ASCENSION DAY – THE FORGOTTEN CHRISTIAN FESTIVAL?

As a choir boy, I used to enjoy the early morning Ascension Day service – standing up on the roof of the church singing God’s praises! This tradition continues in many Oxbridge Colleges to this day. Ascension Day, this year falling on 9th May, is 40 days after the resurrection. It marks the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, as He dramatically ascends into heaven. You can read about this in Acts 1:1-11.

A church member recently asked me, “If Jesus had done his job: dying for the sins of the world, and rising to new life again, why didn’t He stay around?” It is a fair question. There are good reasons why Jesus ascended to heaven, but we should not infer that this means that God is not doing anything on earth anymore!

In the Acts 1 reading, two specific commands are given to the disciples:

DON’T STARE!

There is a gentle rebuke: don’t gaze up into the skies, wistfully willing Him down. That stage of Jesus’ ministry is over. The physical Jesus may be hidden from view, but Jesus is still very much alive. The Bible explains his ongoing ministry in this way:

☛ He is our PROPHET – empowering the Church. He speaks with God’s authoritative voice, directing and guiding His Church, most particularly in the Bible;

☛ He is our PRIEST – He has taken the once[1]for-all sacrifice He made on the cross and is presenting it before the Father. We should be grateful that He has atoned for sin, and also that He is ever interceding for us;

☛ He is our KING –  He will come back to judge all people at the end of time. Who knows when? Only the Father knows that date. But the Holy Spirit has been sent (that is Pentecost), in order that God’s work will go global, and His Church will have power to make Him known in every generation. Ascension tells us, we must not gaze idly up into the sky. Rather, we should be glad that Jesus has ascended to His Father, to continue His work from heaven.

DO SHARE!

Those angelic messengers encouraged the disciples to remember the commission which Jesus had given them: to continue doing all the things Jesus was doing on earth, in the power of His Spirit.

They, and we, are to be witnesses to everything Jesus did and everything Jesus said. And like good witnesses, we are charged to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The Gospel will then spread from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria to the ends of the earth (including Virginia Water!). Jesus’ message is good news for all nations.

One of the key messages of Ascension Day is the reminder that Jesus’ activity can be witnessed on earth. It is not by looking into heaven, but by seeing His body – The Church – at work. We are His mouthpiece, His hands, His feet. It should be the case, that when people look at Spirit-filled believers and hear them testifying about Jesus’ saving work, they meet with Jesus… His body on earth! That is a big challenge for the Church – and we certainly do not do it perfectly. But I hope that you will find Christians acting a little bit like Jesus and commending Him in what they say and do.

IT’S MORE THAN HOT AIR!

Years ago, when I was Vicar in Wimbledon, we had an Ascension Day service. At the end of the service everyone inflated a Helium balloon (in the days when we were less environmentally aware of the potential damage they might cause!) and attached a message about Jesus, before letting them loose. It was a great encouragement to hear responses from people in the far-flung corners of the UK saying that they had seen the balloon and read the message!

Filled with the Holy Spirit, we are let loose across the world! God’s people are to go to the ends of the earth with a wonderful message of Good News! That is why Ascension Day matters. Do be in touch for more information. Yours in Christ, Simon Vibert Simon.vibert@cc-vw.org

The “What; When; Where and Why” of Prayer –

Psalm 96

Dear friends

You will have picked up that we are trying to keep our focus strongly on prayer, and in particular, praying for Revival.

There  are lots of ways to be engaged: on your own as part of your daily time with God, e.g. using the Lectio 365 app; in your Connect Group meetings; Sundays in, before, and after each of the meetings (also with a chance to pray with others on the Orange sofas); Tuesdays 07:30-08:30 in the prayer room; and particularly: Our Half night of Prayer, Saturday 13^th April, 6pm-midnight.

There is lots of help in the Bible, but how about this famous Psalm 96?

Psalm 96

¹ Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
² Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
³ Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvellous deeds among all peoples.

⁴ For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
⁵ For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
⁶ Splendour and majesty are before him;
    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

⁷ Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
⁸ Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come into his courts.
⁹ Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth.
¹⁰ Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
    The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity.

¹¹ Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
¹² Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
¹³ Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.

This psalm is all about the what, when, where, and why of worship – 

1. What –

v1 A new song. Does not necessarily mean new words (apart from anything else this same form of words occurs elsewhere in the elsewhere in the OT). I can’t but think of Kenyan singing, Maybe this is legacy of the East African Revival – marked by repentance and joy?

