Be Reasonable

During a recent visit to a city in England I observed some people in a large open area trying to advertise Christianity to passers by. At some point they got into a discussion with a man and a woman and the discussion became heated. Voices were raised and then the couple who had stopped to speak with the Christians went over to police officers nearby and complained about them. Before I left the area I approached the Christians and offered some encouragement. However, what impacted me most about that episode was a negative rather than a positive. Despite believing that Jesus is the answer for our deepest need, I found myself thinking that the lasting impression for anyone who witnessed that open air 'discussion'  was of people arguing about religion and it not being clear who was in the right. Indeed the Christians may have been perceived as over zealous types and trouble makers.

The experience brought to mind a Bible passage which says if you are asked about your Christian hope always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear (1 Peter 3:15b-16a, NLT). What I had witnessed in that city was a kind of shouting match and this never helps the case for Christianity. It makes Christians look unreasonable. In situations where Christians are argumentative or overly zealous in presenting their faith the conscience will suggest that it is not the best way to sway others to the cause.

In the Bible, when Paul was on trial before a Roman governor for allegedly stirring up trouble when he spoke about Christianity, he was clear that his accusers did not find him arguing with anyone. He states that his conscience is clear (Acts 24: 12, 16). Paul sought to avoid fruitless arguments but neither did he shy away from explaining the reason for the faith within him. When he was later brought before king Agrippa he reminds the king that Christian activity would be familiar to him as it was not done in secret. He asserts that he can speak freely before Agrippa and that what he asserts is not unreasonable. In other words Paul is saying both that he is not a 'crazed' fanatic, going around trying to force his opinion down people's throats, nor ashamed of what he believes and shying away from discussing it in a reasonable manner (see Acts 26).

Paul tells Agrippa his personal story about how he went from being an obsessive persecutor of Christians to a passionate follower of their faith. No matter what struggles the king and his audience may have had with the idea that Jesus could've risen from the dead it was not unreasonable to suppose that some dramatic intervention in Paul's situation had occurred to account for such a turnaround in his life mission. It's almost as if Paul is challenging his listeners: 'how do you account for the change in me?' Paul was able to 'reasonably' explain his faith in Jesus because a 'reasonable' observable change had occurred in him. There is something very powerful for us to take from this: Christians should not simply talk about their faith, it should also be obvious to any reasonable person how their faith has changed them.

We should not be afraid to engage in reasonable debate about Christianity but the debate will be sterile if we do not exhibit the warmth and relaxed freedom springing from a changed life. Christians have something to share and the good news about Jesus is nothing to apologise for. A changed life illustrates this. As Paul reminded us:

I am not ashamed of  this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes (Romans 1v16 NLT).

This is exciting news to share but another reason Christians can become tense and argumentative in sharing the good news is by putting themselves under pressure to win over the listener at the earliest opportunity. I read a lot and for me the best books are the ones that leave you wanting more, not the ones where I'm glad to have reached the end. Sometimes, at the finish of a live music or drama performance the audience is thinking, or in come cases shouting, 'more, more!' When Paul and his companions spread the good news about Jesus from region to region they were sometimes invited to speak further or had enthused a portion of their audience to hear them again (see Acts 13: Pisidian Antioch; Acts 17: Athens).

If people are not won over the first time we share our faith in Christ or even after several exchanges, that's ok. So long as we leave them or a portion of the listeners wanting to hear more. We do this by remaining open and approachable and encouraging people that we are for them and not against them. Christians have a wonderful message to share about God's love and forgiveness revealed through Jesus. That message can be obscured if the messenger comes across as argumentative and unyielding. Put yourself in the position of the listeners and consider what might leave them wanting more.  

The Church believes that faith in Jesus changes lives. The reality is that for those yet to be convinced the message is only as attractive as those sharing it. As Paul advised Timothy, let us avoid foolish arguments that lead to further conflict (2 Timothy 2:23-24). Let us be seen as calm and respectful in telling others about Jesus, knowing an assured and relaxed freedom in conversation that the power of God can work in others as it has in us. Let us help this process, not hinder it. Do not be a troublemaker. Be reasonable!



Image source: https://devontexas.com/2014/08/04/dialysis-and-disagreement/two-cartoon-men-yelling/

The Footsteps of Faith

A scene from the movie 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' has Harrison Ford trying to survive a trial of faith where he steps out to an empty space with a long drop below and seemingly no way across. As he gathers his nerve and takes his first step forward a bridge suddenly appears under his feet and he is able to progress safely to the other side. Although it's a fictional scene, it's often the case that we have to step forward in situations when the way ahead looks uncertain.

