Celebrating in Whitstable

Celebrated the last day of the Easter holidays at Whitstable in Kent.

Perfectly wet English weather greeted us as we got off the Southeastern Railway train from London Victoria. Strong gusts from every direction whipped brollies out of hands or into faces, making everyone long for a proper sou’wester.

These beach huts on the pebble beach surely look forward to the mythical summer sun.

The advent of sunny summers not being quite imminent, these sneaky seagulls in the Whitstable Harbour were, meanwhile, spending their days attempting to steal a boat.

Whitstable has apparently been famous for its oysters since the Romans ruled the known world. So like true Singaporeans/French, we spent the wet afternoon in the comfort of the Wheelers Oyster Bar (8 High Street, Whitstable, CT5 1BQ) sampling the local cuisine. The establishment was over 150 years old and could seat only 16. So reservations would normally have to be made 6-8 weeks in advance. Happily for our growling tummies, there just happened to be several no-shows when we walked in.

Delicious stuff: complimentary homemade bread, Whitstable native wild oysters, Marmite Scallops (caramlised scallops, French onion soup, braised oxtail and horseradish bon bons), Mackerel (blow-torched mackerel, wasabi dressing, beetroot, and mackerel tartare, finished with soused baby carrots and micro coriander), Smoked Cod (smoked cod, leek and potato chowder, with salt cod scotch egg, finished with chorizo oil).

Then a cheerful post-prandial browse of the extensive collection at the Oxford Street Secondhand & Antiquarian Bookshop (20a Oxford Street, Whitstable, CT5 1 DD),

before heading to the very windy Windy Corner Stores & Cafe (facebook. 110 Nelson Road, Whitstable) for coffee and Tunnock’s Tea Cakes and then a walk by the seashore.

Finally, some cod, chips, and mushy peas from V.C. Jones of Whitstable (25 Harbour Street, Whitstable, CT5 1AH) for the train ride home.

If only the holidays would last a little longer – still attempting to clear cobwebs in my mind; taking out and examining previously received knowledge and assumptions about biblical interpretation; still many conversations to have about the role of biblical theology in understanding how Scripture applies to us…but the talks and bible studies can’t wait for a proper resolution of my many questions. And anyway, that would only really happen in the new creation, said the Tutor wisely.

Dolbadarn Castle Ruins, Maggie T’s Death, Sovereignty of God

It is possible that while we were hiking the Miners’ Track up Snowdon, Margaret Thatcher had a stroke in her room in the Ritz in London and died.

The next day, I wandered up the little knoll in Llanberis that held the ruins of the castle keep of Dolbadarn Castle, still full of the news of Maggie T’s death, thoughts swirling with bits of Daniel 4 – 5 that would be the subject of bible studies for the fortnight ahead.

The tributes continue to dribble in as the hate parties drag on. But in the sweep of human history, what she did or didn’t do will soon be forgotten; as much as the politicking that went on in Dolbadarn Castle is now known only by silent stones. And Maggie Thatcher was never as big as King Nebuchadnezzar was in his time. Nebby had, amongst many other displays of military might, defeated Judah and Jerusalem, and was no fan of their God. Yet this was what the great Nebby had to say, upon realising there was a king of far greater power than he:

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation. (Daniel 4:3b)

I blessed the Most High, and praised and honoured him who lives for ever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:34-35)

What God? Why bother about a God that no one can see, and who might not even be there? Why not worry about the very real powers who have apparent control over our lives in this world? As Daniel warned Nebuchadnezzar’s successor, Belshazzar, do not be fooled – for it this God who appoints these kings and rulers and gives them their power and can take it away again:

O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honoured.

Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” (Daniel 5:18-28)

But it is far too easy to forget the awesomeness of God. After teaching Daniel 3 a few weeks ago, I was chatting with someone in a Costa Coffee, and I might have sighed self-piteously and worried about The Great Unknown, at which, the said individual, being Irish and therefore not prone to the mollycoddling prevalent in certain English Christian circles, said, accusatory finger pointed,”Didn’t you just teach us that God is in complete control?”