Singing is: Verbal; it’s creative; it involves head & heart; supremely it is godly focused.

V8b bring what you have got and where you are to the Lord;

V9 Worship equals worth-ship; God is worthy; we tremble in His presence and praise Him, as the natural overflow of a grateful heart!

2 extremes –

1. For some, worship is exclusively what we do when we meet in our corporate gatherings…  or even a particular time in the worship service – singing a succession of praise songs, or at the Holy Communion ….
2. For others, worship is anything but what happens on a Sunday – it is all about being living sacrifices throughout the rest of the week.

The truth, as often in Scripture, is both of these extremes. True worship is the whole of life, but this is intensified when we meet as his people – hence the amount of papyrus used up recording the hymn book of the Scriptures – the psalms. To be read, yes, but supremely to be SUNG! We are living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2), but living sacrifices keep crawling off the altar and need to re-gather for self-sacrifice in gratitude for God’s supreme sacrifice.

• When –

v2 Day after day…but not forever. We praise God all the time, although we don’t sing all the time!  

v3 Declare to God. Ascribing honour to the LORD, v7f. v10 Worship of God is so much more than the short time we gather as his people … we spend our lives declaring the goodness of God.

Evangelism and praise belong together: both involve words.

• Evangelism extols God’s goodness, speaking/singing it back to God;
• Praise extols God’s goodness to the world. “…declaring the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9).

• Where –

v1 all the earth

v11 and the sea. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

V12 the fields. 

V13 all creation.

The whole of creation will sing out in praise of its creator. Indeed the heavens declare the glory of God (Ps 19:1)

Nevertheless: the supreme goal of our worship is to declare the greatness of God to all nations – hence, v2, 3, 10 – they are to be summonsed to worship God!

Once we have understood who God is, we can not but want other people to come to worship him too.

• Why –

Praise is not, as many people assume, an ego-trip required by an insecure god. Unlike us, God is not searching for a compliment to boost his ego.

CS Lewis is so helpful on this point:-

• We praise objects of beauty – e.g. seeing a wonderful sunset is made so much more special if there is someone with you to whom you can turn and say “isn’t this wonderful”
• “But the most obvious fact about praise — whether of God or anything — strangely escaped me.  I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honour.  I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless (sometimes even if) shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to check it.  The world rings with praise — lovers praising their mistresses, readers praising their favourite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favourite game — praise of weather, wines, dishes, actors, motors, horses, colleges, countries, historical personages, children, flowers, mountains, rare stamps, rare beetles, even sometimes politicians or scholars.  I had not noticed how the humblest, and at the same time most balanced and capacious minds, praised most, while the cranks, misfits, and malcontents praised least.”

v4 For, worship overflows from an apprehension of the character of God…v1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13 – The Lord.  v10b, v13b He will judge. God seeks worshippers. We are made for worship of God. Hence Augustine’s prayer “…our hearts are restless till they find their rest in thee”

So friends, prayer and evangelism are not specialist subjects for a few people – no! They are the natural response of Christians to all that God is and all He has done.

If God is going to send Revival, I think it will be when his people are focused outwards in declaring God’s praise to unbelievers; and upwards in declaring God’s praise back to God!

“Let us pray…” 😊

Yours as ever in Christ

Simon Vibert

10 lives intersecting with Jesus at his death

Good Friday Reflection, 2024

“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” – no. But we learn a lot from those who WERE there

1. Jesus & Judas – betrayal. Luke 22:47-53 –

– Error? Or deliberate? Jesus is “given up” 22:6, 21f.

– Judas is the means Jesus uses to surrender himself to the father’s plans 47-53

“Surely, Lord, it is not I?” So often we know even before we ask that it is. We, like Judas, like all the disciples, like every disciple who has ever lived, have betrayed Jesus for the most trifling of rewards.

May we, too, feel the burn of Jesus’ eyes as he speaks to us

“Yes, it is you.” Help us Lord to confront our secret betrayals,

to know them as clearly and judge them as surely as does your purifying and cauterizing gaze.