I'm a person who likes to know where I'm going. When I'm driving a car I like to have signposts at regular intervals and too often I've found myself in the wrong lane when uncertain about the road ahead.

A guy named Abraham in the Bible had to take a step of faith when given a signpost that was vague to say the least. The signpost more or less said 'go to the place that will be shown to you' (see Genesis 12). How can we believe that we will arrive at a particular place in our lives when the location of that place is unclear? The answer lies in the challenge to take a step and begin moving. When there is movement, there is a chance for success. Abraham set off. He put one foot in front of the other and he left the place he had been staying. He exercised faith and his faith led to movement.

Movement can be difficult if we have become settled and fear change. It means leaving the familiar and finding ourselves in new surroundings and taking on new challenges. In the past I lacked confidence in taking on new challenges. I was happy to settle for comfort not challenge. More recently, my spiritual health has improved as I've taken on new challenges and trusted God to be with me. Abraham left the place he'd grown up in and travelled to become a stranger in a foreign land. Moving in faith is unsettling but faith doesn't grow when we avoid movement.

In Romans 4, followers of Jesus are urged to walk in the footsteps of Abraham's faith. This means not staying where we are. We will not be following anyone's footsteps if we are not moving. Abraham set off and began making progress. Of course he encountered setbacks along the way and so do we when following the footsteps of faith. However, God promises to be with those who trust Him and to help them:

 

Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go  (Joshua 1v9).

I recall as a child walking several times on 'stepping stones' over various areas of water and still enjoy this experience if I'm on a woodland walk. Faith in God enables us to see those stepping stones across our path and encourages us to get moving. Let's put on the walking boots of faith and make our way across obstacles we encounter.

I am encouraged and motivated when someone ahead of me during a more difficult part of a walk or mountain trek tells me to 'follow their footsteps'. The footsteps of Abraham reveal footsteps of faith. These are the footsteps God is looking for from us. The Church today must continue to follow the footsteps of faith.



Image source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/taking-leap-faith-clinton-karr

Creating a Disturbance

The news of recent years seems to be littered with stories of protest and unrest. Sometimes it's due to a nation rising up against an oppressive regime. At other times it may involve a march about a particular issue or a public gathering to raise awareness of a person's plight or a perceived social injustice.

These events usually begin with one or more individuals who feel passionate about the cause and who are subsequently stirred into action. This has a snowball effect meaning others who feel strongly about the same thing see the example being set and are persuaded to become involved. I recall watching images of the singer Bob Geldof in 1985 going on radio, TV and wherever he could get his voice heard to challenge Politicians, Pop stars and wider society to donate money and to actually do something to help the people of Africa. He became a force of nature who was so affected by images of children in Africa dying of starvation that he would not take no for an answer when asking those who could afford it to give more time and money to help. The resulting Live Aid concert broadcast around the world set a precedent for more such events to raise money and affected the way we fundamentally view such things.

To influence society about the Christian message I don't advocate that the Church tries to stir up civil unrest to get support for its message or that hard pressure should be put on others to give more time and money. However, that said, the Church is supposed to believe passionately that what people need most is Jesus. During one occasion at a church meeting a personal message was given to me that 'it was time to stand up and be counted'. I've come back to that thought again more recently. It has wider significance for the church as whole. The church is called to be a light and not to be hidden:

Matthew 5v14 You are the light of the world; v16...let your light shine before others

 

The Church has a mission to go into society and impact lives with the good news about Jesus (Matthew 28v18-20). The emphasis is on going where you can be seen not staying hidden. It is about having a presence among people, whereby they know the church is among them and they know what it stands for. Whilst it is good to meet with other Christians to worship and grow in faith, believers need to also go to the 'playing field' and get stuck in.  Bob Geldof got stuck in because he was provoked in his heart and mind to act. He created a disturbance in people's hearts and minds which created a positive disturbance in society. The Church is not supposed to be an institution. It is supposed to help change hearts and minds and in a positive way should be creating a 'disturbance'. There are two essentials for this to happen:

 

1) PRAYING FOR BOLDNESS

 

Peter and John spoke with boldness when they appeared before the religious leaders following their arrest  - Acts 4v13. They had been arrested for talking about resurrection from the dead through Jesus and by this time a great 'disturbance' in people's hearts and minds was occurring as about 5000 men had put their faith in Jesus (Acts 4v2-4).

