About t en days ago (before all the sad news about Paul Flowers) I wrote down the word "Vulnerable" with a view to using the concept for last weekends news blog. However, once I started writing it took on a different direction. I think what had triggered this thought was the way in which in many situations we seem disinclined to acknowledge personal vulnerability, preferring instead to project a more positive image of ourselves and of the churches and organisations we represent.
As someone brought up on the King James Version of the Bible my mind went to James 5:15 which reads "Confess your faults to one another...." The word 'faults' implies a certain weakness, a propensity to get things wrong, or a vulnerability. However, the KJV betrays a certain anti-catholic bias perhaps in that the word used in the Greek text is hamartia which is usually translated sin. Indeed in the letter from James the same Greek word appears five other times and on each occasion the KJV translators render it sin. (see 1:15 (twice), 2:9, 4:17, and 5:20).
But perhaps reading these other passages provides an understanding of what James understands sin to be. Take, for example the passage in chapter 4 where he states that just failing to do what you know is good, is sin. Again in chapter 5:20 "erring from the truth" is sin within the life of a Christian. Maybe, in the light of all that James has to say about practical Christian living there cannot be one among us who can avoid being defined as a sinner!
Is it more healthy to be more open about our human nature and our propensity to mess up and miss opportunities to do the right thing? I had a personal experience this week regarding the aspect of knowing what is good and failing to do it. I had been asked by a colleague on the prison chaplaincy team if I would talk with someone who was a Hindu and who had recently lost his father. The person making the request made clear that it was not important for me to stay and meet with this man as he intended to speak with him anyway. Time was short and if I said I would meet with him it would take up at least another hour, and I had a pile of work to do. So I said that it was not very convenient at that time. He said it didn't matter and he would meet with him. But as I left the room I knew I should have said I would stay. But the opportunity had passed and could not be recovered (though I tried). I came home feeling bad about myself.
Acknowledging when we mess up in such a way does require being willing to make ourselves vulnerable. Naturally, we want to be thought of as 'better than that'. So instead of being honest we project the image we would rather people saw, even if it's a lie. A number of years ago a ministry colleague told me about his experience in attending a ministers fraternal meeting. Each person had to give a short report about their church and he was amazed to hear such glowing stories. He felt people were not being entirely honest. Feeling that there must be someone who was struggling and not a brilliantly successful minister he deliberately spoke about some negative issues when it came to his turn. To his surprise all who had yet to share their story responded by stating that they were glad that their churches weren't like that! They just had to keep up the illusion.
The Bible makes clear that putting spin on things is not righteous. The stories of the Bible, both Old Testament and New, reveal children of God who have feet of clay. Take King David for example, or Moses getting angry, or Peter who is openly accused of hypocrisy (and then Paul writes to a church and tells them all about it!). The Bible tells us that if any in leadership in the churches sin they should be publicly rebuked. But when we are confronted with the weakness and failing of a fellow believer, we should always act in love, and be aware that we too will be judged in the way that we judge others.
In Romans 15:14 Paul commends the Christians in Rome because they were able to admonish one another. An admonition is not harsh criticism. Rather it is positive, helpful and supportive corrective advice. This passage suggests that their maturity enabled them both to admonish and to be admonished. So obviously there was at least some degree of honesty about weakness and failings. Could it be that our inability to make the spiritual progress we should be making is a lack of honesty about ourselves, both before God and one another? Perhaps there is more than one way of understanding what is meant by the Sunday lie in! In the light of the Coop Bank debacle and the embarrassment caused to the Methodist Church I wonder whether at sometime in the past Paul Flowers allowed himself to be more concerned about image rather than honesty, which then became a bad habit.
Recent News
This week I came under considerable pressure from the Charity Commission regarding the Christian Mission I have been endeavouring to help. This meant that several important things (including spending time on my research as planned) had to be sacrificed in order to get several jobs completed. I had to agree certain deadlines with the Commission and have been able to meet all except those beyond my control. The Action for Christ aspects are now all up to date. Part of the tasks has involved preparing some accounts for the original charity, Mission for Christ. As the Mission bookkeeper and I started working on these various further serious matters have come to light regarding the actions of a former trustee. Working on these historic matters has been very stressful for Heather, the bookkeeper who has also been unwell. We are grateful that we can rely on Heather and I ask you to pray for her as we work through these tasks.
On Friday Doreen, my wife, had a nasty fall in our garden, landing badly on her back and probably cracking a few vertebrae. We spent that afternoon and part of the evening in a local A& having examinations and x-rays. We return on Monday afternoon when we anticipate her having an MRI scan. She is in significant pain and I have had to take on the role of carer. So more juggling of priorities. Please pray that she gets the MRI and that appropriate actions follow. It does not help that she already has peripheral neuropathy caused by deterioration to the spinal column. This affects her balance and ability to walk.
The Coming Week
Sunday 24 - 9.00 Gartree Prison and 10.45 Yelvertoft Congregational Church
Monday 25 - 1.00 School Assembly, Lubenham, Leics. Immediately following Doreen has an appointment at Kettering Hospital.
Tuesday 36 - 1.00 to 3.30 Gartree Prison. Then travelling to East Sussex if Doreen is fit enough to be left.
Wednesday to Friday 27 - 29 Activities in East Sussex related to Mission for Christ.
Sunday 1st December - Yelvertoft.
There is further work on bookkeeping for Mission for Christ required and, if possible, some time must be given to the research.
All this is subject to Doreen's health. My responsibility as her husband is part of ministry and a trust from God.