And on the far side of the shame and pain of crucifixion

may we discover your enduring and redeeming love restoring us and raising us up to a new fullness of life lived in your Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Richard Bauckham and Hart (At the Cross: Meditations on People Who Were There)

2. Jesus & Peter – denial. Luke 22: 54-65 –

– Failure and return – v32, 62

– Failure births genuine discipleship if repentance and learning proceed (contra Judas)

‘in failure we find God to be the gracious God and ourselves to be in need of God’s grace’. Bauckham

3. Jesus & Pilate – truth. Luke 22:66-23:12 –

– Jesus’ refusal to answer (why? Won’t titillate imagination, but will respond to genuine inquiries)

– Pilate convinced of his innocence, yet punished him, v4, 14, 20, 22, 24

4. Jesus & Barrabas – substitution. Luke 23:13-25 –

– Pilates miscalculation

– Substitutionary suffering and atonement

5. Jesus & Simon – co-sufferer (sympathy) Luke 23:26 –

– a north African Jew in Jerusalem for the Passover – willing or unwilling?

– Luke 9:23

6. Jesus & daughters of Jerusalem – weeping. Luke 23:26-31 –

– still sympathy and sadness over Jesus death – largely women

– warning – there is worse to come – he wants there repentance, not their sympathy; if the innocent suffer what will become of the guilty?

7. Jesus & criminal  – paradise. Luke 23:32-43 –

– pain, humiliation and sin-bearing suffering of crucifixion

– even in death, Jesus divides

– silenced the other criminal

– deathbed conversion – “feared God” – realised Jesus was innocent; “remember me”

8. Jesus & centurion  – worship. Luke 23:44-49 –

– the manner – and certainty of Jesus’ death

– darkness; curtain; Jesus’ final words

V47 – Centurian’s profession

Crowds went away full of grief

9. Jesus & Joseph – generosity. Luke 23:50-55 –

– Joseph member of Sanhedrin – needed unanimity for their vote – but Joseph was not present

– “looking for the kingdom” = a disciple?

– Pilate gave permission – another indication of certainly of Jesus’ death

– Did he know it was a temporary arrangement?

10. Jesus & women – burial.  Luke 23:55-56 –

– he was really dead

– the planned to embalm him – loving last act

– they knew where he was laid

– hurried burial with spices before sabbath

– women last at the cross; first at the tomb (you wouldn’t make that up!)

Take away –

• Peter – Denial is forgivable,
• Judas – Betrayal is not … (unrepented sin is the danger);
• Pilate – Truth can be staring you in the face;
• Barabbas – Jesus substituted himself for all sinners;
• Simon – we too are called to take up our cross
• Daughters of Jerusalem – sadness should lead to repentance
• Criminal – it’s never to late to ask Jesus in
• Centurian – the way Jesus died should elicit worship
• Joseph – be public and generous
• Women – loving care right to the end

The Surprising Rebirth in Belief in God

Dear friends, I have written my community magazine article on The Sea of Faith and the Turning Tide.  This is a synopsis with further implications for congregation life.

There was a famous poem, called “Dover Beach” published by Matthew Arnold in 1867, which spoke about “the sea of faith,” particularly noting that the tide of faith was now going out. Rationalistic scepticism has been the dominant attitude towards faith and belief in the many decades that followed, perhaps climaxing in the bold assertions of New Atheism, championed by Richard Dawkins and others. Christian faith, it is argued, is the stuff of fairy tales; nothing more than mystical conversations with gentle grandfathers in the sky, or even, our “imaginary friend.”

But, to continue the tidal analogy, Pastors, academics, and broadcasters are wondering “Is the tide turning?” Many people are starting to ask this question. Coming from the tidal island of Jersey I am intrigued by the twice daily ebb and flow of the tide. Though the sea may have retreated several miles down the beach, you can be certain that the tide will very soon return, and the golden sands will be awash with sea water.

The Surprising Rebirth in Belief in God

I am currently reading Justin Brierley’s new book, The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God. Justin is a journalist and broadcaster who has interviewed dozens of prominent thinkers on Premier Radio, and can also be heard, on the same topic, on his podcast. Having interviewed Bishop Dr NT Wright, Journalist Douglas Murray, Psychologist Jordan Peterson, Historian Tom Holland, Journalist Louise Perry, and dozens of others, he thinks we are beginning to see a turning of the tide. Provocatively, one of his podcasts is entitled “Thank God for Richard Dawkins!” Whilst Dawkins himself might not feel the same, Justin Brierly is noticing some changes in the tone and mood: “… in recent years, I have noticed an unmistakable sea change in the kinds of conversations that secular culture is now having around Christianity, science, and faith. The excitement of the clashes between the titans of atheism and Christianity that once packed out the debating chambers has faded with New Atheism itself. … thinking people are being given permission to take the idea of God seriously again.” As a Church we continue to pray for Revival, and just maybe, we are beginning to see the first glimpses of a return to faith.

