Tag: God

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world at a remarkable pace. AI can generate images, compose music, analyse information, translate languages, support medical research, and even hold conversations that sound surprisingly human. What seemed like science fiction only a few years ago is now part of everyday life.

For Christians, that raises an important question: Where is God in all this?

While some are excited about the possibilities, others are deeply concerned. Will AI take our jobs? Will it make us less human? Could it be used for evil? Will we eventually create machines more intelligent than we are? And what happens when technology becomes more powerful than we can control?

These are legitimate questions. Christians shouldn’t be naïve about technology, but we shouldn’t be paralysed by fear either.

Divine Surprise?

First, remember that AI did not catch God by surprise. Psalm 139 reminds us that God knows everything about us. Isaiah declares that God sees “the end from the beginning.” Nothing in our rapidly changing technological world has caught God off guard—He is all-knowing and everywhere present, including the digital world.

God is not absent from our computers, algorithms, data centres, or conversations about artificial intelligence. He remains Lord over creation, including the God-given creativity and ingenuity of human beings. Creativity has been part of human expression since the dawn of time, and it shouldn’t change because of technology.

God’s Image

Perhaps one of the deepest fears about AI is that machines will somehow render human beings less valuable. Remember that our value comes from the one who created us—that we are made in the image of God. Technology doesn’t threaten our identity.

Christians believe that human beings are more than information-processing devices. Unlike machines, we can form relationships, practise love and compassion, assume moral responsibility, and experience communion with God.

Technology can replicate some human abilities without diminishing humanity’s mystery and dignity. Our hope doesn’t rest on creating machines that become increasingly human. It rests in the God who became human in Jesus.

Amoral

Remember, technology itself is neither good nor bad. A knife can prepare a meal or cause harm. A car can take someone to hospital or be driven recklessly. The computer I’m using to type this blog can also be used for pornography or online bullying. Does that make computers evil? Not at all. It’s nasty people using something good for the wrong reasons. The same applies to AI.

AI can be used to manipulate, deceive and exploit. It can also help people learn, communicate, create and solve problems.

The Bible consistently places moral responsibility on people and on how we use what God has given us. Jesus taught that what defiles us comes from within—the human heart. Technology doesn’t create the human capacity for good or evil, but it can amplify it. AI holds both promise and peril.

Opportunity

It’s important to remember that the world has improved across almost every measure thanks to technology. Rather than seeing AI only as a threat, perhaps we can also see it as an opportunity. AI can help people access information and education, assist those who struggle with language or communication, and help researchers tackle complex problems. In the next few years, AI will likely help eradicate serious diseases and fight climate change, poverty, and hunger.

The church can also benefit. AI can help translate Christian resources, including the Bible, into other languages; support people in studying Scripture; help churches communicate more effectively; and provide new ways to engage people who might never step through the doors of our church buildings. Of course, none of these things replaces human relationships or the Holy Spirit’s work.

Christians have always used available technology to communicate the gospel. Early Christians used the Roman Empire’s roads to write and copy letters. The printing press made the Bible widely available. Radio and television opened new opportunities for Christian communication. The internet created another. AI is simply the latest technology that Christians need to learn to use wisely.

Spiritual Questions

AI is becoming another place where people ask questions about meaning, identity, truth, purpose and the future. What does it mean to be human? What is truth? What makes a life worthwhile? What happens when we die? Can we create something that gives our lives meaning?

The church should be willing to enter these conversations—not with panic, but with wisdom. I believe that’s one of the most important prayers Christians can pray in the age of AI: “God, give me wisdom”—not fear, denial, or blind enthusiasm. Wisdom.

Fear Not!

It’s fascinating that the words “Do not be afraid” appear 365 times in the Bible—one for each day of the year! I don’t believe that’s a coincidence. God knows we tend toward fear, so in his love and grace, he reminds us daily—Fear Not!

That doesn’t mean we ignore genuine dangers. Real ethical questions about AI include privacy, misinformation, employment, manipulation, and human addiction. Add to this its insatiable need for electricity and water, as well as its impact on climate change. These issues warrant serious discussion.

But we don’t need to lose hope. Technology has always transformed society. The Industrial Revolution, electricity, radio and television, computers and the internet have reshaped how we live. Each has brought both opportunities and dangers. AI will be no different. Through every technological revolution, God has remained faithful. Christians have endured empires, wars, cultural upheavals, scientific revolutions and profound social change because our future depends on God. Jesus said, “I will build my church.” That’s a promise worth remembering.

Be Curious

 Christians can be curious about AI without being captivated by it.

We can experiment while remaining discerning.

We can appreciate what AI can do while recognising its limitations.

And we can use technology without letting it define us.

Paul wrote, “Test everything. Hold on to what is good.” That’s ancient wisdom, a useful principle for the age of AI.

Unchanging

In our ever-changing world, it’s vital to hold fast to what remains unchanging—God, the gospel, and love for our neighbour. Humanity’s hope ultimately rests in Jesus.

Technology will continue to evolve. AI will become more sophisticated. Some developments will amaze us, while others will concern us. Our confidence doesn’t come from knowing exactly what the future of technology will look like. It comes from knowing the One who holds the future.

