Après church

Just thought you might like to watch these videos on youtube.  I’ve just read Blue like Jazz by Don Miller and it has left me feeling inspired yet challenged, and watching this youtube conversation is similar.  Judge for yourself and let me know what you think….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grBByc7t3Fs

There  are 7 other parts of this conversation for you to look at too

Are you ’saved’? What do you mean by that? Most Western Christians probably mean that because of Jesus death on the cross, their sins are forgiven, and then when they die, their ’soul’ goes to heaven to be with Jesus forever.  But this isn’t really what the New Testament teaches and even if where it comes close, it is not the main point.

You might now be thinking - hang on what’s wrong with that?  If you are then like me, you might just find the new book from N.T. Wright causes you the biggest rethink your faith has ever had.

I can honestly say that this book may well be the best Christian book I have ever read.  The church really needs to stop and think hard about what we mean by the ‘hope of the gospel’.  What is the good news?

Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham, is a world renowned theologian but not a stuffy academic.  I think he is the C.S. Lewis of his day. He combines his enormous depth of knowledge of the bible and history with his own faith.  He is able to speak within the context of the prevailing thinking of the modern church.  This is why this book is such a breath of fresh air.  We need to correct our course and a book like this brings home just how important a role theology plays in affecting how we think and live our lives.

I hesitate to write a post on it because you should really read the book but his main point is that the new testament does not preach this separation of the body and the ’soul’ - that the resurrection of Jesus was all about declaring that the opposite is true, that God will raise us, like Jesus, physically.  He argues strongly against a platonic view (Plato was the greek philosopher that influenced western thought to think of the body as flawed and something to free from but the spirit as the pure eternal essence of a person) that heaven is some kind of ethereal, non-physical place far from Earth but rather that it is another dimension, even more tangible and physical than this world.  C.S. Lewis also holds this view and it shows in his Narnia series but also in ‘the great divorce’ (which you should also read). 

The hope of the gospel is that God will create a new heaven and a new earth and that far from us all leaving earth to go to heaven, what God intends is to bring heaven back to earth when he returns.

Mention ’salvation’, and almost all western Christians assume that you mean ‘going to heaven when you die’.  But a moment’s thought, in the light of all we have said so far, will reveal that this simply cannot be right.  ‘Salvation’ means , of course, ‘rescue’.  But what are we ultimately to be rescued from? The obvious answer is ‘death’. But if, when we die, all that happens is that our bodies decompose while our soul (or whatever other word we want to use for our continuing existence) go on elsewhere, this doesn’t mean we’ve been rescued from death.  It simply means that we’ve died.

Although when we die, there is a resting time where we are with Jesus, this is not the main act.  What matters is not so much ‘life after death’ but what he calls ‘life after life after death’ when the whole cosmos is restored and we live in the new heaven and new earth in our resurrected, physical bodies.  This changes everything and reframes what we do here on Earth in the meantime.

The point is this.  When God ’saves’ people in this life, by working through his Spirit to bring them to faith, and by leading them to follow Jesus in discipleship, prayer, holiness, hope and love, such people are designed - it isn’t too strong a word - to be a sign and foretaste of what God wants to do for the entire cosmos.  What’s more, such people are not just to be a sign and foretaste of that ultimate’ salvation’; they are to be part of the means by which God makes this happen in both the present and the future.

Later he says:

The power of the gospel lies, not in the offer of a new spirituality or religious experience, not in the threat of hellfire (certainly not in the threat of being ‘left behind’) which can be removed if only the hearer ticks this box, says this prayer, raises a hand, or whatever… but in the powerful announcement that God is God, that Jesus is Lord, that the powers of evil have been defeated, that God’s new world has begun. This announcement, stated as a fact about the way the world is rather than as an appeal about the way you might like your life, your emotions or your bank balance to be, is the foundation of everything else.  Of course, once the gospel announcement is made, in whatever way, it means instantly that all people everywhere are gladly invited to come in, to join the party, to discover forgiveness for the past, an astonishing destiny in God’s future, and a vocation in the present.  And in that welcome, and invitation, all the emotions can be, and one hopes will eventually be, fully engaged.

He also has a look at the doctrine of the rapture (he thinks it is nonsense), purgatory (also nonsense and as he points out the current Pope has declared that the case too so even the Catholics have discarded the idea). He looks at what we can learn from the bible about Hell too (not all that much) but stops short of saying there is no such thing and goes on to share some of his personal views.

Another key theme he often returns to is what Paul says at the end of the very important 1 Corinthians 15 chapter about the resurrection of the dead where he says in the concluding verse 58:

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

Tom argues that we need to find a middle ground between the extremes of the ’social gospel’ (that we can through our own efforts bring about God’s kingdom on earth) and the dispensational view (that this earth will get thrown away so what’s the point trying). We need to believe that as Paul says, everything we do somehow sows the seed for the work that only God will do when he restores the universe and us with it.