Time and Tide wait for no man

This warning is to be found at the top of every slipway in Jersey. Far too many people have lost their lives as a result of being caught out by the returning tide. Distraction with the beauty of the low-water line is the principal cause, and results in the need for rescue. If the tide is turning – and once secular people are beginning to ask “God questions” again – the challenge to the Church is, are we ready for this “sea change?” Hopefully. A few things come to mind:

Most of my searching, God-conversations happen on the golf course, tennis court, Costas, or even, more recently, online following 3-minute presentations of the faith (see my TikTok @simonvibert). In other words – the old questions might be there, but people are not inherently walking through the Church doors to find the answers.   Doorstep encounters: As we continue to visit door-to-door around the parish we have been very encouraged with the largely warm welcome, and the genuine conversations, from an eager minority. One person specifically requested a copy of “The Case for Christ,” Lee Strobel as a result of me offering it free in my last magazine article.     Faith questions are often best posed in the context of a meal or social gathering. E.g. the many meals we host at Church (Good News Café, Men’s Curry Night, Breakfast and Lunch before/after Church; “Connect” groups in people’s home) are good places to enquire and converse.

The next stage of engagement can be a popular course such as Alpha, Hope Explored, Bible Overview etc. The emphasis is on exploring the questions, rather than being “preached to.”   Please don’t dismiss Church. We see new people in Church every week – drawn by the communal experience of Christian worship, straightforward teaching from the Bible which applies to life, as well as a gathering of all ages.

After Easter we will continue our sermon series entitled “Revive us again, Oh Lord!” Plus, there will be opportunities to discuss this in Connect Groups – maybe God will whet our appetite to pray expectantly for Revival! And, talking of prayer – this is where it all starts. Please try to make some of our collective opportunities to pray: before and after the service on the orange sofas in Church; Tuesday mornings 07:30-08:30; Half night of prayer: 18:00-midnight, Saturday 13th April etc.

It’s not yet revival – nor even the full flood of a return to faith – but the tide does seem to have turned. Amongst sceptics, there is less angry vitriol as people start to wonder whether the baby and the bathwater of Christianity went flying out of the window. And amongst seekers and those returning to faith, there is a willingness to put one’s head above the parapet and start to own faith convictions. Simon Vibert

“The hinge of history”

“The hinge of history”

As we approach Easter, we very much look forward to welcoming you to Christ Church for all our meetings and celebrations.

Why does Easter remain such a significant event in the life of the world? For millions of people, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the “hinge” moment. Human history divides at “BC – Before Christ” and “AD – Anno Domini – Year of our Lord.” If you make sense of Christ, you unpack the meaning of time and eternity.

Lee Strobel wrote an award-winning book called: The Case for Christ.

He was a sceptical, atheist. He typically wrote investigative pieces for the Chicago Tribune. But in 1998, he approached the evidence for the resurrection from the viewpoint of a journalist. He subsequently published The Case for Christ, the first of many best-selling books. He says:

“For much of my life I was a sceptic.  In fact, I considered myself an atheist.  To me, there was far too much evidence that God was merely a product of wishful thinking – the outcome of ancient myths and superstition… And, surely Jesus never claimed to be God – only his followers…

As far as I was concerned, the case was closed.  There was enough proof for me to rest easy with the conclusion that the divinity of Jesus was nothing more than the fanciful invention of superstitious people.”

.. or so he thought. His wife became a Christian:

“Leslie stunned me in the autumn of 1979 by announcing that she had become a Christian.  I rolled my eyes and braced for the worst…. I married one Leslie, the carefree Leslie, the risk-taking Leslie – now I feared she was going to turn into some sort of sexually repressed prude who would trade our upwardly mobile lifestyle for all-night prayer vigils and volunteer work in a grimy soup kitchen.”

He was pleasantly surprised by the change, and fascinated by her character, integrity, and personal confidence.

The Case for Christ sets out his own spiritual journey from atheism to faith. He cross-examines a dozen experts, particularly focusing on the evidence for Jesus’ existence and his resurrection from the dead.

In the Bible, John 19-20 outlines the evidence, relevance and significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

1) The evidence of Jesus’ death brings Nicodemus and Joseph to faith (John 19:28-42)

Jesus’ death contrasted with the way many people died: cursing, regret, resentment, loss, sadness, relief…. Very few men’s death inspire bravery, sacrifice, generosity… but this is the effect Jesus’ death has on his followers.

