Is online worship Destroying the Church?

 

Most of us, these days are familiar with live streaming or online worship. There's no doubt that it has changed the way we worship and attend Church for the better...or not

I'm talking mainly about the 'physical institution' of Church, the community, building and the Sunday services, meetings, whatever your particular Church calls them. 

In the days before Covid/The Pandemic/Lockdown forced us into finding ways of adapting and continuing 'Church' while distancing and isolating and following all the various government restrictions and guidelines, my Church, and I'm sure many others didn't really make live streaming a priority, it was thought about, flirted with, trialled etc but it was the pandemic that made it necessary to figure it out fairly rapidly and implement it or else there simply wouldn't be Church services or perhaps even a community as we know it.

The perfect way to attend Church?

To start with I thought it was brilliant, my antisocial & introverted side loved the idea. Church without having to get up early, no tedious bus ride to the city centre, I could turn up in pyjamas, eat my breakfast, skip boring parts, if I didn't feel like going or watching it I didn't have to, and no one would get mad or wonder where I was (or hold me accountable)

Perfection...of course there was a cost to that way of 'doing Church'. The lack of community, of real human contact and fellowship and so on, which was a serious problem and drawback...but it was necessary, the country and the world found us in the situation we were in, and we had to deal with it, whether we liked it or not. I thought I did...but I have since began to understand the real benefit of actually meeting in person, of experiencing the community of Church.

I did wonder, I suppose like many others, what would happen after the restrictions were lifted, could we ever go back to how things were? Would we want to? What would the Church, post-pandemic look like? Would live streaming become a way of life, or just a temporary measure...

The Post-pandemic Church

It's probably fair to say that the Church as a whole (and yes, I'm generalising) seems to have embraced online worship. It's become just a part of how things are done. Obviously I'm aware that this isn't universal, some Churches stopped recording after the pandemic, many, though have continued to do so. And it's been such a blessing for those unable to attend in person worship due to age, infirmity or ill health. It's long been established that an online presence is important for a Church, people these days like to visit a website before attending, or watch a video, maybe check out social media. It's a societal change that is probably here to stay.  And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Technology can help us reach so many more people than in the past. But as I said above there is a cost...

What is a Church service?

The use of technology, recording, live streaming etc makes me ask the question: what is Church? 

In the Salvation Army, Sunday services are often referred to as 'meetings' I once heard the phrase 'We call it a meeting, because service starts afterwards'. I can't remember where I heard it, but I really love that sentiment of a Sunday meeting being there to empower, equip and prepare us for going out from the physical building and serving others, and of course serving Christ.

In some Churches, the Sunday service is a celebration, music, dancing, loud cries to God. Others are reflective, focusing inwards, deep and prayerful experiences and there's every combination of those things, and various degrees of each. I'm not here to say which is right or wrong, but I suggest that whatever 'style' of worship we're used to, that our particular Church uses; the aim is always the same...to speak to God, to reach and to be reached by Him. Even in the loud, celebratory worship there is a desire and a hope for a personal moment, to experience God for ourselves, individually and express our love and adoration for God. Sometimes though, it's probably true to say that Church can feel like a performance; choirs, worship bands, organ music, brass bands are often a traditional feature in my denomination, we also have powerful speakers and preachers. But I would still maintain that it is the intimacy of being surrounded by God and our communities, shut off from the world for an hour or so to focus on and really worship God that is the main and most important purpose of a Church service.

Opening up to the world without losing the purpose and intimacy of corporate, community worship

My concern is that if we're not careful, opening up these personal and intimate celebrations to the world via the internet, is in danger of somehow lessening them, that even subconsciously we start thinking about how we look or sound online while we're worshipping, or putting on a show when our hearts and thoughts should be on higher things. And of course we have to think about the privacy of our members whose information or private (within the community) business that they might not want sharing...a bereavement, a birthday and so on...it could be argued that anyone could walk into a church and hear this information if it's is shared from the pulpit or platform or whatever. but in my opinion it takes it to another level if it happens to be plastered all over the internet. Church should be a place where we can be around friends, where we can be open and vulnerable...being filmed and ending up on YouTube is a legitimate concern...part of the process that goes on at my Church is sensitively editing announcements and personal moments which I'm grateful for...but some Churches that are live streaming there is no such process...which is potentially problematic.