Paul spoke boldly for 3 months in Ephesus - Acts 19v8. Once again this preceded a 'disturbance' as later on we are informed in a notably understated manner as the city moves towards a riot: about that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way  - Acts 19v23. Paul did not incite a riot but others did as they resisted the message he proclaimed boldly.

 

PRAYING FOR BOLDNESS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY > Acts 4v29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness (emphasis added). 

Whilst there are many open to hearing about faith in Jesus it remains the case that there are varied pressures from society for Christians to be seen and not heard. We must be strong in sharing our faith confidently when the opportunities arise. This confidence increases as we encounter God's presence in prayer and request an infusion of boldness. We can't make things happen for God in our own strength but things will be shaken up around us as people observe boldness in us > Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common (ordinary) men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus  - Acts 4v13 (emphasis and amplification added).

 

2)  RECEIVING BOLDNESS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

Paul and Silas travelled around boldly proclaiming the name of Jesus and some who were jealous described them as men who had turned the world upside down (Acts 17v6b). A sense of this comes across in the various disturbances mentioned throughout Acts but it is also clear that the first believers did not disturb the spiritual landscape on their own - they had help. This help came from the Holy Spirit. It's difficult to read far in Acts without the Holy Spirit getting a mention:

• And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2v4)
• Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit said to them...(4v8)
• ...they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness (4v31b) - notice there is a link between receiving boldness and receiving the Holy Spirit > If we want boldness we need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus was aware of this and told his followers that he would not leave them as orphans (John 14v18) and that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, would be sent to them, teaching them all things (John 14v26), bearing witness about Jesus (John 15v26) and challenging the world to repent of sin (John 16v8-9).

So, in addition to praying for boldness, we need to be filled with the Spirit and receive boldness from the Spirit. The Holy Spirit prompts us when to speak and when not to, when to act and when to hold back. In Acts 8, we observe that the Holy Spirit prompted Philip to approach a court official in his chariot and to speak with him. This did not become a forced situation where Philip was 'in this guy's face' but a response to the clear provocation of the Holy Spirit and the official gladly listened to the good news about Jesus. The Holy Spirit is not about shoving the message down people's throats and if Christians are too 'full on' they are not being led by the Spirit. 

 

Personal illustration: If we do not have confidence in our speaking we can still act under the leading of the Holy Spirit. I was recently walking through the town I live in when I passed an elderly man who was leaning on a crutch and virtually clinging to a building in trying to make his way along a street corner. I got some way past him when I sensed the Holy Spirit stop me and prompt me to go back and ask the man if he needed help - it was stronger than a polite notion that I should be kind. Surprise, Surprise, the man gratefully received my assistance across town to his destination. 

 

We can be conscious of the Holy Spirit provoking us on a daily basis to act or speak in line with our revelation of God's love in Jesus and as we respond boldly the Holy Spirit creates a disturbance, breaking up the hard ground in people's hearts and minds, lowering resistance to the good news about Jesus.

 

Bob Geldof was stirred as a normal human reaction to widespread suffering in Africa. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to stir us into action as we are affected by the spiritual bankruptcy of the human condition without knowing Jesus. Go is looking for a sense of urgency in this. Stephen challenged his first century audience about resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7v51). The Holy Spirit has more to show us and the challenge for us is to yield and not resist the Holy Spirit's more. This is a call to the church to move out of the comfort zone, to pray for boldness, and to welcome the Holy Spirit's role in creating a disturbance.          

 

 

 





 



 



The True Measure of Success

 

If we asked people what they considered to be the true measure of success the answers may give an insight to what motivates individuals. Some may be striving for more money, a successful career, healthy relationships or a quality family life. When we turn our gaze towards others we can unwittingly base this on first impressions: how someone looks or sounds: do they dress 'right', do they say the 'right' things and so on. If our politicians don't look and sound the part we're unsure if we should vote for them and the image obsessed modern media adds to this uncertainty. There is also significant pressure through the modern media to have the 'ideal' look or body type. All this and more provides a measuring rod for success, so we think 'if I look the part, if my face fits, I will get that job' or 'if I can get to the gym more and achieve my ideal body shape I'll feel better about my life'. We can also measure success through constant viewing of our friends and contacts on social media which shows them on holiday or enjoying key moments in their lives. This is not to say that using social media or earning money or trying to have a successful career or keeping fit are wrong pursuits but it can become a distraction if our view of success is defined by them.