“Yes, but…”

“And didn’t you just say there are not ‘but’s because God is sovereign over all things – the big events of human history as well as the small minute things of every day life?”

“Yeah, well…you see…in this case…”

“And didn’t we learn that God isn’t just powerful, but he also looks after his people and works for their good as he works to bring his promises to pass and glorify his own name? And so we can trust him and so obey him even though he may not save us physically now?”

“Ok, ok.”

the sheep may safely graze

Miners’ Track Ascent, Snowdonia

Was slightly disappointed that Wales wasn’t turning out to look like Mordor at all (well, by association with mining and the Black Country…); in fact, it looked really rather pretty.

The Miners’ Track up Snowdon (aka Yr Wyddfa, highest mountain in Wales and second highest in the United Kingdom) starts from a car park in Pen-y-Pass, just across from the Pen-y-Pass YHA*.

It is a very easy trail at the beginning, with a fellow traveller reporting sightings of a man on a motorised wheelchair along the route. The trail was built to service the Britannia Copper Mine, which was abandoned in 1917.

Soon, you come upon Llyn Teyrn (supposedly the coldest lake in Britain…) which is a strange green-blue colour probably because of the copper or copper sulfate content of the water. Don’t know if this is a natural occurrence or the result of historical mining activities. The abandoned miners’ barracks sit near the edge of the lake.

A little way along, there is the narrow Llyn Llydaw, of King Arthur-and-the-three-maidens-on-route-to-Avalon fame, which can be traversed by a causeway, built when one too many horses-on-a-raft drowned transporting mining goods in 1853. There were several well-behaved dogs** along the way, who were all very interested in getting to know me, probably because I’d stepped on far too much sheep poo.

On the other side of Llyn Llydaw, the ruins of the old Britannia copper works crushing mill overlooks the lake. There is a little outcrop just beyond that makes a good rest stop and picnic spot.

Sadly, we had to turn back while ascending to Llyn Glaslyn because icy conditions and also deep snow on the steep climb and a strong prevailing wind that made it hard to keep one’s footing without proper equipment. And I was the most equipped of all – with one fleece jacket and urban crampons. (A passing climber suggested that my week-old jeans weren’t the best thing for the hike either…)

It continues to astound me that the God who made the heavens and the earth has made them so beautiful, and also given us the capacity to enjoy them (though this second point cannot be distinguished from the first, aesthetics and all). After all, it would have been perfectly adequate to provide man with a creation that merely sustains and nourishes us.

Psalm 8 (To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David.)

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honour.
You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

*accessible from Llanberis by Sherpa Bus

**”dogs are not welcomed unless under close control or on a lead”

Transportation information:
Prestatyn to Bangor: Arriva Train
Bangor to Llanberis: Bus 85 (£3 – see Traveline Cymru)
Llanberis to Pen-y-Pass: Snowdon Sherpa Bus (£1)

New Word Alive 2013 at Pontin’s, Prestatyn, North Wales

Prison-block-like Pontins accommodation notwithstanding, a Welsh flatmate and I were warm and toasty in our little apartment in just-above-freezing spring temperatures, waiting for the evening celebration to be beamed through New Word Alive TV. Outside, one group of kids were cheering as “Tonight’s Going To Be A Good Night” boomed out from one of many white marquees.

Had a great time at New Word Alive 2013. A buffet of Bruce Ware on christological doctrine, Christopher Ash on the later chapters of the Gospel of John, Dan Strange on apologetics in the mornings (Sam Storms was moved up to Mike Reeves’ spot (notable quote from blur member of the audience:”Sam Storms? Who is he? Is he a superhero?”)) and loads more talks and seminars throughout the day, glorious singing, being able to chat and pray with random strangers from different countries and cultures. (It would be difficult, however, to say I agreed with all the speakers…)

As an old-ish friend said as we exchanged notes on the second day, NWA was not a place to hide from people – more than half my classmates from the School were there in various capacities, loads more people from Church, there were people I knew from Singapore (rebuke from a brother:”Pleased to see me? Don’t lie! I’ve tried contacting you for the last 6 months and you’ve never replied!”), and there was even a primary schoolmate whom I hadn’t seen since primary school!

