Looking to Jesus

Here we are at the end of another year and the beginning of a new one. I want to take this opportunity to thank those who read my blog and have taken time to interact with it online or in offline conversations. I trust you will have a wonderful new year and that you will know the blessing of the Lord in the days ahead. We live in very interesting times and it is exciting to know that God is in control of all things. It will be fascinating to see how his purposes unfold in our own lives and around the world. There is much to do in the kingdom. In fact, there is more to do than time in which to do it! But God is able to take what we present to him and multiply it according to 'the mathematics of heaven' (as my father likes to say!). I have never been that proficient at math but I am glad to know the God who made the reality represented by mathematics. I also know that he does all things well and that he will see us through no matter what is predicted and what actually happens. And so it is most appropriate to trust him and to seek is glory in all things, now and always. Happy New Year... everyone! I look forward to sharing with you via my blog in 2009!

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

2008 has been quite a year. This time last year few, if any, foresaw the financial difficulties which were about to break on the world. International terrorism continued to be an problem. Canadians went to the polls and elected another minority federal government and Americans reconfigured their government around a new president. The reality of climate change was debated along predictable ideological lines. The political and religious left blamed the right and the political and religious right blamed the left for the troubles in our culture. Technology continued to develop and become incorporated into our lives. These and many other things were part of what is about to become history with the dawning of a new year. Going forward one thing is certain: only the Lord knows what lies ahead in 2009. But it is better that way. It is good that we do not know because it is necessary that we walk by faith and not by sight.

As I think about the coming year from a Christian perspective a number of things come to mind. I believe that there is a crying need to experience more community and fellowship within the church. The last 25 years have seen a decline in genuine Christian interaction beyond stated, formal meetings. This is something that everyone talks about informally, but no one is sure how to fix. Part of the problem is that the church has been slow to adapt to lifestyle changes that should cause us to rethink what we are doing, and how and why we are doing it. Maybe this year progress will be made on this front. Also, more needs to be done in terms of evangelism. It is easy to be sidetracked with other issues, which though legitimate in themselves, take our focus off proclaiming the good news. Beyond sermons (and good ones are certainly a necessity) Christians in general need to be equipped. encouraged and empowered to share the gospel with others. Without evangelism the church will die. Where people are praying and doing what they can to tell others there is excitement, growth and a sense of humble awe that God should use poor, weak creatures like ourselves in his glorious service.

And one last thing. The Bible also teaches that one day the gospel age will come to a close with the return of Jesus to the earth. When Jesus was here on earth he told us that no one knows the day or the hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Matthew 25:36). We need to keep this in mind as one year gives way to the next. It is possible to be lulled to sleep with the passage of time and forget that life as we presently know it will not go on forever. There is a day that has been set when God will judge the world by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31). This awesome eschatological event should cast a large shadow back over our lives and dramatically influence the way will live in 2009 and for as long as we breathe on the earth. Life is never boring, nor is our existence futile, if we remember that one day we will stand before the Lord.

Merry Christmas

It has been said that "wise men still seek him." Today Christians around the world celebrate the birth of the King of kings and Lord of lords. In a world of uncertainty, what God has done in his Son is rock solid. Salvation full and free has been provided for all who believe in him. And just as God fulfilled his ancient promise to send a Saviour, so he will send him again at the close of history and the dawn of eternity to bring the fullness of salvation to those who love and are waiting for him. On this Christmas day it is my prayer that all who read my blog throughout the year will come to know the King of Glory in a personal and saving way. The gift of Jesus is the greatest gift of all. May he be worshiped in our hearts by faith and may we know his power and presence all our days. "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2).

