blog33

This picture proves that this week, I met the man I have looked up to most in the Christian world all my life. When I was a kid I watched this man address huge crowds in South Africa appealing for calm, and urging them to work peacefully to dream of a new South Africa, a rainbow people of God. What inspired me as a child, and still does, was Desmond Tutu couldn't just preach theology from his pulpit when injustice was going on in the streets. His faith drove him to change the world around him. He became a force for good, for justice, and for God.

Labels: church, mission

...I predict that a defensive reaction to [the Da Vinci Code] by the church will mean that it loses the opportunity to walk the path of humility and try to bring on board honest enquirers. Brian McLaren points out that books and films like the Da Vinci Code open the opportunity for those of us with a realistic view of the institutionalised church to confess our 'shared frustration with status-quo, maled-dominated, power-oriented, cover-up-prone organized Christian religion' and he goes on to suggest that 'we need to ask ourselves why the vision of Jesus hinted at in Dan Brown's book is more interesting, attractive and intriguing to these people than the standard vision of Jesus they hear about in church?'

The Jesus that I am seeking to follow, and who is increasingly real to me each day, seems so radically different from the institutionalised church one! He seems so interested in those who are left out, He listens to and includes young people, He is passionate about justice, love and mercy and I can barely keep up with His challenge to follow in his amazing upside down Kingdom! Sadly, some people seem to have gathered around traditions, illusions of power and control and they cling to their respectability rather than embrace the radical nature of a living Lord! This is not the way it should be...

Labels: article, church

Many 18 to 30 year olds feel like the forgotten generation and wonder whether many local churches really want then to be part of the congregation. I have heard that very sentiment expressed by older members of a congregation; 'If they want to do that in church then they can always go to...' Such comments are suicidal for the churches involved. Churches must respond with a resounding 'yes' to this challenge if they are to be complete, rounded communities and hence truly family friendly churches.

Labels: article, church

Labels: church, opportunity

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'meditation'?

On Sunday night we had a variety of responses including 'old men with beards', 'silence', 'Eastern religions' and 'incense'. Interestingly, things that are closely associated with Eastern or Transcendental meditation are those that most readily come to mind.

Eastern meditation is all about disconnection. It is an attempt to empty ones mind and body from everything and everyone in an attemot to become free form the pain and reality of life and enter into the plain of Nirvana. In a culture that is busy and rushed and lifestyles are so hectic that we are literlayy working ourselves to death, this type of meditation has found a new level of popularity and even has identifiable health benefits such as lower blood pressure and stress levels.

But is this something Christians should be involved in? Sort of...

Labels: article, church