have for breakfast, what words to say … and on it goes. Many of these early morning choices are matters of habit, but even habit is a choice and it builds on earlier choices.

Some choices are always inconsequential. Nothing much will change if I wear the blue work shirt  or the pink. Other choices are inconsequential at the time but their cumulative effect may matter. Today’s choice for a muesli breakfast instead of toast with jam matters not, but a thousand such choices may affect my health in later years. Other choices may appear inconsequential but turn out to be life changing. What if I have equally convenient bus and train options for getting to work but the day I choose the bus leads to an apparently random meeting of the love of my life?

How do we take such choices? A recent opinion piece draws attention to the power of randomness, even in major choices. Freakonomics author Steven Levitt says it's best to toss a coin (Peter Martin, Canberra Times 14^th August 2016): http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/freakonomics-author-steven-levitt-says-its-best-to-toss-a-coin-20160812-gqr5se.html. We’ll come back to that later.

Some people seem obsessed with getting their choices perfect, even if the matter is of small consequence. This is the person who does endless research to find the best price on a bag of carrots and then outspends the savings in opportunity and transport costs to get to the venue where the deal is good. It’s the person who spends 15 minutes changing from one clothing combination to another until heading out late to miss that bus that may have changed their life.

Some find it useful to use the following in their decision-making process:

·       How important is it?

How important is the issue is on a scale on 1 to 10? (Of course, that ranking will reflect our underlying values and they are worth thinking about). If it has very low importance we may as well toss the coin or do the first thing that occurs to us. Let’s save procrastinating anxiety for things of high importance!

·       Use your head

What are the available options and what are the dimensions and implications of each? What’s the case for and against each option? Which case is the most persuasive for you? Note again that that our underlying values will be on view here. For example, you may be buying a household appliance. One option has all the extras that you want and comes in at a competitive price. Another is more expensive, but was produced in a factory that pays fair wages and is more environmentally friendly. The one you prefer reflects what you value.

• Listen to your heart

Our heart intuitions reflect our deepest us – that’s the real ‘me’. Of course intuitions need to be examined and tested, but they are worth attention. This is especially so for the more head-orientated person who may be prone to the procrastination of perfectionism.

• Listen to others

It’s often wise on important issues (or ones where we are stuck) to listen to others. Find the friend who knows you and the person who knows something about that matter being chosen. Ask for the views and probe them. We wouldn’t normally ask someone else to take a choice for us (that’s an abrogation of responsibility), but the words of others can be handy as advice.

Its time to go back to the article cited above. The writer comments on an argument for the randomness of tossing a coin to take decisions. Many of us would agree with that when it comes to the choice between the blue and pink work shirt. The article goes further. It examines tossing a coin for the big decision of life such as choosing jobs, having a baby, getting married and such like. It reports a finding that people doing this report great happiness levels in taking choices that way. The article attributes this happiness to the fact that the coin tossers tend to make more changes in their lives rather than be stuck in confining ruts of change resistance. We could also guess that the tossers are happier because they have spared themselves the agony of procrastinating angst.

This is worth pondering. I just faced a choice of which shirt to wear for a speaking opportunity today. A choice between a plain blue and striped pink shirt was available in the wardrobe. I could have agonised, discussed with my wife, prayed or drawn up a spreadsheet to decide. Three coin tosses later and the blue it is. (Of course that could also have been done with one toss, but being a cautious Presbyterian I wanted to be sure.) Now that that’s done I could give my time to more important things like finishing this blog piece.

However, its one thing to toss a coin on a low-consequence choice but another on a high consequence matter. Coin tossing on matters of importance presupposes one of two opposite views of life. The first is determinism and the second is random meaninglessness.

Consider determinism. Some hold to a view that the universe is a machine that runs itself.  (That is called determinism and is often paired with naturalism- the view that the physical is all that there is.) If so, we may as well toss a coin. On that worldview, the coin toss will make no difference because the predetermined result will happen anyway (whether through or against the coin toss). Tossing the coin saves time, because you were always going to finish up there anyway.

