Author: Jimmy Day

Matthew’s gospel recounts one of Jesus’ parables about a landowner who hires workers at different times throughout the day—early in the morning, at 9:00 AM, Midday, 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

At the end of each day, he paid all the workers the same wage, regardless of how long they had worked. Those who worked the longest complained, but the landowner responded that he was being fair and generous, as they had all agreed on the wage.

Focus

The parable, often titled ‘The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard,’ actually centres on the vineyard’s owner. It could be aptly named ‘The Parable of the Compassionate Employer.’ This man exemplifies incredible grace, compassion, and sensitivity for the unemployed. Though kind and generous, his actions are misunderstood, a common plight of the benevolent.

I think of the many times I’ve seen labourers on the roadside in developing countries. These men are desperate to work and don’t know from one day to the next whether they’ll be successful. Imagine the humiliation and uncertainty:

Will I get any work today?

Will I be able to feed my wife and kids?

Will I return home broke and ashamed to the hungry faces of my family?

Many of these blokes linger by the roadside, clinging to hope. In our tale, those who stick around are ultimately rewarded.

Courage

In the first century, labourers worked twelve hours, and the daily rate was a denarius. Today, a denarius would be worth about $60. Those employed at sunrise (6:00 AM) would work hard throughout the heat of the day, hoping they’d be hired for a second day or longer.

The landowner made four additional trips to the marketplace to reward the raw courage of those who remained hopeful for work. Most labourers would leave by noon, but these workers stayed eager and ready. They were not among those who gave up. Their courage in uncertainty is a testament to the human spirit. The owner doesn’t offer them charity; he’s interested in providing a hand-up, not a handout.

The Payout

By day’s end, there were five groups of workers. Only Group One had a verbal contract: “He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.” Groups two, three, and four had a promise: “I will pay you whatever is right.” Group 5 was only offered work with no mention of pay.

When evening came, the vineyard owner told his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

Why does the master instruct the foreman to pay the last first? Because if he’d done it the other way around, no one would have complained. Everyone would have been happy. So, why deliberately upset people? Read on …

Rising Anger

Imagine the increasing irritation of group one as people who had worked for only an hour or a few hours were paid a denarius. Group One hoped they’d be paid more, but they all received the same.

Jesus’ parable does not focus on equal pay for equal work. This story concerns the overpaid, not the underpaid—and no one is underpaid. Jesus told this parable to teach people about God’s amazing grace, which is resented by those who feel that they have earned their way to more.

The complaint from group one reveals the deep prejudice in their hearts: you have made them equal to us. Their words resonate with the same intensity as those of the older brother in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, who couldn’t stand the overwhelming grace bestowed by the loving father on his wayward son.

Judas showed a similar attitude when Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. “Why this waste?” exclaimed Judas, the treasurer, the thief. Unfortunately, some people find grace infuriating, and those who have experienced it are often the worst at sharing it with others.

The Take-Home Truth

Jesus shared this parable to illustrate his statement, ‘But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.’ In Jesus’ time, some viewed themselves as the first because they were respectable, pious, and spiritual. Then, Jesus came along and associated with tax collectors, sinners, and other ‘undesirables’ who had been ostracised from Israel’s religious community. He extended precisely the same level of grace to them, teaching that these people were equal to the in-crowd, a message that still resonates today.

Jesus extended precisely the same level of grace to them. His parable taught that these people were equal to the in-crowd, and the in-crowd didn’t like it.

Nothing’s Changed

Have you come across Christians like this? — good, Jesus-loving folks who find it overwhelming when the amazing grace they’ve received is also offered to those they consider unworthy. The same words resonate throughout two thousand years of church history: “You have made them equal to us.” And Jesus replies, “Yes, that’s right. I have.”

In God’s eyes, everyone IS equal to you – get used to it!

As we in Australia watch from a distance as people’s equal rights are wound back in the USA, we wonder if this could also happen here. The answer is yes. Already, years of work towards racial and gender equality have been wound back. Equality is under attack for people of colour, women, gay and transgender people, prisoners, and immigrants. The next four years could be simply awful for people in these and other minority groups.

Christlike?

What also concerns me is seeing and hearing fellow Christians cheering this on. Sometimes, I wonder if we follow a different Jesus or read the same gospels.

Let’s be clear: we lose nothing when others are made equal to us. We don’t surrender our rights and privileges—we share them. In Jesus’ parable, those who worked all day didn’t miss out—they received everything promised, and justice was served. The Compassionate Employer enabled each man to provide for his family and make them proud. He instilled self-worth in them, while those who worked all day sought to deny these blessings. They were greedy, wanting more for themselves and didn’t care for others.

I encourage you to support the equality of others, advocate for those on the margins, and include those who are often overlooked, even in our churches. This is not only a moral duty but also a call to action.

Several years ago, Bayside Church developed an inclusion statement, our firm commitment to upholding the dignity, honour, and equality of all people. If you’re looking for a church with these values, I invite you to join us on the journey.

The blog’s title is from a childhood story—not just a Taylor Swift song. The story is about a farmer with an old mule. One day, the mule fell into the farmer’s well. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the hassle of saving.

Instead, he gathered his mates and told them what had happened, enlisting their help to haul soil to bury the old mule in the well and relieve its misery. Initially, the old mule was in a right state of panic! But then, a thought struck him as the farmer and his mates shovelled soil. It dawned on him that every time a load of soil hit his back, he should shake it off, not letting it weigh him down, and step up, using it as a platform to rise higher. And that’s what he did, blow after blow.

“Shake it off and step up… shake it off and step up… shake it off and step up!” the mule chanted to motivate himself. No matter how painful the blows or distressing the situation seemed, the mule fought panic and kept shaking it off and stepping up!

It didn’t take long for the old mule, battered and exhausted, to stroll triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him instead freed him, all because of how he handled his adversity. This is a powerful reminder that our challenges can lead to incredible growth and transformation when faced with courage and faith. The challenges that seem to bury us often hold the potential to benefit us—and others.

Shake Off

As we begin a New Year, I encourage you to shake off the following:

  1. Shame: the things that embarrassed or discredited you.
  2. Failures: As Zig Ziggler said, “Failure is an event, not a person!”
  3. Hurts: Is this year the time we finally end nursing what upset us?
  4. Regrets: Will they define, confine, or refine us?
  5. Successes: It may sound strange, but some past achievements can hinder future progress.

Step Up

Here are a few valuable suggestions that can help us shake these things off and step up:

Closure: Write down the things you want to shake off and then burn or bury the piece of paper or create your own ritual to separate yourself from them.

Forgiveness: Relinquish your desire to get even.

Resolve: New habits develop through perseverance. It’s not always easy to shake off our past and step up, but with determination and commitment, we can create new habits and attitudes to help us overcome our challenges and grow stronger.

Rely: on God and others. (James 5:16; John 15:5, Phil 4:13, Eph 6:10). Ask the Holy Spirit to give you strength daily. Remember, with God’s strength, we can overcome any obstacle, and with His guidance, we can find the courage to shake off our burdens and step up.