As dark descended on the eve of Good Friday, hasty preparations were made for Jesus’ burial. 2 men emerge from the shadows, and their actions reveal an emerging faith in Jesus.

Joseph was a wealthy man of means, making his faith public (v38); he provided a tomb for Jesus’ burial.

Nicodemus – first came to Jesus at night, joined Jospeh in taking the body of Jesus for a dignified burial; he provided the spices – 75lb of myrrh and aloes.

Both men came to see, that Jesus’ last words, “It is finished/accomplished” indicated his mission had been successful. Sin had been atoned for, and forgiveness had been bought.

Like Nicodemus and Joseph, as you linger at the foot of the cross, perhaps you will see the way in which this man died was for the benefit of you, and me.

2) The evidence of Jesus’ resurrection brings John to faith (John 20:1-10)

Mary arrives at the tomb first. It is still dark. She expects to complete the final anointing of Jesus’ body. The stone is rolled back. Is this the work of grave robbers? She wonders.

The empty tomb was enough evidence to bring John to faith (v8).

John is important for us – We say: “If only I could have been there”

John says: “Believe on the basis of the evidence”

He records the reason why he wrote his Gospel:

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31).

3) The evidence of personal encounter with Jesus brings Mary to faith (John 20:11-18)

Mary is left weeping at the tomb – the loss of the body is the final indignity. “Where is my Lord.” She asks, initially not recognising Jesus.

Then there is the moment of recognition: “Mary.” Jesus calls her by name. She responds: “Rabboni” meaning master, Lord; and grasps his feet, in joy and reverence.

… Christian faith offers you – not philosophical arguments; historical arguments – But personal encounter with the living God.

Evidence leads to experience. Have you made that journey?

John provides evidence to take you to the empty tomb where you will meet the personal, living God, who calls you by name.

1) It happened in history – and there are witnesses to verify.

John tells us “These things are written that you might believe”

2) It transformed lives then and now – only an encounter with the risen Lord can do that … the personal transformation of his wife led Lee Strobel examine the evidence for himself. 

3) This is GOOD news for the world — v17 – “Go and tell”, they are told – and here at Christ Church, we continue to make this our mission.

This is a life and death issue. Have you ever examined the evidence as a mature, thinking adult. It could be the “hinge moment” for you.

If you would like a free copy of Lee Strobel’s book, please drop me a note (office@cc-vw.org) or come along to Church.

Asceticism or Amore?!

I have been preparing for the build-up to Easter whilst writing this article. I was surprised to find Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day are the same day. The date of Easter is set by the Moon cycle, and in the Christian Calendar, the build-up to Easter is the period of Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday, 46 days before Easter Sunday.

Ash Wednesday and Lent are typically associated with times of self-denial and repentance. This picture of “hair shirt,” isolation, self-denial and discipline seem very much at odds, in most people’s minds, with the jollity and amorousness of Valentine’s Day! An unfortunate juxtaposition? Yes… and maybe no. Perhaps the two events are not quite so far apart as we might imagine.

Let’s think about these two Christian Festivals.

Ash Wednesday

Two Bible passages in particular pick up the theme of repentance and ashes: “Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19). Elsewhere, the prophet Jonah repented in sackcloth and ashes. It was an outward sign of humiliation and repentance, which was reflected in a heart turned back to God. God responds to the penitent and restores joy – the pattern from penitence to joy is often mentioned in the Bible: “You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” (Psalm 30:11). The message of the Kingdom is “Repent and Believe.” Both are needed.

This is how the Collect for Ash Wednesday articulates it:

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one  God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Valentine’s day

Saint Valentine was a 3^rd century catholic Bishop who lived during the persecution of Christians in Rome. He was particularly hated because he spoke boldly about the love of God (the irony!) from passages such as 1 John 3:

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters… Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (v16, v19).

Saint Valentine was martyred on February 14^th in AD 260. There are a few legends which reveal why he has come to be known as the Patron Saint of Romantic love.

As a bishop, Saint Valentine secretly performed Christian weddings against the order of the pagan Roman emperor. He was sentenced to death. Whilst in prison, he evangelized the jailer, and healed the jailer’s blind daughter. On his execution day, he wrote the girl a note signing it, “Your Valentine.”
“greater love has no man that he lays down his life for his friends.”

