But...
Never take notice of what people are saying until they have
said, “BUT!” The “but” can change everything.
I liked the article that Benjamin Sledge wrote on “The Irrelevance
of Christianity”. I even wish I had
written it. I agree that we Jesus Followers should not be imposing our laws and
values on others. We belong to another kingdom, and hold passports of another
country. So we observe the laws, values and culture of that regime as top
priority. BUT, Jesus did say he was
putting us into THIS world and not taking us out of it. So we are here! I need to engage with this world
and not put myself in a corner and become part of some ghetto.
That means to engage with the politics, the voting, the
speaking and - if possible - pulling down handfuls of Kingdom into this time
space world and persuading people to take on board Kingdom Values. Why? Because it’s good for all of us, both the
followers of Jesus and everyone else on the planet.
So, I believe in a God of Love. He is one that loves all of
humanity. This means that the laws of the Kingdom of God, the values of the
Kingdom of God, The Morals of the Kingdom of God, must be for our good. It must
be for our benefit. By that I mean the benefit of all humanity not just
those who have discovered a relationship with the God who is there.
Logically then, if I know this God of love and His values,
and understand that His way is the best way to live, of course, I will want to
share His love and these values, not out of a sense of superiority, or one of
condemning my fellow human beings, but because I want the best for the lives’
of others as well as my own. After all
God does not make the sun to shine just on His followers, we all benefit from
His goodness.
Now! That does not mean that, as Benjamin Sledge says, I
hammer you with a book that you never read (i.e. The Bible). Looking at the
history of Paul he did not do that. Of course, in His day he did not have the
New Testament part of the Bible, he was still writing most of it.
What Paul did is very interesting. He wants
good things for people. He wants people to get related to Jesus, the “risen
from the dead” One. But he does not start there. In other words, what we might
say is, he does not quote Bible to them, but rather he starts where people
are. We should not – really - do
anything else. So he starts on Mars Hill
in Athens with that rather strange phrase, “Oh! I see you have an altar to the
unknown God.” I know the unknown God. Let me introduce you to Him.
Paul does not quote the Bible to them. No! Not even the Old
Testament Bible. Rather, he quotes their own poets and draws them from there to
a better value system, a better way, a knowing of the unknown God.
It would have been quite difficult for Paul to get involved
in the politics of Rome. It wasn’t a democracy. Although he gently tried at one
point of time when he says in one of his trials before King Agrippa; “I know I
am chained up, but what I have is still the best. Apart from these chains, I
would want you all to have what I have got”.
Sure, people thought he was mad, but maybe what he had was so good
that he wanted others to have that kind of life quality.
We live in a democracy. I am a follower of Jesus. I know
that the value system that He gives, when applied gives a better life. Not
always easy. Not always nice. Not always happy, but with a source of Joy
and purpose. I guess I want to share
that.
Surely I know that Morals can come from other sources. The
Atheists are always telling me that. But what sort of morals? What sort of values? Are they the values of
generosity? Of loving your enemies? Of doing good to those who are bad to you?
Lots would like me to be quiet and to keep my values to
myself. But I care too much for the well-being of others to do that.
AH
Edited KL
W. 724
adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk
