One of my most recent and sustained developing interests has been in the area of economics. More and more I have found issues in this realm to thoroughly occupy my mind, especially when it comes to addressing the needs of the poor. From a Christian perspective this no doubt takes a slightly different route than it would among non-Christian economists because my concern is fundamentally driven from a belief and understanding about the created order whereas a secularist approach probably comes from a simple desire to achieve balance in a presently extremely unbalanced world. I make no apologies for the direction I choose and my commentary will be fused with my Christian belief.

All the same the observations I make refer to secular as well as Christian responses to the present economic challenge (as well as response to the Western economy in general). This is because, unsurprisingly, across the board there seems to be a dissatisfaction with the way things are and a persuasion that things need to change. This finds voice especially in the outcries expressed through the media at huge bonuses handed to bankers, and at the swindling of expenses by MPs. Enough commentary has probably been done on WordPress alone to fill several volumes and so I do not intend to make further judgment on these matters here, I simply point to them to indicate the attitude that permeates public opinion.

Most recently I have noticed a book entitled Prosperity Without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet by Tim Jackson – which, incidentally, I came across by flicking through a copy of the Big Issue. It seemed appropriate that an article about this book appeared in a magazine sold to help support the homeless and those hard-done-by. I haven’t really noticed what the general thrust of the publication is before but this has made me somewhat penitent of my usual attitude of buying a copy if I want to “be nice” to the Big Issue man, then throwing it away when I next get it out of my bag (confession time).

I may read the book. It seems to do what it says on the tin, and according to reviews doesn’t seem to do too bad a job of it, perhaps weighing in a little heavier on the diagnosis than on the proposed solutions. You can preview it on Google Books of course, at http://books.google.com/books?id=jarKLCDcePYC&dq=prosperity+without+growth&source=gbs_navlinks_s

What has also interested me ever since about this time last year, is Christian response to the economic situation in light of the Bible. Of particular note among recent efforts to outwork Christian principles within a secular economy is that of Kim Tan, author of the recently published The Jubilee Gospel (which I am presently reading), who has had some sort of key role in the establishment of what is known as the Transformational Business Network which seeks to work in the developing world not through the means of aid, but rather through the means of resourcing and supporting enterprises in those countries so that they can begin to have their own sustainable economic environments which they will be able to operate themselves. A quick survey of their website(http://www.tbnetwork.org/home/index.php?flag1=1) seems to show that they are doing rather well.

I don’t doubt that this sort of move would begin a process which could radically reshape the global economy. Perhaps my view is over-simplistic, but it seems that where we have “developed” countries (which operate with a centralised system) providing largely only aid to “developing” nations, the latter will in a way also be subject to the moving and shaking that goes on in the centralised systems of the nations that are providing that aid. However, if you empower that country to begin to operate sustainably under its own economic model and terms, you withdraw its dependency on the former, monolithic systems which, as we’ve seen over the last year, are no less susceptible to damage for all their size.

I also have in my list of books to read a book by Kim Tan and Brian Griffiths called Fighting Poverty Through Enterprise: The case for Social Venture Capital which (from my brief glance) fairly straightforwardly outlines the purpose behind the Transformational Business Network through an analysis of present-day statistics and case studies.

If you’re wondering where this present argument is leading, the answer may be “not very far” at this stage because, as you can see, I have a fair bit of reading to do. I’m also not an economist and so all the reading I can do can only stretch as far as my spare time and my understanding will allow. However my heart is deeply interested for the sake of the poor and those who have suffered as the rich have got richer. Having had my own share of financial pressures in my time – pressures which were comparably microscopic compared to those of many who struggle in this nation alone – I have seen enough to be concerned that the treacherous imbalance of society (which as we know is not purely economical but also social) might somehow begin to be turned on its head through whatever means we might have within our grasp.