Quite an intense few days of “work” as well, leading a group – getting up early to pray with the team, preparing Bible passages for sessions, cooking meals for people and getting to know group members more so as to serve them better,

chats while walking along Barkby Beach (not so as to have an appropriate setting for serious conversations but because it was nice to get out and smell the sea!), nightly Grill-A-Christian in Mandarin courtesy of a Chinese flatmate etc.

Can’t think of a better way to spend the Easter holiday week. Cheekily deviated from the set questions (with the blessings of the speaker) to force the group, kicking and protesting loudly, to really engage with the text of Scripture. And tried to get them to actually focus on Christ rather than merely talk piously about focusing in Christ (too tedious and boring, dahlings). Hopefully, didn’t make too much of a hash of things but I can trust, regardless, that the Word + Spirit dream team will do their work!

Am leery of the highs produced in the artificial environment of Christian camps and conferences (in that they are high energy, high excitement environments; not that they are inauthentic). Any self-improvement boot-camp might induce an apparent change in someone. So while I wanted to push group members as far as God demands in Scripture (that is, very very far indeed), I did not want to create any expectation of this conference being a life-altering experience (while not discounting that God might wish to work in an individual’s life in such a way!); rather, the hope was that through clear and faithful teaching of God’s word (at NWA and in their own churches and bible study groups), their minds and hearts would be changed by the Spirit to be more and more like God’s, and their lives would then inevitably reflect this.

Some Flat Whites of Cambridge

As the Great Anglia train rattled through snowy fields up to Cambridge, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

The intention was to talk to various people about Singapore student work – to see how we could help each other (if at all) help Christian students to grow in love for God and people here and when they returned to Singapore; but I had no concrete plans how we might do this. Was certainly not keen on any sort of society or other formal organisation – we have far too many of those things and their hierarchies and inherent power structures and insistence on justifying their own existence long after the need for them has ceased to, I think, tend to (as one might expect of sinful humans, though thankfully, this might not always be) detract from God and gospel. There was no elitism in choosing to head to Cambridge after Oxford – it was just known to have a good concentration of Singapore students and a thriving biblical Christian community. Looked forward to hearing what the more experienced might have thought through already.

random photo of Corpus Christi College Chapel

Enjoyed a very good discussion over a home-cooked lunch before making it right on the hour for evening service at St. Andrew the Great (aka. STAG). Was pleased to have someone else, independently, question if there was really a need to emphasise home-going. The rationale for having separate international group bible studies has usually been (i) to address language difficulties; (ii) to address discomfort with the host culture; and (iii) to get internationals to think about applying Christian truths to their life when they got back home. My queries on reason (ii) have had to do with the unity of the church and loving all members of the body regardless of race or class or culture; and on reason (iii) – whether the emphasis should really be on faithful living in all situations whether single or married, student or working, in London or back in one’s own country, rather than attempting to apply every passage to future life the home country – because that would be too narrow a view of Christian living and might run the risk also of legalism.

Discussed this further with some international workers today. Still much to think about.

Was pleased too to find Cambridge to be in a better state, coffee-wise, to Durham:

At Hot Numbers Coffee (Unit 6, Dales Brewery, Gwydir Street, Cambridge. facebook), I had their house-roasted El Salvadorian Finca La Fani in a flat white. It was fairly well-made, though the milk was a bit stiff, with bright citrus acidity that punched you in the saliva glands. Wonder if it would have worked better straight up.

Didn’t expect much from the Brazilian-Ethiopian Climpson & Sons (possibly their 50% Ethiopian Sidamo and 50% Brasil Fazenda Paraiso Sidamo Espresso Blend?) flat white at Fitzbillies (51-52 Trumpington Street, Cambridge) – it looked like a pretty enough Cambridge institution to get by on the seat of its chelsea buns without serving up decent brew. But this was yummy hot cocoa in a cup. The milk was a bit weak but didn’t detract too much from its deliciousness.

The espresso beans at Massaro’s (85 Regent Street, Cambridge) were a house-blend delicately roasted by Has Bean Coffee. Very nice indeed.

Sustenance for Ministry

The bargain bins of London have been good for meals costing little more than £1, sometimes even with pudding thrown in! Absolutely ace for sustaining a crazy week of giving talks and leading bible studies and loads of intense conversations:

English fry-up

poached free-range eggs, smoked salmon on toast, lambs lettuce and bits of beetroot

pan-fried skrei cod with lamb’s lettuce and tomatoes

flat iron steak in red wine sauce, mashed sweet potatoes, petit pois

buffalo burger

rhubarb crumble with vanilla bean cream

But more long-lasting sustenance came during the leaders’ resus(citation) weekend away at Sunningdale Park, another De Vere venue.

2 Corinthians was a heartening letter – pity we didn’t have much time to wallow in its comforting words. In what is probably a vastly inadequate summary:

• a commendable ministry isn’t surface display ministry that teaches a Jesus but not the true Jesus, or teaches the gospel and about the Spirit but not about the true gospel or the real Spirit (2 Corinthians 11:1-4); a commendable ministry is a ministry of transformation (2 Corinthians 3:1-3, 18) – a changed life starts from a changed heart, a ministry of regeneration (2 Corinthians 3:4-6) – the changed heart occurs by the Spirit through the Son’s death so that our hearts of stone are changed to hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36), a ministry of justification (2 Corinthians 3:7-11), a ministry of illumination (2 Corinthians 3:12-18);
• we do this ministry because of the coming of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:6-13) in the future and because of the cross of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14-17);
• when our plans are frustrated, or when people are frustrating, when our work in the Lord seems futile, when opposition is fierce, and when we feel like incompetents and failures, we do not chuck in the towel because this ministry is God-given (2 Corinthians 4:1). We merely need to stay straight-talking, eschewing dodgy methods and dodgy professional standards (2 Corinthians 4:2). We do not judge our success by results, because we know that the results are out of our hands. Instead, we continue to do this ministry of selfless proclamation, knowing that its impact (where applicable) will be out of this world (2 Corinthians 4:6);
• the paradox of divine power ensures that God deliberately keeps his servants weak, so that the glory will always be His. In what can we boast? With what should we be content? (2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10)

Singing Along with Lou Fellingham (and The Phatfish) for Easter

Who Could Understand (Christ Crucified) (Nathan & Lou Fellingham)
WHO COULD UNDERSTAND the depth of Your plan, to bring sinners home?
Will we ever know the size of the cost? The shame of the cross?
So foolish to human wisdom but to Your children it’s life and power

We preach Christ crucified, it’s the only way for souls to be saved who have gone astray
We preach Christ raised to life and now He reigns
Interceding for us till He comes again.

Self sufficient ways run through our veins, fighting Your grace
But Your grace invades, stronger than flesh, demanding a change
So foolish to human wisdom but to Your children it’s life and power

It has the power to break in
And wash away every sin
The only hope for our generation
One day He will come again
And life will truly begin
Restored to how we were meant to be

See The Lamb of God
Down into darkness His body had been laid
Lifeless and broken a sacrifice was made
What can be done now our hope is in the grave
Who will save us now?