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is shaking it off and stepping up. See your troubles as stepping stones instead of tombstones.

The Scriptures

Sacred scripture is replete with the stories of people who experienced all kinds of trouble. God’s people are not exempt from life’s trials. I encourage you to read the accounts of people like Paul and Silas, who were imprisoned while serving God, or Jeremiah, who was put into a well and left to die because people didn’t like his insights. Then there’s Joseph, who was rejected, falsely accused, abandoned and overlooked before being made Egypt’s prime minister.

During Egypt’s seven years of plenty, God blessed Joseph and his wife with two sons whom Joseph gave Hebrew names:

Manasseh means “Causing to forget.” Joseph said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”

Ephraim means “double fruit.” Joseph said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Never Forget

Scripture teaches us some vital lessons that we’d do well to remember, especially when life is challenging:

  • God is never unfaithful or unkind, even when circumstances seem otherwise.
  • God’s promises are true in His timing, not ours.
  • We aren’t responsible for the behaviour or attitudes of others, but we are accountable for our own!
  • God’s grace is always sufficient for every situation!
  • God is always present, even when you feel abandoned.

In his study on Joseph, Pastor Keith Krell wrote, “If Joseph hadn’t served the cupbearer and baker, he would have never heard and interpreted their dreams. If he hadn’t interpreted their dreams, he would have never interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams. And if he hadn’t interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, he would have never been placed in a position to deliver God’s people. And if he hadn’t delivered God’s people, the Messiah never would have come to save us from our sins! Remarkably, our salvation was, in part, tied to Joseph’s willingness to serve his fellow prisoners when others may have been swirling in depression, asking, “Why me, God?”

What future blessing depends on our willingness to shake it off and step up?

 

In 1914, as European soldiers marched off to the first major war of the 20th century, they claimed they would return home by Christmas to celebrate their victory. However, the young men did not arrive by Christmas. The war dragged on for years, and Europe would never be the same again.

Christmas Eve

However, in December 1914, a truly unexpected event unfolded on the Western Front. It was Christmas Eve, and the weather suddenly turned cold, freezing the slush and water in the trenches where the soldiers were hunkered down.

In the German trenches, soldiers began to light candles. British sentries reported that small lights were raised on poles or bayonets, and although these lanterns illuminated the German troops, the British refrained from firing. Even more astonishingly, British officers observed through binoculars that some enemy troops were holding Christmas trees over their heads with lighted candles on their branches! The Germans, who celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, extended holiday greetings to their foes.

Christmas Carols

A few German soldiers began singing carols, and soon, others along the line joined in, harmonising. Then they started singing, “Silent Night! Holy Night!” The British quickly recognised the melody and joined the Germans.

One of the most remarkable incidents in military history occurred then. Against all odds, soldiers from both sides laid down their weapons and ventured into no man’s land—too many to be deterred by their superior officers’ objections. An undeclared truce spontaneously emerged, defying all orders and military rules of engagement.

Christmas Peace

One eyewitness account appears in the wartime diary of veteran Frank Richards. In it, he writes: “We stuck up a board with ‘Merry Christmas’ on it. The enemy stuck up a similar one.

“Two of our men threw their equipment off and jumped on the parapet with their hands above their heads as two of the Germans did the same, our two going to meet them. They shook hands, and then we all got out of the trench, and so did the Germans.”

Richards explained that some German soldiers spoke flawless English. One soldier, who had worked in Brighton before the war, expressed his frustration with the conflict and said he would feel relieved when it was all over. His British counterpart agreed.

Christmas Celebrations

The German officers took the lead at the Christmas gathering, supplying barrels of beer for their men and some for the British soldiers. They exchanged small gifts, ranging from chocolate bars and tobacco to tins of processed beef. Others joined in, and as the day progressed, this mass fraternisation spread along the front, featuring soccer matches between the two forces. Men who, the day before, had been shooting to kill were now sharing tots of rum and showing each other family snapshots.

The men gathered around campfires, singing Christmas carols, with “Silent Night” being the favourite since both sides were familiar with it. Before midnight, they said their goodbyes and returned to their lines.

This remarkable historical event has been immortalised in the film Joyeux Noel. I encourage you to watch it this Christmas, but make sure to have plenty of tissues handy!

Christmas Gift

What the world witnessed in the 1914 event is merely a glimpse of the purpose for which Jesus came. Jesus, God in the flesh, brings good news that causes great joy for all people and peace on Earth to those on whom his favour rests. So, the angel said to the shepherds: “Today, in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” “Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.”

The Saviour brought peace to the battlefield, transforming hostility into a Silent Night—a holy night where all was calm and bright. Warring men experienced heavenly peace firsthand as well as the dawn of redeeming grace. This profound event exemplifies the peace and goodwill that Jesus brought to Earth, serving as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of His message.

Christmas Present

Peace can be easily found despite all the conflicts, quarrels, and disagreements that still rage on Earth. It’s the most incredible peace of all—peace with God and peace with others when we choose to lay down our differences and embrace others simply because they are created in God’s image. And, unlike the soldiers in 1914, let’s decide not to take up our disputes again the following day!

Why not get to know God this Christmas by inviting Jesus to be your Saviour and friend? The greatest Christmas gift you could ever receive is the presence of God in your life. As a result, you can bring peace to this Earth and goodwill towards others.

 

Joy to the World is a favourite Christmas carol and one of the many hymns written by Isaac Watts. Watts was a famous hymn writer who composed around 750 hymns from the 1600s to the 1700s.

Family

When Isaac Watts was born in 1674, his father was in prison for his Nonconformist views. Nonconformists were Protestants who did not believe that the Church of England had sufficiently departed from the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church and refused to conform to it. Watts was born into a period of violent religious disturbance and hatred across England, Scotland, and Wales.

His father was eventually freed and fathered seven more children. Isaac respected his father’s courage and remembered his mother’s tales of nursing her children on the jail steps.

Young Isaac

Watts’s early brilliance was evident: he mastered Latin at age 4, Greek at age 9, French at 11 (to communicate with his refugee neighbours), and Hebrew at 13.

When he was 16, Watts went to London to study at a leading Nonconformist academy. From his late teens, the young Isaac Watts complained about hymn singing in church. He once wrote: “To see the dull indifference, the negligent and thoughtless air that sits upon the faces of a whole assembly, while the psalm is upon their lips, might even tempt a charitable observer to suspect the fervency of their inward religion.”

Tired of his complaints, his father challenged him to write something better. The following week, the young Isaac presented his first hymn to the church, which was met with an enthusiastic response. This marked the beginning of his prolific career, during which he wrote hundreds of hymns, including the well-known ‘When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.’

In 1702, at 28, he became the pastor of one of London’s most influential independent churches.

Other Work

Watts was more than a poet; he was also a scholar of broad standing, especially in his later years. He wrote nearly 30 theological treatises, articles on psychology, astronomy, and philosophy, three volumes of sermons, the first children’s songbook, and a textbook on logic that served as a standard work on the subject for generations.

