Rich Culture, Poor Culture

(with apologies to Robert T. Kiyosaki, who wrote the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad)

I saw a documentary about a certain tribe of people and the comment was made that they had a "rich culture".  Naturally, this got me thinking about what would make one culture rich and another culture poor. And would Christian culture be counted as rich or poor?
The makers of the documentary, I believe, thought the particular culture was rich because it had colourful rituals that conveyed a powerful heritage to each new generation.  Every item of ceremonial clothing, each movement, each musical instrument, pointed to an ancient story that defined life for these people.  Their hero ancestors lived on in the cultural memory of the people.
I concluded that a rich culture must have an abundance of art, music, ceremony and ritual, deeply connected to an underlying worldview.  An impoverished culture would be one where the heritage had been lost or disconnected from daily life.  Or simply where traditions had been watered down to the point of meaninglessness.
A rich culture would have genuine depth, whereas a poor culture would focus on trivialities.  A rich culture would find meaning in death, pain and suffering, whereas a poor culture would gloss over the harshness of life in its quest for material riches and fun.  A rich culture would be holistic, bringing all the pieces of life together, but a poor culture would lead to fragmentation and confusion.
So, on that line of thinking, is Christianity rich culture or poor culture?
I believe it depends on how well Christians hold firm to their foundations.  There is no richer heritage than the art, music, architecture, literature and customs of Christendom.  But these things must be linked to the revelation of God in Scripture and the reality of the coming and ongoing presence of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.  In other words, Jesus Himself must be at the very heart of our culture.
The modern Christian Church relies on its charitable work to uphold its image and reputation.  But what would happen if we promoted the richness, the connectedness, and the beauty of our culture in Christ?
The world doesn't need Christianity as a religion, it needs Christianity as a culture, an alternative way of life, one that is holistic, righteous, powerful and rich.

A Christmas Poem 2010

Hans Gruener

Could it ever be like that again
God entering the world he made?
So unannounced, so ordinary
Born like us but poorly laid.

Could angels come alive with song
For any other promised birth?
Could Heaven once again resound
For such unworldly worth?

Perhaps if we would open up
Our hearts to him in prayer
A fleshly stable can be filled
New music in the air.

And as we grow in following
His star will guide our days
And God will change his world again
Through vessels born of clay.

Can I ever be sure that I'm saved?

Sometimes people who have been Christians for twenty or thirty years admit to me that they still don't know for sure if they're really saved.  The doubt may arise because they are so conscious of the sinful tendencies that still seem so entrenched in their lives.  Or, putting 'works' to one side, they're not sure if their faith is truly a saving faith.

The issue of ASSURANCE has bothered Christians ever since the earliest church.  Modern evangelicalism tends to downplay the issue by telling new converts that they are truly saved, just on the basis of a single prayer prompted by a counsellor.  Some church systems have virtually guaranteed salvation to their followers on the basis of attendance at services and performance of certain sacraments. 
But many others, including those in the Puritan and mystical traditions, have kept assurance separate from saving faith. 

The apostle John obviously wrote his first epistle to bring assurance to believers.  But the assurance comes across with a number of 'ifs'!  If we keep His commandments (2:3), if what we heard from the beginning abides in us (2:24), if we practice righteousness (3:10), if we love the brethren (3:14), if our heart doesn't condemn us (3:21). 

If we're worried about our walk with God, John's assurance may well make us even more unsettled!
There are also verses where Jesus Himself seems to make salvation conditional on enduring (Matt 24:13) or obedience (Matt 7:21).  The promises to believers are clear enough (John 3:16, 6:37, etc) but the assumption is that those who believe will go on to follow Jesus and do good stuff in His name.

For me, assurance of salvation is primarily about faith in the Gospel promise, God's Word.  But it's also about the knowledge that God's mercy and forgiveness are bigger than all my sins and failures.  When I see changes in me that can only be the work of God's Spirit, I am convincced that God will bring me through to full salvation.  After all, why would He bring me this far, only to abandon me in the end?

Finally, some professing Christians have no assurance of salvation because they are, in fact, not saved.  Perhaps they are trusting in themselves, or someone other than Christ.  Perhaps they have not truly repented or turned away from their ungodly lifestyle.

Let's keep things in their correct order.  There is no assurance without true repentance and faith!

Frustration with Islam

I'm writing this on September 11th, nine years since the terrorist attacks that changed the world.  A Florida pastor has been very much in the news this week because his church was planning to stage a koran-burning event. 