He who had come, as the truth, the life, the way
Nailed to a cross, God forsaken and betrayed,
But His blood spilled for all to redeem the world He made
Jesus saves us now

See the Lamb of God
Risen from the dead
Seated on the throne
His reign will never end
Hail him king of love
Jesus Christ the Lord
The champion of hearts
Who lives forevermore
Where everything cries Holy, Holy, Holy is our God

God shook the earth as His power was displayed
Death put to death as Jesus Christ was raised
God is alive and His Spirit lives in us
Hallelujah

You Alone Can Rescue (Matt Redman, chord sheet)

Who, oh Lord, could save themselves,
Their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea
Your grace is deeper still

Who, oh Lord, could save themselves,
Their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea
Your grace is deeper still

You alone can rescue, You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to find us, led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise

You, oh Lord, have made a way
The great divide You heal
For when our hearts were far away
Your love went further still
Yes, your love goes further still

We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You’re the Giver of Life
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You’re the Giver of Life
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You’re the Giver of Life
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You’re the Giver of Life
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You’re the Giver of Life
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You’re the Giver of Life
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You’re the Giver of Life
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You’re the Giver of Life

You alone can rescue, You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to find us, led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise
To You alone belongs the highest praise
To You alone belongs the highest praise

And Can It Be (Words: Charles Wesley)
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Before The Throne Of God Above
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless Righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God

Original words by Charitie Lees Bancroft (1841-1892), alternate words and music by Vikki Cook
©1997 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)

Awake, Awake O Zion
Awake, awake O Zion
And clothe yourself with strength
Shake off your dust
And fix your eyes on Him
For you have been redeemed by
The precious blood of Jesus
And now you sit enthroned with Him

Our God reigns
He is King of all the earth
Our God reigns
And He’s seated on the throne
Lift your voice
And sing a song of praise
Our God reigns
The Awesome God Most High

How beautiful the feet are
Of those who bring good news
For they proclaim the peace
That comes from God
Rise up you holy nation
Proclaim the great salvation
And say to Zion “Your God reigns”

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Our God is with us now

The watchmen lift their voices
And raise a shout of joy
For He will come again
Then all eyes will see the
Salvation of our God
For He has redeemed Jerusalem

There Is A Day (Phatfish)
That all creation’s waiting for,
A day of freedom and liberation for the earth.
And on that day
The Lord will come to meet His bride,
And when we see Him
In an instant we’ll be changed

The trumpet sounds
And the dead will then be raised
By His power,
Never to perish again.
Once only flesh,
Now clothed with immortality,
Death has now been
Swallowed up in victory

We will meet Him in the air
And then we will be like Him
For we will see Him, as He is
Oh yeah!
Then all hurt and pain will cease
And we’lll be with Him forever
And in His glory we will live
Oh yeah! Oh yeah!

So lift your eyes
To the things as yet unseen,
That will remain now
For all eternity.
Though trouble’s hard,
It’s only momentary
And it’s acheiving
Our future glory.

Fruitful Lunch

Thankful for our fruitful lunches, not just geeking out about the Bible, but with Scripture on the table, discussing real implications of theology. Yesterday, spicing up the sweet-and-sour chicken, was a chat about the role of the Old Testamental laws, post-Christ.

Greenwich

Spent a happy Saturday in Greenwich at the invitation of the Yorkshire Man. He was a perfectly adequate tour guide. We wandered round the perimeter of the Cutty Sark clipper ship, tried on knight armour, speculated which parts of Christopher Wren’s Old Royal Naval College had featured in Les Misérables (the movie),

gawked at the Painted Room and the Chapel, watched the Time Ball atop the Flamsteed House at the Royal Observatory rise and then fall at 1 p.m. (Greenwich Mean Time, of course), took the requisite east-west divide photo with the Greenwich Meridian Line, then spent a few happy hours at the National Maritime Museum with its Admiral Horatio Nelson obsession.

 I was there, of course, for the ships. The Yorkshire Man’s wise history teacher had told him that if he ever wanted to boast about Britain’s naval accomplishments, he must also acknowledge all that the British Empire had done for political and commercial gain – the slaves transported from Africa and the Caribbean by slave ships, wars fought by battleships, the East India Company’s trading ships that brought opium to China etc.

On a somewhat similar note, after discussing the church scene with a senior pastor, a conclusion was that though good work was being done around the world, there is no pastor who does not, in some sense, build his own empire when he should be being a slave to God’s people to build God’s kingdom. He had no advice for me, he said. It is difficult to know the hearts of men, it is difficult for men to know their own hearts.