TBS Residence Renovation

Toronto Baptist Seminary has been training students for Christian ministry since 1927. Over the years it has had its ups and downs but by God's grace it exists today as a school committed to historic Christianity. Those of us who presently teach at TBS believe that we need to hold fast to the central features of the Christian faith and not wander off to the right or the left. This is not a day to be caught up with traditionalism for its own sake, nor do we have time to waste focusing on issues that are peripheral to the heart of the Christian gospel. What we need are Christians with biblical balance, love for God and people, and an understanding of the strategic role of the church in the purposes of God. We need to be "always reforming" in the best sense of that reformation slogan, by bringing all of our ideas to the scriptures. This is more challenging than is often appreciated. In Canada (and elsewhere) we need Christians and churches that can speak to the issues of our day in a winsome, informed and intelligent way. We need much more than caricatures and overly simplistic analysis and solutions. As in Jesus' day, too many mistakes are made because we do not know the scriptures or the power of God (Matthew 22:29). Biblical Christianity has always been counter-cultural in that it looks at life from a Christian point of view. However, one of our biggest challenges is to make sure that what we think is a 'Christian worldview' is in fact an accurate representation of the total message of the Bible and of God's grace as ultimately disclosed in Jesus Christ. Given these realities the need for schools like TBS has never been greater and it is a thrill to be a part of what is happening here.

Presently we are renovating our student residences. This is a project that is long overdue. TBS is a 'lean machine' in terms of its economic footprint at the best of times. The Lord has very graciously allowed us to accomplish much with very limited resources, even by Christian standards! We are thrilled to see the way the Lord is supplying the needs of the school and the funding for the renovation project day by day in answer to our prayers. The picture attached to this post shows what the residences will look like when the work is completed this coming summer. We want to have the residences up and running by September 2009. If you would like to know more about the project or you would like to contribute financially please click on this link.

We are looking forward to 2009 and all that the Lord is going to do at TBS. Please pray that he will use us to further his kingdom and to train men and women to go into all the world as his ambassadors. What we lack in terms of the resources, recognition and prestige of the world we will never miss if we are rich in the things of Christ and we know the powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit among us. Have a blessed Christmas and New Year.

You Will Call Him Jesus

What's in a name? Have you ever wondered why Jesus was called 'Jesus' and not John, Peter or Andrew? The scriptures make clear that Jesus' name was not chosen because it sounded good, nor was it merely an arbitrary decision on the part of his parents. Jesus was so named by his adoptive father Joseph because he was instructed by an angel to do so. Matthew, in his gospel, puts it this way, "She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (1:21). Thus, from the beginning of Jesus' life there is established a vital link between his name and his mission of mercy that would bring salvation to his people.

'Jesus' is the Greek form of the Hebrew name 'Joshua' which means 'Jehovah or YHWH is salvation'. In the unfolding of redemptive history and in the context of Matthew's gospel, Jesus is the one who brings the eschatological, or end time salvation of God. He is the fulfillment of Psalm 130:8 which says, "He (the Lord) will redeem Israel from all their sins." Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to save. He is a special and unique Savior, and the salvation he brings is precisely what human beings need. His name teaches us 5 things.

First, our biggest problem as human beings is sin. Few believe this today. Many say that our greatest problems are things like the economy, corrupt and greedy corporate leaders, inept governments, terrorism, environmental contamination, and many other things. But sin is our greatest problem because it is the source of all our other problems. Sin separates us from God, it affects our relationships with others, and it destroys our lives. Sin is not merely something subjective like a feeling, it is an objective reality that has more consequences than people realize.

Second, we cannot save ourselves from the power and defilement of sin. Given the checkered history of humanity this should be obvious and yet it is a truth that many miss. God gave his Son because we could not help ourselves, if we could, the Father would never have sent the Son on such a costly mission. Our situation is so bad that Paul describes the natural condition of human beings as being one of spiritual death. This does not mean that people are not interested in spiritual things, it means that they are not interested in spiritual truth revealed by God in Christ. Jesus coming into the world is a testimony to human helplessness.