John 14:6 is a well-known verse that is often quoted in isolation as proof of the exclusivity of the Christian faith: that Jesus is the only way to God the Father. Jesus tells his disciples, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” But is Jesus declaring the uniqueness of the religion that will one day bear his name, or does he have something else in mind?

Context

Canadian evangelical theologian Dr. Don Carson wrote, “A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text.” We do the Scriptures and the Christian faith a great disservice when we select a verse from the Bible and make it say what we desire without considering its context within the larger narrative.

Let’s explore the context of John 14:6. Approximately half of John’s Gospel concentrates on the last week of Jesus’ life. The events progress quickly, and John shares details that no other gospel writer includes, such as the raising of Lazarus and the ensuing plot to kill Jesus due to the religious leaders’ envy of his popularity.

In John 13, the disciples come together for the Passover meal. Jesus washes their feet and predicts Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial. What Jesus says in John 14 also takes place while they are seated around the table for the Passover meal, giving us a rich context to understand his words.

Famous Last Words

Jesus will be arrested later that night; therefore, his words in these chapters are commonly known as the Farewell Discourse, which includes Jesus’ final words before his death. If you know you’re about to die, you don’t waste time or words. You get straight to the point and express what weighs heavily on your heart.

In John 14, Jesus consoled his disciples because he had informed them that he would be betrayed, denied, and would leave them. He told them, “I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.”

Reassurance

Jesus’ disciples were in a state of sorrow and needed consoling, as this was not the ending they anticipated. They had hoped for a Messiah who would overthrow Rome and re-establish Israel and God’s Kingdom. A suffering Saviour was not what they envisioned. Therefore, Jesus’ words at the start of John 14 are intended to reassure the disciples, offering them comfort and a sense of security:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Oh, Thomas!

Thomas hears Jesus and disagrees with him: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The following verses (7-11) are a bit tricky to grasp, but to summarise, Jesus teaches that one way to understand what God is like is by looking at him (Jesus). The Jewish Annotated New Testament states, “To know Jesus and his works is to understand and know God.” In that sense, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. The first followers of Jesus called themselves The Way.

Exclusiveness

John 14:6 is often regarded as the basis for the exclusive claims of Christian salvation. In other words, many Christians believe and preach that people cannot know God unless they accept Jesus, as suggested by John 14:6. Is this true, and does John imply this in the verse?

I appreciate the explanation given by The New Interpreters Study Bible (p. 1937), which offers extensive notes from ninety leading theologians:

“John 14:6 expresses the central theological conviction of the Gospel of John: Jesus is the tangible presence of God in the world (1:1-18). The language of Father and Son points to the intimacy of the relationship between God and Jesus. Humanity’s encounter with Jesus the Son makes possible a new experience of God as Father (see 1:12; 20:17). Yet John 14:6 is often interpreted in ways that misuse its central theological claim. What John intends as particularism, many contemporary Christians wrongly interpret as exclusiveness. John 14:6 celebrates how Jesus reveals God for those in this particular faith community and is not a statement about the relative worth of the world’s religions. John is concerned with helping Christians recognise and name their God and the distinctiveness of their identity as a people of faith.”

If this is true, John 14:6 is not a statement of exclusiveness but rather a statement of truth that applies to anyone who follows Jesus. When we follow Jesus, we discover in Him a revelation and experience of God as Father.

Jesus’ intent in his words recorded in John 14 is to console his disciples. It would hardly have been appropriate to turn this time of sadness into a declaration of, “Oh, by the way, from now on, the religion I’m starting is the only right one. All the others are wrong. Anyway, don’t be sad!”

Other Ways

The Scriptures reveal various ways for us to know God. For instance, in his letter to the Romans, Paul writes about knowing God through His creation and human conscience. This exploration of alternative ways to understand God encourages us to be open-minded and inclusive, acknowledging that people who have never heard of Jesus can come to realise that God is real and reach out to Him.

The apostle Paul conveyed this to the people of Athens: “God Himself gives everyone life, breath, and everything else. From one man, he made all the nations…God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

Summary

To summarise, I don’t believe Jesus intended to make a statement of exclusiveness in John 14:6. However, another verse appears rather firm, which is part of Peter’s sermon in Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

In John 14:6, Jesus comforts his followers, assuring them that although he will die, it is not the end of the story. While they can’t follow him now, they eventually will. Jesus’ death and resurrection paved the way for anyone who trusts him to follow through death and be resurrected in the Father’s presence. If you’re seeking a relationship with your creator, I encourage you to pray to Jesus and accept Him as your Saviour.

If you’re keen to explore this topic further, I encourage you to listen to the following episodes of the Digging Deeper Podcast:

 

#9 Second chances after death

#32 People who never hear about Jesus

#82 How can I know that God exists?

#98 Is Jesus the only way to God?

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.

First Published: 28 August, 2024

 

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.

Have you ever felt that God has gone AWOL on you? I have, many times, and invariably it has been during the darker times of life.