In 1719, Isaac Watts released a collection of hymns based on the Psalms. This collection included ‘Joy to the World!’, a hymn that continues to be sung and cherished to this day; a testament to the enduring impact of Watts’s work.

Sickness

It’s fascinating that Isaac Watts would be best remembered for a joyful song when there was much in his life that we would not ordinarily associate with joy. Early in his ministry, he began suffering from a psychiatric illness that would plague him for the rest of his life. He eventually resigned from his church work in 1712 due to a severe sickness that Watts believed would end his life prematurely. Despite these challenges, he continued to find joy in his work and his faith.

In the Spring of 1714, Sir Thomas Abney, Lord Mayor of London and a member of Parliament, invited Watts to spend a week with his family at their country home at Theobalds. He hoped the rest would aid him in his recovery. Watts lived with the family until his death thirty-four years later, serving as the family’s chaplain and tutor to the Abney children.

Rejection

His illness and unsightly appearance took their toll on his personal life. A disproportionately oversized head topped his five-foot, pale, and skinny frame. His skin was yellowish, and he had a large hook nose and small grey eyes.

Almost every portrait of him depicts him in a gown with ample folds—an apparent attempt by the artists to disguise his appearance—which was probably the reason for the poet Elizabeth Singer’s rejection of his marriage proposal. They corresponded for several months, and there was talk about marriage, but she could not get past his looks when they finally met. One biographer noted, “Though she loved the jewel, she could not admire the case that contained it.”

Paradox

Most people experience a life that combines joy, suffering, and everything in between. Despite the many setbacks, difficulties, and rejections he faced, Isaac Watts’s life was still full of intense creativity, brilliance, and deep joy. His life is a testament to the fact that we all experience a mix of joy and suffering, and that these experiences can coexist.

One of the most well-known hymns is “Joy to the World,” a paraphrase of the last half of Psalm 98:

Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!

Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!

Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

Let the earth and all living things join in.

Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!

Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord.

For he is coming to judge the earth,

He will judge the World with justice and the nations with fairness.

Reflect

So, when you hear or sing Joy to the World this Christmas, I encourage you to reflect on the song’s author’s words and life. Like ours, Isaac Watts’ life embraced all the highs and lows of human existence.

The Christmas season celebrates a time when God invaded this world with the wonders of His love. Whatever this year has been like, let us all anew appreciate the deep and solemn realisation of what Jesus’ birth means to us—Joy to the World; the Lord has come; let every heart prepare Him room.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted seven Bible verses on my Facebook page about how to treat foreigners. These verses, from both the Old and New Testaments, speak to the importance of welcoming and caring for strangers. I’ll post them at the end of this blog, and I encourage you to read and reflect on them. My only comment at the top of the post was, “Food for thought.”

Why?

I was asked why I posted these scriptures. I have two reasons: I highly regard the Bible and enjoy spreading its timeless teachings. Second, I have observed an increasing anti-immigrant posture among Christians over the past two decades or so, which has been amplified by some of Donald Trump’s rhetoric on deporting millions of illegals when he comes to power.

So, I posted the Bible verses. What could possibly go wrong? I mean, it’s Scripture. We love God’s truth—except, of course, when it conflicts with our prejudices. When this occurs, we look for some wriggle room or attempt to justify why “this” verse doesn’t apply to us or to this situation.

Comments

What followed was a sometimes healthy conversation about immigration—illegal or otherwise. However, some of the comments were unkind. So, I explained my post: “Just to clarify. I’ve posted these verses as “food for thought” as stated. They were written to Jewish believers and Jesus’ followers. How could/should they inform how WE treat the foreigner amongst us as well as those seeking refuge? If you want to politicise them, we could ask ourselves how these scriptures could inform how we vote (for example). Pls discuss.”

Later, I stated: “Maybe I need to be more careful about which Bible verses I post. In future, should I stick to ones that don’t rattle cages, biases, and preconceived ideas? Asking for a friend.”

Full disclosure: I’m an immigrant. When I was twelve, my parents, Ten-Pound Poms, my sister, my brother, and I emigrated from the UK. I am grateful for my parents’ courage and for Australia’s welcoming embrace. I feel at home here and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Clarification

Since my Facebook post, it would be helpful to explore this topic further. What does the Bible teach, and what are my thoughts on immigration? Here we go!

Firstly, I am not an advocate for open borders. Every country has a sovereign right to determine who should and should not enter. No nation can cope with an unlimited influx of people, straining resources and being unjust to its citizens. Consider Acts 17:26: “From one man [God] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”

Christians also believe that God has given governments the responsibility to safeguard the stability and security of their people. (Not all nations satisfy this obligation.) Anyone who commits a crime needs to be brought to justice. If that person is not a citizen, authorities should have the right to deport them once they have completed their sentence in Australia—if it is safe and possible.

However, I acknowledge that governments don’t always get this right, and constituents will vote to protest poor policies and decisions—something that has happened in Australia with the offshore detention of asylum seekers and, recently, in the US with the ‘zero-tolerance’ immigration policy that led to family separations.

Politicising People

The problem, as I see it, is when people are used as pawns to gain political power. Some parties see immigration as a vote winner, and it is. Sometimes, the argument is couched in compassionate terms: “We need to stop people from drowning at sea.” “We must break the people smugglers’ business model.” While I agree with both statements, they sound hollow and insincere. I hear, “We don’t want more of these people in our country—send them back to where they came from.”

God does not see people as political pawns, and neither should God’s people. Immigrants, like all humans, are made in God’s image and possess inherent dignity. Christians should advocate for and vote for policies that respect the God-given worth of every person.

To cheer on a politician who uses dehumanising language about precious people is contrary to walking with Jesus. To call all immigrants criminals is simply untrue. I often ask myself what I would do for my family if we were in an unsafe country. The answer is ANYTHING. I would do everything in my power to move us to a place of safety and provide my family with the best prospects in life. The vast majority of immigrants and refugees are just like us. They want a better life, to be safe, and to look forward to a hopeful future. Let’s remember to empathise with their situation.

Most unauthorised immigrants in the United States have lived there for at least a decade and have not been convicted of any serious crimes. Deporting millions of these people will result in family separation on an extreme scale. For example, almost 5 million US citizen children live with at least one unauthorised immigrant parent who would be at risk of deportation. The economic and legal impacts of these policies will also be chaotic for the US.

War and Persecution

Imagine escaping conflict, oppression, and discrimination to arrive in a country where some politicians and residents serve up more of the same—placing people in indefinite detention and forcibly separating children from their parents. The levels of cruelty we have witnessed from policies like this are heartbreaking.

Jesus summarised all Scripture by teaching us to “Treat others as you want them to treat you.” Would you want to be detained, deported, or chastised if you were seeking a better life? Of course not, so why would you support a politician with policies that do just that and then defend them even though they contradict your faith and scripture?

The non-Christian world observes this hypocrisy, rolls its collective eyes, and takes another step away from the church, the faith, and Jesus. You can preach the Gospel until you’re blue in the face, but if your actions drown out your words, what’s the point?

