Church and me
Reflections and thoughts on my experience of church life.
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Science and the Bible, or Science v the Bible?
Monday, February 26, 2024
Name the animals? Why?
Adam was told to name the animals in Genesis 2:20. Why?
Aside from anything else, this process of 'naming' was perhaps the first move of Adam's governing of the creation and so has significance in his reflecting the image of God in ' taking responsibility'. It also drives the point of the location of the event in real time and space, in history, that is, and showing that the animals were not creatures to be worshipped, but to be subject to mankind.
Monday, February 12, 2024
Yesterday at church: be family
The sermon was on 'being family'.
Clearly our teachers saw a deficiency here and urged its correction.
However, a 'family' ethos is a result, not a cause. If our current systems are not producing the desired outcome, then 'try harder' within these systems will achieve no change, just frustration, fatigue and disenchantment.
We must understand the system that is causing this result, and then devise relevant changes to it. It is probably a long term effort, not one that will work next week.
Saturday, February 10, 2024
Welcomers at your church gatherings/services/meetings
Monday, February 5, 2024
Who is in charge?
The default answer to this question asks you to trot out the 'leader'.
We don't have 'leaders' in church.
A leader in modern terms would be the Greek archon: a ruler, boss or governor. One in command. We don't have this in the church. The closest thing might be overseer (elder) or the modern invention 'pastor'. 'Minister' is the best general term, and I think 'Senior Minister' is OK: senior servant, like your Butler at home.
The Senior Minister is the one who coordinates the service of the other ministers (both paid and volunteer).
In our church we have Organizers (who help the Coordinator), Convenors of home study and prayer groups, Ministry Assistants and Helpers (who attend to practical aspects of service).
But, I'm still groping for the word that is short snappy and to the point.
Moderator, as in some denominations; I think is a better term than president or chairman, so it might be useful.
For the local church, the general term I like, if 'minister' is inappropriate, ambiguous or confusing is Steward. A steward is used in secular connections, but ours is different. Instead of a youth group volunteer 'leader', who I would call a 'ministry assistant', but that is too clumsy for easy conversation, there would be stewards. 'Counselors' might also work, based on the term in summer camps; although this might be confused with therapeutic counselors. Organizers might also do the job.
But not 'Leader'. Ever!
How to teach theology
Only based on my experience, I doubt that most churches teach any theology. What theology people pick up would be by their private reading, so that could go anywhere, or by osmosis in their local church.
Osmosis is not the most efficient way!
But teaching theology would sound onerous to many church stewards, moderators, teachers and congregations. It has to be made relevant. And here's how.
One of the teaching segments of the year, perhaps aligned with Lent, or a school term, or for a couple of months after Trinity would be dedicated to 'theology'. The other 'terms' if you follow the school year, might be one OT, one NT and one contemporary life, for example, with Advent taking us up to Christmas.
Here's how the theology program might work: by using the main questions other religious approaches ask of Christian faith:
It might be the most common questions asked or claims or objections made by:
Muslims
1 Is the God Yahweh of the Bible the same as the god Allah of the Qur'an?
2 How can God be 1, yet 3, simultaneously?
3 How can God have a son?
4 Where does Jesus say 'I am God' in the New Testament?
5 Who is greater, Jesus or Muhammad?
6 Was Jesus ever crucified?
7 Which is the real religion of peace? Christianity or Islam?
8 Doesn't the Qur'an claim the Bible is corrupt?
9 We have an original Qur'an, so why can't you find an original Bible?
10 Because Islam is growing faster and stronger, won't it defeat Christianity?
See these videos for answers.
Jehovah's Witnesses
See 3, 4 and 6 above.
Modern Spiritualists (the average person)
1 Aren't all religions really the same/teach the same thing?
2 Everyone is good, deep down.
3 Isn't trying to do the right thing good (enough)?
4 Isn't the Bible just a collection of myths and legends?
5 Isn't God really the universe and in us all?
Modern atheists/materialists.
1 Isn't matter, energy and space are all there is, and all there will ever be.
2 See 1-4 for Modern Spiritualists
and, of course the
7 basic questions of Christians.
1 Why do you attend church?
2 Why do you read/believe the Bible?
3 Why do you believe in God?
4 Why are you/what is a Christian?
5 Wasn't Jesus just a great teacher, like other famous religious figures?
6 How can a good God permit evil and suffering?
7 Doesn't science disprove the Bible?
(See an earlier version: the 5 basic questions.)
In answering the questions, the basic theological themes of the Bible could be explicated.
Then the Apostles creed might be worked through, units of the questions that changed church history, as a bonus political history and the church might also be examined.
Ideally, each talk ( 'sermon') would have an accompanying article for people to study and perhaps discuss in their discipling group.
All interesting!
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
How are you at sales?
Not selling?
I'll bet you are!
I'm thinking of clergy and volunteer ministers at church. You know, the ones who look after 'pastoral' care, and seek to support those in some particular need.
A common question I've heard, and indeed, one I have asked as well is: "How can we help?" or "What can we do for you?"
Now, this is the sort of question that was perhaps learnt from poorly trained retail sales assistants. These are the poor souls who approach the customer on entering their shop and ask...one of the two questions above.
Bad sales technique, bad technique for those 'selling' their pastoral support services.
What is even worse is the implicit superficiality or disrespect, or disdain, in some cases, this shows for the person asked.
I'm not going to tells sales assistance what to do...they can pay for their own training, but church ministers (of whatever stripe) can do better.
Our job is to know people, to 'relate' to them, to understand who they are and from that be able to suggest areas of service.
We need a conversation, not a one-liner 'I'm off the hook now, because I've inquired after their welfare.'
We can use the normal conversation.
-- Hello, how are you/how are things going at the moment?
[answer comes back]
-- It sounds like you have a few challenges/frustrations/worries/burdens/loads/things on your mind [pause for response which may or may not come].
-- Could I drop in to have a coffee with you at home? I'll bring the coffee!
OR
-- Let's go inside [there should be nooks in the eccleseum for quiet chats]...or elsewhere.
During this visit your job is to get to know the person's current challenges, objectives, hopes and desires and to bring to them both the succor of our Lord, pastoral care, and identify any practical care that the church is able to provide. Let them know what the church can do and if necessary what community services might also be available.
I know people vary in their opinions on this, but I don't think I'd reflexively offer to pray for them, either on the spot (certainly not on the spot, despite some evangelicals and Pentecostals loving to do this), or remotely. A Christian should expect another Christian will naturally pray for them, particularly when expressed need is discovered. No need to say; sounds empty IMO.
On this score, while imperfect, I aim to pray for all those whom I've spoken to at church through the following week.