Here's an example, not a big issue, but one that bothered me slightly. A few months ago before my Church service began, the cameras were running, and although it didn't appear online, I still felt a little uncomfortable having myself plastered on a big screen just in our main hall waiting for the meeting to start. Yes it's not a big issue, I wasn't exactly going to walk out over it, it wasn't online or anything like that, but if I felt uncomfortable like that during an ordinary moment, how much worse might some people feel during a vulnerable moment? Would it stop them being themselves, or being open? Even stop them wanting to attend? Or just make them feel uncomfortable, which in itself is a problem and if so, are we failing our members in favour of accessibility of our meetings, and is it a fair trade?

There's a lot of questions there, and I suppose to answer them we have to decide what the main focus of our corporate worship is. Is it outreach, to put on a show, is it empowering members, making them feel comfortable. Is it so we can all sing together, to feel part of something... essentially we need to decide if we're reaching inwards, or outwards, how do we find balance between the two?

I'm aware that I'm acting like a politician there and answering a question with another question. But these are things we need to think about.

I quite like the balance at my Church, filming, recording but editing before it is posted to YouTube or social media, particularly for those who are unable to physically attend corporate worship, but even that, measured approach has a drawback. It means that the services are posted a few days afterwards, meaning that those not able to attend in person are unable to watch/be involved with the meeting like those in attendance, in itself potentially damaging the community.

I am probably going round in circles, and I don't really have an answer to question I posed in the title:

"Has streaming/online worship destroyed the sanctity, intimacy and reverence of the Church?"

Perhaps there is no one size fits all answer or response...but there are concerns, questions to ask, and warnings to acknowledge...we can't go back to a time when the whole country stopped and went to Church, we must find ways of reaching out to people where they are. We must be accessible and relevant to survive and fulfill our calling. There are many benefits to online worship. I'm certainly not advocating scrapping it, far from it. But as discussed, there are drawbacks. I just think that we need to look inwards, as much as we look outwards, to be the Church for its members as well as for those outside our walls and above all to be a worshipping community, that puts God first before anything else.

Maintaining community, supporting each other and being truly present

The biggest danger I think of online/streaming in my opinion; is the convenience, the ease of and attractiveness of attending church that could lead to a slippery slope of losing the sense of community that only really comes with being physically together. Participating in community, a handshake, a hug, sometimes, the silly things like a joke or an in the moment comment, maybe even a smile or a brief moment of eye contact between friends, or a hundred other unplanned or unexpected brief moments that build rapport with each other, that show we're functioning and real human beings.

I suppose the most important thing we could potentially lose is the chance to welcome new people properly. Numbers on a YouTube watch count represent more than just a measure of popularity, or of success, each number could represent a new person, exploring the church and Christianity. Now obviously it's an easy and safe way to get to know a potential church before attending, but again with the convenience comes the danger that community becomes only surface deep, rather than the meaningful, intimate and trusting community that the Church must be.

To an extent I am talking from personal experience. As above I am naturally introverted, online worship is, on paper a perfect way of attending church for me. Mix that with being a shift worker and often unable to attend in person and I can confirm that it makes building real relationships really difficult. Going beyond the small talk and platitudes that church attendees often share during brief pre-service moments is not easy. It takes time, effort and vulnerability. 

If the day ever comes that the Church goes fully online, or distance worship, we lose something truly precious.

I'm not saying, by any stretch, that we should scrap online worship altogether. It certainly has an important place in today's world. It opens our buildings to a far wider audience, it allows members who are unable to attend to still be an active participants, to feel part of our churches as the internet often does it connects us. And it creates a worldwide borderless community. I certainly don't believe that it's destroying the Church... but the danger is that in this expansion, in the ease of access, without the effort of being physically present; dealing with alarms and traffic, late buses and having to make it on time (potentially really early) after a long week of work and deadlines, the danger is that our bonds and community and intimacy is lessened. That is something that we really have to make effort to guard against. We can use the tool of online worship/streaming to enhance our churches and communities, but we must not let it cheapen or lessen who we are, or who we can be... and who and what we are called to be.