Third, Jesus is able to save us from our sins. He is God's appointed Savior so there should be no doubt about his ability to save. His sacrifice, considered in itself, is sufficient to save all Adam's lost children. But more specifically, he is able to save completely all who come to God through him. His ability to save is directly connected with the uniqueness of his person and the wonder of his ministry as our great high priest. He lived a sinless life and qualified himself to be our sin-bearer. He died in our place and suffered our punishment and carried our sins. His sacrifice was unique, one-of-a-kind and like no other. Jesus came as the one who saves people from their sins no matter who they are and what they have done.

Fourth, Jesus will save his people no matter who and where they are, not one will be lost. He is not only able but willing to save all who call on him. There is no one who will not be received. God has gone out of the way to stress this  by telling us that whoever repents and believes will be saved, but also by saving people that even the world is tempted to give up on (cf. 1 Timothy 1:12-17; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Nowhere does God promise to save everyone regardless of their response to his Christ, but he does assure us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This is another way of saying that God will save his people from their sins. And that those who have been given by the Father to the Son (John 17:2) will be brought powerfully and willingly to him by the sovereign, transforming, grace of God.

Fifth, Jesus is a savior who saves us from our sins. Paul puts it this way: "... who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good" (Titus 2:14). While God saves us where he finds us, he never leaves us there. We are saved to worship and glorify him by enjoying him forever. To put it another way, we are saved to serve our God and King and tell others about the triumph of his grace. The experience of salvation must result in practical life-holiness since it is a salvation not in our sins but from our sins. Jesus saves his people from the condemnation of sin, the power of sin and finally from the presence of sin. There is no greater salvation.

What's in the name of 'Jesus'? If we confess him, we confess all these things. This is what it means to be a follower of Jesus and to truly celebrate Christmas. Christmas is not about 'faith' and 'hope' in abstract, impersonal terms, but about a specific 'faith' and 'hope' found in Jesus. He makes all the difference in this world and in the world to come. What's in a name? Well, if his name is 'Jesus'... then, everything!

The Glory and Cost of Christmas

There are many ways to look at Christmas. For instance, Christmas has become a vital part of the global economy and many have trouble disassociating Christmas with hype, trips, parties, food, drink and things, things, things. While Christmas is supposed to be a happy, family time, the reality is often quite different. It is a time filled with loneliness and stress for many people. With many families disintegrating, getting together with relatives can be very difficult and frustrating. Then there are the spoken and unspoken expectations and the time, energy and money expended during the Christmas season that can take months to recoup, if ever.

But Christmas is not all doom and gloom. Over my years in Christian circles I have heard enough anti-Christmas rants and Santa bashing to make me wonder if some of these ill-tempered souls are related to old Scrooge before his life-transforming Christmas eve sojourn among the spirits. After all, there are many wonderful things about this time of year that only the hardest heart could fail to appreciate.

There are lights that brighten the dark night, the warmth of fireplaces that drives away the cold, food and human fellowship and interaction. Time spent with family and friends gives us a chance to reflect on the value of relationships. At Christmas time many remember those who are less fortunate then themselves. All these things are good and have value. Even the giving and receiving of gifts is appropriate if for no other reason than the fact that some people would never give anyone anything if it were not for Christmas and the embarrassment of not participating!

But still, none of these things gets at the true glory and cost of Christmas. They fail because they make no mention of 'Christ' whose name is embedded in the word Christmas. To appreciate the glory and the cost of Christmas we must turn to the Bible where God makes known what he has done in Jesus Christ. One such Bible passage is the story of Simeon recorded by Doctor Luke in his gospel (2:25-35).

Simeon lived in Jerusalem when Jesus was born and he was known as righteous and devout. Luke also tells us that he was waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Sometime previous, it had been revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen God's Messiah. On the very day when Joseph and Mary were presenting Jesus in the temple (in fulfillment of the law), he was moved by the Spirit to go to the temple courts where he saw Jesus. When he saw him he took him in his arms and praised God. Then following his words of praise he uttered an ominous prophecy about what would happen to Jesus in the future. In his praise and prophecy, Simeon speaks to us of the glory and the cost of Christmas.

