The Good Book Blog

Saints and social networks

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 09:23:21 +0000

If you're anything like me you'll be spending at least part of your weekend taking in the sights and sounds of the various social-networking sites. Between Facebook, Twitter, Google-plus and the blogs, there will be moments that amuse, a few that inspire, the odd one that makes us think... and the inevitable gaggle that shock, dismay, offend or simply make us shiver at their inappropriateness.

Words are powerful - they can build up others (Ephesians 4: 29) or they can wreak great evil (James 3:5-6). And, as such, should never be typed lightly. But how often do we, as Christians, sit and think about the effect our posts and status updates have on those around us?

Earlier this week, local pastor, Gavin McGrath wrote an interesting article calling for a return to modesty on social networking sites.

Earlier this month another minister, Mark Meynell helpfully suggested that before we post our thoughts on the internet we need:

a truth-checker: for when we speak of others
an honesty-checker: for when we speak of ourselves
a generosity-checker: for when we disagree with others
a humility-checker: for when we assert a point

They're principles worth pondering as we engage in the very public world of cyberspace.

Or maybe next time we log on, we should simply discipline ourselves to read a spot of Colossians 3 before we begin to type:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

25% off Confident Christianity and 50% off Good Question!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:47:03 +0000

There are lots of books around that give us good ways of answering tough questions. In Confident Christianity, Chris Sinkinson takes us to the next level. This thoughtful and exciting race through archeology, philosophy, science and more shows how the Christian faith stands up under heavy fire. It will not only give you greater confidence in speaking about Christ to others. It will help you stand firmer in your faith, knowing that the Bible and the Gospel are built on solid rock, not sinking sand.

Confident Christianity is for you and Good Question is perfect to give away

At checkout enter the discount code 'confident' or 'question'.

Confident in conversation

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000

The Command of 1 Peter 3 v 15-16 seems reasonable enough:

always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…

But the reality, at least for me is always a little more flustered. My problem is that often I have too many answers - attacking the question from different sides! Where do I start?

That's where Chris Sinkinson's latest book is a real God-send (via IVP!). Confident Christianity is a breezy survey of the many faces of apologetics that makes real sense of all the competing approaches that we are offered. The concise chapters look at and compares the various merits of different approaches to how we answer questions, and applies them to some key questions that are raised.

I loved the helpful chapters overviewing Philosophy, Archaeology and "presuppositional apologetics". It put together for me (for the first time), the different ways these arguments can be helpful, and, crucially, when they are best deployed. The tone throughout is not judgmental over any particular approach, but seeks to ark the thinking Christian with a better understanding of how arguments work, and how to use them to lead people to Christ. It is robust and scholarly, but very accessible and applied.

And Chris understands the limits of apologetics. Because no-one can ever be argued into the Kingdom of God. But careful and caring answers are of real value in removing roadblocks to faith, in our own lives as well as in others. A right rivetting read. Check back later for a great deal ...

No Questions Asked

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:40:18 +0000

The story about doctors giving abortions on the basis of gender, “no questions asked”, must be one of the saddest news items of recent years. Let’s be thankful it has come to light, and is being dealt with.

But there’s something illogical about the outcry, too. If an unborn baby girl has the right to life, then surely surely any unborn baby does—whether the sex is known or not, whether the baby is a girl or a boy.

It seems strange to accept you can terminate because you are upset at the prospect of having a baby—but not because you are upset at the prospect of having a baby who happens to be a girl.

And just another thought… in the UK you can opt to find out the gender of your child when he/she is 20 weeks old. You can opt to terminate a pregnancy up to 24 weeks. Which means you can easily abort a girl you don’t want—you simply have to say it’s for social reasons, not sexist ones.

Let’s pray that this news story means no baby loses their life ever again in the UK simply because they’re of an unwanted gender. But let’s also pray that no baby loses their life again in the UK for any other reason. And let’s pray that women, and men, who find themselves in difficult, unplanned situations receive the help and love they need—and that women, and men, who look back at difficult decisions they wouldn’t take now accept and appreciate the forgiveness that Jesus offers all of us.

For some more in depth biblical reflection on the issue of abortion, scroll down a few blogs and see last week's series ...

On to a Good Thing

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:57:58 +0000

1. Coalition for Marriage
Here in the UK there is a move to redefine the term, 'marriage'. Until now there has been has been a clear distinction between 'marriage' (the legal union between a man and a woman) and 'civil partnerships' (the legal union between two people of the same gender) but there is a chance that this may change. A new umbrella body has been set up to raise awareness of this issue and encourage Christians to speak up for the biblical definition of marriage. It is worth finding out more about the Coalition for Marriage - you might even like to sign their petition.

2. Some Great Quotes from JC Ryle
If you love JC Ryle but don't have time to read all his books, why not dip into the best of Ryle with these quotable quotes?