I fear I have given a very poor insight into the book but snatching quotes and summaries without all the supporting discussion so don’t take this as what Tom Wright thinks before reading it for yourself.

An astonishing book, not too hard to read and for me it put to rest many questions that had troubled me about Christianity for some time. 

very good 10 min clip of Tom Wright talking about the sacraments.  His point is that there must be a blend of the Word and the sacrament.  There needs to be proper explanation of what the sacrament means - just as the Jews explain the story of Passover (notably in the present tense) to their children each year.

Some Christian traditions major on the Word and de-emphasise the sacramental while others do the opposite with all sorts of elaborate ritual but only a mumbled explanation of what is going on.

It raises important questions for us in apres church about how we could celebrate communion for example in a cafe context.  How to strike the right balance of Word and Sacrament, with deed and explanation and all with the proper reverence.  If anything we have swung too far to Word and have left out the sacramental in our meetings.  I’d love to hear how you think we could incorporate it into what we do - a more experiential and tangible expression to our worship. 

Could we do communion in Caffe Nero?  How would it be done?

I found myself listening to a bit of an ambush interview on a seemingly pretty fundamentalist web site that posted on youtube.  I haven’t read that much by Doug Pagitt but what I have seemed pretty sound to me.  The interviewer just won’t let him explain his perspectives and it saddened me that there was no desire for dialogue.  You can read the comment thread I started at the bottom of the post (its the last comment, number 83 or so - so scroll to the end).  I don’t think there is much to be gained by the very polarised positions people on the site tend to retreat to and I try my best to engender discussion rather than point scoring.  However now that I’m told that even Tom Wright is of the devil, I’m seeing that there is no point to this discussion. 

What annoys me is that they just label one teacher as ’sound’ and another as ‘heretical’ - after that they drink in everything one says as if it is pure truth and refuse to listen to anything the other guy says as if it would infect them.  Now I’m sure Tom Wright wouldn’t claim to be correct about everything and would welcome debate but these people seem to lose the ability to deconstruct an argument.  They can’t accept that even if they disagree with some of what Tom says, he’s still a leading theologian and probably has some good stuff to say.  It’s as if they are trained not to think for themselves but just defend the party line to the death. This is where fundamentalism feels like a cult to me.

thinking more about Marji’s brilliant post, I keep finding myself singing that song by James “Sit down”.  Here are the lyrics - I’m always very moved by the last verse and it sums up for me a lot of how Jesus always sided with marginalised, the hurting, the misunderstood.  It speaks to the heart of working through doubt to get to truth, to pain to reach healing, of acceptance and fellowship.  I love that it doesn’t try to offer trite solutions to life’s problems.  It makes me cry and I hope apres church can be like this - that we can be there to help each other along.  What else is church for but to share in the joy and the pain?

I’ll sing myself to sleep
A song from the darkest hour
Secrets i can’t keep
Inside of the day
Swing from high to deep
Extremes of sweet and sour
Hope that god exists
I hope i pray

Drawn by the undertow
My life is out of control
I believe this wave will bear my weight
So let it flow

Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy

Now i’m relieved to hear
That you’ve been to some far out places
It’s hard to carry on
When you feel all alone
Now i’ve swung back down again
It’s worse than it was before
If i hadn’t seen such riches
I could live with being poor
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy

Those who feel the breath of sadness
Sit down next to me
Those who find they’re touched by madness
Sit down next to me
Those who find themselves ridiculous
Sit down next to me
In Love, in fear, in hate, in tears

Down
Down

Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy

Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy

Down

So we read Matthew and then Acts and surprised ourselves at how enjoyable it was.  The curry and beer helped too I’m sure but it was very doable to read a whole book in one afternoon/evening.  We took about seven chapters in a sitting and went round the room, each person reading a whole chapter.  We tried to avoid discussion of the passage as it interrupts the flow but in between sittings, over food, it is interesting how things really stand out from the passages.

In Matthew we were struck by just how much there is in there about judgement and also about grace and mercy. It was great to do in the run up to Easter too as we think about the wonder of the resurrection.

In Acts the story continues and we follow Paul as he does whatever it takes to spread the good news.

So continuing with the story, I’ve had a look at the rest of the New Testament, skipping Mark, Luke and John for now and I propose we do a further 6 sessions and get them in the diary. 

As a benchmark, Matthew was 37 pages in my bible and so was Acts and we managed each book no problem in about 4 half hour sessions so these next 6 should be a breeze!

So I propose we start doing these once a month round our house on a Saturday afternoon.  To make it easy how about we aim for the first Sat in the month?? That gives us the dates above and if we assume it’s 3.30 for 4pm start.

We are happy to host them but if someone else wants to suggest a place or if we feel we want it nearer the Wokingham area then just shout.

Open to anyone as always so let us know if you want to come along.