Be present, physically but also emotionally. Whether you feel like it or not, the Church is far from just being a building, or a weekly service. It is a people, a community set apart, to love and support the world and spread the gospel. But it also a community that must love and support and build each other up. And whether you attend every week, in-person, front row centre, if you can only attend occasionally, if you only have access online always remember that you are the 'Church' part of the community, you and I have a responsibility to truly be part of that community and to guard against apathy and surface deep relationship.

The final word goes to Hebrews 10:25

"Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more"

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Disclaimer: the opinions and comments expressed in this blog are personal and do not necessarily represent the views and policies of the Salvation Army

The Gospel According to Mario Kart Part 2: A new perspective/Teamwork makes the dream work

 

Mario Kart 64 & Double Dash: a new perspective/teamwork makes the dream work

Welcome to part 2 of 4 of 'The Gospel according to Mario Kart' series

Click Here to read part 1.

Released on the Nintendo 64 in Japan in 1996 and worldwide in 1997, Mario Kart 64 was a total step up from Super Mario Kart on the Super Nintendo... don't get me wrong I love Super Mario Kart, but 64 took the frantic fun of the original and presented it in glorious (for the time) 3D. It added some great looking (and at times infuriating) tracks, the dreaded blue shell, that targets whoever happens to be in first place, often hitting right on the finish line, destroying any chance of victory...ruining friendships, and causing expletives to fly from even the most mild mannered player.

Mario Kart Double Dash, was released worldwide in 2003 on the Nintendo GameCube. Another step up, it took the 3D graphics and improved on them, new and exciting tracks (once again, occasionally infuriating). It also added a teamwork mechanic. The player picks 2 characters which effects weight, handling and more importantly the weapons and power-ups that are generated. It adds another layer of strategy to the game, and a great way to play with friends.

So what?

2 amazing games which have taken up far too much of my time, and caused me to have several rage induced adult tantrums...but what's the point? What exactly is there to learn about faith and Christianity from these video games?

The Church today is facing challenges. That's undeniable. These challenges are not going to be overcome by fancy buildings, music programs, the traditional 'trappings' of religion. They will be overcome by the 2 things I'm looking at in this post

I've split this post into 2 sections. There are 2 distinct lessons and reflections I've come up with; they're in the title, but here they are again:

1) A new perspective

2) Teamwork makes the dream work

A New Perspective

In 1996/1997 the original, epic, although sometimes kind of flat Mario Kart game was superceded by Mario 64. As above, it was the mid 90s version of glorious 3D graphics...it forced gamers to look at things from a new perspective...

It's vital that we start examining our preconceived ideas of what this world is and needs, and what the Church itself is or should be.

Essentially we need to break ourselves down and really take a deep introspective look at ourselves, what works, what doesn't. what we need, what we don't. That doesn't necessarily mean just doing away with traditions or centuries of experience, or any of that kind of thing. I would never usually find myself agreeing with Delores Umbrage from Harry Potter and the order of the phoenix...but she kind of has a point:

"Progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged"

I don't usually make a habit of taking advice from movie or literary villains...That being said, Sometimes they do seem to make a lot of sense. the things that don't work, or that get in the way of our relationship with God and our mission as the Church; we have to get rid of. So the advice from villain number 2; Alexander Pierce from the movie Captain America: Civil War (one of my favourites) is:

"to build a better world sometimes means tearing the old one down."

In the movie, the character then goes on to say that doing so, creates enemies... that's definitely true. Often it can seem like any form of change is resisted, some people resist for the sake of resisting, or simply hate change, I can totally understand that.

Change, even necessary change, often comes slowly, or not at all. But I get it, change can be difficult, painful even. The difficulty is knowing what changes we have to make. When to push for the necessary changes, when to fight back and cling to the foundations and traditions that the Church is built upon.