I had always felt very blessed by God’s presence. From the moment I surrendered to Jesus at the age of 21, I was overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit. But there have been significant occasions when God seemed absent to me. I’ll tell you about one of these.

Personal Experience

It was the early 2000s, and Bayside Church was growing very fast. We’d conducted a successful building campaign and purchased the warehouse we still meet in. The congregation had doubled in size in 18 months. At the same time, Christie and I welcomed our second daughter. We were a young family with a baby, a toddler, and a teenage church. All of that would have been enough, but I was unaware (at that time) of a blind spot ~ I was a classic under-estimator.

There’s no doubt that God has used the gung-ho, ‘she’ll be right’ part of my nature in establishing Bayside Church and pioneering many other things, but it hasn’t been without cost to myself and others. Through the Enneagram and loving feedback from my ministry team, I’m aware of this blind spot and can recognise it when tempted to over-commit. But in the early 2000s, that was not the case.

You Did What?

Two decades ago, in addition to the things mentioned before, I (we):

  • Started a Sunday evening service and then a Saturday evening service.
  • Planted a campus followed by another one a few years later.
  • Developed a media ministry and a TV Program, Bayside TV.
  • Commenced with Melbourne’s new Christian radio station as an announcer and Music Director.
  • Changed denominations.

Add to that the responsibility of increasing staff members and all that organising and managing a team entails.

I realise now that I had overloaded myself and no doubt experienced burnout. God’s seemed absent. I was in a church gathering one day and could see the Spirit of God at work all around me, but I could feel nothing. It lasted for about six months. It was awful.

My theology informs me that God wasn’t absent and is never absent. It is impossible for an omnipresent being to be missing from anywhere. God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” The apostle Paul asked, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?” He answered with a resounding “NO.”

Jesus’ Experience

Towards the end of his suffering, Jesus cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He was likely comforting himself with words from a familiar Psalm, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.” It’s a gut-wrenching prayer about abandonment. I’m suffering, and God seems absent. He left me just when I needed him most. That’s how I felt two decades ago.

And here’s the good news. Jesus knew exactly how I felt because he had suffered the same thing. He felt abandoned by God. So did I. The fact is, God had not forsaken Jesus any more than he had deserted me or you.

Misquoting Scripture

Some preachers have said that the Father turned away from Jesus because he is too pure to look at sin. Habakkuk 1:13 is quoted (out of context) to prove the point. The argument goes like this:

The Son had the sin of the human race laid upon him. God is holy and can’t look upon sin. And so, the Father abandoned his Son. Really? What kind of Father would desert his child in their hour of need? This interpretation of the Bible makes God out to be pretentious, fussy, and, well, very ungodlike. God is not scared of sin. Jesus proved this by hanging out with “tax collectors and sinners” during his life on earth.

The Father didn’t abandon the Son, but the Son felt abandoned. God didn’t forsake me, but my experience for several months was that God seemed absent. I hasten to add that this time was one of the most productive and fruitful periods in our church’s history. It became evident that “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

The absence Jesus experienced on the cross is the same as we may feel when we’re suffering. Where is God? Jesus knows what that’s like. God did not abandon Jesus. It wasn’t that God couldn’t look at sin. Jesus doesn’t reveal a God who is scared of sin; he displays a God who is comfortable in our skin and relaxed around imperfect people. If only more Christians were like that!

The Perfect Saviour

Dr Bradley Jersak says, “In the crucifixion, Jesus shared fully in our experience of absence, assuming it and thereby utterly redeeming it.”

God became a human being and resided amongst us. He experienced everything we do, tempted in every way. We have a high priest who can empathise with our weaknesses. He knows what it’s like to feel abandoned by God, to go through times when God seems absent. I hope you find that as encouraging as I do.

 

One of the first Bible verses I read this year was Isaiah 43:18-20,

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? 
I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed.”

God was about to lead his people back to their homeland after being captive in Babylon. In the preceding verses, God reminds them of the power he used to set them free from earlier captivity when they were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. With Mighty strength, God brought his people out of Egypt, through the desert and into the Promised Land. But in Isaiah 43, God says, “forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new.”

There is a potent life principle here: sometimes, we must forget the greatness of past successes or the shame of past failures to embrace God’s new things in the present and future.

Anything from the past holding you back needs to be forgotten;

otherwise, it becomes a hindrance.

But this doesn’t mean we are to forget everything that’s happened in our lives. There are lots of things that we should remember.

Recollect Fond Memories

Recall family celebrations and great friendships, the good things in life, and the cherished memories that still stir emotions and gratitude. Things like running through the sprinklers on a hot summer’s day, climbing trees, pillow fights, and laughing so hard that your stomach hurt.

A few years ago, Christie and I took the kids to Malaysia for a holiday. One day the heavens opened for a tremendous tropical storm that left large pools of water everywhere. The kids and I spent ages jumping in the puddles. It was so much fun. Scuffing your feet through piles of autumn leaves is equally satisfying—fond memories.