Conclusion

Please consider what I’ve written in this blog and reflect on the verses below. These scriptures do not cover everything the Bible says on this topic, but they make a clear point: believers are not to oppress or mistreat anyone. The Lord considers all people the same, so should we.

 

 

Leviticus 19:33-34: When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself.

Exodus 22:21: Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.

Zechariah 7:9: The Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’

Number 15:16: This law will never change. I am the LORD, and I consider all people the same, whether they are Israelites or foreigners living among you.

Deuteronomy 27:19: Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.

Matthews 25:35: For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.

I admit that I write this blog with a certain amount of apprehension. I’ve only blogged about abortion three times in two decades, and on one of those occasions, I asked the question, “Are Pro-Lifers Really Pro-Life?” Let’s say that some people did not appreciate my asking that question! And so, in this blog, I’m going to make it personal: Am I (Rob Buckingham) really pro-life?

Context

The inspiration for this blog came from an online discussion last weekend. I posted in response to a meme that Christians shared about Donald Trump winning the US election. A close friend made some comments suggesting I had changed my stance on several ethical issues, including abortion.

For context, my friend is someone I’ve known for over forty years. I had the honour of leading him to faith in Jesus. We remain good friends, and it was fantastic to see him recently when I was on extended leave. His comments struck a chord with me, and I felt compelled to delve deeper into this issue.

My pro-life stance is not just a position I hold but a belief that my personal experiences and faith journey have shaped. I was surprised by his observations because I can’t recall a time when we discussed abortion, so I phoned him, and we had a lengthy and meaningful conversation about his comments. I told him I’d be writing a blog about it, and well, here we are!

My Answer

I’ll begin by answering the question and then explain what I mean and why. Is Rob Buckingham really pro-life? Yes, I am. I sincerely believe that all life is sacred, and all things exist because they have been created by divine intelligence. I trust the scriptures that inform us that once God crafted the world and all it contains, He entrusted the care of His handiwork to humans. Life is precious, and so, of course, I’m pro-life.

However, I object to the limitation of this label to the unborn. What I react to are the contradictions I see among some who claim to be pro-life, but their defence ends once the baby is born. If the baby grows up to be a criminal, do we execute them? If they turn out gay or trans, are they shunned from our churches? Sadly, yes.

Caring for unborn babies and rallying against abortion should not be the totality of what it means to be pro-life.

Some History

It pains me when important matters become politicised because they divide and detract from making headway and genuine change. Abortion, once the realm of American Democrats due to their solid Catholic base, was reluctantly adopted by Ronald Reagan as part of his platform in the mid-70s. Understand this: US Republicans embraced abortion for political gain and NOT because they particularly cared for the unborn. At the same time, the GOP opposed gun control and school busing to achieve racial integration.

I encourage you to reflect on what I’ve just stated because this is fundamental to my pro-life views. Care for the unborn should not be an “issue” that is adopted to gain votes for power—and yet it is. Opposing gun control measures is not pro-life. In 2023, over 46,000 people died in the US from gun violence. Discriminating against people because of racial background and skin colour is not pro-life.

Consistency

My pro-life posture compels me to be consistent across various ethical issues. If all life is sacred—as I believe it is—we must value all life, whoever and whatever that life may be. Being pro-life should not stop at protecting the unborn. It should extend to caring for all life, including God’s creation, animals—including those at risk of extinction, unborn babies, pregnant women, immigrants, widows and orphans, prisoners, and minorities like the LGBTIQ+ community. This inclusive approach is at the heart of my pro-life stance. Scripture tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

It is inconsistent—and contradicts scripture—to, on the one hand, defend the lives of the unborn, and at the same time, demonise migrants, refugees, or anyone else.

Consider these words from sacred scripture: “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself…”

Straightforward?

Like many of the moral issues mentioned above, abortion is not a black-and-white matter; we simplify the complexities to the detriment of those affected.

Abortion rates in the US peaked in the late seventies and have since steadily declined, regardless of who was in power. Australia has also witnessed a decline in the number of abortions.

Interestingly, since Roe v. Wade was overturned and various bans were implemented, abortion rates have risen. 2023 stats indicate an 11% increase in abortions compared to 2020. It’s a reminder that banning something—cancel culture—is not necessarily effective. I resonate with Bill Clinton’s 1992 statement that abortion should be “safe, legal, and rare.” When it’s legal, it’s safer and occurs less frequently.

Abortion bans indiscriminately disadvantage poor, Black, and Latino women, creating desperation. We are all aware of how desperate people can act.

A Multi-Faceted Approach

Reducing abortion rates is not a simple task. It involves a multi-faceted approach that emphasises both the prevention of unintended pregnancies and support for individuals facing difficult circumstances. If we are genuinely pro-life, we will welcome these evidence-based methods and strategies that have been shown to reduce abortion rates. This comprehensive approach gives us hope and a clear path to make a difference. This approach includes:

  • Comprehensive sexual education.
  • Access to affordable and effective contraception and healthcare.
  • Strengthen support for parenting and families, including subsidised childcare, paid parental leave, and financial assistance.
  • Accessible and non-judgmental counselling services (including mental health support).
  • Empowerment and equality of women (through education, job opportunities, and financial independence).
  • Encourage social and cultural support for pregnant individuals who may otherwise feel pressured to terminate a pregnancy.
  • Educate and involve men in family planning.
  • Increase awareness and accessibility of adoption options (including simplifying and reducing the costs associated with the adoption process).
  • Promote community outreach programs by collaborating with local organisations, faith-based groups, and community leaders to provide support services and resources to a broader audience.
  • Address socioeconomic inequality—Economic hardship is a common reason for seeking an abortion, as is domestic violence.

As a pro-life person, I encourage these initiatives. As a pastor, I will stand with women and couples who find themselves in situations that are sometimes beyond their control, and I will lead our church to be a kind community where women who have had an abortion find grace instead of judgment.

 

With its unique blend of beauty, poetry, and paradox, Ecclesiastes stands out in the biblical canon. It challenges some traditional views, leading us to question: How can we grasp the essence of Ecclesiastes, its purpose, and its message?

Ecclesiastes is a book that is easily misunderstood if you don’t realise why it was written. The early church debated removing it from the Bible because it contained untrue statements, but I’m glad they did include it. Like Job, Ecclesiastes is a poetic book that refuses to dodge the hard questions and doesn’t always provide easy answers. In that way, this book reflects real life.

Author

Ecclesiastes begins with “the words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem.” The Teacher is the Hebrew Qoheleth (ko-hell-et), meaning “a collector of sentences or students or wisdom sayings, or “a preacher.” Qoheleth is found seven times in Ecclesiastes and is the Jewish name for this book. He identifies himself as king over Israel in Jerusalem—probably Solomon, a man known for his wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:13, 16-18; 12:9-10).

While its actual author is unknown, the book is primarily considered the work of King Solomon and was possibly written sometime before he died in 931 BC. If the author was not Solomon, the anonymous writer wanted us to think it was Solomon.

