November 03, 2009
Pick A Fight
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." (Prov 31)
"Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."(Is 1)
"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness..." (Matt 6)
Christ calls us to leave the sin and emptiness of destructive self-gratification that shapes so much of our life, and to start living for something greater. His call is not just to believe in him so that you can go to heaven - his call is to leave self-centredness and to live a costly life of discipleship to bring freedom, healing, and salvation to others. He calls us to stand with the poor, weak, and vulnerable, to stand for justice and truth, to live passionately, purely, and sacrificially to bring God's kingdom of peace and justice to a needy world.
We have only to look at the news to see the suffering and injustice that break the heart of God, whether it is a billion people living in poverty, girls trapped in sex slavery, children taken as soldiers, racism, aids, corruption in high places, homelessness... and you can name many other issues. The God of love and justice cares about the poor and suffering, and calls us to join him in standing up for them.
These are all battles that are worth fighting, but at times it is overwhelming - you cannot fight every battle... But you can do something.
Don't reduce the life-changing gospel to just one aspect of its outworking in social action. But if your life is truly changed by the gospel, if your life is ruled and shaped by the suffering servant, you will find somewhere you can make a difference in the world. Pick a fight - find an injustice that wounds the heart of God, a people suffering, or beaten down by the sin of others, and get involved. Fight for something that is worth giving your life for, and not just for your own comforts and concerns. There are so many fights to be fought. Somehow, somewhere, give yourself to bring God's justice, peace, healing, and freedom to others.
Go on... pick a fight!
"Evil prospers when good men do nothing."
More Than Conquerors
The impetus for this post came from my friend Simon Guillebaud, who has been working in Burundi since 1998, and set up Great Lakes Outreach in 2003 to work for the spiritual and physical development of the country. He has been living for Christ in a war zone alongside radically committed Christians bringing the life-changing grace of Christ to a needy nation.
Simon has now written a book and has just produced a dvd with 13 short films, called "More Than Conquerors". The book and dvd are to "stir up, envision, and challenge followers of Jesus to embrace a costly authentic discipleship." You can buy the book or dvd at the More Than Conquerors website. I will be buying copies, and will review it here in due course. In the meantime, you can see a preview of one of the films here: http://www.more-than-conquerors.com/preview.html
August 05, 2009
Watch out for the preachers
"Watch out for the preachers who like to wear expensive clothes, and to be seen on tv and be invited to speak at major conferences. They get rich on the offerings of the poor and for a show make dramatic prayers. Such people will be punished most severely."
Lk 20:46-47
May 29, 2009
Pentecost - birth of a missionary community
Part 1 – A town in Israel, 1st century
The church is born – the day when God came to live in and among his people by the Holy Spirit. That day transformed a group of fellow disciples into the family of God. Just a few days beforehand, Jesus had told them that it was about to happen. These were apparently his last words to them before he returned to his Father – a sort of “DON’T FORGET what I’ve told you….” Rather like parents going away for the weekend. Just before they leave they repeat – again – that one most important thing to remember:
“When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the very ends of the earth.” And off he went. (Ac 1:5-9)
The day of Pentecost for Christians is not only about the birth of the church and the equipping with the Holy Spirit for our communion with God, power for living, and gifts for service of the saints. At the very heart of this day is the passing from Christ to us of the baton of God’s purpose to bless all nations – the gospel announced in advance to Abraham (Gal 3:8).
It is the day when the tide changes from a centripetal force, calling all nations to the temple at Jerusalem, to a centrifugal one, thrusting the temple out from Jerusalem into the nations. And, with the coming of the Holy Spirit, that day is marked by people from all nations, hearing the good news for the very first time in their own languages, before returning with it to their home lands.
It is a day when not only God comes to dwell among men, but also when his presence overflows beyond Israel to the world, beyond Gen 12:2 (I will bless you) to 12:3 (and all nations will be blessed through you). It is the day of moving beyond xenophobic self-interest to xenophilic other-centredness, that the whole earth may be filled with the glory of the Lord! The kingdom of God and his presence are now for all peoples, all tribes, and all languages.