Remember Things to Rectify

The Bible has lots to say about restitution & forgiveness (see Proverbs 14:9; Matthew 5:23-24). I love the story of Zacchaeus, the chief Tax Collector of Jericho (Luke 19:1-10). Here’s one of the most despised individuals in his town, who made millions by ripping off the poor (sound familiar?). Amid the grumblings of the battlers, Jesus went to Zacchaeus’ house. We’re not told what they chatted about, but whatever Jesus said hugely impacted this rich, crooked, lonely little man.

Listen to Zacchaeus’ words, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” If I have cheated anybody! Of course he had, and paying back four times the amount would have been equivalent to pumping millions of dollars into Jericho’s economy, making a massive difference to the needy.

Imagine the impact – I bet the complainers stopped whining when the money arrived! And all because a man remembered and decided to do something to correct the wrongs of the past.

A Personal Story

My first job after high school was working in a record store in Perth. At night, I studied radio announcing at a Technical college. By day, I managed the cassette department, and so I primarily worked alone. During this time, I helped myself to money from the till and stole some records and cassettes. Eventually, I was found out and sacked. I denied any wrongdoing, but I knew I was guilty.

Fast-forward to the next few years. I became a Christian and went to Bible College to train for pastoral ministry. I studied Christian Ethics in my second year, and the lecturer taught about restitution. I felt strongly convicted of my stealing but reminded myself that all my sins were forgiven when I became a Christian. But the guilt wouldn’t budge, so I went to my lecturer to explain my dilemma.

He encouraged me to phone my ex-boss, admit guilt, apologise, and seek to repay what I had stolen. I did so with fear and trembling. She answered the phone, and I got a frosty response when I told her who was calling. I did as my lecturer had suggested and offered to repay the money. All I had was the semester’s fees (about $1,000), and I asked if that would be sufficient. She said it was, so I sent that to her as a money order, along with a tract on becoming a Christian. I know…but I was young and zealous!

I didn’t hear from her again, but it didn’t matter. I had made amends like Zacchaeus. I had remembered a past wrong that I had the power to rectify. The sense of God’s presence was overwhelming.

Do you have unresolved issues from the past? Do you need to make restitution?

Recall the Great Things God has Done

“I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds” ~ Psalm 77:11-12.

In Scripture, God instituted a feast or an altar whenever he did something incredible. Consider the Passover Feast that reminded people of their mighty deliverance from slavery. Jesus instigated communion to remind us of his death and resurrection (Luke 22:19).

In the Tanakh (Old Testament), there are several altars of remembrance so that the recollection would anchor people in truth.

Consider the story of Joshua leading the people across the Jordan and into the promised land (Joshua 4). “They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, one for each tribe, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there.” The altar was a reminder of God’s power, presence, and redemption. Whatever challenges they faced in the future, the altar was a constant memorial of who God was and what God could do.

I encourage you to think of the times God has been particularly present for you. Consider those memories as altars to anchor and inspire you in the present, especially when you encounter difficulties.

A Final Story

Before he became the apostle Paul, Saul was one of the most distinguished religious leaders in Israel, “advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age” (Gal. 1:14). In his letter to the Philippians, Paul outlines his Jewish credentials (3:3-6), which were extremely impressive. But he writes, “whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” And he had lost much ~ prestige, reputation, finance, property, and family. His wife and children likely abandoned him when he converted from Judaism.

But, Jesus had found him and called him, and he wouldn’t look back. In fact, “one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” God was doing something new, and Paul wouldn’t miss out because of regrets, mistakes, or successes.

Imagine the grace the church needed to exert towards Paul, the guy that had imprisoned and killed some of their relatives. This same man was now preaching in their churches.

Forget what is behind, strain toward what is ahead, and press on toward the goal. God is making pathways through the wilderness and creating rivers in the dry wasteland to refresh you. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Last week, I posted a blog discussing three things Christians repeatedly say as if they’re scripture, except they’re not:

  • God helps those who help themselves.
  • We are sinners saved by grace.
  • Love the sinner and hate the sin.

I welcomed feedback, as usual, and suggestions of other things we Christians say that are not found in the Bible. And so, here are three more to ponder:

Everything Happens for a Reason

I imagine you’ve heard this statement many times. Maybe you’ve said it yourself. I hear people say this, especially in times of distress or grief. And it’s okay if you want to tell yourself this as a way to self-soothe, but don’t say it to another person to move them on from grief and loss.

Everything happens for a reason was first said by the philosopher Aristotle in the context of everything having a cause. And that’s true. Everything happens for a reason because something caused it to happen. But that is not how this statement is intended. It is a cliché designed to dismiss someone’s feelings. It is ultimately unkind and untrue.

Everything happens for a reason. Tell that to a parent who has lost a child or a man whose wife was seriously injured in a car crash.

Everything happens for a reason. Say it to a mother in Somalia whose children are dying from malnutrition or a woman in Afghanistan (or Iran) who has lost or limited rights because of choices made by male superiority.

In God’s world, a whole lot of things happen for absolutely no reason whatsoever. For no good reason, at least. Most suffering people endure is because of the poor choices of others or sometimes their own.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God. Our God takes all the awful and weaves it into a tapestry of goodness. But that may not happen in this life. It may be one of those dreams that is only realised in eternity.

For more on this topic, listen to or watch my teaching on the good God and suffering.