I want to encourage us to consider two different measurements for success:

1) THE INSIDE LIFE
I once read that 'the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart'. The motivation or attitude within our hearts, that is, our inner desires or what we hold precious is really what directs our lives and impacts human relationships. Jesus advised his audience: where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6v21); out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12v34b).The attitude of the human heart has an inestimable power to affect our present and future as it has affected the past. That is why Jesus continually referred to it. The heart attitude is of great interest to God. This is seen clearly in how the successor was chosen for Israel's King Saul: The Lord said to Samuel 'Do not look on his appearance or his height...man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart' (1 Samuel 16v7 abbreviated). At this point we see that things are not working out with King Saul who at the beginning had looked impressive: 1 Samuel 10v23 > as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. We can be impressed by tall people and those who are physically imposing. The challenge here is to look deeper. God measures our success by what is going on inside us not by what is seen on the outside. So, the inside life needs to be affecting the outside life. In fact, it should be dictating to it!

2) WELL SPOKEN OF
A measure of success that I continually invite to challenge me is through the question: do people speak well of me? Once I was at a training course and one of those attending announced: 'Joel, everyone likes you'. Now this may not happen all the time but it was encouraging to hear it on this occasion. I believe that one of the greatest ways Christians and the church witness to the world around them about the love of God is by having others speak well of them. It is worth mentioning two people in the Bible that we are told people 'spoke well of' - Cornelius and Timothy (see Acts 10v22 & Acts 16v1-2). Cornelius was a generous person who helped those less fortunate than himself. He was a giver! It was not difficult for him to draw a large crowd to his house (Acts 10v27) to hear the good about Jesus because people liked him. As for Timothy, he was also someone people spoke well of and the apostle Paul wanted to take him along on his journeys (see Acts 16v1-3). Put another way, Timothy was a person people wanted to spend time with. Paul refers to him affectionately as 'my dear son'; he thanks God for Timothy, he prays for him constantly, recalls his tears, his sincerity and longs to see him because he is a joy to be around (see 2 Timothy 1v1-5). Wow! If we can get revelation on this we will know increased occasions of impacting the lives of others because people speak well of us.

So, let us live in the freedom and strength of God's grace by both being aware of the inside life which directs the rest of our lives and being aware that we need to consider if people speak well of us - in the workplace, at home and as we represent the church. Perhaps it is time to revaluate the true measure of success.

Response to UK Channel 5 Programme 'The Last Days of Jesus' (shown Good Friday 14/04/2017)

Christians are advised to always be prepared to give an answer for what they believe: see 1 Peter 3v15. As one myself I felt stirred to offer a response to some of the ideas put forward in the UK television Channel 5 programme about the last days of Jesus, shown on Good Friday, 14th April 2017. Here follows an outline of six points made and my response.

1) The Gospels were written 40 or more years after Jesus, so are not the work of eyewitnesses as many suppose.

Whilst technically correct, there was no allowance for the Gospels being written when a number of eyewitnesses would still be living and could either have been given opportunity to confirm events in the life of Jesus or would've been able to speak against any perceived false claims. These eyewitnesses may also have passed on accounts about the life of Jesus through oral tradition. Also, the writer of Mark was commonly accepted early on to have close links with the apostle Peter. In addition, the 1st century Jewish historian, Josephus, is an outside source testifying to the historical life of Jesus.

If it is implied (as it seemed to be in the programme) that the Gospels are unreliable due to the time they were written then this in turn assumes the authors were not writing what they knew to be true but what was necessary to persuade others. In other words, it implies lack of integrity. Where is the evidence for this? Consider that the threat of arrest and imprisonment (or worse) constantly hung over the early church in the 1st century Roman Empire for those discovered as followers of Jesus. I don't know about you but this would cause me to pause before making claims I was uncertain of or knew to be false.

2) We need to project a longer period to the time between the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus to account for why those who thought of him as their idol now wanted his death.

There was reference to a possible scenario of political turmoil and Pilate needing time to decide what to do with Jesus, who was therefore imprisoned for longer than the few days suggested by the Gospels. Without getting into a debate about the timeline here, the programme looked at one aspect of the texts and ignored others: Mark 15v11 the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him (Pilate) release for them Barabbas instead. Note the immense influence of the religious leaders over the people. This influence is noted elsewhere and so it does not hold up that it is a convenient insertion here > Note John 12v42 many...believed in him but for fear of the Pharisees...did not confess it, so they would not be put out of the synagogue.

