Partnership in Mission

What does partnership in mission look like in the twenty-first century?  Is our role simply to pray, care and give so that missionaries can go?  Is there more to it?

Here’s a challenge for us: read Paul’s letter to the Philippians through in one go.  Scribble all over your Bible with some coloured pencils to work out some themes.  Notice the preponderance of ‘gospel’ and ‘Christ’.  Notice how the Gospel shapes Paul’s self-identity, prayers and ambitions, and relationships.  Notice how the Gospel shapes the partnership between the Philippian church and Paul the missionary.  

A friend and colleague, Sam McGeown, notes four ‘mutuals’: mutual prayer, mutual care, mutual suffering, and in mutual giving and receiving.  I’d like to focus on mutual suffering, for I think that’s what I’m weakest at.

First, notice that Paul is obviously suffering for the Gospel.  He is in chains defending and confirming the Gospel (1:7).  Because of this suffering, the Gospel advances as Paul preaches in prison and the church is emboldened to speak the Word (1:12-14).  This often happens for me, that others’ faithfulness in difficult ministry makes me bolder in mine.  As they suffer, we are made bold!  Does that happen for you?

Second, know that testifying to Christ may invite strange looks, gossip, and being marginalised in our workplaces, universities, schools, neighbourhoods, groups.  That’s Gospel partnership that involves mutual suffering!  1 Peter 2:12 puts it this way:

‘Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’

Are we determined to live such lives this year?  Are you willing to be accused of doing wrong because of your Christian living?

Third, mutual suffering must be quantified.  Suffering is not notional.  Paul spells it out for the Philippians.  Prison.  Envious trouble-making rivals (1:17, 28).  Sorrow and worry over the health of friends (2:26).  Illness and the danger of death – for ourselves and for those we love (1:20, 2:26-30).  Separation from loved ones (2:26).  There’s an acknowledgement of the opportunity cost of giving to missions (4:19).  I give, so I won’t buy a new flat screen tv or take that expensive holiday.  It helps me to quantify ‘suffering’, and to thank God for the privilege of partnership.  Have you counted the cost of your mission partnership this year?  Will you thank God for it? 

Will you pray with me for an increase in mutual suffering for the Gospel cause in 2013?

(First published in CMS Victoria's Branch Matters, February 2013.)

Praying for power

Most Australians are innately suspicious of power.  When we spy a tall poppy, our instinct is to lop its head off.  Preferably unceremoniously.  Suspicion of authority and power is blamed on that ‘convict past’.  It’s so pervasive that even a migrant like me has absorbed it to some degree. 

‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ – Lord Acton.  So we are right to be suspicious of power.  Right?

Actually, the Scriptures give us a mandate to pray for power!  And to pray for power for ourselves, for each other and for our fellow-servants in the Gospel work.  It’s in Ephesians 3:14-21. 

‘I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power…’ v16

But what sort of power is Paul asking God to strengthen the Ephesian Christians with?  Four observations: 

First, it is power that comes from God’s infinite storehouse of wealth and might, ‘out of his glorious riches’.  God’s power!  For us!  A mighty power, and a holy power – untainted by sin and corruption. 

Second, it is power to ‘strengthen’ us.  What is achieved is a spiritual strength that will enable us to dominate any evil influence.  That’s real power!  It achieves all the things Paul writes about in the next three chapters.  Culminating in chapter six, Paul writes, ‘Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power… Put on the full armour of God’. 

Third, it is a spiritual power.  It is ‘power through his Spirit in your inner being’.  It is the kind of power that comes with the indwelling Holy Spirit, who lives in every converted Christian believer, transforming us from ungodliness and unholiness to become increasingly godly, holy, wise, loving, humble, servant-hearted and … powerful.  Powerful in a way that the world struggles to understand, but still recognises when it acknowledges true godliness and wisdom working for peace and justice. 

Fourth, it is a Christ-in-you power.  For the purpose of that power, is ‘…that Christ might dwell in your hearts through faith’.  The verb ‘to dwell’, indicates living or dwelling in a place in a settled or established manner.  We pray for a power that results in the exuberant, un-self-conscious exclamation, ‘It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me!’  (Gal 2:20). 

Christian believer: would you pray for this sort of power?  For me, for CMS missionaries, for your church members, for yourself?  Would you use Ephesians 3:14-21 and the four observations above to pray for our shared Gospel ministry in Christ?  Please do!

