Principle 2 – Vision Feeds on Flexibility

 

 

 

The next section of Acts 11 (v19-23) records how the gospel was  gossiped further afield.

The persecution of Christian disciples following Stephen’s murder caused many to leave Jerusalem and seek safety. But they couldn’t keep quiet about what they had seen and heard. Some were not selective in who they told and Dr Luke (himself a Gentile) is keen to note that non-Jews began to believe in Jesus.

Antioch was a significant city in the Roman world and as a great number of people came to faith, a large Christian community was formed. News reached Jerusalem and probably set off some warning bells among the leadership.

Who was responsible for this movement? Was it a genuine work of God? What kind of things were being taught? Who’s in charge?

They chose the man with the nickname “Son of Encouragement” to go and find the answer to these questions. They chose wisely. Barnabas was a man with a big heart as Luke testifies in his impressive character reference (v24). He was discerning enough to see what was taking place was a genuine work of God, and true to his name, he encouraged them in their faith and set about the essential task of teaching these new converts.

I am both impressed and challenged at the response of the Jerusalem leadership team.

Think what they could have done if they had sent an emissary with a bad attitude and a controlling agenda!

But the impact of the extraordinary events in Cornelius villa had underlined the mission was in Hands much larger than theirs. They had the ability, humility and wisdom to see God was at work in Antioch.

They were more concerned about the fruit than the farming method.

Some years ago I was part of a leadership team that was about to plant a new congregation. Anxious to avoid re-inventing the wheel we asked a colleague from another city to share his own experience of planting out from a mother church. It was a worthwhile investment. One phrase has lingered in the memory. “When you plant” he told us “be committed at the core, but flexible at the edges”.

Vision feeds on flexibility.

 

 

Seeing & Believing – or Believing & Seeing?

A couple of  books I read on holiday this summer raised interesting contrasts.

The first is by Carolyn Weber and offers a well written account of the author’s journey to find meaning and identity. The title is the clue; Surprised by Oxford is conscious allusion to C.S. Lewis’ account of his journey of discovering faith, Surprised by Joy. As a young Canadian Weber came to Oxford to study and made some discoveries  she hadn’t planned. As an intellectual agnostic she was challenged by people who had faith and a quality of life that impressed her. It is a beautifully written book (as you would expect from a Professor of Literature) with some lovely touches of humour and sharp insights about life, love and people. It reads like a novel yet feels so devotional. Here’s a taster:

No individual, by the very state of existence, can avoid life as a form of servitude; it only remains for us to decide, deny or remain oblivious to, whom or what we serve

 

 

The second book is the first volume of Richard Dawkins’ autobiography, An Appetite for Wonder. This passionate evangelism for the New Atheism Movement provides an interesting account of his early life and the influences that led him to pursue the path of pioneering science. To describe him as influential is like saying Noah was a part time sailor. The list of honours Dawkins has amassed is impressive, including being voted the world’s top thinker in a 2013 poll conducted by Prospect magazine. Again, it is a well written book filled with fascinating anecdotes. He confesses to a “period of religious frenzy” as a boy, during which he was confirmed in the Church of England and attended Holy Communion where he enjoyed “getting up early and walking through the sunlit churchyard listening to the blackbirds and thrushes.” But it didn’t last and by the age of sixteen he shed any trace of belief in God and “It wasn’t long then before I became strongly and militantly atheistic”.

 

I hadn’t deliberately included these two books in my holiday reading because they arrived at polar opposites on the question of faith. So there was no sense that Weber was in the blue corner and Dawkins in the red – they just happened to be  part of a pile I wanted to read.

But it was fascinating to read how two highly intelligent and articulate people could end up at different destinations. I suspect Dawkins would say it’s all down to evidence. His conclusion is that the world just happened with no grand design or Grand Designer. Here’s a clue where he quotes the poet Alfred Noyes (1880-1958); “If ever I had any doubts about the fundamental realities of religion, they could always be dispelled by one memory – the light upon my father’s face as he came back from early communion.” Dawkins dismisses this as “a spectacularly silly piece of reasoning for an adult….” And in so doing shows how superficially he weighs his evidence. What Noyes saw in his father’s face was the fruit of faith.

What set Weber questioning was the same thing. She saw something in her friends and contemporaries that created a hunger to find that quality of life for herself.

I was reminded of a piece written by Lord Rees-Mogg in The Independent some years ago;

If the world is to be saved, it will be saved by the spirit. Politicians, or bankers, or soldiers, or businessmen, or even authors and artists are not the essential people. We need saints, The most relevant figures are not those who understand the world but those who can bring to the world something from outside itself, who can act as the transmitters of grace…God does not force humanity to survive, but at least we are sent enough saints in each generation to show us the possibility. A world guided by saints and the spirit would not only be a better world but also far, far safer into a much longer future.”

Seeing and believing or believing and seeing? Which is it? Perhaps a curious mixture of both?

 

 

 

 

Vision

Vision has to be one of the most overworked  words in Christian vocabulary.

Saying “I have a vision” rather than “Here’s an idea” is an attempt to invest something with a  greater weight of spiritual authority. In reality it takes time to evaluate whether it really was a God-given vision or simply a bright idea that went nowhere.

A long time ago I heard Floyd McClung say God-given vision is born and sustained by a combination of two things; intercession and involvement. And as the years have gone by, I have seen those twin principles confirmed. Prayer and, in particular, sustained prayer is the ignition. And a getting-your-hands-dirty kind of involvement earths dreams in the real world.