1. The Praise of Simeon

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).

This is an amazing expression of praise on the part of Simeon. Amazing because of the way he puts himself into the hands of God. It is as though his journey and mission are complete and now he can go home in peace. It is also amazing because at the beginning of the age of fulfillment, he sees not just God's Messiah but God's salvation. He recognizes that his salvation is embodied in Jesus and that it is for everyone. Jesus is a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the ultimate glory of Israel. He leads the Gentiles out of their moral and spiritual darkness and he is the fulfillment of the promises made to Israel. The future of the true Israel of God, and of God's purpose to bless the world, is bound up with Jesus.

Simeon's praise focuses our attention on the key figure of Christmas. Christmas is a time of celebration because God has kept his promises. Human beings need a Savior, and hundreds of years before the coming of Jesus, God promised to send a Savior. Simeon saw the fulfillment of God's promise by faith when he held the baby Jesus. He was thrilled and offered up a prayer of thanksgiving and praise because his interest in Jesus was intensely personal. Simeon is now ready to leave this world in peace because his Savior had come. His salvation was as secure as it could be! What is true of Simeon is true of us if we look to Christ in faith. We too can rejoice as Simeon rejoiced.

2. The Prophecy of Simeon

"The child's father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: 'This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too'" (2:33-35).

Simeon's ominous prophecy tells us of the cost of Christmas. We have something to celebrate, not just because a baby was born, or because faith and peace and goodwill are worth celebrating in and of themselves, but because Jesus was going to die. A sword would pierce his mother's heart when she saw him hanging on a cross, not for sins that he had done, but in our place, as our representative. This is the true cost of Christmas. The salvation he brings, which we celebrate, cost him his life. The manger of Bethlehem leads to the cross. God gave his very best. This is the way it had to be, there is no other way to make us right with God.

But while Jesus would die, his life and ministry would also cause the falling and rising of many in Israel. This is Simeon's inspired way of saying that neutrality with regard to Christ is impossible. Either we are for him or against him. We cannot sit on the fence, we cannot reserve judgment. He exposes who we really are. He divides humanity into those who surrender to him and those who rebel against him. There is no middle-ground as much as we would like to find some. But it is also Simeon's way of saying that Jesus would topple some, but he raise up others. Or his words may mean that Jesus causes some to fall only to raise them up again to new life. Whichever, by his work he accomplishes the purpose of God and he brings salvation to Jews and Gentiles alike. Though initially ominous, this too is ultimately a reason to praise God!

Joy to the world, the Lord has come; let earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the world the Savior reigns; let men their songs employ,

while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy,

repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sin and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground.

He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found,

far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove,

the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love,

and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.

(Isaac Watts)

Writing to be understood

This morning CBC radio did a piece on a book entitled "How To Profit From The Coming Rapture: Getting Ahead When You Are Left Behind," by Steve and Evie Levy, better known as Ellis Weiner and Barbara Davilman. It is a sarcastic spoof on how-to investment guides and the dubious theology that controls the wildly popular and all too profitable "Left Behind" books. 

While I do think that the sincerely held beliefs of others should be treated with respect sometimes sarcasm exposes suspect theology in a way that polite discussion cannot. But more than that, what caught my attention in light of the recent discussion about books here on my blog, is that books like the "Left Behind" series are a good example of books that publishers find hard to resist because of the income they generate, and yet, in the long run they have little value beyond that of highly improbable 'Christian science fiction'.

Sadly they sell so well because there are too many who are uninformed regarding genuine biblical eschatology. Furthermore, this kind of material makes Christians and Christian theology look foolish and does more to confuse people than anything else. I have met few students who are not greatly relieved to discover that there are much better ways of assembling the pieces of the eschatological puzzle than what is presented in popular Christian literature and preaching.