The juxtaposition of these two days teaches us things which belong together, in life, and in worship: love, sacrifice, self-discipline, and suffering belong together. The well-known passage on the fruit of the Spirit states this: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Did you notice that “love” – the supreme act of self-giving for another (first on the list) requires “self-control” (last on the list). It is not until our self has been mastered by God, that we are able fully to give of ourselves to God and to others.

Oh, just to be clear – we’d love you to join us for our Ash Wednesday service, 11.00, 14^th February – and of course, enjoy a meal with your loved one in the evening!

Yours in the love of Christ,

Simon Vibert

The Ultimate Statistic

It has been said: Sex was a taboo topic in the 19^th Century, but we talked about death; and in the 20^th Century, death was unmentionable, but we talked – a lot! – about sex. During a global pandemic, we talked much more about death, but are perhaps no clearer about the afterlife?

Our comedians help:

• “I am not afraid of death, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Woody Allen
• The Motivational speaker asked – what do you want to hear people say about you at your graveside?” “Look he’s moving,” came back the smart reply.

Like almost everyone reading this article, as a family, we have known sadness and death this past year. It is an inevitable reality. Death is also the ultimate statistic: Every person who has ever lived – and will ever live – has died.

If you have read this far, you may not be thanking me! But this is a positive message for several reasons.

First, Christians believe that there is a person who came back from death – more, even conquered death. Not only is he uniquely qualified to tell us “What is on the other side,” but we believe that his death conquered death once and for all. Death, for his followers, is not the end, but the gateway into a fullness of life beyond the grave.

Secondly, the Christian message is uniquely one of hope in the face of death. This is not wishful thinking. We often read the following passage at funerals:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am… I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:1-6)

Jesus’s disciples are aware that his death is imminent. He comforts them in their distress by telling them that he is going ahead of them to prepare a homecoming in heaven beyond the grave. There is room for all in heaven, but only if they enter via the means he has prepared. He is the way, the truth, the life. It is only by coming through Jesus Christ, seeking him as your hope and confidence, that you will be welcomed home.

Timeless Wisdom

One of my heroes in the faith, Dr Timothy Keller, died this year after succumbing to pancreatic cancer.

Tim was a brilliant theologian, and we have gained enormously from the dozens of books which he has authored. He devoted his best energies to being the founder and lead Pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, in Manhattan, New York City. The Church began in 1989 with 15 people, growing to more than 5,000 people in recent years.

One of the last books he published is entitled On Death, reflecting on his own mortality, but also giving hope to all as we approach our end of days. He too notes that we do not speak so much about death, but nevertheless, there is a nagging fear of death that is common to all humanity. This is not the case of the animal kingdom, of course. The stalking cat may get within a whisker of capturing the bird on your lawn, but within a matter of moments the bird is back. Not so humanity. The fear of the unknown beyond death paralyses us. Why so? It is more than the obvious pain and loss, we harbour uncertainty about how our maker will treat us when we meet him.

Despite the best attempts of modern sceptics, defining death as mere non-existence is depressing, and ultimately seems to make life seem worthless. And, anyway, don’t we all hanker after a day of justice? Surely there must be an ultimate reckoning for all the wrong done in the world?

That day of reckoning is a moment when we will all be judged by a holy and perfect God. Wishful thinking just won’t wash. On that day we need an advocate, or even a substitute, to come alongside and plead on our behalf. This is how John puts it:

^“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness… if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 1:8-2:2)

Christian Hope

The good news in all this, is Christianity offers real and substantive hope. This is the testimony of those who attend Christ Church, and of Christians around the world and down the ages. Even as he approached his own death, Tim Keller exuded hope. In the book I mentioned, he quotes the poet George Herbert: “Death used to be an executioner, but the Gospel makes him just a gardener.”

And, also, D.L, Moody, on his deathbed, saying: “Pretty soon you’re going to read in the Chicago papers that Dwight Moody is dead. Don’t you believe it. I will be more alive then than I am right now.”

Comfort in mourning

The message of Jesus is about “an endless hope” in contrast to the message of this life, all about “a hopeless end.”

Pain and grief are real. We pray for all in our community, that everyone may find the consolation of Christ amid our sorrows.

As we approach Remembrance, and also use the opportunity to pray for those who grieve, may you find comfort in the Christian message. And perhaps join us for our services on Sunday 12^th November?

http://www.cc-vw.org

“How’s your hearing?”

“How’s your hearing?”

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” (Jesus, in Luke 8:8)

There is an old joke about a nervous preacher who tapped the microphone, saying, “can you hear me OK at the back?” One wag replied, “Yes I can hear you fine, but I’m happy to change places with someone who can’t!”

