Have you ever imagined how the story of the Prodigal Son would look in many of today’s churches? I can just picture the father as he sees his long lost son walking up the driveway. Tears would be streaming down his face as he rushes out to his son, sneaks him in the back door, scolds him ruining the family’s reputation, rushes him into the shower and dresses him in trendy clothes, before presenting him to the public as a changed and repentant man. Naturally, he would keep a close eye on him for several months to make sure that he was truly sorry. He would deny him any privileges until he had proven himself worthy, and eventually he may celebrate his son's return by welcoming him back into the family. From thereon after his shameful story would be told whenever someone else considered straying from the flock.
Okay, so my Prodigal Son story is a little cynical, but sadly, this is the version of the story I have seen repeatedly in churches. Modern day forgiveness seems to be conditional. I understand that if someone hurts you then you should take certain precautions to protect yourself from being hurt again, but Jesus didn’t live that way. His love and forgiveness extended unconditionally, even to those who nailed him to the cross. There was no criteria people had to meet to receive his grace and forgiveness. Sinners didn’t have to clean themselves up and make themselves presentable before he would welcome them. He accepted them how they were – dirty, crushed, ashamed, broken. He told many people to go and sin no more, but he didn’t withhold himself from these people until they had the chance to prove themselves worthy. He didn’t watch to see if they sinned again and then withdraw his grace from their lives. His love was theirs no matter what, and his forgiveness was unconditional.
I have been hurt by the church in the past, as have many others. I once lost a very close girlfriend who was in church leadership, due to some gossip that circulated around the church. Even though I was not responsible for the situation that arose, I sent her a letter apologising for anything I said or did that may have hurt her. Sadly, I never heard a word from her again. I have heard this same story from many other walking wounded Christians. If Christians can’t forgive their own brothers and sisters for petty little issues, how on earth can we welcome really unclean people into our lives?
It is time we Christians rise up and show the world the true Prodigal Son story, and display in our lives the true meaning of forgiveness and grace.
Wednesday 29 August 2007
Monday 27 August 2007
Too Much Of A Good Thing
I was recently discussing the purpose of Christian education with someone who works in a Christian school. I think it is good that Christian parents have schools that they can send their children to so that they can be nurtured and educated in a safe environment that centres around God. It does sadden me, however, that so many Christian teachers gravitate to the Christian school environment when there is such a need for Christian teachers in the public school system. Surely they would be so much more beneficial in an environment where they could meet the needs of those who are really lost in life.
I began to discuss with my friend how we could encourage non-Christian families to send their kids to a Christian school and I was quite disturbed when told that many staff members at the school think that there shouldn’t be non-Christians there. I just can’t see Jesus thinking this way. He spent his entire life hanging out with those not worthy of him. His entire life’s work was centred around those who did not go to church. His influence in the “non-Christian” environment transformed lives around him as he loved and accepted those who were not otherwise noticed.
Should we not follow his example? Why would we not embrace the opportunity to welcome non-Christians into a Christian school? I understand that Christian parents want to shelter and protect their kids from the evils of the world, but do we believe that we are more deserving of God’s grace than others? Do we really want our children to be raised with the belief that they are better than those who do not yet know Christ? Do we want to isolate them from the real world and those in it? I know people who complain that their kids are so self-centred, but if you look at the attitude of many “churchy” parents, I can understand why kids become this way – it is because many of our churches centre around us.
Jesus died for every person on earth, Christian and otherwise. As Christians we need to be careful not to think that we have earned our salvation because we go to church and read the Bible. Grace is a gift that we do not deserve, and I don’t believe that it would please God for us to withhold our grace from those who do not yet know him.
Needless to say, my kids are enrolled in the local primary school, where hopefully our light and grace can touch those we come in contact with. I believe in Christian education, but I believe that it is something I am responsible for teaching my kids at home, not necessarily at school. It is a school's job to educate my kids, but it is my job to teach them about Jesus.
I began to discuss with my friend how we could encourage non-Christian families to send their kids to a Christian school and I was quite disturbed when told that many staff members at the school think that there shouldn’t be non-Christians there. I just can’t see Jesus thinking this way. He spent his entire life hanging out with those not worthy of him. His entire life’s work was centred around those who did not go to church. His influence in the “non-Christian” environment transformed lives around him as he loved and accepted those who were not otherwise noticed.