3) Pilate is portrayed as a decent bloke in the Gospels which does not fit with what is known about him - a no nonsense governor who ruthlessly enforced Roman rule and was brought in to keep calm in Judea which had been a centre for revolt.

The programme does not take account of the Gospel emphasis that, in Jesus, Pilate encountered a unique situation. Pilate was vocal about his view that the accusations against Jesus seemed to be a matter of religious law: Pilate said to the religious leaders and their entourage who brought Jesus to him take him yourselves and judge him by your own law (John 18v31). Furthermore, Pilate showed amazement, not decency, that Jesus wouldn't answer the many charges the Jewish Council brought against him - see Mark 15v5.

Pilate went on to dialogue with the Council, Jesus and the crowds with the twin goals of enforcing Rome's law and quelling any unrest. Pilate would not have attained his position without awareness of political manoeuvring and wouldn't be unaware that the religious leaders were trying to use him to get rid of Jesus: Mark 15v10 he (Pilate) perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him (Jesus) up.

So, the issue is not about Pilate being portrayed as decent and fair but about a government representative with all eyes upon him trying to make the best judgement to guard his own position and not offer a platform for any further revolts. In any case, Pilate cannot determine categorically what Jesus is guilty of:

Mark 15v14...what evil has he done; Luke 23v4...I find no guilt in this man; Luke 23v14 I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him; Luke 23v22...no guilt deserving death. Note here we are talking about guilt deserving death. Despite this, what does Pilate do? He hands Jesus over for crucifixion to avoid a riot after washing his hands and saying I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves (Matthew 27v24). Is this the behaviour of a decent man. I think not!

4) It makes no sense that Jesus wasn't arrested when he drove the sellers out of the temple.

The programme suggested the possibility that Jesus wasn't arrested due to military forces working to help King Herod Antipas use Jesus against the religious leaders as Herod wanted to be the ruler Jews looked to instead of them. I am not against trying to paint a background to events in the Bible. However, it was implied that the Gospels offer no help here, but closer inspection reveals this is not the case. The intentions of the religious leaders themselves offer some guidance: Luke 19v48 alludes to 'paralysis' among the religious leaders to act against Jesus as he taught daily in the temple, due to his popularity at that point. Any disturbance Jesus himself created could have quickly escalated into a riot if he was publicly arrested with too many of his followers present. Other indicators of this are given throughout the Gospels:

Matthew 21v46 (After Jesus had taught against the religious establishment)...Although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet; 

Mark 14v1-2 (run up to Passover)...the chief priests sought to arrest him by stealth and kill him. For they said. not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people (emphasis added). Notice the mention of secrecy (stealth). They feared an uproar if the arrest of Jesus wasn't handled right. Indeed, they feared this more than they feared Jesus!

It is unsurprising then that the religious leaders failed to move against Jesus in the very public setting of the temple. As for the soldiers, there may have been an agreed/understood protocol within the confines of the temple and if they judged it wrong and brought an unhelpful incident to the doorstep of the governor the consequences could be hazardous for their health (if you catch my meaning). The point is that the Gospels do not leave us bereft of possible explanation as the Channel 5 programme implied. To see the events of the Gospels relayed in proper context, a wider lens is needed to see them as a whole rather than taking single statements in isolation.


5) Jesus believed that he was chosen by God and that he was supposed to rule the world.

In one sense the programme is acknowledging the idea in the Gospels that Jesus had a particular belief about himself and his mission on earth. However, the Gospels do not indicate that Jesus came to rule the world in a way that resembles taking it by force or becoming a military leader. Yes, Jesus did affirm that that he was the Son of God when others made this assertion about him (see Luke 9v20). Yet, when governor Pilate questioned Jesus he stressed that his Kingdom was not of this world and does not result in servants fighting a military campaign (see John 18v33-36). Consider also the atmosphere described following the feeding of the 5000 when the people intended to take Jesus by force to make him king but he withdrew from this situation (ref John 6v15) - becoming a physical king/ruler on earth was not his agenda. It is fairer to the Jesus of the Gospels to say that he came not to rule the world but to influence it:
Mark 10v45 (Jesus) came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
John 12v47b I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.