We live in times when inclusion is one of the obvious hot topics. I fully support inclusion, I make no secret of that. I don't believe that sexual orientation, race, gender, etc should in any way limit or suppress membership or activity within the Church and fellowship of God, I don't consider myself judge, jury and executioner for the Church. On the flip side of that, I will stand up for and speak out in defence of some of the rules, and tenets of the Church.

Being a Christian is something set apart. Prayer, baptism (by the spirit in particular), communion, holiness, teachings about the necessity of salvation, all these things are important, and make Christianity what it is, but above all, the most important thing is a belief in and striving towards Christ...I once had a strange conversation on an online forum with somebody who felt they were being discriminated against by others not considering them a Christian, despite having no belief, or interest in Christ or the Church, they simply considered themselves a good person and wanted to claim the label of Christian....that made no sense to me. Certainly, I accept that there are a myriad of ways of holding a personal belief in God and expressing that. Many religions, schools of thought etc, and of course in no way would I ever want to deny this person access to the Church. In any true Church, they would receive genuine welcome, love and prayerful, honest support; but a Christian is by its very definition and nature someone who follows, or at the very least tries to follow and have a relationship with Jesus. You obviously don't need to pass a test, or an interview to be a Christian, but we have to retain our sense of identity and not water down who we are or what we believe... and no, that doesn't however give us permission to be jerks, to deny people access to our churches, social aid where it's offered, or prayers etc, it doesn't give us the right to discriminate. But it does mean we have to be honest with ourselves and others, and to not shrink from being who we are.

Looking at the world and ourselves from this new perspective, isn't about watering ourselves down, denying who we are, or tearing down everything that has come before simply to do something different. "progress for the sake of progress". But it is about empathy with those we want to reach. Seeing them as whole people. Not just numbers, or as evangelism 'targets'. We have to start looking at ourselves through the eyes of those outside our fellowships, meeting people where they are, not where we expect or want them to be. People, particularly those outside our churches are not here for the Church's benefit, or to fill pews, keep the lights on or whatever...we exist for their benefit, to show the love of God, both in a spiritual/prayerful sense, and also a practical sense. 

We can be incredibly insular and get carried away with our own comings and goings, and trappings if we're not careful....this new perspective is vital for the Church's future and the fulfillment of its mission to seek, to save and to serve. 

As one of the Salvation Army's mission slogans puts it:

“Save souls, grow saints and serve suffering humanity”

I think that's one of the very best positional statements for any and every expression of the Church.

Teamwork makes the dream work

The second lesson that I've been reflecting on, from Mario Kart: double dash, on the GameCube is pretty simple... we're strong, we're better and we're just plain unbeatable when we work together.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 states:

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

And that about sums it up.

We could stop there, but we all know it's not that simple...Christians do seem particularly good at fighting each other, arguing amongst ourselves and generally just sucking at working together.

I've been known to frequent online forums, and in the past get myself drawn into arguments... although I always tried my best to remain respectful. These days I just try and avoid them. But take a quick look on almost any Christian forum, or Facebook page and there seems to be no shortage of arguments, sometimes quite nasty. I don't think it's exactly the holy, contrite and pious image we like to attribute to ourselves. 

We can, and we must do better. That doesn't mean we have to agree of everything, we can discuss, debate and disagree. But let's try and do so while remembering that we are a brothers and sisters in Christ. We share and agree on so much more than we disagree. And if we could just focus primarily on what unites us, rather than divides us, we could do and be so much more...but that's not me telling you anything you don't already know, the tricky bit is putting it into practice.

That bit, I can't really help you with. It takes personal reflection, introspection, maturity and empathy. Not the easiest qualities, but we must practice and get better at those things. 

We can be a stronger whole, if we work together, and learn from each other. A quick example; my own denomination, the Salvation Army, is traditionally not great at discipleship, that's a huge and not overly fair oversimplification. Individual churches and groups do better or worse than others of course. But in general it's not something that necessarily comes easy for us...social work, organisation, practical stuff like that is part of our DNA...as with all denominations, and individual churches, we have our strengths and weaknesses. Through cooperation and understanding we have much that we can teach, and even more that we can learn from others. Not a single Church or denomination has all the answers. But by working together, we can all share and build on our strengths as well as get better at the areas we're weaker at.