Should we not follow his example? Why would we not embrace the opportunity to welcome non-Christians into a Christian school? I understand that Christian parents want to shelter and protect their kids from the evils of the world, but do we believe that we are more deserving of God’s grace than others? Do we really want our children to be raised with the belief that they are better than those who do not yet know Christ? Do we want to isolate them from the real world and those in it? I know people who complain that their kids are so self-centred, but if you look at the attitude of many “churchy” parents, I can understand why kids become this way – it is because many of our churches centre around us.
Jesus died for every person on earth, Christian and otherwise. As Christians we need to be careful not to think that we have earned our salvation because we go to church and read the Bible. Grace is a gift that we do not deserve, and I don’t believe that it would please God for us to withhold our grace from those who do not yet know him.
Needless to say, my kids are enrolled in the local primary school, where hopefully our light and grace can touch those we come in contact with. I believe in Christian education, but I believe that it is something I am responsible for teaching my kids at home, not necessarily at school. It is a school's job to educate my kids, but it is my job to teach them about Jesus.
Wednesday 22 August 2007
Kidslink
For several years my husband and I have been directors of an organisation called Kidslink International. Kidslink’s aim is to meet the needs of children in developing nations. Our vision statement is “To show active Godly love, in meeting the needs of kids, spiritually, physically, mentally and socially, and to relieve their poverty, suffering and distress”.
We work in several developing nations including India, Pakistan and Tanna (Vanuatu), but our main focus is Mozambique, Africa.
We have been involved in several projects in Mozambique, including:
• digging wells to supply villages with much needed safe water supplies
• planting Moringa trees, which are known for reversing the effect of blindness due to vitamin A deficiency
• building education facilities, such as child care centres and schools
• training people who work with children, including nutrition, hygiene and spiritual matters
• providing much needed medical supplies to local medical clinics
• providing assistance to people running an orphanage
and various other projects.
Several years ago we dug a well in a small village in Mozambique which had no fresh water supply. Children were regularly taken by crocodiles while collecting water from the Zambezi River, so the well was desperately needed. The following year when our team returned to the village they found that not only did the village now have enough water to supply their entire population, but they had enough to plot a small vegetable garden to provide themselves with much needed food. The following year when the team returned they discovered that this vegetable patch had grown substantially and was now producing enough food for them to sell to surrounding villages, thereby generating an income for their village. The following year the vegetable patch spanned nearly four hectares! All of this came from one little well dug by a small team of Kidslink volunteers!!
Kidslink’s current project is to build a school for 600 students in a village called M’batwe. Currently this village has 200 children being educated by two teachers in a room the size of my lounge room, with no electricity, sewerage or running water. We are about to lay the foundations for a school large enough to house the 600 students needing an education in the area, as well as digging a well to supply desperately needed fresh water.
We will be holding a fundraiser auction on Saturday 20 October in Knox, Melbourne, to raise money to fund this project. The last auction we held in 2005 raised $25,500, every cent of which went to Mozambique. This money was used to begin construction of a Childcare/Education facility in Beira, the likes of which has never been seen in Mozambique before.
If you are interested in the work Kidslink do please log onto our website – www.kidslink.org.au for further information.
We work in several developing nations including India, Pakistan and Tanna (Vanuatu), but our main focus is Mozambique, Africa.
We have been involved in several projects in Mozambique, including:
• digging wells to supply villages with much needed safe water supplies
• planting Moringa trees, which are known for reversing the effect of blindness due to vitamin A deficiency
• building education facilities, such as child care centres and schools
• training people who work with children, including nutrition, hygiene and spiritual matters
• providing much needed medical supplies to local medical clinics
• providing assistance to people running an orphanage
and various other projects.
Several years ago we dug a well in a small village in Mozambique which had no fresh water supply. Children were regularly taken by crocodiles while collecting water from the Zambezi River, so the well was desperately needed. The following year when our team returned to the village they found that not only did the village now have enough water to supply their entire population, but they had enough to plot a small vegetable garden to provide themselves with much needed food. The following year when the team returned they discovered that this vegetable patch had grown substantially and was now producing enough food for them to sell to surrounding villages, thereby generating an income for their village. The following year the vegetable patch spanned nearly four hectares! All of this came from one little well dug by a small team of Kidslink volunteers!!