This central feature of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost - the proclamation of the wonders of God in other languages to people “of every nation under heaven” tells us something. Its message is that we are and must be a missionary people. Our identity is inescapably tied up with mission. We are not only the recipients of his grace, but the channels of it to the world. When we are not missionary, we are not the church.
At Pentecost, God declares: “Today I am pouring out my grace to every nation and people, and I am sending you with this grace,” and so he says: “Go therefore…”
Part 2 – A village in Burkina Faso, 20 centuries later…
The darkness of the night was only accentuated by the few paraffin lamps scattered around the open ground. In the darkness, the shapes of small groups of people could be made out.
This was one of the early Fulani conferences, when the few Fulani Christians from around the country gathered together. Most were used to being the only believer in their village. And so these conferences had become a huge encouragement, as they met with other Fulani who were following Iisaa Almasiihu – Jesus Christ. The previous year we had had a record 40 people. This year there were about 80. Still small beginnings from a population of about 1 million Fulani in Burkina, but hugely significant as Pentecost began to have its effect with the birth of the church among them.
Being mostly new converts from Islam, they were unused to singing in worship, and the songs had been sung with serious intent, but uneasily, and somewhat stiltedly, as though they weren’t sure they were doing it right. I looked across at two of the old men, sitting straightfaced on the ground. They were clearly not yet convinced singing was a valid way of worshipping God.
Then, almost tangibly, everyone grew still and silent. And, in the darkness, a single, beautiful voice sang out clear through the night:
Bernde am na weli ko mi rewi Iisaa
Bernde am subi ko mido rewa Iisaa
My heart is glad that I am following Jesus
My heart has chosen to follow Jesus
I looked again at the old men. They were convinced. There was something pure, unpretentious, and spiritual about the song. The presence of Jesus was felt, the church was being born among another people. Men and women were coming to know God. The kingdom of God was touching people’s lives. The praises of God were being sung in new tongues. Pentecost was continuing to flow.
(reposted from 15/5/2005)
December 25, 2008
Happy Christmas!
Happy Christmas from Gorom-Gorom !
Last night we had a small Christmas service in the Fulani church that Pierre is starting in our yard. Pierre calls the church: "Church of the Nations."
It was the first Christmas for most of the congregation. "R", "A", and "I" have only come to know Christ this year. "A" came with her two children. "M" also came, who used to go to church, but had stopped. "Yusufi" came with his wife "F" and two of his children. "F" gave her life to Christ a few years ago, but rarely gets to Gorom from the remote village where they live. This was her first time with Christians for Christmas.
It was a simple service, sitting on mats, everyone wrapped up because of the "cold". We sang a few songs, without instruments, just our ragged voices. We told the story of the birth of Jesus, and celebrated the long-awaited salvation that God inaugurated that day, most of the church hearing the story properly for the first time.
We wondered together at the experience of the herders, the first people to be told the good news ("they must have been Fulani - it is the Fulani who are herders!"). And we thought about their response to the angel ("na hulbini koy!" - "scarey, man!") and the angel's message ("duum jaati na weli nande" - "now that really is good news"). And we talked about how we too should run to the Saviour, thank God for his grace, and tell people about what God has done. And we committed outselves to make every day a Christmas, to celebrate God's grace in Christ.
Christmastime in Burkina Faso is bittersweet for me - I am glad to be away from the self-indulgence of Christmas in the UK, and to be in a place where Christmas is about Christ. But it is also the time I feel furthest from my friends and family. Especially when, like this year, there has been no post bringing greetings. And I could kill for a mince pie. Or turkey and stuffing and roast potatoes...
But this Christmas service has been probably the best Christmas service I have ever been to. To be with a small group of Fulani and Tamacheq Christians celebrating for the first time the coming of Immanuel, has been wonderful. To see the church of Christ coming to birth among the Fulani, Tamacheq, and Songhai of Gorom-Gorom and the province of Oudalan, is incomparable. It is as if Christ has come to a stable in Gorom-Gorom, and these are the first few, like the shepherds, who have the privilege of recognising him.
