Is everything fragile and unstable ?
It has been a tumultuous week in numerous countries... but especially Ukraine and UK. Whatever your eschatological view, we live in climactic and unique times. Never has there been so much instability in the leadership of the UK. Compounded by independency drives from Scotland and Wales, resurgence of nationalism and sectarianism in Ireland, Brexit, a global pandemic, a broken geological system and an ever increasing fuel bill, we live in a time when everyone does what is fit in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). If ever :strong and stable" leadership was needed it is now. However, Mr McGuiinnes' tweet regarding his 4 month old son witnessing 4 chancellors, 3 home secretaries, 2 prime ministers and 2 monarchs beautifully sums up the volatility, velocity and temporary nature of our age.
Couple with this the devilish breath of hostility which drives a "military operation" to co-opt Iranian drones, forces and "experts" in order to destroy the lives of more civilians and obliterate or terrorise whole communities. In it there is no clear objective, just a desire for localised destruction and terror, hid under a cloak of lies and anger. Marginalised governments with diminishing influence can be drawn into increasingly erratic behaviour and goals. This does not increase their power on the world stage but further limits it, and the resources with which they will be able to operate.
In such a chaotic world, where is our hope ? Where do we find certainty, a steadiness for the future to build our lives and those of our family upon?
One of my favourite hymns sung in Ukrainian, Russian and English...
1) THE GRIP OF GOD'S GRACE IS NOT LOOSENED BY CIRCUMSTANCE:
In Mark 4:35-41 we are reminded of the unique, calm, immovable grace of our God which surpasses all times, generations, temporary storms, human doubts and efforts to destroy it. Two things hit me which relate to our present circumstances...
Colossians 1:15-20
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
b) HE GOES THROUGH THIS WITH US : There are so many current experiences which would prompt loneliness for the christian in our present age. However... greater company than ever is gathering to display the majesty of the one with us (Hebrews 12:1) and his ability to not only keep us in the worst of times but use us as hyper profitable (Romans 8:35-37).
As battles rage, suffering increases and many lives are tragically ended in Ukraine, the church grows dynamically. As floods in Pakistan and Nepal submerge communities, the church continues to grow. As the heat is turned up on the church, it is purified. As the times become increasingly dark and Satanic, the church shines brighter than ever with the presence of the one who is the light of the world (John 8:12, Matthew 4:16) , and inhabits his church to be radiant across the world (Luke 8:16, Phil 2:15).
2) THE GLOBAL NEW COMMUNITY OF MISSIONAL GRACE SHOULD REMAIN STEADFAST TO THE COURSE. When stormy times come on the church there is always a temptation to "batten down the hatches" and regroup down in a ghetto basement to feel the safety and warmth in likemindedness. This is what the early church in Jerusalem did, before the storm of persecution pressed them to get on with the global mission of God, with which they had been charged and for which he had equipped.
I sense in the UK a growing dichotomy between those local communities of believers who are living for confinement and preservation (whose goal is to "STAY" in settled equilibrium) and those churches who are willing to "GO" with the gospel.
IS THE CHURCH RESTING OUT OF LAZINESS RATHER THAN IN FAITH ?
Interestingly in the bible, the new community in the scriptures is never defined by it's locality or geography, its people type or culture, but by purpose and character within the dynamic purpose of the mission of GOD.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be MY WITNESSES in Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ACTS 8:1
As God is not confined, so the church he inhabits and arrests for his purposes is not bound or restrained. In fact those who desire to define church for themselves or their own purposes (in restrictive, self serving leadership) often only see their "ministry" and church remain for a temporary existence which is characterised by increasing introspection and self destruction. Our most recent premiers in the UK are a good illustration on this.