God is in Control

Have you ever said, “Well, at least God is in control?” I have. And I’ve heard many people use this and other clichés in an attempt to find meaning in something awful. It’s an encouragement to ourselves that things will work out. But, sometimes, they don’t. Occasionally, our world remains out of control. What should we say about God, then? If God is in control, he isn’t doing a terrific job!

The fact is God doesn’t DO control. God created the heavens and the earth with the laws of nature and human free will. God does not usually control the laws of nature. When he does, we call it a miracle because it’s rare. God certainly does not influence human freedom. That’s why beautiful things happen in the world. That’s why awful things happen in the world.

While God doesn’t cause evil, neither does he use control to prevent us, or others, from doing wrong. God doesn’t control, but he does care. He loves and cares and wants to nurture those who’ve been wronged.

If God doesn’t DO control, how does he work? God works by consent, not control. Have you noticed that God will never force himself on you or manipulate you? God is loving and gracious, not violent and angry. As revealed in Jesus, God is neither coercive nor controlling but infinitely close and caring. Jesus will not force himself into your life or make you receive his love. But he does invite you to willingly consent to the offer of a relationship with God. He initiates, and we consent.

God surrendered control to natural law and human freedom when he created the universe. But God did not abandon his creation. He entered it by being born mortal. The man Jesus experienced all of life’s highs and lows. The Word became flesh to endure the depth and breadth of the entire human condition. In Jesus, God experienced our humanity, all of it.

Jesus completely identifies with your pain. He is present and co-suffers with you. He wraps your suffering with his divine love and brings healing to your soul.

God is not in control, but he is in charge. History is heading somewhere, and God is at the steering wheel!

God Will Never Give You More Than You Can Handle

Another platitude uttered by an uncaring soul who is uncomfortable with human suffering. Well, at least God will never give you more than you can handle. And the suffering one is left to ponder exactly how much more they can bear until God realises they can’t take anymore.

An appeal is made to 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” But this verse is about temptation, not problems, sickness, pain, or suffering.

“God will never give you more than you can handle,” is wrong for two reasons. Firstly, it infers that God is the author of pain and suffering: “God will never give you more…” But we must not be deceived into thinking that God is anything but good. He is NOT the author of tests and trials (Cf. James 1:13-17).

Secondly, people frequently experience more than they can handle; that’s why we need counsellors, psychologists, pastoral care, prayer, treatment for mental health and other caring professionals. Thank God for loving people who can step in and lift some of the load when we encounter something we cannot cope with on our own.

I love the honesty of the Bible writers. Consider these words penned by Paul to the Corinthian Christians, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (emphasis added).

The Bible is replete with examples of people of faith who suffered more than they could endure on their own. Some of them died because of it (Cf. Hebrews 11:35-40). I believe one of the fundamental reasons Jesus formed the church is so that Christian people can support one another when life gets unbearable. I am very grateful for my Christian community, which is the source of strength and encouragement for people when life is intolerable.

 

In psychology, it’s known as the illusory truth effect: If you repeat a statement often enough, it will seem more likely to be true.

There are statements we Christians make that are not in the Bible, but because they’ve been repeated so often, they are believed to be accurate. So, I thought it would be interesting to explore some statements we regularly hear from Christians that have become believed to be true, although they’re not.

“God helps those who help themselves.”

The origins of this phrase go back to ancient Greece. The English version was first penned by Algernon Sydney, an English politician, in the 1600s. The idea in this statement is that if you want God’s help, you first have to show initiative. But the assertion falls over at the first hurdle.

Consider the very essence of the Christian gospel, which emphasises people’s inadequacy to “save” themselves by human effort. The law was powerless to save anyone because no one could obey the law all the time. And so, God took the initiative by working in Christ to reconcile the world to himself (2 Cor. 5:19).

People can do nothing to help themselves out of sin and its consequences. It took a divine act of unconditional love to achieve salvation, restoration, and forgiveness for all humanity. God didn’t help those who helped themselves because no one could. God helps those who realise they can’t help themselves.

The church has not done a great job of conveying this wonderful truth. Instead, the communication that rings out loud and clear is invariably a moralising message. We’ve told others what’s wrong with them and what they should not do. So much so that many people reason they’ll have to get themselves right first before they come to God (or church). This is the very antithesis of the Christian message.

The statement, God helps those who help themselves, makes us the source of help and strength. God is secondary and will surely appreciate our efforts, and then he will help us. But the Christian is to live a life of reliance on the grace of God and the Holy Spirit as our advocate.

The flip side is that God’s help doesn’t remove our responsibility. Praying and asking for God’s support doesn’t mean you sit on your blessed assurance staring into the heavens. Relying on grace and being empowered by the Holy Spirit, we use our initiative and God-given wisdom. For example, if you need employment, pray about it BUT THEN go out and look for work, knock on doors. God’s help does not remove our responsibility.

“We are sinners saved by grace.”

I heard this statement again today on a new worship album from a megachurch. “Lord, we’re just sinners saved by grace.” Nowhere in the Bible are Christians referred to as sinners, let alone as sinners saved by grace.