This is what it is all about. And it is worth the pain of separation from family and friends. And mince pies.
Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for God to reveal Jesus to people here, that they too may come to know the joy of the "good news that is for all people."
This Christmas, may you know again the joy of God's gift in Christ. And the joy of sharing that gift with others.
August 18, 2008
Arrogance is our speciality
“Are there any white people who are arrogant?” asked Pierre. He stood up from hoeing John’s field, grimacing with the discomfort in his back.
“Hah!” I said. “We white people are the experts at arrogance!”
“But I’ve never seen a proud white person,” Pierre insisted. “You are here helping us work in the field. I’ve never seen an Arab come to help the Muslims work their fields.”
“Ah,” said Jean-Marc, “but we are proud of working in the field!”
“It’s true,” I agreed. “There are white people who will come here to Africa, and work 10 minutes in the field. They will take film of their 10 minutes, and use it to show people back at home how humble they are, how they suffered, and boast about how hard they worked to help the poor Africans.”
Pierre laughed.
“What is more,” I said, “they will want to preach, even though they never do any evangelism at home. Though they know nothing of suffering for Christ, and they live lives of comfortable half-heartedness, they think that because they are rich and white and have lots of Christian books, they can teach you what it means to be a follower of Christ. They will do a 2-week “mission”, often living in comfortable hotels, and just coming out of their air-conditioning to preach for a few hours, and have their photo taken holding a little African baby. They will return home and boast humbly about how they preached to the poor Africans, and talk about how wretched your lives are, and how blessed we are to be American or British or French.”
“Arrogance is our speciality.”
“May God have mercy on us.”
August 16, 2008
Bringing Judgement...
“You have brought judgement on us!” said Pastor John with a smile.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Your visitors have come all the way from France to help us in our fields and to help us preach the gospel. There are loads of villages here on or doorstep that don’t have the gospel, and we haven’t reached them yet. That you should come all this way to help us do what is on our doorstep brings judgement on us.”
“Hmph!” I replied. “But you have brought a worse judgement on us!”
John looked enquiringly at me.
“We sit there in our comfortable lives with all our money and possessions. We come here for a short time, then return to our comfort.
I know you pastored a church of over 300 people, and that you had good fields, and that you church members did a lot to help you too. You left all that to come to Tasmakat with your whole family, in order to bring the love of God to the Fulani here. Here you have no Christians, no-one to support you, and no good fields. You and your family have accepted hardship and suffering not just for a few weeks, but for years for the sake of Christ and the people here.
We only follow Christ as far as it doesn’t disrupt our comfort for too long.
Your life and commitment brings judgement on us and our half-heartedness."
****************************************************
Jesus looked at those who had accepted suffering and loss for the sake of following him, and said to them:
“Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to you.” (Lk 6:20)
May 11, 2008
The Stupidity of Seeking Prosperity
Jesus told them this parable:
“This guy’s work did really well and he prospered. And he thought: ‘Now what do I do? This house is too small for me and all my stuff.’
So he decided: ‘I know – I’ll get out of here, and move to a bigger place. Then I’ll have plenty of room and can get all the stuff I want. I’ll take early retirement, and live off my pension and investments. Then I can take it easy, enjoy life, and do all those things I never had time for when I was working hard.’
But God said to him: ‘You fool! Tonight you’re going to die. Then all that you have hoarded for yourself will go to waste.’
In this way God will judge anyone who seeks his own prosperity and comfort, but does not give extravagantly to the poor and to God’s purposes.”
(Lk 12:16-21)
April 14, 2008
The parable of the field
This is a true story, told to me by Pastor Pierre:
In a certain village among the Gourma people, when it is harvest time, all the young people will first go and harvest the field of the village chief, before going to harvest their own fields.
The young men harvested the millet, and the young women then gathered up the heads of grain to take back to the compound of the village chief. The men laboured through the heat of the day, and finished harvesting the whole field by nightfall.