Thank you for your prayers and also thanks for those providing financial support for the ministry. Please excuse me if I fail to acknowledge correspondence and gifts at this time.
Barry
As someone brought up on the King James Version of the Bible my mind went to James 5:15 which reads "Confess your faults to one another...." The word 'faults' implies a certain weakness, a propensity to get things wrong, or a vulnerability. However, the KJV betrays a certain anti-catholic bias perhaps in that the word used in the Greek text is hamartia which is usually translated sin. Indeed in the letter from James the same Greek word appears five other times and on each occasion the KJV translators render it sin. (see 1:15 (twice), 2:9, 4:17, and 5:20).
But perhaps reading these other passages provides an understanding of what James understands sin to be. Take, for example the passage in chapter 4 where he states that just failing to do what you know is good, is sin. Again in chapter 5:20 "erring from the truth" is sin within the life of a Christian. Maybe, in the light of all that James has to say about practical Christian living there cannot be one among us who can avoid being defined as a sinner!
Is it more healthy to be more open about our human nature and our propensity to mess up and miss opportunities to do the right thing? I had a personal experience this week regarding the aspect of knowing what is good and failing to do it. I had been asked by a colleague on the prison chaplaincy team if I would talk with someone who was a Hindu and who had recently lost his father. The person making the request made clear that it was not important for me to stay and meet with this man as he intended to speak with him anyway. Time was short and if I said I would meet with him it would take up at least another hour, and I had a pile of work to do. So I said that it was not very convenient at that time. He said it didn't matter and he would meet with him. But as I left the room I knew I should have said I would stay. But the opportunity had passed and could not be recovered (though I tried). I came home feeling bad about myself.
Acknowledging when we mess up in such a way does require being willing to make ourselves vulnerable. Naturally, we want to be thought of as 'better than that'. So instead of being honest we project the image we would rather people saw, even if it's a lie. A number of years ago a ministry colleague told me about his experience in attending a ministers fraternal meeting. Each person had to give a short report about their church and he was amazed to hear such glowing stories. He felt people were not being entirely honest. Feeling that there must be someone who was struggling and not a brilliantly successful minister he deliberately spoke about some negative issues when it came to his turn. To his surprise all who had yet to share their story responded by stating that they were glad that their churches weren't like that! They just had to keep up the illusion.
The Bible makes clear that putting spin on things is not righteous. The stories of the Bible, both Old Testament and New, reveal children of God who have feet of clay. Take King David for example, or Moses getting angry, or Peter who is openly accused of hypocrisy (and then Paul writes to a church and tells them all about it!). The Bible tells us that if any in leadership in the churches sin they should be publicly rebuked. But when we are confronted with the weakness and failing of a fellow believer, we should always act in love, and be aware that we too will be judged in the way that we judge others.
In Romans 15:14 Paul commends the Christians in Rome because they were able to admonish one another. An admonition is not harsh criticism. Rather it is positive, helpful and supportive corrective advice. This passage suggests that their maturity enabled them both to admonish and to be admonished. So obviously there was at least some degree of honesty about weakness and failings. Could it be that our inability to make the spiritual progress we should be making is a lack of honesty about ourselves, both before God and one another? Perhaps there is more than one way of understanding what is meant by the Sunday lie in! In the light of the Coop Bank debacle and the embarrassment caused to the Methodist Church I wonder whether at sometime in the past Paul Flowers allowed himself to be more concerned about image rather than honesty, which then became a bad habit.
Recent News
This week I came under considerable pressure from the Charity Commission regarding the Christian Mission I have been endeavouring to help. This meant that several important things (including spending time on my research as planned) had to be sacrificed in order to get several jobs completed. I had to agree certain deadlines with the Commission and have been able to meet all except those beyond my control. The Action for Christ aspects are now all up to date. Part of the tasks has involved preparing some accounts for the original charity, Mission for Christ. As the Mission bookkeeper and I started working on these various further serious matters have come to light regarding the actions of a former trustee. Working on these historic matters has been very stressful for Heather, the bookkeeper who has also been unwell. We are grateful that we can rely on Heather and I ask you to pray for her as we work through these tasks.
On Friday Doreen, my wife, had a nasty fall in our garden, landing badly on her back and probably cracking a few vertebrae. We spent that afternoon and part of the evening in a local A& having examinations and x-rays. We return on Monday afternoon when we anticipate her having an MRI scan. She is in significant pain and I have had to take on the role of carer. So more juggling of priorities. Please pray that she gets the MRI and that appropriate actions follow. It does not help that she already has peripheral neuropathy caused by deterioration to the spinal column. This affects her balance and ability to walk.
The Coming Week
Sunday 24 - 9.00 Gartree Prison and 10.45 Yelvertoft Congregational Church
Monday 25 - 1.00 School Assembly, Lubenham, Leics. Immediately following Doreen has an appointment at Kettering Hospital.
Tuesday 36 - 1.00 to 3.30 Gartree Prison. Then travelling to East Sussex if Doreen is fit enough to be left.
Wednesday to Friday 27 - 29 Activities in East Sussex related to Mission for Christ.
Sunday 1st December - Yelvertoft.
There is further work on bookkeeping for Mission for Christ required and, if possible, some time must be given to the research.
All this is subject to Doreen's health. My responsibility as her husband is part of ministry and a trust from God.
Thank you for your prayers and also thanks for those providing financial support for the ministry. Please excuse me if I fail to acknowledge correspondence and gifts at this time.
Barry
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