I was challenged earlier today when another man from church was sharing with a group of men that were gathered for breakfast, from Romans 12, and verse 18 where Paul exhorts “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” (NASB) Maybe it was the way he said it, but suddenly the words “if possible” rang out with new meaning and emphasis: if there is any remote chance, any slim possibility that I can see in a situation, for peace to be brought into it and lived in, then I should work to achieve that peace. And if you know anything about the Bible and the way that Jews thought from way back, “peace” would not merely have been about being friendly; the term shabbat which we know as “Sabbath”, together with the idea of shalom,  encompassed ideas of social, economic and spiritual peace and rest – a holistic peace which touched every area of human experience.

So this is what I’m going after. I’m interested also in the Jubilee as a concept in which, essentially, a national but de-centralised (or rather non-centralised as it was never central in the first place) economic system which allowed for growth and development was nevertheless “capped” and kept from growing out of control, through the regular redistribution of wealth through the cancellation of debts and restoration of property to original owners. In it too was fundamentally written the idea of rest with each Jubilee year being prescribed as a year of rest (which of course would have happened alongside the usual Sabbath years – a year of rest every seven years – also prescribed for the nation). As a whole economic model now it is obviously impossible to introduce, but its values and principles could and, according to the conviction of Kim Tan and others, do still prove to be useful.

So, apologies for the inept conclusion to this present discourse. Watch this space, as I shall hopefully keep my blog updated from time to time with my findings and feelings about this whole issue. Ultimately what I hope to achieve is to find some new and creative ways in which Christians (well and any concerned citizen) can seriously get involved in this activity of redressing the balance for the good of humanity.

More and more I find the way the Lord teaches us is by experience. Have you ever looked at the Bible with its 66 books and thought – how on earth am I supposed to learn about all THAT? Growing up as a Christian that was certainly one of my questions. An entire read-through doesn’t exactly fill you with the confidence that this is going to be an easy ride either – by the time you get to the end you probably realise you need to go back because you forgot some things!

Thank goodness then that the Lord teaches us to understand His ways and His Word in the context of day-to-day life, rather than requiring us to be locked away in a study somewhere poring over pages with no idea what they mean. His book was written to give spirit and life, not simply lawful letters which kill and frustrate.

He knows each one of us and the path we take, and so I find He teaches us according to our experience. So while I may have a grasp on some aspects of what He is like, another brother or sister may have some revelation in a different area. Obviously combined this becomes more powerful and blesses me when I see a new perspective.

This begins already to touch on the area that the Lord has been teaching me about in my experience of late.

I am beginning to witness in my own life and in the lives of others the power that there is in numbers. A Scripture that has been encouraging me is found in the book of Ecclesiastes which says:

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Through events in my own life and through fresh observation of the church and various ministries, I have come to be impressed by the importance of this Scripture. It has over the last two months had some direct consequences in my own life where when I have stood in agreements in prayer with another individual, we have seen the answer come almost instantaneously. It provides striking contrast for me when compared with my years of earnest striving for breakthrough over matters which have taken those years to win for the Lord.

This is not to give up praying on your own! I believe in cultivating an intimate place with the Lord where there are secrets of the heart shared between only you and Him, which no one else knows. We can even go for breakthrough. But come the time that there is a matter which requires something to turn around, I know now to seek my brothers and sisters, my close friends, those I am agreed with in spirit, to join with me in prayer. Some of the recent fruit I’ve seen has been amazing, and it comes completely in conjunction with the prayers that I have prayed with others.

Jesus believed in this! He said:

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:19-20)

He couldn’t be clearer, and right now this couldn’t be a better description of my experience. I’m so excited to see that the word He spoke two thousand years ago have not aged a day, because He is the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

This has implications also I believe when it comes to ministry, not just prayer agreements. A sad example of when this can go wrong is the awful and confusing mess up that happened famously just over a year ago with Todd Bentley at the time of the Lakeland outpouring. (Note – I like to be distinct about the man as separate from the move.) Yes, apostolic leaders gathered around him in one famous meeting during the outpouring but records have shown that it was probably ‘too late’ by that point. They gathered around him because they realised he was an individual away from home, and his ministry base, far out on a limb conducting pretty much the whole revival, with massive world-wide influence – clearly therefore not in a place of substantial apostolic covering. Bill Johnson was most lucid in this area when he was on stage, announcing the danger of sending a man out into battle and then withdrawing the troops from around him – it’s a foolish action reminiscent of David actually seeking to bring death to Uriah. Perhaps this is why some of the critical voices of the revival will sneer when the ‘apostolic alignment’ meeting is mentioned.

