Tag: Christian living

I find a narrative emerging from certain Christian circles deeply disturbing. On the surface, it sounds righteous, but upon reflection, it is unbiblical, unjust, and simply not very much like Jesus. This narrative, which I refer to as ‘enforced religion,’ involves imposing religious beliefs or practices on individuals or groups, often against their will or in a manner that infringes on their rights.

The narrative I’m referring to is cloaked in the language of religious freedom or rights; yet, it infringes on the freedoms or rights of others, a concern that we all should share.

In Australia

In last week’s blog, I mentioned the Christian Values Checklist, which the Australian Christian Values Institute regularly updates for state and federal elections. This blog is not intended to be an exposé on this organisation. I refer to them as an example of my concerns about enforced religion.

For instance, one of the “Christian values” on the checklist is retaining the parliament’s opening with Christian prayers. As a Christian, I appreciate that parliament opens with an acknowledgement of country, followed by two Christian prayers—a parliamentary prayer and the Lord’s Prayer.

However, I also (as a Christian) have concerns for those in Parliament who hold no faith or adhere to a belief system other than Christianity. Jesus taught the Golden Rule: Treat others just as you want to be treated. It raises the question: If I were an atheist, a Buddhist, or a Hindu, how would I like Christians to treat me? Would I experience Jesus’ love and grace by being subjected to enforced religion?

The Australian Christian Values Institute website discusses religious freedom and freedom of speech. However, some of its views deny liberty to those with differing beliefs—a stance that fails to respect our society’s diversity.

Australian churches and Christian schools must consider this if anti-discrimination laws are reconsidered. Compromise is essential when balancing the competing interests of various parties. I feel we Christians often want to protect our rights at the expense of others. Selfishness is NOT a Christian value.

In America

Across the Gulf of Australia, in the good ol’ US of A, there are even more concerning examples of enforced religion. Last year, the Republican-backed Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, ordered that “every public school classroom in Louisiana has…to display a poster of the Ten Commandments.” Did you notice the word “ordered?”

Now, I value the Ten Commandments and the ancient wisdom they convey. Still, I can’t help but wonder if they would be more impactful if displayed in the White House and Mar-a-Lago, especially the parts about adultery and not bearing false witness against thy neighbour. There are Christian people in the U.S. who enforce the commandments in schools, yet support a president who openly flaunts Moses’ laws.

Meanwhile, a top education official in Oklahoma has ordered schools to incorporate the Bible into lessons. Republican state Superintendent Ryan Walters stated that the rule is compulsory and requires “immediate and strict compliance.” This represents enforced religion.

Paul’s Reflections

Back to the Ten Commandments for a moment. Please read 2 Corinthians chapter 3 and reflect on the apostle Paul’s commentary on these ancient laws. Paul contrasts the Old Covenant with the New—the Law with the Spirit—and speaks derogatorily of the Ten Commandments. He describes them as:

  1. The ministry that brought death (7).
  2. The ministry that brought condemnation (9).

These Christians promote a message other than the Gospel by legislating the Ten Commandments in schools. Paul said, “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Jesus’ Way

Later in 2 Corinthians chapter three, Paul announced, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Freedom, not enforced religion; freedom is Jesus’ way. Nowhere in the gospels do we find Jesus coercing anyone. When a wealthy young guy approached him and asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus went straight to the heart of this guy’s problem and addressed the idol in his heart:

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this, the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth.

Jesus didn’t chase after him and say, “Listen, mate. If you don’t repent, you’ll burn in hell forever.” There was no coercion or control. Jesus gave him complete freedom to make his own mind up. Some theologians, including myself, believe this man was Barnabas, who later chose to follow Jesus and sold some of his property to help the poor.

Freedom

I encourage you to be wary of anyone—Christian or not—who constantly insists on freedom of speech or religious liberty. They invariably seek freedom for themselves while denying it to others.

Nicholas Ferroni is a high school History teacher, education activist and host. I love this Tweet he posted back in 2022: “If you are okay with having Muslim, Jewish and Hindu students sit through a Christian prayer in public school, and not okay with having Christian students sit through a Muslim, Jewish or Hindu prayer, then it’s NOT religious freedom- it’s religious oppression.”

Reflect on this: when we Christians prioritise our desires at the expense of others’ freedoms and rights, it is not religious freedom; it is religious oppression—and religious privilege.