Themes

Ecclesiastes is a quest to find the meaning of life or meaning in life. Qoheleth finds life meaningless—a word repeated 33 times in this little book: “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” “I have seen everything done under the sun; all are meaningless, chasing after the wind.”

Qoheleth identifies this problem and then attempts to find answers: How can I find meaning in my life? The book then documents his experiments with various things to find meaning.

He adopts a scientific approach, starting with a hypothesis: everything is meaningless. Is this true? How can I find meaning in life? Is this possible?

We must understand this about Ecclesiastes to avoid quoting isolated verses that contradict the rest of scripture. An excellent example is Ecclesiastes 9:5: “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten.” The first phrase is accurate—we all know we’ll die—but the rest contradicts scripture’s teaching on resurrection, judgement, legacy, and eternal life.

From Chapter 2 onwards, Qoheleth documents his various experiments to discover meaning in life, the first three of which are explored in Chapter two:

Experiment 1: Pleasure

In verses one to three, he writes: “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved meaningless. “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” I tried cheering myself with wine and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.”

And then verse ten: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.” The result? Everything is meaningless.

Experiment 2: Wisdom and Foolishness

“Wisdom is better than folly…but I came to realise that the same fate overtakes them both…The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What, then, do I gain by being wise?” Everything is meaningless.

Experiment 3: Hard Work

“My heart began to despair over all my toilsome labour under the sun. For a person to labour with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; they must leave all their own to another who has not toiled for it.” (v. 20-21). What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labour under the sun? All their days, their work is grief and pain; even at night, their minds do not rest. This, too, is meaningless.” (v. 22-23).

Experiment 4: Fatalism

Qoheleth begins chapter three with a well-known and much-loved poem (v. 2-8): “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die…” It’s a stunning song, but the message is simple: whatever will be will be, so resign yourself to fate.

Solomon ends chapter 3 with a fatalistic comparison of humans with animals and concludes that there is no difference between them: “Humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.”

Chapter 4 continues the theme of fatalism as Qoheleth works himself into a pessimistic state over oppression and loneliness: “I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is the one who has never been born.”

Experiment 5: Materialism

In chapters 5 and 6, Qoheleth explores business, high finance, capitalism, and investing, concluding: “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is always dissatisfied with their income. This, too, is meaningless.”

He continues, “Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. This, too, is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain since they toil for the wind?

The truth of those words resonates through the centuries. Ancient words that are just as accurate today—materialism is meaningless. When John D. Rockefeller died, one man was curious about how much he left behind. Determined to find out, he set up an appointment with one of Rockefeller’s highest aides and asked how much Rockefeller left. The aide answered, “All of it, sir.”

Experiment 6: Knowledge and Integrity

From chapters 7 to 10, Qoheleth searches for meaning in being wise and upright. These chapters contain many pearls of wisdom and strange assertions, including, “I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.” (7:28). Those words are untrue.

Ultimately, Qoheleth says it’s good to be wise and honest rather than foolish and corrupt, but eventually, we all die. When we’re dead, we know and receive nothing and are all forgotten. And so, the best you can do is “Enjoy life…all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days.”

Ecclesiastes shows what human life is like when we seek meaning in “things” and not in the creator.

Qoheleth’s Conclusion

Remember his hypothesis: Everything is meaningless. And his question: How can I find meaning in life? The answer is yes, as long as you “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”

These verses (12:6-7) poetically describe the process of dying from a 3000-year-old perspective:

“The Silver cord is severed” (loosened) refers to the white spinal fluid.

“The broken golden bowl” signifies the skull, which is precious like gold and contains the human brain.

“Before the pitcher is shattered at the spring” denotes the right ventricle of the heart that, at death, ceases to pump blood around the body.

“The wheel is broken at the well” is the heart’s left ventricle. The wheel is broken, the pulse stops, the blood ceases to circulate, and death follows.

Qoheleth summarises: “Now, all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.”

Ecclesiastes declares: Life is a mixture of good times and bad. The pleasures of life cannot offer lasting satisfaction, but they can be enjoyed as gifts from God. Ultimately, everything comes from God’s hand. Meaning is found through a respectful relationship with our creator. And whatever we do in life, remember his commandments, the greatest of which Jesus said was to love God and our neighbour.

Ecclesiastes shows what human life is like when we seek meaning in “things” rather than the creator. Jesus agreed.

One of the things I find amusing is when people overlook a joke. Many years ago, my mum took our cat to the vet. A dog was there with a cardboard box around its neck—it was back in the day before plastic cones. My mum asked the dog’s owner if her dog was a Boxer. The woman looked at Mum seriously and said, “Of course not. It’s a poodle.” Mum thought that was hilarious as did the whole family.

A Recent Story

If you engage with me on social media, you’ll know I post various things, some serious and some not. Last week, I posted a joke:

Three conspiracy theorists walk into a bar.

Coincidence?

It’s a setup for a classic joke, not a commentary on conspiracy theorists themselves. I posted it on Facebook because I like to give people a laugh—or even just a smile—and most people interacted with it accordingly. But there were a couple of people who didn’t appreciate it. My intention was to bring a moment of levity to your day, not to offend or upset anyone.

One guy said, Conspiracy theorists or are they people who don’t trust everything they have heard and seen on our ‘Tell-a-lie-vision’ and they have woken up to all the bullshit we have been told for years is truth and now we question everything. It’s called critical thinking, wake up you asleep people and question everything. Enjoy, you never know what you might find out. The more you dig the more you find out.

I responded, “It’s a joke.” I received an “angry emoji. Seriously, keep your sense of humour.

Another person wrote, “After reading the comments on Rob Buckingham [sic.] post, makes me wonder why a pastor would post something that is sarcastic and divisive.” This comment saddened me because being sarcastic and divisive was far from my intentions.

Too Serious

Over the past few years, I’ve observed a tendency among some people to be way too serious. Some of this was stoked by reactions to how we navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, but the seeds of the seriousness were present long before that.

I’m not a fan of Sky After Dark (hereafter SAD). But there have been occasions when I’ve inadvertently watched a clip or an interview. What strikes me is how angry all the presenters are. They are constantly outraged about issues and perceived enemies, stoking this fury in their viewers. I know this from firsthand experience as I’ve watched people I’ve known for years become intoxicated by the narrative. Suddenly, the easy-going, friendly people I knew lost their joy. Their sense of humour vanishes, everything becomes grim, and they leap from one issue to the next, waging a war they’ll unlikely win.

Become an Ostrich?

I’m not suggesting that there aren’t harrowing issues in today’s world or that we bury our heads in the sand and pretend it all goes away—it won’t. On this side of God’s eternal kingdom, there will always be wars and rumours of wars, along with famines, earthquakes and other natural disasters. I acknowledge that life is awful for many people in today’s world.

I enjoy my daily walk on the beach near our home, and each day, I thank God for the blessing of living in a safe and beautiful place. I pray for people in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, Ukraine and other places who live in constant fear. I think about—and pray for—those in Australia living with domestic violence, incurable sickness or pain. I cannot imagine what life must be like for them, and my heart goes out to them. But I cannot always live with those thoughts because that will be unhelpful to them and me.