3. Journal of Biblical Counselling
This insightful and thought-provoking publication - ideal for anyone involved in offer pastoring care to others - is now available online and free!

A great man of God?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

I heard this at a prayer meeting recently:

“There is no such thing as a great man or woman of God. There is only a man or woman – and a great God.”

Do you agree?

I guess many of us would think of C.H. Spurgeon as a great man of God. But I don’t think he’d agree. Here’s a fantastic Spurgeon quote I was sent last week. He puts the emphasis and glory exactly where it ought to be.

“Consider what you owe to his power; how he has raised you from your death in sin; how he has preserved your spiritual life; how he has kept you from falling; and how, though a thousand enemies have beset your path, you have been able to hold on your way. Consider what you owe to his immutability. Though you have changed a thousand times, he has not changed once.”

After the pancakes have gone...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:41:31 +0000

There will be many Christians with very full stomachs this evening. A significant number of frying pans with burn marks. And more than a few ceilings sporting the odd stalactite of half-cooked batter, casualties of the inevitable over-enthusiastic pancake-toss. But once the eating and cleaning has been completed, many believers will be turning their minds to a highly tricky question: what on earth should we do about Lent?

Evangelicals have a strange relationship with these 40 or so days of the Christian calendar. It's not that we object to the concepts of sacrifice or fasting or repentance. Nor that we mind giving up a few things. But many of us worry about the half-hearted candy-related resolutions that all too often get made at this time of year just out of tradition. While giving up chocolate might have benefits for some people's waistline, and if the money saved is given to charity then good work in the world can result, is this really what God wants of us? Isn't it true that an outward show of sacrifice, if not accompanied by an inner change of heart, is quite frankly very far from God's will for his people? So how to respond?

Isaiah had this to say to believers who were involved in tokenism in their fasting:

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice, and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" Is 58:6-7

We live in a world where millions are in physical bondage to tyrants and spiritual bondage to the devil; a world where many have no idea where their next meal is coming from and are ignorant of the awesome gift of the bread of life; a world where countless numbers have no roof over their head and no understanding of the eternal God, the ultimate rock and refuge for those who turn to him. Spending Lent prayerfully and proactively addressing some of those needs might just make the post-pancake period of 2012 rather more gospel-centred than it might otherwise be.

Phil 4:8

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:00:15 +0000

Another great visual representation of gospel truth from Tim Challies. This time, it's Philippians 4:8 (with a spot of Greek thrown in!):

Click on the image to see it full-size.

Fighting the Monday feeling

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

(Ecclesiastes 5 v 19–20)

It is when we learn to trust God, and so be accepting of what He has (and hasn't!) given us, that we find true, lasting satisfaction. Such a life is free from anxiety, even about the shortness of life, because of gladness in what God has given.

Why insisting on living biblically is like wanting Sharia Law...and why it isn't

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Christians wanting to follow Biblical principles when they clash with UK law are like Muslims wanting to live under Sharia law. That's what Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, has said.

Is he right? Yes ... and no!

His assumption is that the legal system of a country defines what "right" and "wrong" is—and every single religious principle has to give way to it. And in a democracy like Britain's, that sounds very persuasive. After all, the law reflects the will of the people who elect their representatives to Parliament to make the laws. But the trouble is, that's what happened in Genesis 3. God had said "Don't eat from the one tree". But the will of the people (by a unanimous decision) was: "We think it's right to eat from the tree". Right and wrong, when decided on by humans who then tell God when and where he will be obeyed, is called sin.

Mr Phillips has hit upon one important point, however — sometimes Biblical commands, Koranic/sharia laws, and our increasingly-secular legal system, clash. They can't just rub along together.

So the question becomes: who knows best? If it's Allah, let's go for sharia, quickly and uncompromisingly. If it's the British people (who, bear in mind, once thought Sven Goran Eriksson was a good manager, and more seriously once thought slavery was a good idea), then let's do as Mr Phillips asks and leave our Christian principles "at the door of the temple" (presumably by temple he means "building where a church meets").

If, though, Jesus has risen and so is the creating, reigning, all-knowing God… then we must live under His loving, perfect rule. That means obeying the law of the land, even when we disagree personally with it or it annoys us (speed limits included), because His word tells us to (Romans 13 v 1-7). But it also means that when there is a clash between Jesus' command and the state's, we obey Jesus—whatever the cost.

Throughout history, God's people have had to "choose between their religion and obeying the law". Around the world, our brothers and sisters are being physically persecuted for choosing their religion when God's word opposes their country's law. Let's thank God for them; for men like Peter and John (Acts 4) and Daniel (Daniel 5).

And let's ask God to make us like them. It looks like there are going to be more and more opportunities to be people who "suffer according to God's will … commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good" (1 Peter 4 v 19).