The village chief was watching the women gathering up heavy loads of grain in large bowls on their heads to bring back to his grain store. But he noticed that there was one lazy woman, who would only gather a little each time.
Towards the end of the day, he spoke to the women and said:
“Hey, you see how hard the men have been working. They have finished harvesting the whole field. Now, before you go home, I want each of you to make a special effort to bring one more really big load of grain.”
The women went off, and piled the grain high. They came back straining under the load. But the lazy girl just gathered a small amount as usual. When they arrived back at the chief’s yard, and were about to unload their grain, he stopped them.
“Thank you for your hard work today,” he said. “The load you are now carrying is for you to take home with you, as my thanks for what you have done today.”
All the women who had made a special effort to fully load their bowls laughed, and headed home with their reward. But the lazy one was ashamed to go home with the evidence of her laziness. She tried to pour out her load for the chief.
“No!” said the chief. “You will take home what you have worked, so that everyone can see how lazy you are!”
(cf 1Cor 3:8)
December 26, 2007
Jesus discovers Christmas (Jn 2:13-16)
When it was nearly Christmas, Jesus went up to London to celebrate and worship with the Christians.
But he found the Christians at the shops, wasting their money on tacky decorations and expensive presents, and stocking up for parties. Other Christians were even selling “Christian merchandise”, making profit from the marketing of the festival.
So he made a whip out of electric cords, and drove them away. He took the money of the merchandisers, and chucked it out the window, and overturned their sales booths. He said to them:
“Get these out of here!
How dare you turn the way of God’s salvation into a market!”
November 06, 2007
Jesus and computer-shopping
I was recently given a couple of generous gifts towards buying a much-needed computer to help me in this new phase of ministry. But which computer to buy, and how to decide...?
Everyone who has one raves about how much better and more cool Macs are. But the money wouldn't stretch that far, so then I looked at good deals on Dell, who supposedly produce solid workhorse computers at good prices. However...
While I obviously needed a computer that can do the job, that was within my price range, and that has reasonable customer support, a question that concerned me, but that is rarely addressed even by Christians when it comes to computer-buying, is the ethical dimension.
Jesus and Shopping
Of course we are all now buying fair trade coffee, I hope... But what about fair trade computers? Are we willing to let our ethical values shape our attitude and decisions to shopping in general, and to buying computers and technology in particular? Or is the "cool-ness" of the thing my bottom line? A Christian ethic requires Christ's Lordship over all our lives, including our shopping.
Consumerism works because of greed.Quite apart from the issue of whether we actually need all the stuff we buy - and whether our willing and unthinking submission as disciples of consumerism is compatible with following Jesus, there is another question: are we concerned about whether the stuff we buy is part of a system that oppresses the poor in the pursuit of profit at all costs?
For example, is it right to seek the cheapest model, if by doing so, I drive down prices paid to the worker, and thus actively oppress the poor? Or if I buy a model which has better performance, but from a company which has a poor human-rights record? Or a computer which is cool, but produces pollutants?
Ethical computer-buying
So I went to the Ethical Consumer website. This charts the ethical values and practices of different companies for a whole range of products - including computers. They look at Human, Environmental, Animal, and Political issues. You can tailor the results to reflect the values which are most important to you - for example if respect for human rights is more important to you than whether they use animal testing.
The chart on the right shows results it comes up with for computers, showing the score out of 20 for each company. A more detailed breakdown is here
I finally decided to go for an Evesham model. And I must say I have been very happy with it so far, (especially having decided to take the leap and escape Windows and load a Linux operating system onto it).
"One-tenth to Jesus I surrender"...?
Now of course, this could appear to be a smug, self-righteous rant. And you might disagree with the ethical values chosen by the site or with its accuracy. You might even argue that we don't even need computers at all - that they are all a waste of money. You might accuse me of hypocrisy and point out other areas where I spend money unwisely.