How is your hearing? William Arthur Ward memorably wrote, “before you speak, listen”.

Now, I know that I partly get paid to preach sermons. I also teach others to preach, so I had better be careful! Sometimes I show my students “Mr Bean goes to Church”, in which Bean does everything he can to stop falling asleep, while the Vicar drones on!

I’ve also been known to say to the congregation, my job is to preach; your job is to listen. So, if you’ve finished your job before I’ve finished mine, please be patient with me!

The seed of the Word of God

Jesus told a famous parable about a sower and their seed. “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). This says something about the power of the bible being preached: Within the message of Jesus is the potential to produce abundant fruit, albeit only for those who “hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” (8:15b).

The preacher’s job is to sow the seed of the word, with clarity, to ensure good understanding, and with awareness of the distractions which compete for the hearers’ attention.

Different types of hearing are implied in this parable:

• Some seed bounces off having never really penetrated, v.19. The seed which falls on the path represents those who hear without understanding. The evil one snatches the word.
• Some seed is gobbled up by birds, v.20f. After an initial joyful response, the birds of the air devour the growth because there is no root. This type of listener is initially positive, but it has not gone deep enough to put down root.
• Some seed is choked by thorns, v.22. The word is heard, but the enticing voice of materialism and worldly wealth stifles the fledgling growth.
• Some falls on good soil, v.23. Evidence that the word has been heard, understood, and heeded, is seen in the bearing of fruit, v.23.

We sometimes say Psalm 95:7b (the Venite) at our 08:30 service. It is a call for soft heartedness: “Today, if only you would hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness” (quoted in Hebrews 3:15; 4:7).

How you listen to, and respond to Jesus’ words, determines whether or not you are His follower. Of course, not just to listen but to really hear. James warns, be “quick to listen, slow to speak… do not merely listen to the word…do what it says” (1:19, 22).

How to hear a sermon

Mortimer Adler wrote a famous book, How to Read a Book. This got me thinking. Might this also help us to hear a sermon?

Adler is not without his critics. Maybe he made a simple process (reading) unnecessarily complicated. But his goal was to encourage readers to get more out of the act of reading, so what is important will stick, and it might change the way you think.

Some of this makes sense for listening to sermons. Whilst the Divine author (we believe) is without fault, the preacher certainly isn’t (this one included!).

Paul states: “I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, (1 Cor. 3:3f.).  It is also good idea to check what you are hearing really does come from the bible.

George Whitefield’s the Evangelist preached a sermon in 1739 about this parable:-

1. Hear sincerely (with a humble heart);

2. Hear diligently (as a royal proclamation);

3. Hear humbly (with due deference to the preacher as God’s messenger);

4. Hear impartially (don’t have favourites);

5. Hear obediently;

6. Hear prayerfully (particularly that God will fill the preacher with the Spirit).

So, how is your hearing:

• Listen for edification (focus on God; prepare your heart);
• Listening for empathy (identify with the humanity of the preacher and the text);
• Listening for education (and be teachable);
• Listening for encouragement (be reminded, learn to love what of truth you hear);
• Listening expectantly (expect to be changed).

The elephant in the room?

The elephant in the room: Is truth open to scrutiny?

 “I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” so said Evelyn Beatrice Hall, a biographer of Voltaire. Yes, of course there is such a thing as “hate speech” but silencing critique or shutting down debate ought not be something a democratic society should foster, right? Open minded exploration of truth is certainly something I would like to encourage.

There is a well-known parable about 6 blind men who stumble across an elephant. They try to make sense of what they have encountered.

One grabs onto the trunk and assumes he has found a snake. The second puts his arms around a leg and guesses that it is a tree trunk. The third holds his swishing tail and thinks he’s holding a rope. The fourth places his hands on the enormous body and supposes that he is touching a wall. The fifth finds the ear and thinks it’s a fan. And the sixth takes the tusk and assumes it to be a spear.

The logic of the parable is: we are all blind, and only grasp a tiny amount of what is true from our limited perspective.

For many people, this just illustrates the problems of world religions. Each has grasped only a small amount of truth, and we should just think of religion as a smorgasbord of limited human perception.

Of course, there are weaknesses with this argument.