It's not exactly rocket science. I'm not trying to fire up some deep theological truth here... we're stronger when we work together. It's that easy...and that difficult.

But linking this whole post together and maybe at the risk of repeating myself a bit, it takes a new perspective, to embrace each other, to find and celebrate our common ground, without watering ourselves down. It takes empathy, and introspection and compassion to really embrace a new perspective and make the dream work, through teamwork.

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The church is dead...Long live the Church

 

Many people these days seem to think the Church has passed it's sell by date. We're always being told It's irrelevant, pointless and weak. People seem to think it causes nothing but division, and is the decaying remnants of a once great institution that no longer has a place in society...other than maybe as a picture on a postcard or Christmas card...an image of tradition and a reminder of what once, was, the cornerstone of society.

As the cast of Monty python might say:

"Its not pinin'! 'it's passed on! The Church is no more! It has ceased to be! 'it's expired and gone to meet it's maker!

It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! It's pushing up the daisies!

It's metabolic processes are now history! It's off the twig!

It's kicked the bucket, it's shuffled off its mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the choir invisibile!!"

That's what I want to look at in today's post

A quick point of order before we get stuck in:

I thought I was being terribly clever with my witty title, a quick Google search shows that I was very, very wrong, and it's been used a lot (like a lot) so just as a mini disclaimer, this is my own work, not derivative or pinched from anyone else, I've drawn my on conclusions and opinions, so any resemblance to any other post is purely coincidental.

Would the last one out please turn off the lights!

Lots of polls and opinion pieces will tell you that the Church in the west is declining.

A quick Google search provided these sobering graphs specifically in relation to the United Kingdom. Published in June 2022 (click to zoom in)

Source" https://www.kouya.net/?p=13846

I'll leave you to read the full article yourselves if you're interested. But a few sobering points to note:

- some denominations could be extinct within 20 years

- the Church in Wales (including several nonconformist denominations) could be extinct within 30 years

- "The Church of England and Catholics should last until the second half of the century. However, they need to take urgent action now. Stemming losses is not enough. None of us can prevent ageing! Whatever their current denominational emphases, they should put all aside to encourage members to make new disciples who can replicate themselves. Praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit would not go amiss either."

A Church of two halves:

This next section is going to be a bit of a long winded, explanation of my opinion of what the figures and graphs are trying to say...but stick with me...I'll leave a summary/tldr (too long didn't read) at the end of this section if you just want to quite literally jump to my conclusion.

Interesting to note as a starting point, is that while older more established and traditional denominations are for the most part, in decline, more modern denominations seem to be increasing membership, also of note is that the churches that seem to be growing are the more evangelical ones.

I don't fully hold with the distinctions the website makes between liberal/evangelical churches, the definitions are a little unhelpful...a church can definitely be liberal as well evangelical in the sense of having liberal theology/doctrines/policies and still very much be committed to evangelism and reaching out...I think I would prefer the distinction of an insular, inward looking church whose main focus (note: main not only) on deepening relationships and discipleship Vs a mainly outward looking, convert grabbing focused church...which is pretty much the distinction I think they're trying to make, but with slightly dodgy terminology (just my thoughts anyway)

Whatever the terminology, the graphs are quite interesting...the larger Churches that are perhaps somewhat comfortable in their place, have established, and well known, long histories etc have, maybe become a little too comfortable, the sense of urgency is perhaps not there... obviously each denomination and individual church community will have their own reasons for growth or decline, and within the declining denominations they're will, of course be those communities that are still thriving and growing. So I don't want to oversimplify or stereotype whole denominations based on limited figures.

The younger Churches, that don't have that established history, I suppose are fighting to carve out their niche within the UK Christian community...they don't have an established following or reputation, (I guess is the word), to fall back on. So they must constantly be pushing forward, constantly be telling and showing people who they are.