All I'm trying to say is that we need to stop mindlessly following as disciples of Consumerism, and instead allow Christ to rule over what we do with his money. I know it is unpopular to suggest you can't do what you want with your money, but I'm afraid as a Christian it is true. And it is not just the tithe that belongs to God. It is all his. We are stewards of everything we have and are called to use it for good, not just for self-indulgence. Shopping is a Christian issue.
What do you think?
Tags: computers ethics christian ethics shopping christianity
July 31, 2007
The Parable of the Orchestra
A certain king prepared an orchestra for his son’s wedding, that the orchestra might play a concert to honour his son at the wedding feast.
Everyone was invited to join the orchestra. To each person who accepted the invitation was given an instrument, that they should learn to play in harmony with everyone else.
Some of the players used their instruments every day, practising in preparation for the great day. They began to join with others to practice together, and they started playing in public. Some people laughed at them. But many loved the music. And some said they would come to the concert, and that they too wanted to learn to play.
Other players were too busy, or too afraid of people laughing at them, and so they practiced in secret, but never joined with other musicians to play in public. And so they never got as good as they should, and they never learned to play in harmony with an orchestra. And the people didn’t understand when they said they were musicians, for they never heard the music.
Still others wrapped up their instruments carefully and hid them in the cupboard so that they would not spoil. They were glad they had received the gift from the king, and that they were to be in the orchestra. But when others said they should use their instrument, they got angry. “The instrument is for the king’s feast. It is for his pleasure, not for the pleasure of the people”, they replied. “You think you can earn your place in the king’s orchestra. We cannot earn our place by being good enough – it is given to us. We should keep ourselves for that day.”
On the day of the great feast, the orchestra assembled. But there were those who brought their instrument, still shiny like new, but they were unable to play. And they were covered in shame on that day.
“Did I not freely give you your instrument and a place in my orchestra?” asked the king. “And should you not therefore have used your instrument for others, so that my concert hall might be full, and that a beautiful symphony might be played to honour my son? For it is in playing for others that you would have learned to play for me. But now you cannot play. So what now shall I do with you…?”
Tags: christianity church parables orchestra mission faith kingdom of god
July 16, 2007
They have so little, but...
Anyone who has spent time in Africa, and has an open heart, has probably said this, usually followed by "they are so generous with what they have", "they are so happy", or "they are rich spiritually".
(Try Googling the phrase "they have so little but" + "africa", and go and read the results.)
The starkness of this realisation is usually accompanied on the return to "home" in Europe or the States, with a sense of dislocation, and of the superficiality of our lives here. It is a constant theme I have heard many times, and yet after a short while, the impact passes as we re-adjust to the busy-ness of life, and it becomes but a poignant memory.
But what was going on there? Was God, in that moment, not giving us a glimpse of something? A hint that maybe life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions, or the success and security that we are striving after? That maybe with our wealth we are actually the under-developed nations of the world socially and spiritually? That by our single-minded pursuit of the goal of economic prosperity, we are destroying community, shutting out God, and reaping social breakdown, with its violence, immorality, isolation, and disfunctionality? That we cannot serve both God and money?
And maybe that God has chosen the poor - that they may be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom? (Ja 2:5)
And, if so, what shall we do about it? Is God maybe calling us to adjust our lifestyles? To swap material wealth for spiritual wealth? To exchange security for a life of faith? To pursue the good of others rather than just our own agenda?
What do you think?
Tags: africa wealth riches poverty faith christianity discipleship
March 19, 2007
Bono on God's heart for the poor
Bono speaking when receiving an award from the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) in the US. From Tod at It Takes A Church.
Tags: bono justice poverty god
February 26, 2007
Cheering for Jesus
It's not often I have been clapped for preaching Jesus - let alone had Muslims enthusiastically applauding. Yet this is exactly what happened last week.
A Full Church
I was about to leave to return to Britain for a while, and the 31 houses for the flood victims were just about finished. A ceremony was proposed for "handing over the keys". I wasn't keen, but the rest of the team thought it was a good idea, so I went with the flow. We also decided that after the ceremony we would surprise the beneficiaries with a sack of millet each so they had food to put in their new homes.