• In the first place, the elephant is still an elephant despite the limitations of human perception.
• Why did the men not have more than one feel of the elephant, or talk with the other blind men, to compare notes? Did none of them guess that the thing they grasped was bigger than their narrow perception?
• The witness from one seeing man would change things enormously. Presumably someone told them that the thing they were feeling was an “elephant” and directed them to it? Perhaps they should have asked him some questions?
• Most importantly, God is not a dumb elephant – but he is vast and unknowable unless he discloses himself in some way.

We live in a world which encourages us to assume “your truth is your truth”; “there is no such thing as objective reality”; “all views should be equally accepted as right.”

But in actuality: we do have an objective sense of right and wrong: where does that come from? And, truth is not so much groping around in the dark, but rather, Christian’s believe, God has broken in and brought life and light into this world in Jesus Christ. He literally is the man from the outside, with extraordinary good news!

“The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…we have seen His glory, full of grace and truth” (John’s Gospel, Ch 1).

Though this was written about a hundred years ago, Dorothy Sayers is spot on:

“In the world it is called Tolerance, but in hell it is called Despair…. the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remain alive because there is nothing for which it will die.”

Why not take this September to explore the truth? Please see over the page for details of our new Alpha course this September. Have you tried Church on a Sunday? There are lots of people who will testify to a living and life transforming faith. I have recently started a TikTok page simply exploring John’s Gospel in 2-3 minute bite sized chunks (@simonvibert). I am amazing at home many people are watching it!

“Aren’t we better off without religion?”

“Aren’t we better off without religion?”

I have very much appreciated reading Rebecca McLaughlin’s answer to this provocative question in her recent book Confronting Christianity. 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religions.

The so-called new-atheists loudly argue that the answer is “yes.” All that religion does is oppress and suppress people; it makes them unthinking, and calls them to believe the unbelievable. Richard Dawkins wrote a book entitled “The God Delusion,” and Christopher Hitchens “God is not Great. How Religion Poisons everything.” Their views are popular.

Here at Christ Church, we have been privileged to enjoy Professor John Lennox’s brilliant responses to some of the questions which they raise. In particular he argues that “Atheism is a fairy story for people afraid of the Light.”

Despite the popular mantra to the contrary, Christianity is still globally the largest religion. And even in the declining West, nearly 50% of people claim some Christian affiliation, with numbers much higher around the world, growing most rapidly in unexpected places like Iran and China.

Rebecca McLaughlin holds a PhD from Cambridge University, and uses her research (in my view) to compellingly answer the question, “Aren’t we better off without religion?” For example, do we even appreciate just how much Christianity has positively impacted our culture? Think about some of its core values:

7 things that Christianity teaches which make our world a better place:-

• It really is more blessed to give than to receive – this claim was made in Acts 20:35, and surveys reveal that generous people are happier.
• The love of money disappoints – the Apostle Paul said that the “love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10) and Jesus taught that it is hard for rich people to get into heaven. The economist Jeffrey Sachs in The World Happiness Report, 2018 shows a direct relationship between unhappiness and increases in wealth. Sobering.
• Work works when it is a calling – the oft quoted comment from a janitor outside of NASA said, when asked what he was doing, “I am putting a man on the moon.” Christians look to serving a greater master beyond their human bosses, and that gives a sense of worth.
• We really can be happy in all circumstances – Paul talked about learning the “secret of contentment” (see Phil 4:12-13). Harvard Psychologist, Daniel Gilbert, calls this “our psychological immune system.”
• Gratitude is good for us – Paul taught, “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances,” 1 Thess 5:16. This is not just a positivity technique, but it changes the wiring of those who turn their gratitude godward.
• Self-control and perseverance help us thrive – Deferred gratification is taught consistently in the bible – heaven is the believer’s true home. And, whilst it’s not just “pie in the sky when you die” (because there’s also “cake on the plate while you wait”!), nevertheless, we look forward to arriving at our final destination in God.
• Forgiveness is foundational – How counter intuitive is Jesus’ prayer: “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” (Luke 11:4). But those who forgive, again and again, realise that in so doing, they are releasing themselves from bitterness, anger and revenge.

Now, of course, this is not all that there is to say about the enormous benefits of Christian faith, and a Christian outlook on the world (not least assurance of a future eternal peace and life with the God who made us!). But I have found that Rebecca MacLaughlin’s challenging book gives me pause for thought. As the Western World is rapidly disassociating itself from its Judea-Christian heritage, we would do well to first ask where else we might get a culture which is purposeful and good for all?

As ever, we’re delighted to see you at Christ Church and any of the events in the community.

simon.vibert@cc-vw.org