For those not in the know there is too much to explain and it is best left as things are moving on a year later. The point is this, that Todd did not have anything like sufficient covering, likely because of the initial golden success of the revival seemingly unmarred by any great affliction, and Todd’s on-the-whole clean record of endurance and integrity. (Again there are elements to explain which can be given if people respond asking for them.) The precaution wasn’t taken soon enough.

Let us learn from history. When one is out on their own, they might well be overpowered, as the Scripture from Ecclesiastes makes clear. But two can resist. We must never allow our soldiers to go out onto the field alone. Jesus sent His disciples in twos. He gave us principles like the one quoted above. How critically important are His words!

Let’s not forget this, especially in the UK, where we can often succumb to the influence of Western culture which is, of course, very much centered on the individual in its (highly flawed) value system. Even some church models and ministries push individuals into the limelight where they can become the centre and focus of our attention. While individuals do have a ministry, the ones to note are the ones that have taken conscious steps to surround themselves with prayer covering and accountability. Billy Graham made pacts with two other ministers whereby they kept accountable in their finances, relationships, and so on. The success of the ministry – and its endurance – is evident.

Bill Johnson again, on the latest podcast refers to a time of great transition in their church when the initiative was taken to surround his family with intercessors – and then to surround those intercessors with intercessors – and then to create a third circle of intercessors again. And he witnesses that the transition season referred to was, despite incredible and challenging circumstances, one of the easiest seasons to ride through.

There are many situations that I believe this principle can apply in. I’ve even been thinking about my small music business which consists of just me – and what might happen if I sought to work in partnership! This is an exciting journey and something that I believe we all need to grasp at some point if we’re going to live fruitful lives for the Lord and see His kingdom come!

Just a little nugget of a thought which has been buzzing round my head quite a lot of late. I find in my own life I’ve started to overcome any sense of the ‘stigmata’ of being a Christian – ie, being afraid to speak up for what I believe because I’m too concerned about what people’s preconceptions about religion might be.

I guess this is due to the fact that I just had to get used to doing a lot of evangelism last year on our church’s training course. It helped me to learn to generally be more bold in my witness, which is just what I needed.

But there’s something else which has really been provoking me in this area now too. Of course, we KNOW that we ought not to be ashamed of our message – so why is it that we feel that way sometimes? That’s not the question I’m out to answer exactly except to say that I’ve now come to a place of more peace where I know in my HEART that I am not ashamed, rather than just in my head. This is the place all Christians need to get to.

And one of the things that has driven me towards this place is the thought that I want to share here.

I have realised, with what I have learnt about history, that the movers and shakers, the world changers, were not people who tried to be inoffensive, culturally relevant/acceptable, or quiet and unobtrusive on other people’s views. Think about anyone who has made a serious mark in history: Ghandi, Mother Teresa…Hitler, Stalin…Luther, Wesley…Wigglesworth, Evan Roberts…. All of these and many others made tremendous impact on their societies and denominations, yet it always came at the price of being DIFFERENT – and quite often offensively so.

Obviously I have included there examples from across the board, including in the same list dictators and revivalists, but I believe they all hit on this same thing. It’s WHAT you choose to pioneer which determines the fruit of the impact you have. Sadly, evil men have stood up and been unafraid to speak out their message, even if it has led to the slaughter of millions.

But He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world. And the greatest history changer of all time, as you may know, lived this beyond all others. He was uncompromisingly bold in His message, yet managed to tender it with outrageous grace. His message was clear and simple: the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Everything He did and taught, effectively, was to do with the kingdom. He too paid that price. They took such offense at Him that they nailed Him to a cross. But of course the enemy He was after was not even the religious minds of the day, but death itself, and it was death that He conquered.

