Unity of believers

It is not often the people know when they will die, Indeed it is perhaps only for those  on death row who can know with any certainty when they will die. Yet Jesus knew he would suffer and die and that that was the purpose of his Father. On the night before he died he gave us a final few points for us to remember, and examples for us to follow. The fact that he did these things on the night before he knew he would die to me shows the importance he put upon these final few pointers.

Firstly he washed his disciples feet as a sign that we must serve each other. I have spoken at length about the need to focus upon others and their needs rather than me and my needs.

Secondly, he introduced a memorial of him and his work  through the sharing of  bread and wine. This showed us that we are one body with him .

Thirdly, after supper He went out to pray and after seeking once again his father’s guidance he prayed for unity of his believers . His fervent prayer was that they might be united in the same way as he was united with the father . He lived his life seeking to do his father’s will this unity of purpose overrode any personal things that he might have wanted to pursue. As he now prepared for the greatest sacrifice of all, he prayed that he wanted us to have the same unity of purpose that he had with his Father. The wanted us to be one.

Over the years the church has often lost its way and struggled to remember some of the purpose Christ had for us in this world . People have come along to challenge the church, to pull it back to the way the Christ showed us, however this has tended to lead to many different churches and denominations . Each time leaders have felt their way is true , however Paul warn us in the later books of the new testament that we do not follow a particular human leaders we are here to follow Christ.

By focusing upon him and the example he set for us to follow we should be able to overcome any other differences that we might feel we have with our fellow believers. Often the challenge of a new voice seeking us to return to focus on Christ has helped the church here are the return to its primary purpose . However of ten too human nature within each of us has caused division to remain after the wider church has recognize the call back to Christ’s work.

In place of openness and understanding there is criticism and finger pointing . We seek to focus on the differences rather than on the similarities and we determine the way in which God moves must be by ….insert  one or another doctrine of a denomination...

Fortunately for all of us God is not limited by human decisions about how he should or should not move. Overtime different denominations have tended to excel in different areas and that provides an opportunity for us as followers of Christ to find a community for the in which we feel comfortable . Some of us need clear structure and this can be found in many traditional churches. Others might need for joy of worship, others still might need to see God at work around them. The variety of different churches can now provide us with an opportunity to welcome many from different backgrounds with different needs so long as we welcome each other and recognize that we all seek to follow Christ and in this we have unity. To any who still say that only their church provides the way to go on us that you read the following John 17: 15- 26; 1Cor 3: 1 – 4:2 and Eph 4:1-7 and then I ask that your open yourself to God as ask him for his guidance.

It is my  passionate belief and prayer that we need to focus on following Christ and that if we do this we can overcome the differences we may feel the exist between different churches and denominations. If we can agree that we seek to follow Christ, we should forget past labels and get on with the task he has given to us, sharing the good news and showing his love. It is difficult for churches to show God’s love to the world whilst fighting between themselves, it is too much of a distraction and outsiders find the fighting an obstacle as they ask “surely this is not what Christ taught”. Indeed not.

If you have any comment or experience that may help and encourage others please do add a comment/response.

Relationships with others

Christ given us the example of living his life focused upon the needs of those around him.  He sought to put his own needs second whilst fulfilling purpose that his Father had given him. To although he lived a perfect sinless life, he never embarrassed the sinners that he met. When a lady was brought to him who had been caught committing adultery, his only words to her was “go and sin no more“. And he showed love for her whilst clearly stating that he did not approve of the behaviour .

As Christians we need to show his love for the individual, whilst maintaining the recognition of what is right or wrong behaviour learned from our study of Jesus and his life on earth. It is all too easy to judge people around us and say they are wrong to take the action they have taken, but we do not have complete knowledge and do not understand fully the pressures and circumstances they were in. So we need to show love for each individual, love without judgement.

