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 & Eucharist

For the lead up to Lent we have been exploring love. Recently, we did some thinking over the theme of 'Love & Eucharist' and how the two are inseparable. Some of our 'connecT' members were/are nurtured in other traditions than Anglicanism and so the reflection on the place of the 'Lord's Supper' was varied. Some held that the gathering together was the essential part of the celebration, others held that the eating and drinking of the body and blood of Christ was more important. Others still, suggested that there was no 'real presence' but it was a memorial meal. Others (including me) thought that Jesus was, indeed, present in the bread and wine and also in the community that celebrates. Old debates, aren't they? But what we all agreed about is that love is present when we gather together to celebrate the Eucharist. God's love for us, our attempts at love for God and each other.
Perhaps then, the debates about 'real presence' are superfluous because there isn't a time when God is absent: God fills all things. The Eucharist sharpens our minds to that fact.

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

Prepare the way of the Lord - Christmas

At connecT we are spending two weeks with John the Baptist. We are pondering over Mark 1: 1 -8 and what this prophetic 'crazy dude' might have to say to us. Last Sunday we gave some thought to 'preparing the way of the Lord' this christmas and how we might do that as a community. Some thoughts that came up - prayer & christmas cards given out to our communities, singing carols in aged care facilities & hospitals, a lavish connecT christmas party with nativity and being a christian presence at the office christmas party, especially when we have a had few drinks and the gossip starts!

It was good to see the connecT group thinking of ways to be with our wider community this christmas. How do we prepare ourselves and others to experience Jesus this christmas? What do you think?

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