Now the other view. If nothing really matters, and all is random, then a coin toss is as good a way of deciding things as considered thoughtfulness. ‘Why not, it makes no difference’ is the mantra here. On this worldview, a toss may seem to validate the tosser and give significance for just that moment and before returning to the insignificance of no-choice.

The Christian worldview points us in another direction and its no toss of the coin.

The Scriptures teach that the God who made the world remains actively involved in its affairs. This is so much so that everything is moved according to his big plans (Eph 1:11). Fortunately for us, his big plan is wondrously good – its nothing less than uniting everything in the created universe together in Jesus (Eph 1:9-10). In doing this God gets up close and personal. He works everything for good in the lives of those who love him (Rom 8:28). It’s a question for another day what that good is – but suffice to say that it’s a good that is better than our wildest imaginations.

Doesn’t this sound like divine determinism? Has God pre-taken all our choices and we are back to the pointless toss of a coin whose fall makes no difference?

No! We were not made as cogs in a machine, but as people in God’s image whose choices make a difference. Our Biblical ancestors had a choice to eat or not to eat the forbidden fruit and their choice made an earth-shattering difference for them and us (Gen 3; Rom 5:12-21). Joshua set a choice of religious loyalties before his generation (Josh 23:14-15), as did the prophet Elijah (1 Kngs 18:21). Judas had a choice (Lke 22:22,48) as did Peter (Lke 22:33-34, 61-62) and Pilate (Lke 23:1-16). Their choices changed Jesus’ life, their own and that of others.

However, notice something else. These real choices fell out within the plan decided by God. Jesus’ death was for salvation was according to a plan that had been there in the Bible all along for those to see (Lke 22:22; 24:24-26, 44). The Bible calls this providence. We take real choices that make a difference, but are choices are already woven into and serve God’s big plans to units all things in Jesus and to do good to his people.

This is a profoundly practical and reassuring teaching!

We should care in our choices because our choices change things for others and ourselves. My shirt colour is well-decided by a coin toss or the whim of the moment, but that’s not true for other things. As a husband, father, grandfather and friend, my life choices affect those whom I love. Will I choose for me or for God and others? Will I choose wisely (and according to the importance of the matter) or foolishly? Will in I choose in a way that shows love of God and others or love of self? How will others be affected by my choices?  These are some of the value questions that lie behind the process above.

Now for the reassurance. Sometimes we take bad choices whether from ignorance, bad values or base motivations. The encouraging thing is that this is not the end of the world. Some of our choices will self-correct as events pass or there will be a later opportunity for us to chose a different path. But even in our worst choices God is still there, weaving things into his big plan and working for good. And so Peter could later take another and different choice and come back into God ‘s plans (Jn 21:15-19. Even in the case of Judas who carried his bad choice to fruition, God still worked for good. Judas was eternally stuck with the consequence of his choice (Matt 27:1-10) but through it God sent his Son on the Cross to save. Those who chose to embrace him with faith are saved, while those who choose not to believe are left under a self-made condemnation (Jn 3:16-21). Our choice here changes our destiny for eternity.

Some choices deserve no more than the toss of a coin. Others deserve far more attention and none more so than our choice about Jesus.

If I were a pastor in France tomorrow

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If I were a pastor in France tomorrow

On Bastille Day 2016 (July 14^th) a man intentionally drove along the delightful promenade at Nice, intentionally killing people with his vehicle and with gunfire. This is the latest of several such events in France in recent times.

How could a pastor in France preach on Sunday 17^th July?

Here’s how I’d do it:

·       Introduction

o   Rehearse the several recent terrorist attacks on French soil and ask the questions: what is going on? How can we understand this? What can we learn? How should we respond?

§  Note that such events are the normal material of life in the ebb and flow of a fallen world in which we and the whole creation groans as we await the return of Jesus to put all things right in his new creation (Matt 24:6-8; Rom 8:20-23).

o   Remind France of her Christian heritage. The 177 martyrdoms at Lyon are testimony to very early Christian beginnings, after which there has been a continuous Christian presence.

o   Observe that France is now one of the most secularised post-Christian nations, at the several levels of her intellectual, cultural and popular life.

o   As a nation that has had gospel light and chosen to walk in darkness, France does not deserve God’s kindness (Heb 6:4-8). Her only hope is in his gracious mercy.