On the day, the church was packed. Half of it was filled with 30 of the beneficiaries - elderly and vulnerable local Muslim folk who had lost their homes in the flood and had no-one to help them. The other half was filled with local dignitaries including the Mayor, the Provincial High Commisioner, the Prefect, the Regional heads of the Army and Police, and various other notables.
On such occasions it is normal just to say a few polite words...
Pah.
A God that welcomes the homeless
I spoke first in Fulfulde, and then in French:
"The God who had provided you with houses is a compassionate God, and it is because of Jesus Christ that you have received his compassion. One day, whether we are ruler or poor, black or white, we will leave our houses. But because of Jesus, God has also provided you with a house in heaven, and he invites you to come to Christ to receive the keys."
"Before Jesus went back to heaven, he said he is going to prepare a place for us. When he comes back, if we belong to him, he will take us to be with him before God in heaven."
It was at this point that - while many of the dignitaries appeared somewhat uncomfortable - the less "respectable" half of the congregation started applauding. Of course, they were not really clapping me, but rejoicing in the a God who had seen their suffering and provided an answer. Maybe they were beginning to glimpse "the good news preached to the poor" - the good news that in Jesus God has thrown wide the doors of the kingdom of heaven to welcome them into his family.
The poor often seem to enjoy Jesus' good news more than the rulers, or than we smart, rich and religious folk who are not happy for Jesus to say that just anyone can come in. After all, there are standards, you know.
Great, isn't it?
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina flood building gorom sahel emergency housing aid gorom-gorom jesus kingdom of god
February 14, 2007
Spit on me!
“Adama, spit on me!” came Ousseini’s faint cry behind me just as I was leaving.
Since Adama is my name here, I turned back to Ousseini’s hospital room to respond to the call to spit.
Ousseini
I had been visiting my friends at one of the “tent camps” for the flood victims, some of the people we are building houses for. They had a visitor from Tasmakat, Ousseini, who was lying on a mat on the ground in obvious pain with swollen feet and a very distended stomach. They of course had nothing with which to pay for treatment, so I took him to the hospital, paid for the few pounds of his prescription, and prayed for healing for him in the name of Jesus.
The next day I went to see him. It was then, as I turned to leave the room, that he called me back: “Adama, tuutam!” - “Adama, spit on me!”
Spit and Mission
Islamic religious teachers here are regarded as having healing as part of their role, which usually involves reciting certain Quranic verses, accompanied by light spitting on the ill part of the body (for example see here). So Ousseini was asking me to pray for him again.
I prayed again for healing in the name of Jesus, laying my hand gently on his head. (And not actually spitting in case you were wondering…) And each time I visited him he would hold out his hands and – day by day with slightly more strength – ask me to spit on him.
Today at Gorom-Gorom Hospital
Today I was woken from a well-earned siesta to come and see Ousseini. Gorom-Gorom medical centre was unable to do all needed to help him, and he had to be evacuated to Dori. I came to the hospital and sorted out the ambulance and gave him a bit of money for his treatment when he got there. And prayed for him of course.
The hospital was an emotionally challenging place today. In the next room to Ousseini was a young man crying out in pain, who had apparently been bitten by a rabid dog. Aisha, a Bella lady whose uncle had a distressing-looking fungal growth over a large part of the side of his head called on me to come and look at him. And Amadu, an old man with what looked and sounded suspiciously like TB, also called me in with the now familiar “Adama, come and spit on me!”
Jesus the Healer
The Quran acknowledges that Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead, and Muslims here know that he rose alive into heaven. So it is unremarkable to them that healing should be asked for in the name of Jesus.
Please pray for healing for my friends, and that our Lord would stretch out his hand more to heal in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And please pray that people would see and meet the God of love who is revealed in Jesus, and come to him for fullness of life. Thank you.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom-gorom gorom spitting sahel healing Jesus mission spit