Safeguard Your Spirit

One of my life Scriptures is Proverbs 4:23: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. This verse encourages us to diligently care for our feelings and minds because everything we do springs from our inner selves.

If you’re feeding your spirit on outrage, judgment, and criticism, guess what will flow from you? If you spend too much time with so-called news outlets like SAD and others, how will you react even to a joke?

Jesus’ way is not about finding a demon under every rock. We’re not called to live as conspirators; instead, we are Christ’s ambassadors, citizens of heaven representing Jesus on planet Earth. We are called to bring heaven to Earth everywhere we go.

Jesus’ Humour

Jesus is the Christians’ role model. The world of Jesus’ day was full of problems. The Jews were under Roman rule, women were second-class citizens, at least half of the empire were enslaved, and the majority lived in poverty. Life expectancy was about 35 years. Jesus addressed these issues head-on as he healed, taught, and provided.

Yet, amid these massive challenges, Jesus appears to have kept his sense of humour. Hebrews 1:9 says that God anointed [Jesus] with the oil of joy. Jesus attracted people—especially children. No one is drawn to sour-faced individuals. Jesus gave his joy to others—you have to have it to give it (John 15:11). Jesus used humour in his teachings. Statements like “take out the beam from your eye,” strain out a mosquito and swallow a camel,” and a camel going through the eye of a needle” would have been amusing to Jesus’ hearers.

Matthew threw a banquet with all his tax-collector buddies when Jesus called him. The happy party caused the religious leaders to criticise, complain and talk about fasting and prayer because that is more spiritual than eating with friends. Jesus responded with humour, sarcasm, a parable, and then a sigh that they would stick with their old ways despite his presentation of truth. The Christian life should be joyous—keep your sense of humour.

A Bible Theme

Joy is a significant topic in scripture. There are hundreds of verses about joy, gladness, delight, and a creation full of colour, flavour, and beauty. Should not the people created in God’s image reflect those same qualities? This theme of joy is not just a passing mention in the Bible but a consistent thread that runs through it, reminding us of the inherent joy in our faith and the world around us.

A cheerful heart is good medicine. The New Jerusalem Bible translates Colossians 4:6: “Talk to them agreeably and with a flavour of wit.” I take that verse seriously! When times are tough, Paul says always to stand firm and rejoice in the Lord.

The first miracle Jesus performed was turning water into the best wine at a wedding feast. Unfortunately, some Christians have been turning the wine back into water! I hope this blog will encourage you to lighten up if you are caught up in issues and outrage. Please, keep your sense of humour.

Scripture contains fascinating stories and statements that allude to God’s growing, developing, and changing. Let’s explore those with open minds, ready to challenge our preconceptions.

Immutable

Christian theology teaches that God is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, eternal, and immutable. The prefix omni means all, so God is all-powerful, everywhere present, all-knowing, immortal, and unchanging. I want to question that last word in this blog because, in scripture, we see God shifting his decisions and choices and growing in understanding.

I realise my statements fly in the face of a common belief amongst Christians that God is always the same and never changes. What does the Bible say? Maybe you’re thinking of Malachi 3:6, “I the Lord do not change.” But a text out of context is a pretext. “I the Lord do not change” is in the context of God’s faithfulness to Israel. Change (Hebrew: shanah) means to fold or bend. We could translate that verse, “I the Lord do not fold. So, you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” The statement is about God’s consistency in his dealings with his people.

Moses’ Example

When Moses descended Mt. Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments, he found that the people had returned to their Egyptian gods. They had made for themselves a golden calf and were worshipping it. God then told Moses that He was ready to destroy the nation—”Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” God had changed his mind about his formerly chosen people.

The following discussion between God and Moses is fascinating as he intercedes for Israel. A summary of Moses’ argument is: “What would the Egyptians say? They’d probably accuse you of evil intent because your plan all along was to lead them out of Egypt and kill them yourself.” The result? —The LORD changed his mind about the disaster he planned to bring on his people.

Other Examples

Scripture says that God had second thoughts about making Saul the king of Israel. “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not carried out my commands.” Samuel was angry at God’s statement, although it’s unclear whether he was angry with God, Saul or both. Samuel channelled his anger by praying all night.

In the Book of Jonah, we have a similar situation. God was angry with the people of Nineveh because of their wickedness, and he sent Jonah to warn them. Jonah eventually got there—in a roundabout fashion—after being asked twice by God. He preached a short message—”Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” That’s all it took for everyone from the king down to call on the Lord with fasting. “When God saw what they had done and how they had stopped their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.” Jonah was not happy. He was all ready for a good smiting.

Character or Actions?

Any time the scriptures affirm God’s unchangingness, it always concerns his character, not his actions. Consider these verses:

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil? (Numbers 23:19)

He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind” (1 Samuel 15:29). In the future, God would be a human being, though.

God, who is enthroned from old and who does not change, will hear them and humble them because they have no fear of God. (Psalm 55:19)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). Context? Jesus is consistent, “So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas,” but instead rely on God’s gracious character. God’s character is static, but his actions aren’t. They depend on how WE respond to God’s instructions (Jer. 18:5–10; 26:3; Joel 2:13-14; Jonah 4:2; Amos 7:3,6).

When God Learns

I find one final aspect of God’s changeableness fascinating—what God learned in the person of Jesus. Ponder this for a moment. Until God was born into the human family, he didn’t know what it was like to be human.

The gospels tell us that Jesus [God] grew in wisdom, stature, and favour with God and man. The Hebrews author spells this out by telling us we have a high priest [Jesus] who can empathise with our weaknesses so that we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need, something that would not have been possible before the incarnation because God lacked firsthand knowledge of the human experience.

Summary

God’s character is unchanging, but his mind and actions change when people or circumstances alter. Prayer appears to be able to change God’s mind. Through the incarnation, God grew in understanding what it is like to be human. Paul wrote, “In Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.” For the first time, God fully understood—by personal experience—what it was like to be a human being. Let that sink in. And as a result, God’s love and compassion, mercy and grace, were fully extended to humanity for our good.

I hope my words cause you to think, question, search, and wrestle with scripture. Your insights and views are welcome and crucial to our collective understanding. Please feel free to discuss this in the comments below.

This blog’s title comes from a catchy 1970s song that sounds as good today as it did then—Superstition by Stevie Wonder. The song cleverly lists popular superstitions and encourages us not to embrace them: “When you believe in things that you don’t understand, then you suffer. Superstition ain’t the way.” Maybe you now have that song stuck in your head!

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines superstition as a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, a false conception of causation, or a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary. Superstitions can be harmless or dangerous. How should Christians respond to them, and do we sometimes unknowingly embrace superstitions?

Rationalism

Some people consider anything outside the realm of science as superstitious. People who think that way are called rationalists because they believe everything has a rational explanation. Rationalism increased in popularity significantly throughout the last century. Interestingly, it’s been declining since the 2008 Global financial crisis because people’s certainty has been shaken.

