Signs

The series looking at the signs in John at 'connecT' has come to an end. The discussion around signs was helpful and the conversation stimulating, as per usual. A 'connecT' we try to use a 'round table approach' using conversation and mutual learning. The result is that no one stands out as an expert dominating the conversation, but those who may have trained insights share their experience with others, seeking to learn as well as to share. And so it was with 'signs'; I learnt much.

A sign points away from itself to something else. The one thing I did learn at theological college. So too the signs in John, pointing away from themselves to a greater reality. Miracles, understood in a certain way, can be an end in themselves. Signs point to Jesus and God's reign breaking into the world. Signs have an incompleteness to them. The wine will run out eventually, those who are healed may get sick again, those who are fed will get hungry, those who walk on water will touch the shore, the blind man's sight will diminish with age, Lazarus will die again and will have to wait with the rest of us until the resurrection at the end of time.

The church, too, is such a sign pointing away from itself to the reign of God. Lessons from John, as always, getting deeper and deeper, but never ending.

Chris

Sight

This week at 'connecT' we are looking at the 'sign', in John, of the 'man born blind' (John 9: 1 - 12). Whose fault is it, the disciples ask Jesus? a not uncommon thought, even in these contemporary and, supposedly, enlightened times. Why does my child have a disability? Did I do something wrong at pregnancy, a mother may ask? Why does my son not do well at school? What did I do to make my daughter the way she is? Sigmund Freud did not help by pointing to a child's upbringing as the root cause for most psychological disorders and phobias. Who is to blame,'this man or his parents' is a fairly common and widely accepted response.Neither, is Jesus' unexpected answer; 'but so the works of God might be made manifest' (9: 3).

What are the consequences for our world - my world- I wonder? We should always acknowledge the wrongs of the past, I would argue: the holocaust, the forced separation of Aboriginal children of mixed descent from their parents (the stolen generation), are but two examples. However, the past is the past; to be remembered, lest we repeat it, but forgiveness offered and new sight given.

The man born blind sees for the very first time, but those caught in the past, and who justify it, cannot see (9: 40). How do my blind spots keep me from seeing God working? How does the Church stop people from seeing? Where do we see Jesus' light shining? What do you think?

Chris

Water

Just last night I was watching 'myth busters' with my son, and the myth they were trying to bust was 'walking on water' -well, running actually. Apparently, there was 'you-tube' footage of a some people doing it. The 'myth-busters' tried, but concluded it can't be done. They also concluded that the 'you-tube water runners' must have had something just submerged under the water that they ran on. The footage certainly looked like that, because they all fell in to the water after running a certain distance. It is unteresting, though, that Jesus' 'sign' still gathers attention.

At 'connecT' we have been looking at the signs in John, including the one where Jesus walks - not runs - on water. (Jn: 6: 16 - 25). I personally have long given up - never really held these views in the first place, I must admit - thinking that Jesus was walking on a sandbank, had ancient water skis, special shoes, flippers, carried by fish, the apostles had a collective fear induced vision, ate magic mushrooms, whatever, whatever...They sound as unbelievable as walking on water to me. No, I am happy to take the sign at face value.

Also, I don't expect to walk on water any time soon, but I do know that during times of rough seas Jesus comes to me and I sense a calm. Sometimes Jesus comes to me in worship and prayer; other times, and quite often, through other people. Looking at water itself, especially the sea, reminds of Jesus' calming presence and the amazingness of God's creation. Signs all pointing to the reign of God in our midst. What signs work for you, I wonder?

Chris

A week of gifts - Anglican Indigenous Network

Just last week I went to the 'Anglican Indigenous Network' meeting in Sydney. AIN is made up of Indigenous Anglicans who are minorities in their own land. There were representatives from Canada, USA, Australia, Aotearoa and Hawaii. I, with 5 others, were representing the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council (NATSIAC - I have been a member, on and off, for 17 years, wow!). I have Aboriginal heritage given to me by my mother - a rich gift! The conference itself was a gift, and the gift that people gave were themselves. Stories abounded of suffering, disempowerment, struggle, racism, self-determination, peace, joy, love and forgiveness. It was deep Christian community, and the prayer was so heart-felt and rich.