·       Teaching

o   Point upwards to God working from a passage that displays the many-sided richness and depth of God’s being and deeds (eg: Ex 34:1-9; Ps 103).

o   Urge people to consider the kindness and sternness of God in the double-edged gospel (Rom 11:22). Salvation is offered to all and extended to all who believe in Jesus, but judgement is on all who refuse God (Jn 3:16-21).

o   Remind people that the present events are not outside of God’s control, are being used by him to achieve his big plan to unite all things in Christ (Eph 1:11) and are specifically being used for the good of his people who will never be separated from his love in Jesus (Rom 8:28-39).

·       Applications

o   Urge that people look to him for peace, comfort and meaning in these troubled times.

o   Call on hearers to reach out to their neighbours and strangers (especially those of different race, culture and religion) in the common nature that we share in God’s creation.

o   Call people to repentance and faith, resting on the overflowing faithfulness and mercy of God and calling on his gospel promises.

o   Urge all to readiness for their death through a living personal faith in Christ, because we too know not the day or hour when we return to the Lord or he returns to us (Matt 24:36-51).

Book Review: C Ash on ministry burnout

C Ash, Zeal Without Burnout, The Good Book Company, 2016. 123 pages.  

This is a book which can be read in a single sitting. However, don’t be deceived – it’s an important book on the important topic of ministry burnout.

Many sources report on high levels of burnout among ministry workers resulting in resignations, physical and mental illness and many just struggling on in their roles with diminishing usefulness. This is especially so in pastoral leadership where a combination of impossible expectations, poor governance, family pressures and low recognition take high casualties.  The keen 30 year old who takes on a pastor’s role too often finishes up as a tired, cynical time-server in his 50s and unable to do other than slog out it out to pension age.

Christopher Ash writes into this situation from his own and other’s experience and from a Scriptural perspective. He reminds us of the difference between sacrifice and needless burnout and the underlying truth that we are dust, not God. As dusty people we need sleep, Sabbaths, friends and food and we neglect those needs at our peril. We are prone to the danger of wanting to be celebrities and of rejoicing in our ministry and not in grace.

Much of the book diagnoses burnout and shows its dangers, but it also points readers to some preventative and therapeutic measures  - all within big calls to recognise our dustiness and to cultivate delight in God.

Are you too busy to read 123 small pages? Then start with the questions on pp112-113 and they may lead you back to page 1. If you do read the book in a single sitting, you may just be the keen 30 year old who is in danger of becoming a menace to your family and your church later on. It’s a no-brainer to read it now and save yourself from trouble later.

Chance or providence?

The chances of life

From a journal entry: I am attending a conference of 3,000 and more people in a foreign city and know very few people here. I arrived late for something because of traffic problems and grabbed the first available seat, not noticing those around me. I then discovered that my neighbour was someone who chaired a conference that I spoke at on the other side of the world five years ago. Chance or providence? Later that day I gazed out the widow of my conference hotel where I am settled in comfort. Below me was a rank urban river alongside of which people live in slum conditions and barely eke out a living? Chance or providence that my whole life is what it is and that of others is what it is?

Each of us can repeat these stories a thousand times over. Our lives are full of events and circumstances that could have been otherwise.

 Chance or providence? The way we answer that reflects our underlying view of life. From where I come, there is no chance, accident or mere coincidence. There are only divine coincidences – also known as providence. This comes from the Bible’s teaching that God works all things according to his purposes (Eph 1:11) and that he works all things for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28). Behind that is the Bible’s big view of God as the one from whom, through whom and to whom are all things (Rom 11:33-36).

So, what to do with the providence that results in my life of privilege? That’s the providences that meant I was born where I was, of the parents that I had, and with the opportunities, experiences behind me and the choices and resources that are at my disposal.

Three themes emerge.