For people of faith, rationalism needs to be revised because science can only explain some things. Science can often tell us ‘How,’ but religion informs ‘Why.’ That’s why I firmly believe that science and faith are not enemies but companions.

Superstitions

But there are superstitions with which Christians should have nothing to do with because they come from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation. For example, Jesus’ disciples thought that the man in John chapter 9 was born blind because he or his parents had sinned—a baseless superstition that had been perpetuated for generations.

A person’s sin may cause grief, but not all suffering is caused by sin. I have met Christians who have said, ‘If you had enough faith, you wouldn’t be suffering,’ or ‘Your sins cause your distress.’ Such statements are very superstitious and potentially harmful.

I’ve also met Christians who maintain an opinion despite evidence to the contrary. You can show them all the proof, but they’ll answer, “Well, that’s what I believe.” They are very superstitious.

Pure Luck

Some superstitions are funny or harmless and have much to do with good or bad luck—success or failure brought by chance rather than through one’s actions. There are plenty of examples of good and bad luck through various superstitions: Friday, the 13th, walking under a ladder, and breaking a mirror are all bad luck, as is opening an umbrella inside. Bad things always come in threes, but knocking twice on wood reverses this.

There was a pagan belief that evil spirits inhabited wood and that if you expressed hope for the future, you should touch or knock on wood to prevent the spirits from hearing and presumably stop your hopes from coming true.

And then there’s the tossing of spilled salt over your shoulder. A superstition says spilling salt will bring you bad fortune. But if you take a pinch of the spilled salt and throw it over your left shoulder, it cancels out the bad luck. The left shoulder was where the devil was supposed to be sitting, and tossing salt in the devil’s eyes kept him away.

There are other examples of good luck, too—an itchy palm is good luck, as is finding a horseshoe. Crossing your fingers for good luck is why people say, “Fingers crossed.” The intersection of the fingers was thought to mark a concentration of good spirits and anchor a wish until it could come true. These examples are meaningless superstitions, most rooted in pagan beliefs.

Responding to Superstitions

Firstly, don’t get anxious about them. Some superstitions are harmless fun, like breaking the wishbone on a chicken. Kids love it. Etruscans believed the collarbone was sacred, and breaking the bone with someone and getting the longer piece brought good luck. We still use this language today—”I need a lucky break” or “I never get a break.”

Saying, “God bless you,” for a sneeze, is also innocent, even though it’s rooted in ancient times when people believed that sneezing would allow evil spirits to enter your body and saying “God bless you” kept the evil spirits away. Centuries later, during the Plague, Pope Gregory I suggested saying “God bless you” after a person sneezed, hoping that this prayer would protect them from an otherwise certain death. If you say “God bless you” to someone, please mean it!

Secondly, take responsibility for your own behaviour. For example, I don’t live in fear of Friday the 13th. To me, it’s just another day. I neither cross my fingers for good luck nor toss salt over my left shoulder to blind the devil. But other superstitions make sense. For example, if I see a ladder, I don’t walk under it because someone might drop something on me, or I might accidentally bump the ladder and knock a person off it. I also don’t open an umbrella indoors because it could easily damage something or hurt someone. These actions are common sense.

Cause No Harm

God is love, and God loves people. God is opposed to anything that causes harm to people, and this can be applied to superstitions. Ezekiel warned of people being trapped like birds when they fall prey to the power of superstitious magic. God sent his prophet with a message of deliverance. It was the same with the ancient superstition that led to child sacrifice. Isaiah speaks of superstitious practices wearing people out (again, harm).

God seems to be particularly concerned with anything that could entrap and hurt people, and so the Scriptures warn against things like the occult, magic, sorcery, witchcraft, astrology and idolatry.

Other Examples

Finally, here are some other examples of superstitions and myths that Christians should avoid:

Displaying an open Bible (or wearing a crucifix) will keep evil spirits away.

God will answer my prayers if I pray hard enough or long enough.

If I don’t read the Bible daily, something terrible will happen.

Doing good works will put me in God’s good books.

These are just a few examples of superstitions and myths Christians should avoid. You might have come across others in your own experiences. If so, I encourage you to share them in the comments below. Your insights and experiences are valuable and can contribute to our collective understanding of this topic.

 

A few weeks ago, there was an outpouring of outrage about the supposed mockery of the Lord’s Supper at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. I blogged about it and mentioned it in my sermon the following weekend.

In response, one of our Bayside Church young adults asked if Christians should defend their faith and God and oppose sacrilegious things. It’s an excellent question, and this blog is my answer.

Clarification

In the blog and the sermon, I didn’t say Christians shouldn’t respond. We have as much of a right as anyone else to express our opinions and feelings. The sermon title was “Engage your filter,” and I taught about our need to pause when we feel hurt or outraged so that we don’t respond in an ungodly manner.

I had watched far too many Christian people get hot under the collar, vent and foam before they had all the facts. What was lacking from these interactions was the fruit (character) of the Holy Spirit, especially self-control and kindness. This behaviour does nothing to further the gospel. Instead, our complaining and indignation drown out the good news about Jesus, which should deeply concern us.

Defending God

The young man asked, “How can you not stand up for [God] and defend him?” My response is that I don’t believe God needs our defence. In scripture, God is OUR defender. Nowhere do the scriptures suggest we are to defend God. God created all things by his power—including us—why do we think God needs us to protect him? This understanding should bring us peace.

King Joash said, “If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself”—because that’s what real gods can do! When persecuted, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego told King Nebuchadnezzar, “We do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.” These three impressive young men knew their God would deliver them one way or another—”But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” That’s what strong faith looks like. There was no blustering outrage and complaints of unfairness—just a settled sense of what was right, how to behave, and trust in God as their defender.

Our Daily Bread author Tim Gustafson wisely wrote, “God doesn’t need us to defend Him. He wants us to represent Him! That takes time, work, restraint, and love.” Let that sink in. Defend God? No. Represent God? Yes. This perspective should enlighten us on how to best represent God to the world he loves and for whom Jesus died.

WDJD?

No, I didn’t spell that wrong. What Did Jesus Do? Did he defend himself? Isaiah prophesied that [Messiah] would be “oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.” Mark’s gospel revealed the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy when the chief priests accused Jesus of many things, but Jesus did not reply, and Pilate was amazed. Why? Because it’s so unusual.

Christians are called to be like Jesus, so why are we so often un-Christlike in the way we feel we need to defend God, Jesus, and the Christian faith? It takes courage to follow Jesus’ example, and we’ve confused this courage with the need always to speak out. Let’s be inspired by Jesus’ example and strive to emulate his actions.

What if we all stayed quiet the next time we felt offended? People would be waiting for the protest, but none would happen. It’d be a modern-day miracle.

Defending the Faith

Numerous ministries have been established to help Christians defend their faith; some of them do an excellent job of equipping believers with sound answers when engaging in faith conversations. It’s good to be trained in scripture, as Peter wrote, so we can always be prepared to answer everyone who asks us to give the reason for our hope. Peter reminds us to do this with gentleness and respect. In other words, engage your filter.