But there is a long way to go before the mainstream Christian public understands these things. This is where we need good theology written in a way that 'normal' people can understand. Many of the brilliant intellects who write are out of touch with people in the pews, not to mention those outside of the church. These same writers think they relevant etc., and therefore fail to realize that 'normal' people do not understand what they are talking about. Many academic writers are not 'normal' themselves in terms of their intellects and their day-to-day experiences, and as a result, many people who could benefit from their instruction gravitate towards material that they understand and find relevant but is, unfortunately, theologically naive and inaccurate.

As I see it two things must happen. First, the Christian community must not just publish academic type books and/or very simplistic books, but books that strike a balance that informs, teaches and gives people a desire to learn more. Second, we must work and pray that God will give his people an appetite for truth and not for what Paul talks about as "false doctrines, myths and endless genealogies... things that promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God's work--which is by faith" (1 Timothy 1:3-4). Another way to look at it is in terms of edification. Our goal should be to build up our brothers and sisters, and this, more than ever, means speaking and writing in a way that common people can understand while at the same time moving them deeper into the riches of God's revelation.

Striving to Make the Complex Simple

In my last post I wrote about the transitory nature of some books versus the lasting value of others. However, I think it is also worth noting that we live in a day when we have access to a wide variety of top-notch Christian books. The problem, as some correctly noted in the comments connected to my last post, is that too many Christians either do not know about such books or do not care to read them. Oftentimes what is overprinted and overstocked are silly books that publishers hope will sell and make them lots of money. Unfortunately this happens just often enough--who can forget the classic "Prayer of Jabez"--that publishers are willing to take a chance on what can only be described as theological junk food hoping that they have the rights to the next Christian bestseller. Whether these "popular" books do anyone any good only God knows, but regardless, there are much better options available for those who know where to look, and for those who are prepared by pastors and teachers to read and benefit from them.

But herein lies a potential snag. I believe much more can be done to make people aware of the literary riches available. Book reviews and suggested readings to go along with sermons and Bible classes would be a step in the right direction. But these must be accompanied by skillful presentations that empower people to learn for themselves and not just from professional ministers and teachers. For this to be accomplished we must teach people how to read their Bibles and books about the Bible. And we must encourage authors to strive for clarity as well as theological precision when they write. In the courses I teach at the seminary I almost always have the students write a book review as part of their course work. Some of the reviews I get back from students have insightful and helpful comments about how authors and publishers could make their works even better in terms of more accessible to common people of average intelligence, not to mention new Christians with little biblical background and understanding.

Every discipline has its own jargon and terminology which facilitates discussion and understanding on the part of insiders. At one level there is nothing wrong with this and those who want to learn and participate in the group must learn its language. But when it comes to Christianity we must never forget that evangelism is one of our most basic responsibilities, and therefore, if we use jargon and terminology we must do all that we can to make it transparent to others. We want people to know what we are talking about. We should not obscure what God has revealed in order to protect our theological turf. When I read some excellent books I get the definite impression that the authors are more concerned to sound "scholarly" or "clever" than they are to write so that the maximum number of people can benefit. There will always be a need for scholars, but there is also a crying need for those who can write and teach the common people the wonderful things revealed in God's word. The ability to write and talk so that few can understand should not be confused with brilliance. Those who are truly gifted make the complex simple.

Everything Must Go

Yesterday I took a quick look through a Christian bookstore that was in the final days of a bankruptcy sale. As I walked around I could not help but notice the signs which read, "everything must go!" That is what happens when most businesses go into bankruptcy (unless they are so big that governments must bail them out), everything is sold at discount prices, every must go. Beyond the obvious business lessons about how the marketplace has changed when it comes to selling Christian books, there were some interesting lessons about obsolescence when it comes to writing and publishing certain kinds of Christian books in the first place.