Firstly, making the most of my providential opportunities. The Bible does not call God’s people to lazy self-indulgence (Eg: Prov 6:6; 6:9-11; 13:4; 20:4; 2 Thess 3:10).  Our calling is to a wholehearted commitment to whatever God gives us to do (Eccles 9:10; Col 3:23) and this is especially so with gospel work (Eph 5:16). We are to work, even if we don’t need to from the necessity of survival.

Secondly, embracing the responsibility that goes with opportunity. My life is not to be lived for myself but for the Lord from whom all comes and by whom I will be judged (Rom 14:10,12). The parable of the talents is also instructive here (Matt 25:14-30). The servants are not judged by what they started with (life’s providences?), but by what they did with it. The more that is given, the more that is asked (Lke 12:48). So instead of indulging in my various privileges I am to ask what responsibilities to God and others arise from them.

Thirdly, being content with my providences. It’s both easy and dangerous to make comparisons. A comparison with those whom I perceive to have more favourable providences can so easily leads to envy and despair. Neither of these is healthy. On the other side, a contrast with those having less favourable providences can lead to arrogantly thinking that I am somehow better than them (as though God’s providences are a matter of my deserving). A better way is to accept the life that God has given me and to follow Paul’s secret of choosing to be content in God in all circumstances (Phil 4:11-13).

Casting a (Christian) vote

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Casting a (Christian) vote

Voting to choose a government is a privilege that some have and others do not. My own country of citizenship (Australia) soon has an election and the US will choose a new President later this year. How should a Christian vote?

Some Christians assert that they could not vote for this or that party but must vote for this one and urge others to adopt their stance. Others profess indifference to the whole matter.

What does a Christian vote look like?

Is voting a Christian issue?

In view of the indifference of some, it’s worth asking whether there is a Christian issue here at all. It could be argued that choosing who to vote for (or whether to vote at all) is a purely private matter of taste somewhat like choosing what food to order or what car to buy.

That can quickly be dealt with. The followers of Jesus are called to make the whole of life a thankful sacrifice to God as a reasonable response to his mercy in Jesus (Rom 12:1-2). We are told to love God with all of all we are and to love our neighbour as ourselves (Mrk 12:29-31). Again, Jesus is the one in whom all things hold together and all is to be done in his name (Col 1:15-17; 3:17). There are things that belong to the civil ruler (Mrk 12:13-17) and he (or she) is there by God’s appointment for the common good (Rom 13:1-7).

Seen through this lens, voting is an opportunity to show a thankful love of God through political participation.

What does a Christian vote look like?

We can say at the start that a Christian vote will arise from loyalty to Jesus and be part of the life that is worthy of the Lord. Family background, life-position and personal preferences may influence our vote. However, if our loyalty to Jesus does not form the foundation, it may be a vote by a Christian but it is not necessarily a Christian vote.

Linked to this, it can be argued that to some extent we can say that the basis and process of forming our vote is as important than the vote itself. In Australia, any vote is likely to represent a balance between several competing and overlapping forces and not be exclusively ‘Christian’ in any meaningful sense. So the big question is not whom we vote for, but why we vote that way.

A Christian vote will rarely be mono-dimensional in the sense that a single factor will decide the matter for us, or that every believer votes the same way. Different people will come to different conclusions based on their assessment of several considerations. Some of these are discussed below.

However, we can expect that Christian votes will be cast on the basis of loving God and others before ourselves. This is in contrast to the self-interest that is sometimes appealed to by political parties.

Loving God may include voting in a way that promotes outcomes that reflect God’s character and revealed will and that give scope for advancing gospel mission and kingdom outcomes. Or at least voting in a way that minimises the reverse of these.

Loving neighbour may include voting for outcomes that serve our neighbour’s good at all levels, noting Jesus’ wide definition of neighbour to include even a stranger or enemy who is in need (Lke 10:25f)). This is not the same as voting to give our neighbour want he wants, but rather what God says he needs. Nonetheless, it is a matter of neighbour before self.