God created humans and bestowed upon us the gift of free will, granting us the ability to choose, even if it means making poor decisions and facing the consequences. However, no one is coerced, which is why I detest enforced religion. I urge you to be cautious of it as well.

Whenever there’s an election, I’m reminded of how little some sectors of the church have learned about the detrimental impact of polarising political statements made by churches and church leaders on the Gospel.

While I support Christians participating in politics or running for political office, the church as a whole—and pastors in particular—must remain above politics, nonpartisan, and committed to its central message: the good news of God’s love and grace through Jesus Christ. Anything that obscures that message is an enemy of the Gospel.

Too Political

Several years ago, the Barna Foundation commissioned research among young adults (ages 16-29) to determine why they did not engage with or had ceased to be involved in a church. One of the six reasons was that the church was “too political.”

I find it bewildering when church leaders make politically divisive statements, despite the evidence showing that this harms the cause of Christ. Sadly, we have observed a significant portion of the American church aligning politically, resulting in disturbing effects.

Conservatives Only?

A while ago, I saw a post on a pastor’s Facebook page encouraging his followers and congregation to “Let righteousness reign. Put Labor and the Greens last!” I realise this reflects the views of many conservative Christians, but my question is: what message does this send to people in that church who may disagree? What about people who do vote Labor or Green and still love Jesus? What about those in the broader community who are considering Jesus and the Church but are put off by this statement? Isn’t the Gospel inclusive, or do you have to change how you vote when you become a Christian? Also, why is it “righteous” to vote for a conservative party?

I don’t ask the people in our church who they vote for—it’s not my business—but I imagine we have all sorts of political perspectives at Bayside Church. Some of our members are conservative, while others have told me they’re voting for the Teals. Others are Green or Labor. People in our church are free to follow their conscience and vote accordingly. Our unity is found solely in the person of Jesus, whose kingdom is not of this world.

The Checklist

The aforementioned pastor shared the following chart compiled by the Australian Christian Values Institute.

The Christian Values Checklist informs voters about what each political party represents regarding various moral and ethical issues. The chart states, “On many welfare and social justice issues, the party policies are very similar. Our aim is to deal with the moral and ethical issues that are rarely, if ever, discussed publically [sic] in an election campaign.” I’ll return to that statement later.

The implication is that if you are a devoted Christian, you will likely vote for Family First, One Nation, or Trumpet of Patriots.

They Come and Go

In times past, the Australian Christian Values Institute has commended the Christian Democrats, the DLP, and Rise Up Australia. The Christian Democrats, Fred Nile’s party, were dissolved in 2022 by the courts due to longstanding legal challenges and governance issues. In the same year, the DLP (Democratic Labour Party) was deregistered because of a lack of members. Rise Up Australia was voluntarily deregistered by the Australian Electoral Commission in 2019. Rise Up’s leader, Danny Nalliah, has been surrounded by significant controversy for many years.

In 2025, we have some new parties to uphold “Christian values,” but if you can’t stomach any frontrunners, then the Nationals or the Libs would be your choice. However, whatever you do, “Let righteousness reign. Put Labor and the Greens last!”

Christian Values?

Let’s examine those Christian values. Predictably, they align with what one would expect from conservative Christianity in Australia, which has been significantly influenced by American Evangelicalism. In this tradition, the two main issues Christians should concentrate on are matters related to abortion and the LGBTQ+ community (stop both as much as you can).

While the chart helps you understand the various parties’ stances on these topics, I can’t help but notice the missing elements, which brings me back to the statement about welfare and social justice issues. Why separate these from a Christian Values Checklist?

Are refugees, the homeless, those living with mental illness, and victims of domestic violence not worthy of the Christian vote? Which party or parties have the best policies in place to help those on the margins of society? The chart includes nothing about those living in poverty, and it appears that the environment was added as an afterthought! Maybe I’m wrong, but is caring for God’s creation less critical than opening Parliament with a Christian prayer? And, on that topic, since when has it been a Christian value to force people to say a prayer if they don’t want to? Selah!

Jesus’ Example

For followers of Jesus Christ, He remains our example of Christian values. Jesus began and concluded His ministry with unequivocal value statements:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come.”

At the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus proclaimed that his followers would care for the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and those in prison.

You’ll notice the overlap in Jesus’ statements. It seems His heart for those struggling in life didn’t change during His ministry years, and it still hasn’t.