It seems to me that indigenous church has been doing 'Fresh Expressions' and 'Emerging Church' for a long time now. They are;

. Culturally relevant
. Biblically faithful, but hermeneutically creative.
. Creative with the use of art and symbol.
. Focussed on the un-churched (missiological).
. Passionate about issues of justice (poverty & ecology)

Why has this passed by the attention of non-indigenous churches? Like in the time of Jesus those on the fringes often catch something the mainstream misses.

Chris

On the road to Emmaus

Easter season is here and the go to text for me, and many others, is the 'road to Emmaus' (Luke 24: 13 - 35). It's all there; journeying, relationships, strangers, conversation, life's disappointments and surprises, death, life, meals, revelations, insights, presence and absence. I'm fairly convinced that Jesus journeys with us, but does not gate-crash our party, but slides up alongside our conversation to join in through teasing questions and gentle corrections. Don't our hearts burn with us as he speaks with us on the road? Jesus opens up within us the pondering and questions of our hearts and fills them with his presence, not to give us propositional certainty, but a relationship with him and others.

The Christian life is best described as a journey with Jesus. Do we ever come to an end to the conversation in this life? Does Emmaus road ever come to end? The two disciples, Cleopas and his (female?) partner make it to Emmaus only to return back to Jerusalem to be with others. The journey of resurrection faith needs to be shared with others. Only in shared experience and community can we celebrate the truth that 'he is risen'!

Happy Easter
Christ is risen!

Chris

A faith that works.

Pinched the title from a book, but I can't remember who wrote it. At connecT we think it is important to engage in an honest way with the bible. We share this with other 'emerging' type churches. So, over the last month we looked at the Epistle of James, which is a long sermon(s) knocked up to look like a letter. What struck me, though, was how rich the material of James is. I have looked at it before, sure, but I hadn't quite grasped the obvious parallel it has with the 'sermon on the mount' in Matthew. The teachings of Jesus were taken by James and re-contextualized for the 'emerging' 1st century church. A lesson for us now, I would suggest.

What it said to me was that faith needs to be getting about doing things. Christianity can often be reduced to just chattering. Was it T.S. Eliot who talked about 'poor chattering Christianity'? James is a timely reminder that faith without works is dead (James 2: 26). For James, justice and care for poor and needy are at the heart of the Christian life.

Also, I liked the way James (2: 21 - 24) used the Abraham story in contrast to way Paul uses it (Romans 4 1- 17). An example of how there is no final interpretation of biblical text: very post-modern!

Chris

1 Thessalonians 4 - sex and respect.

Paul's first letter ever! Well, that is what many scholars have said and it has provided good discussion at 'connecT'. We have looked at leadership in a collaborative setting and Paul's ability to communicate in such a way that he connected with people. And this week, 1 Thess. 4 - wait for it - we looked at sexual purity. A somewhat old fashioned subject I admit, but one that is not irrelevant.

What was suggested though is that sexual purity has less to do with Puritanism than respect. Sex is a good thing when used well; A good servant, but a poor master. Respect for others, ourselves, God were some of the suggestions that came up. Yet, that was not the end of it.

The second half of 1 thess. 4 has to do with respect between Christians. Perhaps, a greater challenge. Many Christians, myself included, take a dim view of those with whom we differ. The challenge from Paul hits home; simple really, respect.

Back to the Bible.

At connecT, over the last few weeks, we have been thinking about the Bible. A couple of us reflected on the place of the Bible in our lives and the various ways we read it and reflect on its authority. 'Layers of meaning' seems to me to be an important way to consider the teaching of the Bible. This is not to say that the original authors, and pre-ceeding them the original orators, did not have a specific thought in mind, but to acknowledge that the Biblical text also has a life of its own. It is important to acknowledge what the original author had in mind, but we also need to allow for fresh illumination as we read the text. Also, the Biblical authors used individual stories differently to address their specific contexts. For example, John has the cleansing of the temple at the beginning of his gospel; the synoptics at the end. The same story used differently and for different effect.

The Bible is a great book that is new every morning allowing God's word to speak afresh in every context. At connecT we are looking at Paul's Thessalonian correspondence. Expect new insights!