So it is only by the mercy of God that we have this ministry of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:1).

Mixed Berry Tart, Joe Christian as Evangelist and Missionary, Wild Rabbit Stew

Needed a think some days ago, so made a mixed berry tart to allow all the stuff swirling in my head the opportunity to settle down and get organised. Had been doing quite a bit of reading on the Heresy Of The Month and argued variously with Associates and Staff Workers alike, many of whom thought me quite the heretic. Some said i was making a fuss merely to avoid God-given responsibilities or getting knickers into twists for useless academic reasons that were far removed from practical reality.

Thought none of this quite valid though. Finally had a good old chat with the long-suffering Tutor about my concerns. The total smack-down i expected didn’t come and he instead agreed with me, with gentle smack-arounds of caveats and corrections (both hermeneutical and pastoral) of course.

The query was this: is there an explicit biblical imperative for all people to do evangelism and/or mission? After all, we’ve all been on the receiving end of many a sermon or bible study that has laid the guilt on us for not telling our family and friends about Jesus.

Well, there isn’t any explicit imperative for every Christian to do so:

1. Many proof-texts used to rouse the masses were primarily applicable to the 11 (and later 12 (with the replacement of Judas) + 1 (Paul)) apostles, for example Mark 16:14-20 (also, this section wasn’t in the earliest manuscripts), Luke 24:44-49, John 20:21, Acts 1:8, and most famously, Matthew 28:19-20:
   

   Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

   (The Tutor thought that if these passages had to be applicable today, they would be to the church as a whole since the 12 disciples were meant to represent the whole people of God – the number “12” recalling the 12 tribes of Israel.)

2. It was the apostles who talked about bringing the gospel to people who did not know God, as themselves as ambassadors for Christ, and frequently asked for prayers for themselves to continue to preach God’s word with all boldness (Acts 4:29-30, Acts 9:19-43, Romans 15:18-21, 2 Corinthians 5:18-6:1, 2 Corinthians 10:14-16?, Ephesians 6:18-20, Colossians 1:25-28, Colossians 4:3-4, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2).
3. There was a specific group of people called “the evangelists” in Paul’s list in Ephesians 4:11-12, alongside the apostles, prophets, shepherds, and teachers, who were to equip the saints for the work of ministry. See also Philip the evangelist (Acts 21:8) and possibly Epaphras (Colossians 1:5). (It is uncertain what an “evangelist” meant in New Testamental times; the word just means “gospeller”. We must certainly not import our modern definitions into the first century.)
4. Timothy was asked to the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5).
5. No where does Scripture explicitly require individuals other than these to do the work of evangelism or mission.

What is explicit and/or clear, though, is this:

• God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
• Christians must ensure that they are good “witnesses” of the gospel and that their conduct does not hinder people from deciding to trust in Christ (“Give no offence to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:32-33); “If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?” (1 Corinthians 14:23); “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).)
• We know that at least one church, the one in Thessalonica, proclaimed the gospel to those who had yet to hear it (1 Thessalonians 1:8).
• Romans 10 says: “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””

So it would seem that one of the main missions of the church would be to proclaim the gospel to those who are not yet saved. But there does not seem to be any basis for us to burden each individual to do so. God gave different gifts to the church (1 Corinthians 12).

However, one has to be careful not to (i) overstate the case (eg. by saying that no one should do so except for certain people who have been so gifted, nor that others not so gifted should not be assisting (in accord with proper behaviour and with their own gifts) in evangelism and mission); nor (ii) introduce false dichotomies in exegesis (eg. either specific to apostles only or applicable to all; either prescriptive or descriptive).

The ex-Principal said he thought that speaking the gospel would come from the overflow of the heart, citing John 7:38. We weren’t sure that John 7:38 definitely alluded to that, though any cursory observer of human nature could easily conclude that we speak most about things that are most important to us and occupy our thoughts. That’s not quite an imperative though.