As you vote in this or any election, consider what is important to you, but don’t stop there. What about others, especially those on the margins? The people for whom Jesus mainly showed concern. Paul put it this way, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

Jesus said, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” Being like Jesus means we will be interested in the people He showed interest in, such as those who are homeless, sick, or in prison; the poor, orphans, and widows; as well as those living with disabilities or who are victims of domestic violence.

Your vote should support candidates who implement policies that demonstrate care and concern for the most vulnerable members of our community, as well as for God’s creation.

A Final Word

The church and Christian leaders must remain non-partisan. The Gospel is good news for all people. The church does not thrive when in power; it’s not meant to rule nations or manipulate political systems. It’s intended to proclaim a message of reconciliation with a God who loves people and a Saviour who died and rose again to extend amazing grace. Let’s never lose this focus.

This year, the Bayside Church family is reading through Acts and the epistles, guided by my devotional book FRESH. In the past week, we’ve been reading Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian church, and a verse jumped out to me that I’ll discuss in this blog:

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: Mind your business—MYOB.

Good Ambition

In much of the New Testament, ambition has negative connotations, usually labelled selfish ambition. But here, Paul uses the word positively, encouraging these Christians to strive to outdo each other as who shall have the honour of being the most peaceable member of the church community.

The Thessalonian Christians showed love to others but weren’t always getting it right. Some were overly caring and meddlesome, giving unsolicited advice, forcing their opinions on others, and trying to control others’ actions. Have you ever encountered someone like that? Are you that person? I have learned to ask people if they would like my advice or help. I no longer presume.

Busybodies

In my decades as a Christian and a pastor, I’ve encountered far too many busybodies—interfering, nosy, and gossipy individuals who meddle uninvited in the lives of others. Bayside Church has suffered more from such people than any other immoral behaviour.

Peter also cautioned the church community against behaving this way: If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer, thief, or any other type of criminal, or even as a meddler. It’s quite striking that Peter includes busybodies and gossipmongers alongside criminals.

Over Caring

Then, some people are overbearing because of being overcaring. They are the “How are you really” crowd. They ask you how you are, and you tell them you’re fine—because you are. But they really, really want to care, so they must dig a little deeper. How are you really?

I am not suggesting that we shouldn’t ask follow-up questions or show genuine interest in others; however, we need to be cautious to ensure that our caring doesn’t become interference. I’ve met people who gather information about others by asking numerous questions and then using that knowledge to assert power. They influence people to be vulnerable to satisfy their own need for self-importance.

Paul tells the Thessalonian Christians that being meddlesome and interfering is not how God has taught us to love one another: Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: to mind your own business—MYOB.

Quotes

Solomon wrote much about this in his wisdom collection, Proverbs. He dramatically stated: Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. It’s a powerful picture that meddling will ultimately cause YOU harm.

I love this anonymous quote: “Never worry about what I’m doing. Only worry about why you’re worried about what I’m doing.” Please reflect on that statement, especially if you’re one of those followers of Jesus who’s constantly venting about other people on social media. Why are you so worried about them? What does this say about you?

Irish Biblical scholar Alec Motyer, author of The Message of James, wrote: “A fig must have a fig tree as its source, a grape can only come from a vine, an olive from an olive tree; salt water has a salt source; sweet water a sweet source; bitter words a bitter heart; critical words a critical spirit; defamatory, unloving speech issues from a heart where the love of Jesus is a stranger.” (P. 127).

A Painful Lesson

A man was walking past a school, and all the kids shouted, ’13….13….13.’

The fence was too high to see over, but he saw a little gap in the planks, so he looked through to see what was happening, and someone poked him in the eye with a stick!

Then they all started shouting ’14….14….14!

MYOB

Scripture teaches us to concentrate on our own concerns without interfering in the affairs of others. It encourages us to uphold a strong work ethic in a meaningful occupation, motivating us to work diligently, rest adequately, and enjoy leisure. It inspires us to gather with fellow believers and share our lives, but refrain from meddling. It prompts us to sustain prayer, Bible reading, and study habits, all while nurturing genuine and practical care for those less fortunate than ourselves.

And so, make it your ambition to live quietly and peacefully, and to mind your own affairs and work with your hands, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders [exhibiting good character, personal integrity, and moral courage worthy of the respect of the outside world], and be dependent on no one and in need of nothing [be self-supporting]. MYOB.

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?

 

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.

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.

 

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