I could not help but notice the number of 'prophetic books' dealing with various world issues in the last two or three years. Today most of them are not worth the paper they are written on because the world has moved on, and no one is interested in yesterday's news. It reminded me that our search for relevance must be carried out with a solid grasp of the bigger picture or our prognostications are out of date almost before we speak. The same is true of Christian political commentary. With rare exceptions most are too superficial to stand the test of time and more critical analysis and there were stacks of them that will never be read by anyone.

Equally redundant over the long haul are issue oriented books, devotional books and biographies written by or about 'Christian superstars.' This category would include those who have managed to build big churches or television audiences who imagine that because their congregations hang on their every word that they actually have something significant to say on the world stage. Sadly, this is rarely true. Books with pictures of the author on the front cover could be found in abundance at the sale and beyond ego it makes me wonder why they were published in the first place. The same is true of books on relationships, money management, and church leadership. There were scads of them, but none worth buying even at bankruptcy prices.

However, what could not be found at the sale were books of theological and biblical substance. For instance, Bible commentaries and dictionaries, systematic and biblical theologies, language tools, serious historical and apologetic works were no where to be found. They have a transcendent value and so they are the first to go. And the more I think about it, this is the way it should be. Trends and fads come and go, but those works that wrestle with the truth of God's word live on and continue to bless and instruct people long after the authors have gone to be with the Lord. There are many mediums for us to discuss and comment on issues today, like this blog that I am writing, but before books are printed we need to make certain that what is being written is worth preserving beyond the immediacy of the moment. As the saying goes: "Only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last!" As the writer of Ecclesiastes said, "Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body" (12:12). There are many books looking for readers, but only a few valuable ones that will be read over and over again.

A Trophy of Grace

God's work of salvation is wonderful from every perspective. It is an inscrutable work in which he saves the lost sons and daughters of Adam, the great ancestor of the human race, who contaminated his natural descendants in the beginning. God's work of salvation, which is centered in Jesus Christ, takes people who were spiritually dead and makes them alive again. Because of Christ's work on the cross, sinners who repent and look in faith to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour are forgiven and made part of God's redeemed family. And not only does God regenerate and justify his people, but we believe that he who began the good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

These truths and many more came to mind when I read this afternoon that Charles Colson had received the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian honour that can be awarded in the United States. He received it from President George W. Bush for his work with prisoners and their families. Ironically, the award was established in 1969 by former President Richard Nixon, in whose service Colson was sent to prison for his part in the Watergate scandal. But God used the event in Colson's life to change him into a follower of Christ and for the past 35 years Colson has worked faithfully as a Christian in his Prison Fellowship ministry.

What happened to Colson is an excellent example of what the gospel does in people's lives--it changes them from the inside out. While Colson's case is notable, it is not unique. Every Christian is an example of God's grace and a testimony to his power to save people no matter where he finds them. Colson, and those who work with him in the Prison Fellowship, are doing a good work and we should pray that God will touch the hearts of many more in our day. Whether 'down-and-out' or 'up-and-out', no one is beyond God's saving power because in the gospel God has made known a salvation which is able to cleanse, forgive, make right and keep forever those who take refuge in Jesus.

Our Need of the Spirit

Since I wrote last the political situation in Canada has stabilized for the moment. Time will tell what lies ahead for the minority government of Stephen Harper. One thing is sure and that is that our times are in God's hands and he is working out his purposes in Canada and in the rest of the world. And for that all Christians should be thankful and praise him.

However I think it must be acknowledged that Canada is a secular nation that is resistant to the gospel message and the authority of the word of God. While prosperous and beautiful, she is a nation where God is largely forgotten and where "faith" has been pushed into the private sphere of life. Large American evangelical denominations that are attempting to plant churches using the same "formulas" that seem to work south of the border cannot help but notice that what works in certain parts of the United States is relatively ineffective in Canada. Careful analysis reveals that there are many reasons for this.