To allow time to think further, proceeded to stew a wild rabbit in red wine. These free-range bunnies are cheap environmentally-friendly protein and with the recession on in the United Kingdom, might possibly be becoming just as popular as a nutritious thrifty food as they were during World War II. Unfortunately, the housemates were less than enthusiastic, likening the skinned carcass to an alien baby.

=o=

A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of John Charles Chapman

Managed to negotiate an early fulfilment of practical work duties to be at Chappo’s memorial service at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate last Friday, to remember the man who, through his talks and writings, was a great help to me in my first years as a Christian.

William Taylor of St. Helen’s Bishopsgate led the service, Richard Simpkin struck up the organ for Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son, Dick Lucas* spoke about the man himself citing 7 characteristics that widened his appeal and enabled him to reach his generation with the gospel:

• he was a practical (woodworking, knitting) man,
• a man of culture who sang on national radio,
• a sportsman who liked to win,
• a politician for the cause of Christ,
• a true friend who was at every meeting where he could be a brother to brothers,
• a man of keen intelligence – swiftness of repartee, a unique capacity for searching out the heart of the matter, unsentimental realism, with brilliant shafts of humour,
• he was a supreme communicator whose skills amounted to a kind of genius.

Dick recounted how car journeys with Chappo were dangerous since both Dick and Rico Tice, on separate occasions, could scarcely drive for laughing. God must have been given the unique ability of humour to Chappo in part to blow away the preposterous notion that the glorious gospel of Christ means the oppression of all the goodness of life as God has made it.

What God called John to be and do required him to have a daily dependence on God. His writings tell of both the struggles and joys of a Christian. His was a down-to-earth godliness that told no lies and avoided all precious piety.

Chappo was unquestionably a social animal. His singleness enabled him be out night after night gospelling and to travel round the world, which would have made family responsibilities difficult. But he needed and loved his friends and they too held him with warm affection.

Chappo was also a fine preacher. Peter Jensen recounted how a friend he had brought to listen to Chappo commented what a great passage had been preached, instead of being fascinated by the power and personality of the preacher. It wasn’t that the power and personality of the preacher had been downplayed, but that the power and personality of the preacher had become a servant of the passage he was expounding – so that the hearer was focused on the word of God, not on the servant by whom the word had come. With such a strong personality, it would have been easy for Chappo to have gathered disciples to himself, but Chappo used his strengths and gifts in such a way that they pointed to the true Master rather than himself.

There was the organ again for Crown Him With Many Crowns. Then Richard Bewes read Romans 1:1-17. Hugh Palmer of All Souls Langham Place gave the address (after noting that they had run out of “Reverend Prebendaries” but that they still had the Bible). He quoted Phillip Jensen who said at the Thanksgiving Service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney that if you remembered nothing but warmth and personality and stories from Chappo’s sermons, you must have missed the point – Chappo’s message was Jesus. He kept the gospel and the need for repentance clear. More in the video above.

Rose Illingsworth, accompanied by Simpo on the piano, sang John Newton’s Amazing Grace beautifully, which induced not a few sniffles and some surreptitious wiping of eyes and noses. Justin Mote of St. Andrew’s Leyland gave the prayers. We sang Go, forth and tell! O Church of God, awake!, then William gave the closing prayer.

People commented afterwards that tea and cake was just what Chappo would have enjoyed. But the absence of uproarious laughter in the building made it quite clear that he would not be partaking of any more of that repast in this life.

Was introduced to a friend’s pastor, Vaughan Roberts of St. Ebbe’s Oxford, whom I’d unceremoniously shoved a Bible at during the sermon. And was helping someone else look for Jonathan Fletcher, lately of Emmanuel Wimbledon. It was great to have so many of whom God has used to help our generation of Christians in Singapore know more about him under one roof. Just to list a few resources: Dick and William’s sermons, Rico’s Christianity Explored course, David Jackman’s sermons and training sessions, Vaughan’s many books (God’s Big Picture, God’s Big Design, Distinctives), Justin’s study notes on the Gospel of Mark, Michael You’s study notes on the Gospel of Luke etc… and from many of the Sydney brethren who were quoted: Peter Jensen’s At The Heart of the Universe, Phillip Jensen’s sermons…

Yet the urge was not to race around collecting photographs and autographs but to thank God that he has given us faithful teachers and preachers to equip the saints for ministry.