John Maxwell has some helpful things to say about vision*.

The credibility of the vision is often determined by the credibility of the leader
We need to be believable people that inspire trust, and that takes character and integrity that shines.

The acceptance of a vision is determined by the timing of its presentation

Good timing is essential. The vision can be right but it needs to be shared at the right time and with the right people.

The value of a vision is determined by the energy and direction it gives

A valuable vision should inspire and lift our sights to a new horizon. If it’s wearisome, it won’t work.

The evaluation of a vision is determined by the commitment it engenders in people

I have found that if the thing catches fire in others so they become shareholders, it’s a sure sign that God is in it.

The success of a vision is determined by its ownership by both the leader and the people

Vision has to move us from “me” to “we”.

I think I would add one other thing to Maxwell’s five observations. The God of the Bible is a God of Vision. Vision that finds it’s source in Him will never fail.

Bill Hybels knows a thing or two about vision and the hard reality of trying to convey it to others. I suspect he thinks vision is an overworked word too;

“Accomplishing a vision requires a lot more than pep talks, slogans, emotional stories and heart-tugging video clips….there’s a huge difference between visionary leadership and getting it done leadership.” Bill Hybels – Courageous Leadership, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002 (52)

* John C. Maxwell, Developing the Leader Within You, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1999 (146)

Thank God!

In a week when I felt especially grateful to God for his goodness with news of the safe arrival of our latest granddaughter, I came across an extract from Martin Luther’s Small Catechism based on the first article of the creed (“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”).

The purpose of catechism is to help people learn through a series of questions and answers spoken aloud. I found myself transported back to Luther’s Reformation Europe, imagining myself as husband and father who reads the first article of the creed and is then asked; “What does this mean?” Here is his reply;

“I believe that God has created me and all that exists; that he has given and still preserves to me body and soul, eyes, ears and all my limbs, my reason and all my senses; and also clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and child, land, cattle and all my property; that he provides me richly and daily with all the necessaries of life, protects me from all danger, and preserves and guards me against all evil; and all this out of pure paternal, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness of mine, for all which I am in duty bound to thank, praise, serve and obey him. This is most certainly true.”

Welcome to God’s world Amelie, and may you come to love, serve and follow the One who has entrusted to you this most precious gift of life.

Books that make you think – Part 3

A wife texts her husband: “Windows frozen – suggestions?”

Husband replies: “Use bucket of warm water”

Wife responds: “Now computer won’t start !”

Clear communication matters.

Here’s another book that does just that.

Chris Russell confesses that when his birthday comes round, he wonders if the year to come will be his last. So he has written ten letters to a mixture people. In his own words;

The letters….are the things I really want to say in the event of my death. Some are things I haven’t dared to say, felt confident enough to say, or just not got round to. They are to particular individuals – some of them are close friends, some are people I vaguely know, a couple are to people I have never even met. I’d be interested to hear their replies.

Chris is vicar of an Anglican Church in Reading (just west of London) so, predictably, the book talks a good deal about faith, worship and what it means to follow Jesus well. There is some great stuff about leadership tucked away here and there – but best of all, it is a really good read. Recommending it to a friend recently I told him, “Here’s is an excellent example of what doing theology looks like – or what it should look like!”

The book provoked an amazing cocktail of responses when I read it. It made me laugh out loud, reduced me to tears, got me quite cross and caused me to put it down for a few minutes to think s-l-o-w-l-y.

The man is a gifted communicator and an original thinker. I wouldn’t dot every “i” or cross every “t” (any more than Chris Russell would like my spelling), but he is well worth listening to.

Better still, the new Archbishop of Canterbury has just made him his adviser on Mission and Evangelism. So the bloke could end up a Bishop.

Rock on the CofE!

Born Free?

I guess it’s a mark of getting older.

Today, I spent a fascinating few hours wandering through Melbourne Zoo (which, by the way, is well worth a visit).

The trip was occasioned by a by a wonderful few weeks catching up with our Aussie grandchildren. As I pushed a stroller through the sunny crowds I realized it’s the third zoo I have visited this year….and it’s only July………

I didn’t make that many a year when I was ten years old.

About coffee time this morning I realized I have become a zoo connoisseur who can spot a grubby gibbon from a depressed dingo and a flaming flamingo from a pouting parrot. Perhaps this is what my future looks like? A Trip Advisor expert on happy days out for kids and senile grandparents?

But, as they say, it set me thinking.

A couple of years ago we had the privilege of spending some time in the African bush. It was a once in a lifetime experience, witnessing a leopard propped up a tree devouring a freshly caught impala – and all from about 6 meters.

Actually it was frightening to spend a few days in the bush aware this was a potentially dangerous place where you need to be constantly aware of where you are and what is happening around you. And hoping that someone with a gun was close by.

I thought back to that this morning as I watched elephants controlled by electronic gates and orangutangs waiting for gourmet breakfasts to be delivered by hand, and pondered on the difference between life in the wild and life in the zoo.

There’s a world of difference.

So here comes the theological question:

How have we made church more tame and less scarey?

How has faith become safe and sanitized instead of dangerous and demanding?

I am reminded of C.S. Lewis’ take on the fearsome Aslan in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe;

Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Church in the wild.

Less sanitized, more edgy; less predictable more prophetic; less formal more free.

More of the bush and less of the zoo.

Yes, please.