For one, the building of churches that are composed of genuine Christians is a work of God's grace and power. It is not as simple as having the right personalities and programs, if God does not change people internally. "Star power" and large sums of ministry money will not make a lasting different either. Canada is spiritually apathetic and confused and we need to pray that God will illuminate Canadian minds and hearts.

Another problem is that we Canadians are not as likely as our American counterparts to debate and discuss spiritual, moral, ethical and theological problems. Our media is not as free as in America and is dominated by the political left-wing which is almost always theologically liberal, or neo-orthodox at best, and usually theologically indifferent. It is difficult to know if Canadians tolerate the situation because they do not care, or because they feel powerless to bring about change. But the end result is that serious discussion is muted.

This is not just a problem when it comes to the media, within the Canadian evangelical church, there is rarely an intelligent discussion of the issues. Everyone is so concerned to simplify that they end up repeating truisms that are not very helpful in today's world. Unless the level of discourse can be raised significantly so that people see beyond the "stress of Christmas shopping" as their greatest issue when the slump into their pews this time of year looking for a little praise relief, the situation is not going to turn around anytime soon.

What is needed today is what has always been necessary. We need is a powerful experience of the Holy Spirit who will give people a desire to know God and will teach them through the scriptures what it means to walk with him. The crucial nature of the Spirit's work was brought home to me again this past weekend when I was asked to speak on the "Holy Spirit in the birth, life and death of Jesus." As I drove to and from my speaking engagement I listened to an audio recording of the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Both New Testament books, which were written by a medical doctor named Luke who was a traveling and ministry companion of the apostle Paul, highlight the new covenant blessing of the Spirit.

Although the Spirit of God has always been active in the world and in the lives of God's people there is a special ministry of the Spirit in these "last days" that has been secured by Jesus' death, resurrection and subsequent enthronement in heaven. Knowing the ministry of the Spirit or "other paraclete" whom Jesus promised to send, is essential if we are going to fulfill our marching orders. Generally speaking, our problem in Canada is that for everything we enjoy in this great country, we know too little of his very special work.

Flummadiddle

"Flummadiddle" is an interesting and unusual word that means "nonsense" or "something worthless." And it is a perfect word to describe what is going on in Ottawa these days. The pathetic attempt of Liberal leader Stephane Dion, NDP leader Jack Layton, and Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe to seize power by forming a Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition is downright embarrassing. When the Canadian people went to the polls in October to elect a federal government, and with that a prime minister, no one was voting for such a coalition, nor was such a political travasty ever discussed as a possibility. The majority of Canadians do not want Stephane Dion to be the prime minister, in fact, his own liberal party cannot wait to get rid of him as their so-called leader. Neither do Canadians want Jack Layton, a smug, self-assured man who leads a politically irrelevant rag-tag group of discontents. And certainly no one outside of Quebec voted for separatist Gilles Duceppe to have anything whatsoever to do with the governance of the country.

But "spin" is everything in politics and the way the coalition members are spinning their story is incredible! They tell us that they have been elected by the people of Canada to govern, and since Prime Minister Stephen Harper will not play along, they will get together and make use of an unfortunate loophole in the law to form a government without an unambiguous mandate from the people. If they want to form such a coalition, they should say so, and they should run on that platform and seek a clear mandate from the Canadian people. If Canadians are daft enough to give them such a mandate then so be it! But until they have such a mandate their manipulation of the political process is despicable. Few Canadians are naive enough to believe that any of these coalition members have the best interests of the country at heart. This is political opportunism at its worst and it shows how these men and the parties they represent find the prospect of political power irresistible.

"Doofus" is another interesting and unusual word that comes to mind in these days... but alas, that is another story. Let us hope that sanity prevails and that a solution can be found that will allow the voice of the Canadian people to be heard and a government formed that has genuine democratic legitimacy.