THERE IS A HIGHER CALLING IN THE STORM:
The church is ultimately defined by God and not us, the biblical goal is never for us to establish a local church to serve ourselves, to be terratorial, but to see a dynamic missional community emerge for his glory. This strikes me as the primary and very basic misunderstanding in too many church planting movements and materials, a huge contributor to why some church plants fail. Whenever the planting of a church is seen as a goal in and of itself rather than as a means to serve the global mission of God, it is doomed to fail as a mechanism of human engineering. When storms come on the church (as they will), that which has been built with human resources reaps human rewards and consequences. (Matt 7:24-27). In the UK we have a graveyard of physical church buildings which have not fallen whilst the local expression of church has. Today in our generation and nation there are no shortage of night clubs, Indian restaurants, bespoke homes and carpet warehouses situated in old church buildings. Building a physical building costing millions today for a church makes us no more missional or fruitful in the kingdom than the reality of our hearts.
The goal of the local church is to have no boundaries which restrict others coming into the missional community of grace, to be driven by nothing other than the mission of GOD. We are not here to define our own boundaries as his community, but to be swept in joyful submission as the Spirit leads us, and goes where He wills (John 3:8). Trying to confine the Living God to our constraints is foolish, sinful and disastrous. Contrarily there is great liberty and joy (2 Cor 3:17) in churches and leadership teams which get this dynamic.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
Psalm 67:3-5
The mission of God is bigger than any one culture, one denomination, one parish, diocese or region, one nation or indeed several or dozens. It is for and includes all peoples. Whether new believers are baptised in a bath in Bhutan or a pool in Pavlohrad, sing in Swahili with a adeudeu or in Dagenham with drum and bass, the intention and ambition is the same,,, to see others come to know Christ. We commend him and not ourselves or our culture. We transparently look to live him out in all contexts and through all storms, and his grip on our lives enables us to do so.
The new community should be a missional community without walls, going to all cultures, reaching out to Jews, Greeks, Belarussians, Bhutias, Nepalese, Sharchops, Tajikistanis, and Montenegrins. The beauty of the global village and communications is that at times we are starting to witness "all as one" in Christ Jesus in a single virtual or even geographical location. Never before have previous generations been able to see such a consolodated reality glimpse of heaven, an open window on the global people of God being orchestrated into incorprated unity. The unprecedented migration and displacement of humanity of our present time increases both storm and missional opportunity. For this eternal kingdom expansion to happen though we need to be more focussed on Him than the daily storm. more concentrated on our ultimate task as ambassadors of grace and citizens of heaven than our momentary comfort as creatures.
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| The Christian life is an adventure in the safe provision of God not a snooze on the sofa of our own making. |
As followers of Jesus then we are not "stay at home" slipper warmers... resolute builders of our own comfort kingdoms, but pilgrims on a journey whose adventure is being led by the one who has safely gone before us. We need to remember that when Jesus taught Matthew chapter 6 ...life was fragile for those who followed him, the New Testament church was unestablished, without buildings, websites, savings accounts or any provisions surplus we may have today. They lived one day at a time trusting his grace as totally sufficient (2 Cor 12:9). This journey took them to the cross, it was not a life of comfort but of sacrifice as they followed the servant king through suffering to glory.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you."
It is a sobering thought, that at least some of our present storms may be here to refocus us in the new community on the primacy of Jesus, his kingdom and calling.
Our God is bigger, bigger than all our storms, bigger than our needs of today and tomorrow. Be encouraged then friend, not to regress into a huddle with like minded "hunkerers" but to stand straight and step out with a missional community. When our eyes are drawn to Christ, the storm becomes less of a directive, decisions are clearly made, priorities are without nuance. The grip of our God's grace has saved us, is refining and is keeping us to move forward in his purposes. For us this is a good day. Whatever your situation, whether without electric or heating, in UK or Ukraine, in the basement under drones, or on top of a mountain of bills, let him take control of tomorrow. We may be surprised how blessed tomorrow will be as we rest in his safe grip and apply his priorities and Lordship into our storms.
WHAT A PERSON GRIPPED BY GRACE LOOKS LIKE:
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him
COL 3:12-17
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