You know how it was said in the old testament, "an eye for an eye" however this was actually introduced to stop escalation in disputes. It was intended to limit the compensation for retaliation that applied in a dispute, rather than metering out the minimum response. Jesus clearly taught a different way – when asked to summarize the law Jesus quoted “ love God with all your heart and mind and soul , and love your neighbor as yourself .” Matt 22:36-40

The thought of treating a neighbour as you would want to be treated was not new, however up to that point the focus had always been on the negative. “Don’t do to others what you would not wish them to do to you”. Whilst a good starting point four the way in which we should treat our neighbour, it left open the option of doing nothing. Jesus on the other hand set a new higher standard treat our neighbours as you would like to be treated yourself . As a result we can no longer ignore their needs and through this Jesus showed the importance he placed upon relationships.

To be a follower of him is to seek to live in harmony with those around. That is a very high standard and one which is difficult for us to attain. Paul later in New Testament recognizes that we are human and disharmony does exist between us. Where this exists he argues forcefully that harmony should be re-established.  Indeed Jesus highlights the importance of rebuilding relationships where these have suffered.  In Matt 5:23-24 he says if someone comes to the temple with an offering and then remember someone with whom they have a disagreement,  he urges that the offering should be left and the relationship reconciled before the offering is made to God.

To many of us who have been brought up in the western world we believe in justice and we can use this belief sometimes to prevent us from taking the first step to restore a relationship. We might think that we have done no wrong and they should apologize first. Jesus however stresses the importance of rebuilding the relationship, It is not about who was right and who’s wrong, it is about living in harmony with our neighbour. We are called to make the first move, as Jesus did when was here seeking out those that needed his message of reconciliation.  He made the first move. At times our pride can get in the way, we need to learn to be humble. 


If you have an example to share that may help and encourage others, please do respond with a comment.

Tithing and Giving

From my earliest years of being a Christian I was aware of the need to give to God for his works, and the biblical example of the tithe (one tenth of what your income) was a standard I tried to meet. It can be very hard seeking to make ends meet whilst trying to give a tenth to Gods’ work. Particularly when we can see around us those that are able to have more holidays, more money for nice things, better houses etc because they do not follow this standard.  

Yet Jesus again assumed that his followers would give to his work. Matt 6:2 says “When you give” – not if. Jesus assumed his disciples would give. Indeed practicing and devout Jews would give a tithe and gifts that could amount to one sixth of their income.

If we look once more at what Christ has done for us, giving his life whilst we still rejected him, with no thought for himself. Jesus took the risk and paid the price for us. Faced with such generosity can we reject the needs of his work. It is not as if Jesus benefits from the money we give, rather he seeks it to spread the good news, and offer help to those with greatest need.


To Jesus however the issue was more about how to give (privately and secretly) which we must also take to heart. To give it the Lord is to do his work, to give to be noticed is to trumpet ours – not the way Christ would have lived. Our giving should be a consequence of the love, kindness and concern for others that Christ showed whilst on earth, but it also breaks the control that materialism has over us, always striving for more and better things which is a temptation to bring the focus back to me.

If you have an example to share that may help and encourage others, please do respond with a comment.

Love your enemies or even neighbours

In life we will always find some with whom we do not naturally form positive relationships with. Perhaps we have inadvertently done things that hurt them, and they are angry with us, perhaps there is some difference of opinion that becomes a block between us. From my personal experience I urge anyone who has a difficult relationship to start praying for such people. Don’t pray that they change to be someone you can like, pray that you are able to grow to love them as Christ would. Show practical and sincere concern for them as an act of will, and Christ will honour this by growing inside you a love that will overcome. This will not mean that they will suddenly like you, but it will prevent your feelings from pushing them further away. Subconsciously we all read each others’ body language and if you harbour anger or hatred for someone, this will be evident to them and they will in turn reject you. On the other hand if you pray for your enemies and seek to offer them help you will find it too hard to keep hating them.

Jesus – Luke 6:27-28 – Do good to those that hate you and bless those who curse you.  Pray for those that persecute you v44.

In Matt 5:38-42 Jesus acknowledges the old teaching of "an eye for an eye", but goes on to say love your enemies. As already mentioned the eye for an eye was introduced to avoid escalating feuds where each crime was responded to by a greater and worse one, yet by the time of Jesus the principle was being used to justify rather than limit revenge. Jesus however forbids revenge, he also forbids a revengeful spirit. We are not to think of our rights but of our duties to others, and we should be unselfish with our possessions so that we put the needs of others before our own.