A Christian vote is complex 

A Christian vote will usually involve more than identifying one or two Christian issues or looking for a party that professes to have a Christian base, or a political candidate who professes to be Christian. These have their place but it is rarely so simple that just one dimension will decide the matter.

A vote is cast at the intersection of parties, policies and people. Questions can be asked in each of these aspects.

Parties

·      - What is underlying world-view of each party?

·      - What is the track record of each party with regard to stability, integrity etc?

·      - What is the party platform and how tightly is it enforced on parliamentary members and in the legislative agenda?

o   eg: the Australian ALP will soon give its parliamentary members no choice but to support same sex marriage.

·      - What are prospects of this party having a useful influence if elected?

o    Eg: an overtly Christian party may have good policy alignment but have no prospect of election or of influence if elected and so represent a wasted vote.

Policies

·      - What policy areas are on the table at this election?

·      - What is the Christian interest in such issues as:

o   Sexuality and marriage

o   Abortion and euthanasia

o   Care of disadvantaged

o   Asylum seekers

o   Access to health, education & basic services

o   Incentives to work

o   The sharing of national wealth

o   Creation care

o   ?

·      - How is each issue weighted in terms of level of importance and how does that shape a vote?

o   Eg: The Australian Greens party attracts some Christian interest in areas such as social justice, asylum seekers, environmental care, but their policies on abortion, euthanasia and same sex marriage are widely seen as contrary to the gospel.

o   Eg: the Australian Liberal party attracts some Christian support on same sex marriage, but some find it hard to see Christian synergy with its asylum seeker, environmental and social justice policies.

In the present Australian election there is an public media tool to help make sense of our individual views on policy areas and their respective importance: https://votecompass.abc.net.au/. This can be a useful starting point, although it would be an unusual voter who finds that it decides the whole matter for them.

People

What are the relevant people like with respect to qualities such as religious commitment, personal values, integrity, reliability, maturity and wisdom?

·      - Party leaders

·      - Local candidates

A candidate who professes Christian faith may not necessarily be the best vote as against a non-Christian opponent. The person’s own track record and the policies and track record may be a reason not to support them.

Putting it together

Good information, shrewdness and prayerful wisdom are needed in making wise assessments of parties, policies and people and in weighing the relative importance of these relative aspects of a vote.

All that can be more complex depending of preference arrangements. For example, a tactical vote may be cast for a more undesirable candidate with no hope of election in order to block the election of a less undesirable candidate with a greater chance of election. Or again, a Christian may vote for different parties in different houses in a bicameral parliament (or in the case of a federal constitution) on the basis of total depravity and a desire to give no one party all the power.

As these complexities increase, so does the need for careful consideration and prayerful wisdom.

Before we vote (& after)

Casting a Christian vote is not an isolated act that should only concern us at election time. Prayer about political matters and political involvement are ongoing matters.

Prayer (1 Tim 2:1-3):

·      - For wisdom in our vote

·      - For outcomes that reflects God’s nature

·      - For elected representatives and governments as they face the challenges of office

·      - For Christians involved in political processes whether or not we support their party or views.

Involvement:

·      - Consider joining a political party so you can influence policy and pre-selection processes

·      - Give space to Christians who come to different conclusions from yours

·      - Keep your identity as a follower of Jesus and his kingdom agenda’s central to this involvement

The last word

The last word is with God who is the sovereign King of kings and Lord of lords and who works all things according to his purposes (Eph 1:11). Even as the monstrous Emperor Domitian persecuted Christians as the Revelation was written, the ascended Jesus ruled (Rev 1-5). If the Lord can use a pagan ruler like Cyrus or Nero (Is 44:28 – 4:1ff) Rom 13:1-7), he can work his big plans through whoever gains political power in today’s nations.

I have friends in countries where they never or rarely get to vote and yet the countries get along fine. Likewise with nations where elections deliver perplexing results. The bottom line is that Jesus is risen, reigning and returning irrespective of our passing constitutional arrangements and the passing parade of mortals who hold government. That is a great comfort as we puzzle over our vote, puzzle over the results, or if we never get a vote.