Chris

connecT re-commits

connecT is a little over a year old now, so we decided to have a congregation meeting to look at our life together. Small discussion groups are the backbone of our sharing time together at connecT, so we did that to discuss the agenda items. Some of the things we recommitted to:

* Learning together (but with the occasional sermon)- 'Round Table Church'
* Eating together with shared responsibility for providing food.
* Shared leadership including younger people.
* Eucharistic worship in the round.
* Diversity in music.
* Strengthening our welcome to visitors.
* Shared financial responsibility.

Given it is the Easter season it was an appropriate time to look back so we could move forward led, we believe, by the presence of the risen Christ.

'Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands he blessed them.'(Luke 24:50)

Lessons, meal and Eucharist

There were so many things to enjoy over Holy Week and Easter. There were powerful and confronting stories of Jesus set to music, readings and sermon, but the highlight for me was the simple meal we had on Maundy Thursday. It was billed as 'Lessons, meal and Eucharist', and that is what it was. The lessons were taken from Luke 22, Jesus' last night before his crucifixion and the Eucharist shared at the tables at which we ate the Mediterranean inspired meal. At the tables we shared thoughts on the readings as well as talked about everyday things. There was something 1st century about it: simple Church with Jesus, meal and community.

Love & discipline

No, this is not a post for sado-masochism, but a serious reflection, I hope, on the connection between our relationship with God and self-discipline. Many people associate the word discipline with kinky sex or with punishment, and therefore regard it, either, with little seriousness or negatively. But Shelley, at connecT last Sunday night, helped us to see that discipline can be a good thing, especially in our relationship with God. After all, isn't discipline at the heart of Jesus' time of fasting and prayer in the wilderness.

Fasting & prayer doesn't sit well with with our self-gratifying contemporary lifestyles, but the Christian tradition has always valued a time of self-denial & prayer as being crucial for Christian 'discipling'. Love & discipline do go together, as any lover will know. Loving another demands self-denial. No relationship will last if we always put ourselves and our needs first. Neither will it last if we look solely to our own self-pleasure. A relationship, to be healthy, needs sacrifice and self-denial. This is no less true - or perhaps, even more so - with our relationship with God. The focus is taken from ourselves to God and others.

'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me' (Matt 16: 24)

Chris

Love

Over the next couple of weeks at connecT we will be exploring the theme of love. We are gearing up for 'St. Valentine's Day', where we are exploring love in relationships. Last week we started with God's love for us; a good place to begin.

You don't have to be a psychologist to work out that children learn all about love from their parents. One of the first things a baby experiences is the loving voice and touch of their parents. In time that child, as an infant, will return that love with a kiss and a hug. In turn they will begin to kiss and hug others; siblings, grandparents and friends. The love once born in the parents begins to embrace a wider circle. Very much God's love, I think. Those of us who are disciples of Jesus, having experienced something of God's love, begin to share it with others, or at least that's how the theory goes.

But when you hear the talk of people like Pat Robertson and other 'hard-line' Christians it makes you wonder, doesn't it? How far do we really believe in a God of love? Is it just talk?

'This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you'
(John : 15:12)

Australia Day Thoughts

I am back from leave, hence the little recent activity on this blog. 'connecT', however, has been continuing on in summer mode under the leadership of shelley and John. Last Sunday we gave some thought to this great country of ours - Australia. What does it mean to be Australian? Are we the lucky country and who are we lucky for? These questions were reflected on in the light of Matthew 25: 31 - 46; the parable of the sheep and the goats. My thoughts: I do feel lucky (blessed) to live in Australia. I have all I need; family, friends, freedom (religious and personal), responsible government (mostly), money, a good home, beautiful countryside and beach, and plenty more besides. What more could I ask for? I am very satisfied. But then I read about Haiti. Perhaps, the missing thing - responsibility!

'I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me'. (Matt: 25:35)

Christmas - an event for everyone!

I was taken by a line in the message translation of the bible - 'an event for everyone'. Not part of the scripture though, it was a title for the response of the shepherds to the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:8 -20). It is obviously Eugene Peterson's - the author of 'the message' - interpretation of the Christmas story. The right one too, I think.

It is easy in christian circles to criticise all the 'secular' carol services going on in our communities. Not to mention, the santas, trees, elves and the Frank & Dino Christmas c.d's in the shopping malls. 'Put Christ back into Christmas' is a slogan we often use. But just maybe people are really looking for the Christ of Christmas but don't find him too readily in our christian communities. So the 'consumerist' one will have to do. But lets face it, don't we in the churches do exactly the same thing as we hope people will buy our product this year rather than the other church's across the road: and, yes, clergy will look at attendance figures to see whether sales are up or down this year.