The Ultimate "Bottom Line"

The media world is buzzing with news of the passing of Ted Rogers, the founder of Rogers Communications Inc. His impressive business accomplishments speak for themselves and it is well known that over his lifetime he amassed a great deal of wealth. But at age 75 his time on earth came to an end and he was called to stand before God. Sometimes it seems that great men, like Ted Rogers, will never die. For a while they appear to be beyond the problems that plague lesser mortals. But sooner or later, death catches up with them just a surely as it will the rest of us. This is a lesson we need to learn in a world that suggests, in subtle and not so subtle ways, that money and wealth and success are the ultimate, and if we are lucky enough to possess them, it does not get any better than that.

However, the truth of the matter is quite different. According to Jesus it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. In fact, Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. In response to his provocative statement his disciples asked what many would ask today: "Who then can be saved?" To which Jesus replied, "With human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:23-25). What Jesus is teaching is that human salvation depends on the life-changing power of God. Power that would be most wonderfully revealed at the cross where he died in the place of fallen human beings from all economic categories. The implication of Jesus' words is that here is nothing we can do to merit God's favour, it comes to us as a gift that we must receive by faith. This applies to everyone whether we are rich or poor or somewhere in between. In an economic environment where everyone is focused on the "bottom line" this is the only "bottom line" that matters in the end.

On Churches

Churches have different personalities. Within minutes of entering a church building or meeting place this becomes immediately apparent even though it is often difficult to articulate what we are feeling. Without describing the varied church personalities I have been thinking about why this is the case and what makes one group of Christians different from another. Presumably all Christians love the Lord Jesus and his word and desire to see the gospel proclaimed and his kingdom advance. But in spite of these commonalities congregations can be very different from one another, so we must look beyond their doctrinal commitments and distinctives.

One obvious place to start is with the pastor and the elders or leaders of the church. The personality traits of some pastors are stamped on some churches for good or otherwise because of their in-your-face approach. You are not in the church very long before you realize who the pastor is because he dominants the group by his presence. This is not always a bad thing but in my experience it is rarely a good thing. People who need direct supervision may benefit from this type of leader temporarily, but when they mature, they often grow weary of this type of person. Another major drawback is that the pastor in these situations is the "life of the party" so that when he is there things are happening but when he is not, the group is aimless and lifeless.

Church leaders other than the pastor can exert a tremendous influence over a congregation. This can be positive or negative depending on their spiritual equilibrium. Those who serve with humility encouraging others to use their gifts to serve the Lord too, will have a unifying and stabilizing effect on the congregation. But those who are too conscious of their status as "elders," "deacons," or "leaders" are often blind to the larger needs of the group. They can easily fall into the trap of seeing the church as their turf or their domain of influence. The best leaders lead without fanfare and regardless of their official office. This is not to say that official designations are unimportant, but merely that calling somebody something or other does not magically transform them into the kind of person who is best suited to nurture the health of God's people.

From my perspective, the churches that make me want to return and in which I feel at home are those in which there is a sense that pervades the congregation that it is joy to be a Christian, that Jesus is a wonderful Savior, and that everyone present is important; important enough to speak to, to encourage and to take an interest in their lives. I do not want to hear people talking as if they alone have the truth, or their pastor is the greatest thing since sliced bread, or their music is so contemporary or so deliberately un-contemporary, or that their church is just awesome! That kind of herd mentality is antithetical to the gospel.

Winsome churches are those who forget about themselves and serve Jesus by coming alongside the hurting, the lonely, the confused, the poor instructed and the lost, not just with sermons, tracts, books, slogans and programs, but with love that enters into their lives and takes an interest in them as living, breathing people first and foremost. This attitude must be model by the pastor, must be an essential characteristic of all who serve in leadership positions, and then must shape and influence the congregation as a whole. Where this kind of love is found gospel doctrines will be more powerful and much more believable, and in addition, people will gain a glimpse of the profound that God has not only for his Son, but also for all of his people (John 17:23). It is no wonder that the New Testament and especially the apostle John makes so much about love. Doctrine and the pursuit of holiness are vital, but without love there is no reality to our experience of the gospel.