Here is a great book on prayer sure to reinvigorate your prayer life through the Scriptures: ‘A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from the Prayers of Paul’, D. A. Carson.  Buy two copies – give one away! 

(First published in CMS Victoria's Branch Matters bulletin, December 2012.)

Jonah

One of my resolutions upon being appointed to serve at CMS was to work through the Bible book of Jonah.  It’s so full of wisdom, insight and sharp truth for the cross-cultural mission enthusiast.  And a fair share of irony, paradox and hubris too. 

My young children love the story of Jonah and ask for it often.  They delight in knowing all the answers to my questions!  ‘Where did God send Jonah?’  ‘Neee-neee-veeeeehh!!!’  What did the Lord tell him to do?  ‘Tell the people to stop doing baaaaa-d things!!!’  Our discussions usually then trend towards whether it was a whale, a large fish, or a leviathan.

The plot of the book is simple enough.  God tells Jonah to preach to the Ninevites, but he runs away.  God sends a storm and then a huge fish.  Jonah relents and preaches to the Ninevites.  They repent and turn to God.  But here’s the sting in the story: Jonah becomes bitterly disappointed in God for saving an evil and wicked people.  The book ends with the Lord posing this question:

“Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

Indeed, Jonah the prophet is revealed as having a deep seated antipathy towards people not like himself.  If it is possible for a genuine prophet of God to be so unlike God, so ungodly, unloving, unkind, then it is also possible that Christians and churches might harbour that same anxiety that the loving Saviour might choose to save … people not like themselves.  People who look different, speak different, eat different, relate different, smell different, choose different, spend different, honour and shame different... 

May the Lord keep Christians from such ungodliness!  May the Lord replace our hearts of stone with hearts of full of loving concern for all the peoples of the world and, indeed, our neighbourhoods.  Perhaps there is someone not like you in your immediate vicinity.  What would it mean to be offer hospitality, kindness and the word of grace to them this week? 

ps. I’ve found Peter Adam’s recent sermons from Jonah helpful.  They were preached earlier this year at Christ Church Ormond.  Go to http://www.ormondanglican.org.au and search for ‘Peter Adam’. 

New job, new lease of life on an old blog

So, I've got a new job with the Church Missionary Society.  I'm the State Director for Victoria, Australia.  CMS is a missions agency with 200 Australian missios (that's missionaries) serving in seventy locations around the world.  Every continent except Antarctica, although I for one would be interested in hearing from you if you'd like to be sent there.
With a new job, comes a new lease of life for this blog. Let me know what you think I should do with it!

Pacing yourself in ministry/ life/ work

Easy to remember wisdom from Rick Warren on pacing yourself in ministry:
Divert Daily 
- have a daily break/ diversion/ recharge point or activity - a walk, or something pleasant that you enjoy
Wander Weekly 
- enforce that weekly day off by planning to wander away into some refreshing activity
Away Annually 
- get completely away from church/ your locality/ your city for a physically separate break 


What do you get up to in each of those three categories?  I try to walk the dog or go for a run each day - which is hard to do with a young family!  So it doesn't always happen.  
Each week, I plan for at least an afternoon or morning to myself, which is my introvert's time alone.  Typically I end up working in the garden if the weather permits, or reading a big book for a few hours.  Planning some hospitality and doing all the shopping and cooking is something I enjoy too.  It's alone time in the shops and kitchen, capped off nicely by time with  people.  
I suck at planning annual holidays.  What about you?

Why you should belong to a church

I thought I'd post this piece of pastorally-edgy theological reflection by Peter Adam of Ridley Melbourne, because I've just had cause to use it again! twice!  Peter doesn't blog, but if he did...   

I first came across this as a little pamphlet in the back of St Jude's Carlton in the mid-90s, and its relevance has not faded since.  Every now and then, I still hear someone declare that they don't really need to join a church, or that church the way it is today doesn't work for their faith.  If that's you, or if you've come across that thinking before - read on!

Why you should belong to a church

Because you need the regular support and encouragement of Christian fellowship.

The Christian life is not designed to be lived in isolation, and those who try it that way are likely to crash!  (see Hebrews 10:25)

Because fellowship provided by Christian friends is no substitute for belonging to a church.

You choose your friends because their ideas and style are similar to your own, God puts different people in a congregation so they can learn from each other.  (see Titus 2:1-10)

Because gifts can only rightly be used by someone who is a member of a congregation.