Jesus promised his disciples that he would give them words and wisdom that no adversaries could resist or contradict when they were brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities. He said, “Do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say.” Jesus said the defence was the gospel—testifying about him. Paul lived this out during his apostolic ministry. He wrote from prison to the Philippian church: “Whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.”

Our faith also needs to be defended against heresy in the church. Heresy refers to beliefs or teachings that contradict the core doctrines of Christianity, such as denying the divinity of Christ or the resurrection. Much of the New Testament was written to combat false teaching and maintain the gospel’s integrity.

Apologetics

Apologetics is a branch of theology that defends Christianity against objections. It involves providing reasoned arguments and evidence to support the truth of the Christian faith. The name comes from the Greek word apologia, a legal term referring to a verbal defence, particularly in an ancient law court—a well-reasoned reply to address the issue(s) that is raised adequately. Note that this defence is well-reasoned. We won’t fly off the handle when we defend our faith correctly and post angrily on social media. We will calmly discover the truth and decide if/how we will proceed. We will choose our battles wisely—not everything needs to be a fight—and if we do say something, it’ll be intelligent, logical, and composed.

Our failure to behave this way means our message is something other than the gospel, and we contribute to the decline of Christianity, especially in the West.

Defending Who?

In writing this blog, I examined every occurrence of the words “defend” and “defence” in the Bible, and it was an insightful exercise. God is our defender, and rather than defend ourselves, there are others whom God instructs his people to safeguard.

I find it fascinating that the main narrative I hear these days from Christians is all about defending OUR rights, including our right to discriminate—even though discrimination is a sin—and we protest when we feel even the slightest bit offended. Our behaviour is un-Christlike, selfish and petulant. It repels people from Jesus rather than attracts them.

Repeatedly, scripture calls God’s people to defend the fatherless, widows, oppressed, afflicted, poor and foreigners:

  • “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:9)
  • “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17).
  • “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.” (Deut. 10:18; cf. Psalm 10:18; 68:5; 72:4; 82:3).

What if Christians focused their energy on these things and defended the purity of the gospel message? The faith that Jesus initiated would suddenly become much more attractive. And remember, God doesn’t need us to defend Him. He wants us to represent Him! There’s a big difference.

I’ve had several conversations recently with Christians—and former Christians—about the Bible stories in which God appears to command or sanction genocide. For numerous people, it’s been a deal breaker as they’ve been unable to reconcile a God who IS love with a God who appears to endorse unloving things.

My Journey

I began wrestling with this about two decades ago. I resonated with Bible stories of battles and vengeance in my younger years. The stars of the stories were my heroes. Then, I began to feel uncomfortable with them and would skip over these descriptions, pretending they weren’t there—except they were. We need to face it. The Bible records some pretty awful stuff. As I matured, I observed inconsistencies between these portrayals and Jesus’ teaching.

I love Jesus and wouldn’t consider leaving my faith, but I needed to reconcile the irregularities I saw in scripture and the multiple questions that begin with “How could a loving God…” You can fill in the blanks.

Awful Examples

Consider Deuteronomy 20:16–18, in which Moses instructed the people, “However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave anything that breathes alive. Completely destroy them…as the Lord your God has commanded you. Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshipping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God.” In other words, I know you people lack self-control and might get led astray, so let’s kill everyone and remove all temptation!

The Hebrew word “destroy” means to devote something to God by eradicating it. We are outraged by the terrorism we witness in the world, yet here it is encouraged, indeed commanded, by God.

From Joshua chapter six onwards, we see the systematic destruction of thirty-one cities and their inhabitants – men, women, children, and all the animals. Entire towns were slaughtered with no terms of surrender and no chance to relocate to another land. And according to the author, God is right there cheering on the massacre. How can we reconcile these events with the God of love? Here’s what I learned.

Ancient Stories

As I’ve taught on many occasions, the world of three or four thousand years ago was very different from today. People were tribal, and the tribes often went to war. They viewed God as “on their side” and would give them victory over their enemies. We see this reflected many times in the scriptures. We still see this echoed in some Christian circles today where God hates all the same people they do, votes as they vote, and is against everything they are.

In ancient times, the role of women was to give birth because more babies made the tribe bigger, more prosperous, and better able to defend itself in battles. The men spent their time hunting, fighting, and participating in the early stages of the baby-making process.

Most tribal people had multiple gods and presented offerings to them, frequently with human sacrifices. Israel was different as it became increasingly monotheistic, and there were recurrent warnings to the people to remain faithful to the one true God and not to engage in pagan revelry. We must appreciate the Old Testament narrative through this framework.

The Tanakh

Our Jewish friends call the Old Testament the Tanakh. I like that name and frequently use it myself. The Bible is a collection of Hebrew books, first and foremost written from an Eastern perspective. That’s a challenge for Western people like myself, who’ve been raised to see things differently. Invariably, we see things as black or white, right or wrong. Our history has to be accurate, but Eastern thought is different.

Easterners tend to view history as stories with a meaning. The details can change over time to convey truth to people living in different circumstances. We see these changes reflected in the Tanakh. Jews see the sacred text as the fluid narrative of the relationship between humans and the Source of all creation. The Tanakh tells the ever-evolving story without editing. And like all evolving narratives, the lines between the “players” get blurred. The attributes of humans and the divine “bleed” into each other because the relationship is vital. The Tanakh is relationship-centred. And it continues to be played out today, demonstrating the ongoing relevance of our faith in the modern world.

A Question Book

The Tanakh also observes how people sometimes justify their actions and consequences. It is not a book of answers; it is written to provoke questions. When you read the genocide stories, what questions come to mind?

  • Why do you think the people acted in the way they did?
  • Could trauma hold the key? Under specific pressures and with enough accumulated trauma, even good people will do horrific things.
  • How would you suggest they act?”
  • How would you act in similar circumstances?
  • What would Jesus do?

A question has power that surpasses the answer. My Jewish friend Tal says, “The Tanakh and God are supposed to be argued with. It is a good conflict that, if done with respect, causes growth.” He continues, “Spots within the Tanakh that are completely good or evil are rare. And that’s why I love the narrative. It reflects our life experiences more, which is very messy. After all, the name Israel means ‘one who wrestles with God,’ and that gets messy.”

Christians should respectfully discuss the scriptures and listen to other people’s insights. Scripture has done its job if the discussion causes powerful positive change.

Important Lessons

In chapter 10 of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he gives insight into the Christian purpose of the Tanakh: These things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. (6). These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us. (11)

Followers of Jesus need to read these stories in the Tanakh and learn the lessons that still apply today.

Jesus’ Example

In the fullness of time, God was born into the human family to show us what he was REALLY like. Jesus shows us a much better way. Consider his words in the sermon on the mount:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?

And so, love your enemies, and don’t kill them. That’s Jesus’ way, as he said, “The Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s lives but to save them.”

 

Further Study

How the Bible works

Digging Deeper #72: The Wrath of God

Digging Deeper #84: The Bible’s Genocide Stories