The established denominations have enjoyed being ingrained in the public psyche for generations... generally people know who they are, they're represented on television, with things that are just part of our accepted traditions and shared experiences...just as a quick example, we see a priest in a dog collar we instantly know and understand what their role is, we make certain assumptions about beliefs, traditions and practices. We see a traditional Church and people instantly think of weddings, baptisms and funerals etc...maybe this privileged position in society has led to a certain amount of apathy?

Perhaps this apathy explains a lot of the issues the traditional Church faces...again another quick example...50-60 years ago you could probably assume most people went to church or at very least Sunday school when they were growing up. Stories like Noah's ark, fall of Jericho, David Vs Goliath etc were universally known by pretty much everybody... today, that's not the case. Even key components of Christianity and the story of Christ are not so well known. Even Christmas and the crucifixion are being pushed back and forgotten about...the established church hasn't really had the need to explain these kinds of stories, they have always subconsciously assumed that everybody was starting from an established knowledge base...and so haven't really had to worry too much about getting basic teachings and knowledge out there...and in my opinion haven't kept pace with changing society. 

Lots of the younger Churches are starting from an assumption that the people they're evangelising to, are completely starting from scratch, no prior knowledge or experience of the Church. Therefore seem to have more of a sense of urgency, and are building, pretty much from nothing... this the way I envision it; that the established denominations are like a fortress constantly building up defenses while unbeknownst to them, their foundations are cracking. Perhaps that's a little extreme, as their true foundations are in Christ and unshakable... Maybe a better analogy is to say that they're building defences while those inside are either comfortable and fast asleep unaware of any danger, or sneaking out the back door...in contrast to this imposing but sleepy and unprepared fortress I see these newer denominations as a lightly armed but passionate and strong raiding party, the trade off is that without the established fortress, or place of retreat the raiding party can be vulnerable.

(Skip to here for conclusion or tldr...if you made it through my rambling about the figures then congratulations and thank you)

The point I'm trying to make in all of the above. Is that there is no one way, that is all encompassing and works for everyone and everything the Church will encounter. There are benefits to being established and all the history and collective knowledge and traditions that the older denominations have accumulated. Likewise there is value and strength in the modern more outward looking denominations...both together could be unstoppable...to paraphrase and build on James 2:14-26 'faith without works is dead' I would say: worship and discipleship, growth etc without looking outwards is to miss the point of being the Church, as is looking outward without focusing on our own discipleship and community ties/foundations... essentially we need each other, all our different skills and passions need to work together to truly be the complete and unified Church that we are meant to be, and that the world needs us to be.

I know that all that is a massive oversimplification...the established Church does look outwards and the newer denominations do look inwards...I just wanted to help highlight the distinction and help to explain the different main focuses and methods of each type of denomination...my own denomination, the Salvation Army has traditionally been very good at reaching out, both in social work and evangelism. I would also argue that in terms of attractive, meaningful and inspiring worship it's also very good... discipleship, spiritual gifts, meditation all the sort of inward stuff however, it's traditionally been a lot weaker at. It's working to address the imbalance and has come a very long way...but sometimes we're still poor at stopping and looking inwards.

Rising from the ashes, and starting again:

Coventry cathedral ruins

New Cathedral

Coventry cathedral is a great, practical example of a Church literally rising from the ashes... destroyed during the Blitz of WW2 and rebuilt next to it. Since then it has been a key focal point of the city, an important venue for many varied events, and could well be described as the spiritual centre of the city...the new cathedral is several hundred years younger than many UK cathedrals...it's predecessor is around 500 years older and the original priory and cathedral founded around the year 1100, is around 300 years older than that...the Church , as in the whole church is very different from in those days.

Is it better? That would be to dishonour what has come before...it is a different institution for a different age and different needs...but it retains much of the lessons and practices of the past.

One Church:

Whether you belong to some of the centuries old Churches like the orthodox Church or Roman Catholicism. Or if you belong to the new breed from the last 20 years or so. Or those of us in-between, you are the Church! You have all the rights, responsibilities and duties that come with that, you are commissioned to make disciples, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, bring hope to the hopeless, be the hands and feet of God Himself...that is your greatest responsibility, and your greatest privilege.