Kidslink’s current project is to build a school for 600 students in a village called M’batwe. Currently this village has 200 children being educated by two teachers in a room the size of my lounge room, with no electricity, sewerage or running water. We are about to lay the foundations for a school large enough to house the 600 students needing an education in the area, as well as digging a well to supply desperately needed fresh water.
We will be holding a fundraiser auction on Saturday 20 October in Knox, Melbourne, to raise money to fund this project. The last auction we held in 2005 raised $25,500, every cent of which went to Mozambique. This money was used to begin construction of a Childcare/Education facility in Beira, the likes of which has never been seen in Mozambique before.
If you are interested in the work Kidslink do please log onto our website – www.kidslink.org.au for further information.
Sunday 19 August 2007
Excellent Leadership
I came across this at work and wanted to share it. I am not sure who wrote it or where it came from but I think it is a great summary of good leadership. Sadly, I know many Christian leaders who have not resembled this description of a quality leader. I know I have fallen down on some of issues during my lifetime too. I pray for God’s guidance and humility for all who call themselves a Christian leader, as they will be held accountable for every word and deed. Such an enormous responsibility needs to be done in the strength and wisdom of God, not in our own selfish ambition or attempt at excellence.
Excellent Leadership
“He gave constant encouragement” Acts 20:2
A leader has two important characteristics: he or she knows where they’re going, and can show others the value of going with them. There are lots of talented people who will never be excellent leaders because they’re more interested in themselves than in those they lead. They’ll have to go through the school of hard knocks until they become sensitive to other people’s needs.
But effective leaders don’t wait for that to happen. They realise that any numpty can come up with an idea. But the people who implement them are priceless. American Football coach ‘Bear’ Bryant used to say, “I’ve learned how to hold a team together … There are just three things I say: if something goes bad, I did it; if something goes semi-good, we did it; if it goes really good, you did it!”
If you have a feeling in your bones that God might want you to be some kind of leader, chew on this: excellent leaders are approachable; they don’t get touchy and fly off the handle; they never let minor problems poison their outlook; they sandwich every slice of criticism between two layers of praise.
True leaders are not people who knock the wind out of others; no, they are the ones who breathe it back in! Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson once said this, “Keep your fears to yourself but share your courage with others.” Good eh! Encouraging others simply means giving them a courage injection; like this: “Paul called the disciples together and … gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits … charging them with fresh hope.” That’s excellent leadership! So today ask God to give you what it takes to lead.
Excellent Leadership
“He gave constant encouragement” Acts 20:2
A leader has two important characteristics: he or she knows where they’re going, and can show others the value of going with them. There are lots of talented people who will never be excellent leaders because they’re more interested in themselves than in those they lead. They’ll have to go through the school of hard knocks until they become sensitive to other people’s needs.
But effective leaders don’t wait for that to happen. They realise that any numpty can come up with an idea. But the people who implement them are priceless. American Football coach ‘Bear’ Bryant used to say, “I’ve learned how to hold a team together … There are just three things I say: if something goes bad, I did it; if something goes semi-good, we did it; if it goes really good, you did it!”
If you have a feeling in your bones that God might want you to be some kind of leader, chew on this: excellent leaders are approachable; they don’t get touchy and fly off the handle; they never let minor problems poison their outlook; they sandwich every slice of criticism between two layers of praise.
True leaders are not people who knock the wind out of others; no, they are the ones who breathe it back in! Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson once said this, “Keep your fears to yourself but share your courage with others.” Good eh! Encouraging others simply means giving them a courage injection; like this: “Paul called the disciples together and … gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits … charging them with fresh hope.” That’s excellent leadership! So today ask God to give you what it takes to lead.
Wednesday 8 August 2007
I'm Sorry
I have been on holidays in Hong Kong and have had an absolutely wonderful time!!
My friend Heather has a way of bringing me back to earth though, as I have come home to find I have been "tagged" for John Smulo's very interesting and challenging meme.
I am supposed to apologise to the world for three things that Christians (or me personally) have got wrong.
So here goes...
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Apologize for three things that Christians have often got wrong. Your apologies should be directed towards those who don't view themselves as part of the Christian community. Alternatively, apologize for things you personally have done wrong towards those outside of the church.
2. Post a comment at the originating post so others can keep track of the apologies.
3. Tag five people to participate in the meme.
4. If desired, send an email with the link to your blog post at the Christians Confess site, giving permission for your apologies to be added to the website.