Gifts are primarily for the congregation, not for the individual and are rightly used to build up the church.  The picture of a church as a body tells us that our various gifts complement each other.  You don’t see a foot or an eye wandering around by itself!  (see 1 Corinthians 12)

Because God’s basic unit is the church, not the individual.

The story of the Bible is that of God making, shaping and refining his people, beginning with Abraham.  The lives of individuals like David, Isaiah, the Disciples, and Paul have their meaning because they are part of God’s continuous community.  It has tasted c.4,000 years – and there are no signs that God has changed his plan!  (see Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6; Romans 4)

Because you are not paying the price of being a Christian.

The ‘solo flight’ is a very attractive style of Christianity for some, but it evades a basic element, the cost of Discipleship.  Jesus called his followers to serve their community of faith… to be ‘slave of all’.  (see Mark 10:35-45)

Because you cannot understand the New Testament properly unless you belong to a church.

Most of the New Testament is addressed to churches.  If you only read the Bible privately, then you will not be in the right place to hear God’s word.  You will ‘privatise’ its message, and so misunderstand it.  (see most of Paul’s letters)

Because basic maturity in faith and knowledge is only found in the church.

The Bible clearly teaches that immaturity is found in those who cannot cope with the church ‘system’ (Titus 1:5; 3:10), and that maturity and fullness of faith is a corporate experience of the Christian community.  (Ephesians 3:14-21; 4:13-16)

Because sharing in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper is basic to Christian obedience.

We share in these sacraments because of the command of Christ.  They are not private rites but corporate actions of the body of Christ.  A ‘grab and run’ approach is wrong; sharing in them means belonging to a church.  (see 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:17-34; 12:13)

Because submitting to Christian leadership is integral to New Testament Christianity.

'Going-it-alone' is okay in the short term, but eventually we err if we imagine that we do not need structures and human authority. God's provision of order and authority  in the church is his realistic way of helping us. (see Hebrews 13:17)

Because fellowship-groups, evangelism teams, Christian societies are no substitute for churches.

Special groups and teams are more exciting than churches, because they attract people of similar aims, ideas and abilities.  They do good work but are not the same as churches, because they are limited in membership and task oriented.  Churches have to accept everyone, gifted or not, and so they more accurately reflect God’s free grace.

‘...not neglecting to meet together … but encouraging one another.’

Hebrews 10:25 (R.S.V.)

Daily Bible Reading and Prayer

Every now and then someone asks me about how to keep going reading the Bible and praying everyday.  I usually respond with these bits of advice:
1. Two good half-an-hour blocks a week are better than five rushed minutes per day.  It's grace, not guilt, so the point is to engage with God through His Word, not tick the boxes and follow the 'rules'.
2. 'Pray until you pray', is a Puritan maxim I love - from John Bunyan, author of 'The Pilgrim's Progress'.  Just as in any conversation, it takes more than a few minutes to move from the perfunctories to the deep and meaningful in our conversing with the Lord.
3. Make a time and space, and commit to it.  Bible reading and prayer is spiritual exercise, and it's a bit like physical exercise.  If you're looking to get fit, you commit to a training regime and, come rain, hail or shine (ideally), you're out there with your runners on.
Plan, organise, commit to a time and space (not in front of the tv, perhaps in your favourite closet) and your spiritual exercise is more likely to happen.  No one lost weight or got fit without a plan and purpose to get off the couch.
4. Bible reading plans, devotional books and various other resources can be helpful.  I've used a range of them over the years, but find that I need to chop and change.  Just like with my running routine, the same routes and programmes get boring after awhile, and need refreshing.  Here are a few I've used:
Don Carson's For the Love of God (two volumes)
John Stott's Through The Bible in A Year
This Bible Reading Chart, which I think was put together by AFES - can anyone enlighten me?  I love this, partly because it doesn't guilt you into feeling bad if you haven't followed some sort of daily plan.
The point is to cross out chapters as you read them, in any particular order, at any pace.  Have a look at it, perhaps get your group of Christian friends to read along with you.  The times I've used it I've progressed through multiple books at the same time, or had a weekend polishing off a few smaller books in one sitting.  It's very cathartic, being able to visualise the sense of getting through the whole Bible.
The ESV Bible website has a pile of free resources: click here.  I love the ESV Study Bible, and can recommend it wholeheartedly.  If you have a Kindle or Kindle reader for your electronic device, the ESV Bible for Kindle is free here.
Any other tips from anyone?  What's helped you to keep drinking deep from God's Word and praying regularly?