As I look at people's faces as they sing carols at these 'secular' events - which I am now fond of doing - I see written on them joy, hope, peace, innocence and a longing for something mystical mixed in with the 'etchings' of life (pain, disappointment, suffering, loneliness, depression...) Christmas is for everyone because Jesus Christ is for everyone. This Christmas I'm dropping the slogans and seeking to meet people at the point of their searching. Maybe, on the other hand, the real slogan should be put Christ back into the christian churches!

Chris

God with us - Immanuel.

‘ For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah 9:18)

In advent we not only prepare for Christ's return - look busy!- but we, obviously, get ready for Christmas. Spending time with the prophets helps us to do that: these characters who reflected on God's activity in their midst and called others to catch a glimpse of their theocentric vision. God with us (Immanuel - Isa 7:14) is Isaiah's concern and he wants others to share it. Prophets pointed to God and in this sense the church follows their lead. Advent is a time for catching a glimpse of Jesus who is with us and yet, is still to come. As the Christmas trees go up it is our time to point to Jesus, the one behind it all. But more than that, it is timely to remind ourselves and others that God's reign will be accompanied by justice and mercy.

But how do we as the church engage the culture around us yet remain prophetic? How do we celebrate with others around the trees but remind them that more is at stake?

Chris

He's back!

Another Advent theme we will be exploring at connecT is the second coming of Jesus. This is a tough one, isn't it? It's part of the faith and so I accept it. But how long are we supposed to wait or have I missed something?

'Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail' (Rev 1:7)

Chris

John the Baptist - crazy dude?

At connecT we are having a 2 month advent. We thought it would be good to stay a little longer with the advent themes. One character who will be stretching our thought is John the Baptist. Now what can I say, one crazy dude (cf. Matt 3: 4) I have always imagined he looked a bit like Charles Manson with out the 'dark side'. But honestly, can we handle prophets like John? How many prophets have we really met, do they sit in our churches and sing quaint hymns and take their turn on the morning tea roster? How do we make sense of John - a crazy dude with something to say?

'You brood of vipers who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?' (Matt 3: 7)

Ruth - and the moral of the story is?

It seems to me that there is a bit of a punch line to the story of Ruth in chapter 4, when we are told that Ruth gives birth to Obed, the grand-father of David. Is that the only reason Ruth is in the Bible? A bit of a prequel to the real story - David. But so much is lost isn't there to that simple masculine focus. I love the relationship between the women - Naomi, Orpah and Ruth (1:14); Orpah departed with a kiss but Ruth clung to Naomi. Naomi cares for her daughter in law like her own child and then nurses the infant Obed. The women of the neighbourhood join in giving the name to the child. A model of community, I think. A feminine gift to a masculine world.

Chris

Ruth and our own stories.

At connecT we are looking at the story of Ruth. It is a simple sad but happy story. Ruth loses husband, follows Naomi, her mother in law to Naomi's country, finds a man and marries and lives happily ever after. Well that's the abridged version, any way. But what interests me is how God moves in the lives of simple and un-spectacular people. So often we think that God only chooses the heroes but in the lives of these two women we find God at work through the pain & loss, plans & plotting, encounters & commitments. It reminds me that God is involved at the grass roots of our lives. A reminder to me to take notice and see where God is involved in the contours of my mundane existence.

Where does God show up in your journey?

Chris

Life in parables

Now, what was that all about? So someone asked after I was trying to say something profound about parables. Er...what I was trying to say was that parables are best left a little open ended. A parable, like the 'good Samaritan', says something about the way we experience the reign of God and how we respond to it. Indeed, that parable finishes with a call to be like the 'good Samaritan'.

But, I no longer hold that a parable should only have one meaning as, seemed to be, suggested in some books and articles I read in the past. A parable - left open - invites us into the story. Who am I really - the priest, the levite, the victim or the good Samaritan or even just the inn keeper?

Parables get us involved and in turn help us to see that our lives can be parabolic -earthly, incarnational stories that speak of the surprising God among us.

Chris

P.S. Don't forget connecT looks at 'the Shack' (previous post)