You may know the Gospel story. But I just wanted to remind the reader of how uncompromising Jesus was in His message. You cannot read the Gospels and believe that He wanted His followers to be culture-pleasing saps who try to weave their whole message to please people according to what the mainstream media is saying.

I haven’t got to the main bit so enough waffle. What I have discovered, what has been most surprising (and would especially surprise those who are sincerely keen on seeker sensitivity and cultural relevance) is this: those who carried uncompromising messages, most especially Jesus, had great followings! Many people wanted to hear what they had to say! They may have been thoroughly dislikable, but that would probably have been to those who were over-comfortable in their cultural context. But when someone springs up with a message that is clear and without contradiction, and is demonstrated by the lifestyle of the one that preaches it, it is amazing how many people want to hear this kind of message!

My point is this: Christians really REALLY ought to stop being ashamed of the good news, not only for the obvious reasons that a) the Bible says so and b) it’s good news, but c) because there really really really are people out there who are hungry for a message, a cause, a lifestyle, which demonstrates absolute conviction and forwardness, and they will flock to one who preaches in this way. Let’s stop being afraid of the threats and the offenses that will be caused by one or two, and look instead at the harvest and see that it is white! I totally believe this was Jesus’ approach, and it ought to be ours also.

Lord help us preach Your good news without compromise.

There were several chefs in the Bible: the Levites who got roast dinner every day; Habakkuk (it’s in the name); Ezekiel who favoured the cooking-over-human-excreme

I have a lot buzzing round my head. So I thought I’d stop by to get some of it out. Just to give some context:  Just been doing two weeks of intense mission in which God has done more than I possibly imagined might happen, and generally been wonderful. He is really really good!

Thoughts number one and two go together. I was listening to Bill Johnson on a very long drive yesterday, and he said he believed there would be a generation coming who know what it is to see daily advancement of the kingdom. I thought about it, and kinda agreed and said amen.

But later, I suddenly thought of the words of Jesus found in Luke 9:23 – he who wishes to follow Me (says Jesus) must deny himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow Me. Suddenly I realised, Bill was right. Who would die for something not worth dying for?? The cross is the greatest price ever paid and yet what it paid for far outweighed it again in terms of worth. In the Christian life, when we take up a cross, it is not to simply be sacrificialists – that is more Old Testament thinking. We take it up because we see a great goal ahead worth paying that price for. (For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in/to us, Romans 8. Jesus for the joy set before Him went through the cross Hebrews 12:2. etc.)

I believe Luke 9:23 is loaded with potential and God is looking for the generation that is made HUNGRY by the potential of this verse, wherein we might indeed see DAILY kingdom advance. How surely in this life is death followed by a resurrection? (Phil 3:10 the two go together.)

The next point is linked to this. It’s common to read this verse or hear it preached, and to feel crushed and depressed because, how on earth do I die daily? (Didn’t Paul also use that phrase – I die daily? Galatians?) What a challenge! Yet first of all, we ought to be encouraged by resurrection, but secondly, it is worth reminding ourselves that according to John 1:14-17, Jesus brought GRACE AND TRUTH. The Law was given through Moses. They found that impossible. When Jesus came, He did not just release truth to finish us off with impossible holiness, nor did He just release grace without us knowing what we needed it for. He released both. Jesus never speaks a truth without releasing the grace needed to accomplish/fulfill it. Titus 2:11 says the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness! Isn’t that amazing. Translating ‘charis’ as ‘grace’ (normal) in Hebrews 12:28, would tell us to have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably. If you read something that Jesus says (such as Luke 9:23) and you wonder how on earth you can live like that, get into receiving posture and let His grace come.