*they were apparently very good friends and there were several stories about their escapades during driving holidays in France – told before the service

Game from The Guildable Manor and A Warm Chat

Lunch break at The School. We couldn’t bear sitting indoors with the sun gilting off young leaves and the roofs of a hodge-podge of buildings outside.

Grabbed game meat bap from The Guildable Manor at Borough Market (3 Green Dragon Court, Borough), slathered them with salsa verde and sweet chilli,

then and headed to the Thames Riverside to eat in the warmth and chat about ministries. The person from a working class background now ministering to middle class folk thought that the middle class youth had the raw end of the deal: where working class kids were always told that they were not up to standard and knew that they were sinful, middle class kids were constantly praised for every little breath they took. This led to an erroneously elevated view of self and failure to understand that they too were sinners in need of Jesus’ blood to save them. An ultimately fatal sense of false security.

a clipping that has been making the rounds on the ‘net. haven’t managed to find source.

Spring Has Sprung For Exegetical Fallacies

With the first snowdrops carpeting woodland and garden floors and bunches of yellow daffodils in various rooms in the house from St. David’s Day, the usual talk about the weather turned to the springing of spring.

Took advantage of the clear skies and sunshine to sit and read on the edge of The Serpentine in Hyde Park. There were tentative signs of activity returning to the bare garden – a straggle of frisbee players, two brave row boats, roller-skaters and inline skaters bundled up against the barely-above-freezing temperatures, horse-riders, bird-feeders shivering as they ungloved their hands to better control bread distribution…

Hardly got past the first chapter of D.A. Carson’s Exegetical Fallacies when a passing Portuguese bodybuilder hit on me. Awkward. The pickings must be very thin on the ground indeed.

Happily, Carson was far better company. Not having gotten very far in New Testament Greek, the chapters other than “Grammatical Fallacies” were instructive:

Word Study Fallacies

• root fallacy – presupposes that every word actually has a meaning bound up with its shape or its components
• semantic anachronism – late use of a word is read back into earlier literature
• semantic obsolescence – interpreter assigns to a word in his text a meaning that the word in question used to have in earlier times, but that is no longer found within the live semantic range of the word
• appeal to unknown or unlikely meanings
• careless appeal to background material
• verbal parallelomania
• linkage of language and mentality
• false assumptions about technical meaning
• problems surrounding synonyms and componential analysis
• selective and prejudicial use of evidence
• unwarranted semantic disjunctions and restrictions
• unwarranted restriction of the semantic field
• unwarranted adoption of an expanded semantic field
• problems relating to the Semitic background of the Greek New Testament
• unwarranted neglect of distinguishing peculiarities of a corpus
• unwarranted linking of sense and reference

Logical Fallacies

• false disjunctions: an improper appeal to the law of the excluded middle
• failure to recognise distinctions
• appeal to selective evidence
• improperly handled syllogisms
• world-view confusion
• fallacies of question-framing
• unwarranted confusion of truth and precision
• purely emotive appeals
• unwarranted generalisation and overspecification
• negative inferences
• unwarranted associative jumps
• false statements
• the non sequitur
• cavalier dismissal
• fallacies based on equivocal argument
• inadequate analogies
• abuse of “obviously” and similar expressions
• simplistic appeals to authority

Presuppositional and Historical Fallacies

• uncontrolled historical reconstruction
• fallacies of causation
• fallacies of motivation
• conceptual parallelomania
• fallacies arising from omission of distanciation in the interpretative process

Opportunities for Even More Fallacies

• problems related to literary genre
• problems related to the New Testament use of the Old
• arguments from silence
• problems relating to juxtapositions of texts
• problems relating to statistical arguments
• the rise of structuralism

Loads to consider when taking care to interpret God’s word faithfully.