I think seeing a baby days after it’s been born is a hugely spiritual moment. The wonder of new life. The hope for the future while things are brand new and perfect. It’s an experience I run to at every opportunity. A tiny glimpse perhaps of how God sees us. You see this helpless baby and you know you’d do anything within your power to protect it and nourish it and offer it as much love as is possible to receive! We begin to get the idea of how great the Fathers love is for his children. He sent his SON to die for US! It’s quite incredible and almost beyond our comprehension.

And yet there’s always a flip side to the coin. While we marvel at newborn babies we too have to think about the pain and suffering that brought this baby into the world. The days of agony and the feeling that you are alone and that God is far far away.

We have to cope with disappointment and questions that won’t go away. Why did it happen this way? Why didn’t God make it different? Why do I have to go through this and feel so alone?

I don’t know the answer to those questions though it’s always tempting to think that I do. I could come up with theories and possibilities but I don’t really know. I don’t really understand.

Garrison Keillor writes in his weekly blog for Salon.com

‘There is comfort for the doubter in the Passion story. You are not alone. Jesus’ cry from the cross was a cry of incredulity. The apostle denied even knowing Jesus three times. The guy spent years with Jesus, saw the miracles up close, the raising of Lazarus, the demons cast out, the sick healed, the water-walking trick, all of the special effects, but when the cards were down, he said, “Who? Me? No way.”

He repented. I would too, but not quite yet.

Skepticism is a stimulant, not to be repressed. It is an antidote to smugness and the great glow of satisfaction one gains from being right. You know the self-righteous — I’ve been one myself — the little extra topspin they put on the truth, their ostentatious modesty, the pleasure they take in being beautifully modulated and cool and correct when others are falling apart. Jesus was rougher on those people than He was on the adulterers and prostitutes.

So I will sit in the doubter’s chair for a while and see what is to be learned back there.’

I think that’s what I love about Apres Church. It allows me to sit in the doubters chair. There are times when I don’t need to sit there. Other times when I think I’ll never leave it. That’s ok. I’ve got friends to sit with me.

We were talking the other week about how we would like to read the bible together and we came up with the cool idea of having a read through of the whole book of Matthew.

So we’ve set ourselves a challenge to read the whole book together out loud in one afternoon/evening.  And in true apres church style, we thought we’d do it with some food and drink.  I think we’ll have 5 or so sessions interspersed with food to read all 28 chapters in one day.

Should be fantastic to get the whole gospel story in one sitting.  We’ll host it at our house and if you would like to come please add a comment here or let me know so we can get an idea of numbers.  We’ll probably need everyone to bring some food or drink and Malc’s already volunteered to cook us a curry - fantastic.

So please comment here if you are coming.  Shall we say after 2pm for a start at 3pm on Saturday 26th Jan - don’t be late or you’ll miss some of Matthew!  If you want to stay over with us that’s fine too just let us know.

great speech about the benefits of getting in touch with your inner tortoise..

Briefly, the book talks about how you can train yourself to be aware of God, more specifically the Holy Spirit, in everything you do.  I have been having a hard time at work - as we all do - and I pretty much had to become seriously aware of God 24/7 in order to stop myself from handing in my notice.  This was especially difficult as I felt that God led me to this job!  By listening to what God is doing, which is an intuitive process that requires practise and patience, I was able to remember the reason I went into teaching - God inspired me. 

When I started my new job in September, I had keenly got on with my new job and became exhausted with endless discipline issues and stupid admin tasks (it is hard to find the teaching some days!).  It had not occurred to me that the school’s agenda and God’s agenda for me in the school might be different.  The school’s agenda is pretty much for me to become a cross between a performing seal and wonderwoman. 

Ortberg obviously doesn’t just write “listen to God more” in this book.  The book contains a wealth of listening practises, which I have found to be crucial rituals.  For example, I now try and start my day by doing 3 things:

1. Acknowledging that I can’t get through the day without God
2. Giving each thing I am anxious about for that day to God (especially small things that I think I can control on my own - thank you very much!)
3. Asking God to be with me all day.  He is anyway, but I forget He is.

I am really not a 3 point person at all, but I have found it immensly helpful.  In addition, I don’t just go through this ritual when I’m going to work, but also on my days off.  This has meant that I have had amazing experiences with God on Saturdays.  Once I went to a gallery and then for a walk in the woods on my own - where I saw a deer - in Bracknell!  Typically, I spend my saturdays with other people or shopping for things I can’t afford, not seeking God in the woods. 

Practising listening to God has changed me and I want to find spaces where I can really sense God.  I keep meeting people randomly as well.  People who know God well and people who don’t.  I sometimes feel pressure that I ought to be talking to them about God, but I’m not sure if it is God or Christians telling me to do this.  I need to keep practising how to listen because there is a thin line between God’s timing preventing me from Bible bashing and my own fears. I don’t just want to be a talker - What do you think?