Final thought, kinda different from the rest. Just a point which came from discussion with a friend. When Christians think about their future they often think geographically – where does God want me? I’m not saying that’s wrong, quite clearly God’s heart is for nations, and that is how we do mission. But perhaps we just need to shift our thinking a little bit and think: with whom does God want me? Who are the people who I know have something I want spiritually? Who are those with whom I have a great spiritual bond where there is something more to develop? I just know that personally and for a few others that I’ve known of, thinking relationally rather than geographically has helped a great deal to fuel people further into their calling and destiny. That’s just a thought, maybe I’ll expand on it sometime.

I’m personally excited that from September, I will be working part-time with Ichthus doing various things including involvement with the worship life of Ichthus. I have many great ideas!! But the best thing will be working with Chris Orange who carries so much of what I want to press into. And being around people this year who have pioneered some incredible things in the faith, like Roger and Faith Forster, and others, has been an incredible experience, the investment I have received has been wonderful, I feel spiritually fat with all the amazing stuff I’ve been learning! So, it’s all about people!

As a Christian to a Western culture, I can speak from experience of a difficulty many of us in the church have with a need held in the necessarily non-Western attributes of Christianity (speaking of its origins) to be a-categorical in our ‘pastoral’ efforts. (I place the word in quotes because I speak not specifically of Pastors but more of our general relation to individuals in a way which hopefully seeks to be edifying.)

If I can elucidate: I have only lately come to the clear realisation that we in the West, particularly through our educational system, have a propensity to categorisation and sectionalisation which, we ought really to find, sucks the life sometimes from whatever articles may be under question – physical or metaphysical. While it may be argued that this is too much a ‘generalisation’ of our complex Western epistemologies, I think it not unnecessarily so. The breakdown may be seen obviously on the social strata of race and class which have each had their bloody wars in our recent history due to the consequent prejudice that finds place in the psychology of one tier over the other.

It may also be seen in much of our academic literature which forever seems to be seeking the proper breakdown of another’s argument as a means to understanding it, and then to establish it’s own proper structure for equal and sometimes prevailing clarity over another’s propositions.

It is recognised too in our business structures, established entirely upon the latest devised models which are in turn based upon sectioned research, providing companies only with formulae for management principles, market trends, customer service, and a host of other attributes – all probably admitting with regret that not every business transaction will fall within the boundaries set in such models. But to such models we must adhere lest we fall behind in the economic rat race.

I do not wish for this to be a polemical against Western post-Enlightenment reason (though I make no apology if some of the shades of my feeling emerge in the above examples). For sure a bit of categorisation is often beneficial toward the progress of certain ventures in life.

But I am concerned that we Christians do not continue with such a tendency into our relationships and our kingdom-church life. Over the last four and a half years of my growth in the Lord I have increasingly discovered through experience that the way the Lord would have us deal with issues and people is anything but categorical. Note how in three specific accounts in the Gospels of His healing a blind man, each records a different ‘method’. Note also how He confessed that He only did what He saw His Father doing in John 5. His only model, offensively, was relationship. Relationship with God, and with people.

I think we know this a little bit in the church, but it makes us uncomfortable when it comes to our day-to-day application because it requires something of us that we don’t have without asking the Lord for it and having to exercise faith. (‘We’ being the general rather than the total.)

As indicated in the example of Jesus, relationship in the life of God requires by necessity seeing and hearing, communion, contact. What earthly relationship is there in which we do not have speaking, hearing, seeing contact? At the very least one of these attributes must be in place to classify relationship.

And so in our engagement with people in the life of God I believe we must be seeking to be more and more prophetic in our helping deal with issues and work through situations. This makes us nervous probably because we are still not familiar with how to use the prophetic practically. And because of our cultural position, we crave the right model, the best method, for dealing with these things. But can we step out in faith? Can we dare to say, “Lord speak”? Every individual has individuals needs and issues, personal histories unique only to them, and deserve treatment corresponding in its nature. I believe we in the church can offer this, if we will exercise ourselves to think outside of the box in this matter. The answer is not one overriding model, it is a push for diversity of method and even abstraction from method in favour of hearing from God and thereby strengthening our emphasis on the only true ‘model’ – relationship.

“‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)

Mate of mind posted this on facebook. Thought it was a great article!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece

Entitled ‘As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God’

Enjoy

How far this will go and of what profound effect in the world of cyberspace I do not know, only if someone reads it, perhaps they’d just like to give it some consideration!

I wanted to write concerning the so-called Lakeland Outpouring regarding some Christians’ attitude which unfortunately has been allowed to go unchecked in many places; in other places there have already been responses so I’m not writing anything new, just adding my voice.

I want to be careful in saying this, so don’t mishear me: There are some who would say they “did not agree with”, “decided against”, or “didn’t approve of” what apparently happened with the Lakeland Outpouring. Let me ask you this: when was church ever meant to be approved or disapproved of? When did one church in the book of Acts ever stand up and reject another portion of the church without suffering some serious rebuke and/or correction from the apostles? (I’m thinking of the whole Gentilic-addition problem they had.) And yet today we think that just because some expression of church conflicts with our own idea of what it should be that we are quite entitled to go about rejecting and disapproving left right and centre. This is not the duty of the church, brothers and sisters!

Now of course the same people clap and applaud themselves now that Todd Bentley who headed up much of the revival, has taken a serious fall. Unknowingly they have championed themselves into a subtle kind of pride that they were right and others were wrong, while people like the God Channel stand up to endless criticism and in a recently released statement (I have the email) humbly stand their ground that Lakeland was a true move of God which continues to push out into the earth.

Again the critics champion themselves without perhaps considering that life and death was in the power of their tongues as long as they slandered (to whatever degree) Todd Bentley, and that the arrangement of the apostolic commissioning that Todd received in order to raise a covering over him, on God’s calendar could not have been more timely.

The responses from the likes of Patricia King (who has been doing a video series on ‘When Leaders Fall’) and Bill Johnson (videos below) are straight and to the point for those who will hear them, and cover whatever else I would say. Lastly, to those who release slander week by week against who they call ‘false prophets’ etc., I ask you to hold your tongue and be wise, as life and death are in the power thereof, and don’t get in the way of my prayers: I’m praying for Todd Bentley, that his marriage would be restored.

Wow. One of the most intense seasons of my life has just kicked off! For those of you who don’t know, I’ve just begun a course with my church (Ichthus Christian Fellowship in London), training in leadership for a year. Am now living in the house they have in Forest Hill with some new friends! One is James (pictured below) with whom I have a great connection, he’s only two months older than me and we’re on the same page with a lot of stuff.

They’ve also put me with a congregation called New Life in Greenwich which is really going for it, they do so much stuff! My first day on Wednesday 17th ‘on patch’ at the congregation, I was there for 15 hours! (Long story.) So they’ve got me working hard, but I like that. I was going through a rough time from when I graduated in July 07 through to the beginning of 08, where sometimes I would be literally doing nothing at all, and it was horrible. Picture below is the painting hung up at the front of the church, tis nice.

The course involves lectures on tuesday and thursday, and ‘patch’ work (ie. in Greenwich) on Wednesdays and Friday afternoons. (Friday morning is ’study project’ time – the study project will be a 10,000 word project handed in in January with a presentation, the same will happen again in July!! Lots of work methinks!!)

Weekends (not to mention weekday evenings) are bonkers with church and events and conferences etc. Oh plus we’re going to Totnes on mission at the beginning of October, then Pakistan in February! Expect many great photos etc. around those times!

I’m personally saying to the Lord that this is the time for the increase of miracles, signs and wonders, that we would fully preach the gospel as Paul did, in such displays of power (Romans 15). I’m asking Him for an increase in His presence and anointing as I have this time to dedicate to Him and His purpose, and to help me to stay engaged in the Spirit and not just make it all about an intellectual learning – and that’s down to me, not the course.

Forgot to mention Mondays: I’m teaching guitar! So I look forward to the odd Saturdays when there’s nothing happening! (About once a month!)

Notice the all-important COFFEE MACHINE in the background