Someone may say, “well, the apostle Paul viewed himself as a sinner…” and they’ll quote 1 Timothy 1:15, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” But if you read on, you’ll discover that Paul was referring to his life before he became a Christian.

Paul wrote something similar to the Corinthian church: “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” In the next verse, the apostle proclaims, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” That is, by God’s grace Paul was no longer a sinner; he was now a saint. He did not deny that he was a sinner (past tense), but he lived in the reality of what Christ had made him (a saint). And this is what we’re called to do.

We could rewrite this phrase more accurately: “We were sinners, but we were saved by grace, and so are sinners no longer.” That doesn’t mean we’re perfect; far from it. But the New Testament Scriptures declare followers of Jesus to be saints and not sinners. A saint is a person who has been born into God’s family and is “set apart” as belonging to God. They then live a life befitting a person who belongs to God.

Christ-followers are to see themselves in the light of this truth because how we live our lives is determined by how we see ourselves. As Neil Anderson rightly asserts, “No one can consistently behave in a way that is inconsistent with how he perceives himself.” If I view myself as having the righteousness of God in Christ, I am more likely to behave righteously.

Jesus came to change sinners into saints.

“Love the sinner and hate the sin.”

Christians quote this as if it were a Bible verse right next to “cleanliness is next to godliness,” a well-known saying by John Wesley. But neither statements are in the Bible.

Each part of “love the sinner and hate the sin” is valid – God loves sinners and hates sin. But as a collective statement, it’s not correct.

The problem with “love the sinner and hate the sin” is that it is rarely meant. It is just a Christian-sounding platitude aimed at people whose behaviour we struggle with, whose sin we hate, and people we don’t love if we are brutally honest. This statement salves our conscience and makes us feel like we’re being Christian when we display unchristian attitudes towards others.

Of course, we can only know if we love the sinner by spending time with them and helping them when they’re in need. How do we feel about the drug addict with needle scars and missing teeth? What is our attitude towards homeless people who haven’t bathed or changed their clothes for weeks? Do we love the gay man or woman at work (or in our family), or do we merely tolerate them? Do we pretend to love people but then say derogatory things about them behind their backs? We only know the true nature of our hearts when confronted by someone with whom we struggle. And let’s be honest about our struggles rather than hide behind clichés like “love the sinner and hate the sin.”

Another reason this saying is so wrong is that the sinner and the sin are often inseparable. In other words, someone’s behaviour often defines them as a person, so when we say we “hate the sin”, the person hears “I hate you.” The Bible talks about loving people, period.

The statement “Love your neighbour as yourself” is found nine times in the Scripture – divine emphasis for a purpose. In Galatians 5:14, the apostle Paul says that this truth sums up the entire law. In James 2:8, this command is called “The Royal Law,” the preeminent truth that reigns over all truth.

Jesus illustrated how we are to love our neighbour as ourselves by telling the story of The Good Samaritan. Samaritans were hated and despised by Jews in Jesus’ day. The Samaritans were mixed-race Jews because they had intermarried with Gentiles and were considered worse than gentiles – the lowest of the low, the greatest of sinners. Jesus could not have found a more powerful illustration to prove His point. He didn’t teach “Love the sinner and hate the sin.” He taught, “Love the person like they were you.” May this challenge us to the core of our faith!

Maybe you can think of other statements quoted regularly by Christians but not found in the Bible. Feel free to add those in the comments section.

 

 

 

 

Someone asked me recently about an apparent contradiction in the Bible. They observed that the Bible instructs us to fear God. And yet later in the New Testament, it states that the one who fears is not made perfect in love. They told me the contradiction had been bothering them for a while. And so, they reached out to me for some answers. Here’s what I told them.

Two verses

The two verses referred to are Proverbs 9:10 and 1 John 4:18:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Original Languages

The Hebrew word for “fear” is used 18 times in the Bible. Seventeen of those refer to the fear of the Lord or fear of God. In each case, it is something good to be desired and pursued.

The only place this word is used in a negative sense is Isaiah 7:25, “As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.” The context is God’s judgement of Israel because of their disobedience.

The Hebrew word yir-aw means “a fear.” The context of its use will determine what kind of fear that is. In Isaiah 7:25, the type of fear is an object of terror. In Proverbs 9:10, fear means reverence, respect, worship, and devotion.

Most Bible translations translate this Hebrew word as “fear.” Although this is a correct understanding, it doesn’t do justice to the word in the context in which it is used.

The Best Bible Translation

Bible translations tend to be either word-for-word or thought-for-thought. Word-for-word Bibles (like the NASB and ESV) attempt to find an equivalent English word for each Hebrew or Greek word. They pride themselves on being the most accurate translations, but that is not necessarily the case. The reason is that many times there is no English counterpart.

Thought-for-thought translations (like the Message Bible) seek to express the meaning of each sentence or paragraph from the original language in simple up-to-date English without being tied to translating every word. These versions view conveying sense as more critical than getting each word right. Bibles like the NIV and NLT combine word-for-word and thought-for-thought.

A Great Example

Consider Jeremiah 1:11-12, The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied. The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” These verses appear illogical as they don’t convey the author’s original intent.