1. I'm sorry for trying to make you come to us (church) instead of us going to you.
2. I'm sorry that so many acts of kindness we bestowed upon you had strings attached.
3. I'm sorry that we have been having such a good time ourselves that we have not heard those who are screaming for our help right outside our door.
Sadly, I could think of many many more things I could apologise for ...
4. I'm sorry that we have been more interested in your money than your needs.
5. I'm sorry that our passion for music has overwhelmed our passion for humanity.
6. I'm sorry that our claim of "excellence" has made some of those around us feel inadequate.
7. I'm even more sorry that our claim of "excellence" has made some of those around us think (often correctly) that we are a bunch of hypocrites.
8. I'm sorry that we have portrayed such a distorted view of Jesus and his love for you.
9. I'm sorry that our egoes have denied us the ability or the desire to admit when we are wrong.
10. I'm sorry that our self involved perspective has rubbed off on our kids.
11. I'm sorry that instead of creating a haven of safety for you, we have built a place of judgement.
12. I'm sorry that our walk often does not match our talk.
13. I'm sorry that we have not visited you when you were sick, fed you when you were hungry, comforted you when you were lonely, and all those other practical things that should be a part of the foundation of our faith.
14. I'm sorry that we have not given generously to those in need.
15. I'm sorry that the in-fighting and disunity between our denominations has turned so many away from seeking God.
16. I'm sorry for all the times we have welcomed you into our churches, only to neglect you once you become a regular attendee.
17. I'm sorry that we have forgotten who Jesus is and how he lived, and as a result our lives have reflected something other than the goodness of God.
How did we get like this? How did we reach the point where there are so many things that Christians can (and should) apologise for? I pray that God will prompt me every time I open my mouth or step outside my door, to remember that my every word and action should reflect him.
My friend Heather has a way of bringing me back to earth though, as I have come home to find I have been "tagged" for John Smulo's very interesting and challenging meme.
I am supposed to apologise to the world for three things that Christians (or me personally) have got wrong.
So here goes...
- - - - - - - - - - -
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Apologize for three things that Christians have often got wrong. Your apologies should be directed towards those who don't view themselves as part of the Christian community. Alternatively, apologize for things you personally have done wrong towards those outside of the church.
2. Post a comment at the originating post so others can keep track of the apologies.
3. Tag five people to participate in the meme.
4. If desired, send an email with the link to your blog post at the Christians Confess site, giving permission for your apologies to be added to the website.
- - - - - - - - - - -
1. I'm sorry for trying to make you come to us (church) instead of us going to you.
2. I'm sorry that so many acts of kindness we bestowed upon you had strings attached.
3. I'm sorry that we have been having such a good time ourselves that we have not heard those who are screaming for our help right outside our door.
Sadly, I could think of many many more things I could apologise for ...
4. I'm sorry that we have been more interested in your money than your needs.
5. I'm sorry that our passion for music has overwhelmed our passion for humanity.
6. I'm sorry that our claim of "excellence" has made some of those around us feel inadequate.
7. I'm even more sorry that our claim of "excellence" has made some of those around us think (often correctly) that we are a bunch of hypocrites.
8. I'm sorry that we have portrayed such a distorted view of Jesus and his love for you.
9. I'm sorry that our egoes have denied us the ability or the desire to admit when we are wrong.
10. I'm sorry that our self involved perspective has rubbed off on our kids.
11. I'm sorry that instead of creating a haven of safety for you, we have built a place of judgement.
12. I'm sorry that our walk often does not match our talk.
13. I'm sorry that we have not visited you when you were sick, fed you when you were hungry, comforted you when you were lonely, and all those other practical things that should be a part of the foundation of our faith.
14. I'm sorry that we have not given generously to those in need.
15. I'm sorry that the in-fighting and disunity between our denominations has turned so many away from seeking God.
16. I'm sorry for all the times we have welcomed you into our churches, only to neglect you once you become a regular attendee.
17. I'm sorry that we have forgotten who Jesus is and how he lived, and as a result our lives have reflected something other than the goodness of God.
How did we get like this? How did we reach the point where there are so many things that Christians can (and should) apologise for? I pray that God will prompt me every time I open my mouth or step outside my door, to remember that my every word and action should reflect him.
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