My understanding is that the church was protesting against plans for an Islamic mosque to be built near "ground zero" where the twin towers had stood. 
Hatred against Islam is not the answer but the frustration is understandable because Western governments continue to display an appalling ignorance of the danger that Islam poses to Western society.
Why should it be, in nations known for their Christian heritage, that it has suddenly become unacceptable to speak out against a religion that denies every foundational Christian teaching?  Many Christians are frustrated that Islam seems to receive official protection while Christian values are freely and openly denigrated and ridiculed.
I would never suggest a koran-burning protest at New Life Church but I would say that building a mosque near Ground Zero would be far more offensive.  The New York authorities should find a way to prevent this mosque from going ahead.
Meanwhile, here in Australia, we need politicians who will refuse to be intimidated by Islam, men and women who will risk public outcry to say what needs to be said.

Not by Myself - Book Review

For people living in Warrnambool, the name Fletcher Jones is legendary. From humble beginnings in a hawker's wagon, travelling around Western Victoria, to a trousers factory that employed more than a thousand people, his story is quite amazing. In this autobiography, written when Fletcher Jones was in his very late seventies, the reader meets a long line of fascinating characters who helped the author carve out an extraordinary chapter in Australian retailing. The title points modestly to the fact that he could never have achieved what he did without these people.

The stories from Fletcher's early life prov-ide fascinating glimpses into a world that has now virtually disappeared. This alone would make this book a worthy read but there's another story here, a story about determ-ination, imagination and innovation in business and commerce. The author skilfully explains the influences and thought processes behind the decisions that gave his clothing business a unique and unsurpassed reputation throughout Australia. His five basic objectives can be summarised as: 1) lifting the general quality of Australian made clothing, 2) developing a scientific range of fractional fittings, 3) developing a more efficient means of distribution - cutting out the middle man, thus making the clothing more affordable, 4) manage-ment by consultation, and 5) staff co-operative ownership. A sixth was added later, namely, a non-profit basis after-sales service.
Fletcher Jones was ahead of his time in many regards. He understood industrial and staff relations better than many even today. But there is a sad postnote to the book for Warrnambool residents who, in recent years, have witnessed the gradual decline and eventual closure of the FJ factory. The beautiful gardens remain and the site is still a hub of community activity, so one can only hope that the legacy of this fine Christian man will not be dimmed with the passing of time.

Although this book is more about his clothing business than his Christianity, FJ's faith in God shows through in many ways, including his involvement with TocH, an international Christian movement for soldiers.
One interesting quote: "Every man has two birthdays. One is the day he is born into the world and the other is the day he wakes up in it. This complicated world of isms is a baffling place to live in. Unless we can help a man express his spiritual growth through his job, we fail him."
A delightful book, written with refreshing humility and gratitude.

Together again - for half an hour

Still working on my photography skills.  But it was great to have Joel, Joanna, Simon and Ami (left to right) together - for half an hour.  Joel got home from work around 5.10 pm and Ami had to leae for work at 5.40.  But we had a lovely dinner together.

As families grow and new people enter the family, your heart finds room to love the new members.  What will our family look like in another 10 years?  Only God knows.  But it's always a treat to have the original family together.

Some Thoughts on Marriage

(This was an article submitted to the Reflections column in the Warrnambool Extra)
After more than 30 years of marriage, it’s great that I can honestly say my wife and I still love each other.
Not that it’s always been easy. Sometimes it was Heaven and sometimes it was more like… well, you know.
Our wedding vows were all about a commitment before God to follow His ways and to love each other, no matter what. This commitment has forced both of us, over the years, to deal with deep personality issues like pride, selfishness, insecurity, and low self-esteem. We started out “in love” but learning to love each other turned out to be something very different, something that was only possible as we allowed God to work massive changes in us.
Here’s a little insight for all those who think that marriage should change with the times. You’ve got it back to front. Marriage is meant to change you! Your attempts to redefine marriage to suit your lifestyle choices will inevitably undermine the power of marriage to do what it’s supposed to do in you.
These days, many people reject God and many others have rejected marriage. I suspect this is mainly from a desire for life to line up with their personal preferences. But we don’t grow as human beings by getting everything our own way. We don’t learn the true meaning of love by getting our own needs met.
Marriage is about a man and a woman, annoyingly different but wonderfully complementary, growing together in a giving relationship because their commitment of love will not allow the easy way out.
Marriage is God’s invitation to grow.