Jesus equally does not intend that we become doormats offering no resistance to those that abuse us, but he does challenge us to let go of our pride, offer assistance to others even those we do not like,  love and again love. We should take our part in society restraining evil and fighting for justice, and protecting others, but we should do so with love and thinking of what others need,  rather than the selfish focus always upon my needs and requirements or seeking revenge.

In his book “ Challenging Lifestyles” Nicky Gumble says:

“We must never allow ourselves to be motivated by revenge or malice. Rather we are to be peaceful, willing, generous and liberal with our time, money and resources. We are called to disregard totally our own rights and combine this with a passionate concern for the rights of others.”

Quite a challenge yet one in which Jesus will help us to follow his path.


If you have an example to share that may help and encourage others, please do respond with a comment.

Integrity

In the Old Testament much of the teaching handed to Moses sought to establish a society where people acted honestly and with integrity. Oaths were given to be kept and failure to keep oaths was a sin against God. By the time of Jesus the religious leaders had built upon this a complex set of rules and qualifications which enabled those who had given and oath to walk away without punishment.

Jesus on his teaching on the Mount (Matt 5) sought to re-establish the principles of truth, honesty and integrity. When he said that we should not swear he meant that we should not need to swear – people around us should come to know that we do what we say we will. Jesus tells his disciples to tell the truth.

As Christians we are called to be different, and in particular we are called to act with integrity. This can impact in many ways but put simply we should seek to follow the law and act in good character. It is easy when someone offers to do a job for less if we can not put things through the books (to avoid paying VAT) to accept, but if we do we are legitimizing what they have suggested.

However acting with integrity is a very high standard, it means we do not just do things because everyone else does, whether borrowing things from work, or making personal calls from the office right through to copying music, games and even breaking the speed limit. This is very much a path we should seek to tread, we will need help and we will make mistakes, but with Christ’s help we must try to be honest, truthful and upright.


If you have an example to share that may help and encourage others, please do respond with a comment.

Dealing with anger

In much of today’s society we are encouraged to express our anger . It is argued that repressing, or keeping our anger in, damages our health. However it is at times of anger that we can say hurtful thing, or  indeed hurt those around us. Paul in Ephesians writes “in your anger do not sin”. Ephesians 4:26. He is recognizing that anger is a natural emotion and response, but he’s also highlighting at that time we are most at risk and damaging our relationship with those around us. Often we feel anger because of pride, our position, or our authority is challenged. Our “toes have been trodden on”, “our noses put out of joint”, and so we react with anger.

When we do feel anger we do need to control, but we do not need to bottle up anger inside us. Long lived anger which we nurse within us with thoughts of revenge leads us to destruction. It can eat away  and cause us to become bitter, vindictive and spiteful. In Jesus we have someone with whom we can share our hurts and our frustrations, and when we ask he will help us to release the anger we may feel, he will help us forgive those that have hurt us. He changes us to overcome the issue if we are willing.

Frequently in relationships we may pray that “so and so” stops upsetting us or starts treating us with respect. We ask God to do what we want, thankfully he responds by giving us what is best instead, and this often means by changing us so that we no longer take offence. In Luke 11. 11-13 Jesus says “What father among you when his son asked for bread would give him a stone, or if he asks for fish give him a snake. If you them know how to give what is good to your children, how much more with the Father in heaven give good things to those that ask “. We do need to trust that he knows best and to ask for his resolution without trying to dictate what he should do – unless of course we feel that this is his specific will in this instance.

I find whilst writing this passage today that God is speaking to me about anger with my children. When I was young I had a terrible temper and for many years struggled to control it. For a while I felt that this had been overcome, but now I find that children completely ignoring requests brings back the anger I have struggled with so much in the past. In my anger I can say things that hurt them, belittle them and I recognize that I need Gods’ help to change. We need to be honest before God and ask his help in trying to follow Christ, he is with us and will help.

Finally when anger does strike, I urge you – as I myself must recognize - seek out reconciliation. Don’t wait or others to make the first move, we need to mend our relationships and God places high importance on this for us. So go say sorry, be humbled but most importantly be reconciled.

If you have an example to share that may help and encourage others, please do respond with a comment.