The Hebrew word for almond tree is shaqed, whereas the word translated as “I am ready” is shaqad. The author uses a play on words that get lost in translation in word-for-word Bibles.

The Message Bible (MSG) that word-for-word proponents invariably criticize conveys the original intention:

God’s Message came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

I said, “A walking stick—that’s all.”

And God said, “Good eyes! I’m sticking with you.

I’ll make every word I give you come true.”

Back to Fear

Bearing this in mind, let’s apply these thoughts to the fear of the Lord.

The Amplified Bible translates Proverbs 9:10 as follows, “The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshipping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom.”

The Arabic Bible says, “The beginning of wisdom is the awe of LORD.”

Contemporary English Version, “Respect and obey the LORD! This is the beginning of wisdom.”

The Good News, “To be wise you must first have reverence for the LORD.”

These Bibles translate Hebrew with much more appropriate words than fear.

1 John 4

Fear is mentioned four times in 1 John 4:18; There is no fear [phobos] in love. But perfect love drives out fear, [phobos] because fear [phobos] has to do with punishment. The one who fears [phobeó] is not made perfect in love.

The Greek word Phobos (noun) gives us our English word phobia. It means terror or alarm. Phobeó (Verb) means to be terrified or frightened. Something our loving father never wants us to be of him.

In summary, When the Bible mentions the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom, it means to respect and reverence God and not to be in cringing fear of him. Later on, the New Testament states that the one who fears is not made perfect in love. That kind of fear means to be terrified. God does not want his children to be afraid of him. He loves us, and perfect love casts out all fear.

 

I recently had a fascinating theological conversation, and the topic of Hell arose. The person I was chatting with suggested that Hell is a place that is absent of the presence of God. In other words, Hell is a place where God is not.

I asked, how can an omnipresent being not be everywhere? How can an all-pervading, ever-present God be removed from any location?

I won’t go into detail here about the nature of Hell, whether it is eternal or temporal or whether the fires are punishing or restorative. I have written about these things here. And discussed them here and here.

What About This Verse?

In his second letter to the Thessalonian church, Paul wrote, “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” (emphasis added). Notice that? Hell is a place that is shut out of God’s presence, a place where God is not.

But Revelation 14:10 appears to contradict Paul, “They will be tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.” The Lamb is a metaphor for Jesus.

Which one is it? Is there a place where God is not, and if so, how? How does an omnipresent being not be, well, everywhere?

“Presence” in 2 Thessalonians refers to a person’s face. The inference is the face is not smiling. Imagine the times you’ve been with someone who was unhappy with you. How did you feel? That’s what Paul is communicating here. He is not suggesting there’s a place where God is not. The picture is of a place that is absent of joy.

But what if the expression on God’s face is like the look of displeasure a parent gives to their disobedient child? The glare lacks joy, but it never lacks love. 

God is Everywhere

In Acts 17, Paul quotes a sixth-century BC philosopher named Epimenides, who wrote, “For in him we live and move and have our being.” Paul then quotes Aratus, a Greek poet from the third century BC. Aratus wrote in his tribute to the god Zeus, ‘We are his offspring.’ Paul applies both of these statements to the people he spoke to in Athens. His message? God is everywhere. All people are his children. There is not one place where God is not.

David the songwriter penned some stunning words about God’s omnipresence:

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

The depths (Hebrew: Sheol) refer to where people descend at death. It was later named Hades after the Greek god of the underworld. David states that God is there even if he made his bed in Sheol.

Personal Experience

I am so grateful for the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God that has relentlessly chased me down over the years. I am thankful for my first encounter with God’s love when I was a 19-year-old atheist. Even then, I looked back and could see the work of an omnipresent deity in my life. For the next two years, I did everything possible to escape God. But that’s easier said than done. Where can I go from your Spirit?

And so, at 21, I relented and came home to the Father. Since then, I have seen his persistent presence reaching out to people in all sorts of places. A friend of mine, David, came to faith in Jesus when he chatted with a Christian girl in a gay bar. Gede and Phoebe both had encounters with Jesus in a Hindu Temple. Jesus came to Arif in a dream while he was in prison.

Big God

I hope you embrace my intended message of this blog: God is bigger than you ever imagined. You cannot limit, exclude, or restrict an almighty, all-wise, and omnipresent spiritual being. I’ve heard this preached negatively. Maybe you have too. You know, “God is watching so you’d better be extra careful how you behave.” Instead, let’s turn this into a positive. The God who “is love” is with us wherever we are. There is no escaping his grace. Like Paul said, “nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Be encouraged!

In my younger years as a Christian, I thought that it would be sinful to be angry with God. I viewed it as a sign of disrespect, and God would probably be mad with me for being mad at him, which could lead to all sorts of things because he is, well, bigger!

I don’t know where I got this idea. Maybe it was the teaching I received in my Pentecostal formation. Perhaps my own Bible reading and study sometimes focused on the angry God verses. It appeared it was okay for God to be angry but not us.