6) Jesus expected legions of angels to save him but this didn't happen.

The Gospels are clear Jesus expected to die and not be rescued by angels:
See Mark 8v31-2 after Peter asserted the identity of Jesus; see also Mark 9v31; Mark 10v33-4 on the road to Jerusalem. Jesus was under no illusion about where his mission was heading.
He does reference the option of calling on legions of angels and a greater authority than earthly rulers but implies this is not God's will:
Matthew 26v53-4 At his arrest Jesus tells a follower who tries to violently defend him: put your sword away...do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father (God) and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of Angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?
John 18v11 Jesus tells Peter shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?
These passages illustrate that Jesus is both mindful about what could happen but also clear about what must happen.
When Jesus was alone praying before his arrest he queried the suffering ahead but remained submitted to it: he yields the phrase to God not my will but yours be done (Luke 22v42).
When Pilate sought to remind Jesus of his authority to release him or crucify him, Jesus responded: you wouldn't have this authority over me if you hadn't been given it from above (see John 19v10-11). 
Jesus therefore was not deluded in the hope of a divine rescue mission but fully submitted to a situation he believed God had ordained and where his fate had been given over by God to the judgement of earthly authority.

It is my hope that all of the above encourages Christians that the Gospels can be trusted and withstand scrutiny.




 

 

 



The run of the table

 

When I was growing up we had a snooker table in our family home and it became well used by me and my brother. Sometimes it would feel as though you had what we called the 'run of the table' when most shots you played seemed to go where you wanted and it didn't seem to be a huge effort. This created a feeling of being on cloud nine and made me more confident when going for challenging shots. On other occasions you could try to pot the right ball with all your best efforts and it wouldn't happen. Two things occurred when I wasn't experiencing this run of the table: 

 

1) Frustration set in. I could be sticking to the game plan that seemed to work for me previously and struggled with the realisation that it was wasn't working as before. When this frustration set in it could feel that the table was somehow working against me.

 

2) Giving up seemed preferable. When things didn't go well for me on the snooker table I questioned my performance and would tell myself that I wasn't going to get any better so what was the point.  

 

Sometimes in life we have a sense of forward momentum when for no clear reason it appears that we are making some headway. Whether it's real or imagined our efforts at times don't feel strained, it's as if they become 'naturally effortless' or unforced and we don't feel as though we are struggling against some immovable force. At other times, we can find ourselves in similar situations than we have experienced before but for no apparent reason overcoming seems to have become an uphill struggle. Frustration sets in and we begin to doubt that we can keep going as the 'run of the table' appears to have deserted us.

 

In the life of the church, the Bible illustrates that that there are times of growth and momentum but these will be balanced by times of trial and struggle. The early church experienced both. In Acts chapter 2 it is mentioned that about 3000 converts were added to the church in a single day and believers were joyful and well regarded by others. Fast forward a few chapters and a great persecution ravaged the church and scattered members throughout different regions (Acts 8). The relevance for the church today in one sense is that the 'run of the table' can be with us for a day or a season but this can change dramatically. When the going gets tough we will get frustrated but it is then that we must not look inward as if it is about our performance.

 

The Bible encourages us instead to look Godward. One of my favourite movie scenes is from 'Chariots of Fire' when the actor playing the runner Eric Liddell reads from Psalm 121: I LIFT UP MY EYES TO THE HILLS. FROM WHERE DOES MY HELP COME? MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH (v1-2). The church must stay resolute both when momentum is present and when it appears not to be. The church must abide in God as the source of hope when the church is popular and when it is not. The sceptic will not be won over by a church that loses its nerve when the 'run of the table' is against it. The church is to be encouraged to overcome frustration and to not throw in the towel > Galatians 6v9 LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD FOR AT THE APPOINTED TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST OF BLESSING IF WE NOT LOSE HEART AND GIVE UP.The church must endure (see Romans 5v3-4). It is not about personal performance. There is no performance formula to make the church grow! Sure, the church can improve how it presents itself to the world but the Bible teaches that it is God who makes things grow (see 1 Corinthians 3v6-7)  Jesus echoed this when he said: 1 WILL BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT (Matthew 16v18). So, the next time things are not going to plan  remember that the church is not called to perform its way out of trouble like a business or a company employee but to trust in the One who controls the 'run of the table' in the revelation of where our true help comes from - it comes from the Lord not the circumstances of the moment.