Fortunately, I have matured in my faith. These days I read more widely and understand the Arc of Scripture, that the Bible develops and grows as well. The ultimate Bible we should read is the life of Jesus because he was the Word made flesh.

Angry Jesus

I’ve come to understand that anger is not bad in and of itself. That it is possible to “Be angry, and sin not.” Jesus expressed anger on a few occasions. One day he was in the synagogue, and some people were looking for a reason to accuse him of breaking the law. They watched him closely to see if he would heal someone on the Sabbath. Mark tells us that Jesus looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts.” He then proceeded to heal a man with a shrivelled hand. The “Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.” And they probably couldn’t spot the hypocrisy in their hearts. No wonder Jesus was angry.

I believe Jesus was angry when he made the whip and drove the salespeople and money changers out of the temple. I can’t imagine Jesus doing this with a smile on his face and asking nicely! He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!” He was angry that these people were taking up space in the Temple court, excluding the poor and marginalised that should have been welcomed in God’s house. I believe Jesus is still angry today with churches and ministers who banish certain people.

Southern Baptist Report

Consider the report released yesterday revealing the systemic abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest Protestant denomination. The damning report shows decades of abuse and coverups of child molesters and other abusers who were in the pulpit or employed as church staff. Of senior leaders who refused to act against abusers. Of victims who were disparaged and “turned against.” Of people paid off or bullied to keep silent.

“Page after grim page reveals crushing scandal after crushing scandal.”

All this is from the same denomination that has restricted women in ministry because “the Bible is clear.” It’s the same group that has vilified the LGBTQIA Community. They are pro-life but also pro-gun and pro-death penalty. No hypocrisy to see here. Move on, please!

Sadly, conservative fundamentalists have systematically and deliberately taken over the Southern Baptist Convention. And while they were dictating what women should wear, where they could or could not minister, and who people could marry, they were covering up the worst of abuse. Jesus is angry.

Righteous Anger

I get angry, too, and now I know it’s alright to feel this way. It’s okay to be incensed at injustice and insincerity. It’s acceptable to be angry when people abuse their power to abuse others. Anger is a righteous response, and it’s okay to be angry with God. God has broad shoulders, and my anger does not intimidate him.

My Rabbi friend said this to me recently: “it is important to note that it is not only okay to respond negatively to G-d’s answer to our questions/prayers in the Hebraic tradition. It is indeed encouraged when appropriate. We are taught that we should have a full range of a relationship with G-d, which would include anger and disappointment alongside love and acceptance. All Avraham, Sarah, Moshe have very vocal and public arguments with G-d.” I’d add Job to his list (Job 7:20; 10:1-2).

Author Philip Kosloski put it this way, “So the next time you feel anger towards God because of an unfortunate situation, don’t bottle it up; cry out like Job and question God. Wrestle with God as Jacob did in the desert (see Genesis 32:23-31). After that episode, Jacob was given a new name, Israel, which means, “He who strives with God.” Only after we have wrestled with God can our relationship be repaired and begin the long path of healing.”

Out of Control

Anger is a natural and normal emotion experienced by God and people alike. But like any emotion, it can get out of control. And it is that kind of anger the Bible condemns. In our anger, we must be careful not to sin. Remember, “a hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but someone slow to anger calms strife.” (Proverbs 15:18).

Coincidence – a situation in which things happen simultaneously without planning.

For example, in 2011 Time Magazine reported the coincidental story of a meteor crashing through the roof of a house owned by the Commette family. No one was hurt and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll appreciate the humour in this strange coincidence.

Have you ever had a coincidence happen to you? Some people put them down to random chance or luck, and indeed, some of them fit those categories. But with other coincidences, I believe something more significant is taking place.

My father-in-law says that a coincidence is when God performs a miracle but desires to remain anonymous! I think he has great wisdom and insight.

One of the most amazing “coincidences” happened to me almost 14 years ago.

In preparation for bringing our beautiful new baby, Trinity, home from the hospital, I had booked my car into a baby car seat fitting service. I drove to the site at the specified time and had our two trusty old car seats with me. While the seat was being fitted, I went into the store to pick up a few things we needed for the baby. A few minutes later, the fitter came up to me and told me that one car seat was too old and that the other one was okay, but the stabiliser bar was missing, so he couldn’t fit it. My heart sank as I was now in a position of having to buy two new car seats – and they weren’t cheap!

I began looking at new seats with a heavy heart and had just about decided which one I would buy first when the fitter returned. He was amazed that when he had gone back to his van and moved something there, lying in his van, was the same stabiliser bar that fit my car seat! He couldn’t believe it – what luck he said! I was so blessed as that “coincidence” had just saved me several hundred dollars.

Was it luck? Was it a coincidence? I think not. I believe it was a God-incidence where he performed a miracle of provision for Christie and me just because he loves us! And remember, God doesn’t have favourites (Acts 10:34).

Like any caring parent, God loves to surprise his kids in many ways. Sometimes it’s by anonymous miracles that we quickly dismiss as coincidences.

As we enter a new year, I encourage you to look out for God’s surprises in your life. Open the eyes of your heart (Eph. 1:18) and see the divine hand lovingly and anonymously at work behind the scenes.