Our methods may differ completely. Each denomination has strengths and weaknesses, only together, can we be, the true Church of God that this world needs...we have to learn from each other, hold each other up, pick each other up when we stumble...the challenges of modern day life could well pick us all off one by one, if we don't hold fast to the foundations and promises of God, and hold fast to each other.

The established denominations can no longer rest on their laurels of age old traditions and assume the basic knowledge of the Bible and Christ that society once had...it must get out there, meet people where they are. Invest in them, love them, help them grow and nurture them...it needs something of the fire and new ways of thinking that some newer denominations take for granted (and I'm pleased to say many more established denominations and individual church communities are realising that, and are already making leaps and bounds in those areas)...in the same way some newer denominations need the accumulated strengths of the established Church, it needs a fortress, and resources, the established reputations, it needs to use the knowledge and lessons that have been bitterly learned over the centuries...we can't be either/or. In a new and challenging world, particularly with the fallout and decline after Covid, we must be all, and both. A new, united, confident but prayerful, considerate, loving Church. We can keep our traditions, as well as our new expressions but for the love of God, we need to work together and stop fighting amongst ourselves...we can disagree, have wildly different methods, after all everyone is different, some methods and styles will resonate more with some, and not with others, that doesn't make them inherently bad or good. As long as we're worshipping God, and working together then it's all good.

The Church, in 20, 30 or even 100 years from now may well look or be expressed radically different from how it is today, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, I have no doubt, that despite figures like the ones above, the Church will continue to endure and serve this world as it has done for 2000 years. 

The Church on fire:

As a final note, challenge and promise. I'm going to post the lyrics and a link to the song 'Church on fire'. This is a fantastic promise and challenge for the whole Church, for your denomination or community, of course, but also as a combined Church, each of us standing side by side, apart but also connected in brotherhood, celebrating our strengths, and building up our weaknesses, traditional and new expressions of the Church; God's Church, on fire, united, powerful and ready for action.

The church is dead...long live the Church!

"Church On Fire"

https://youtu.be/M76PYwFIgcM

The Holy Spirit is here and His power is real

Anything can happen and it probably will

Something very good

Something good is going on around here

There is a light that shines to make the dark disappear

A power at work but there's nothing to fear

Something very good

Something good is going on around here

This is a church on fire

This is the Holy Spirit's flame

We have a burning desire

To lift up Jesus' Name

Let fire burn in every heart

To light the way defeat the dark

Let the flame of love burn higher

This is a church

This is a church on fire

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The Gospel according to Mario Kart Part 1: Super Mario Kart (When life knocks you down)

 

When everything's going smoothly, there isn't a cloud in the sky, nothings bothering you and life seems to be going well...then all of a sudden you have a 'red shell' moment... something unexpected and definitely unwelcome happens, you're made redundant, or you suffer a loss, anything like that...what's your initial reaction? Do you get angry? Do you blame others or yourself for your circumstances? Do you blame God and shout at him? The final question is, as Christians how should we react? How should we move forward?

Basing the initial idea for this post on a video game, may seem a little strange. And admittedly it's kind of derivative of those old 'gospel according to...' books that seemed to be all the rage a few years ago, like the Simpsons and Disney, I think there was a superhero one as well. But hey, stick with me. This is my rambling and personal take on the idea...I find inspiration in strange places and I think it's good sometimes to think outside the box. Inspiration and encouragement can be found anywhere if we look hard enough.

This is the first in a planned 4 part series looking at the lessons and biblical truths that we can learn from some of the main Mario Kart games... perhaps a little out there, but stick with me.

I've got a real thing for video games. Especially retro games. I always love it when I get to combine my love of video games, or Star Trek or any of the other strange stuff I'm into with matters of faith and religion, even better when those things let me look at biblical truths from a different angle and learn new things from them.

What is Mario Kart?

the original Mario Kart, released on the Super Nintendo console in 1992, may not have all the bells and whistles of the later games, but I do have a soft spot for it. It wasn't quite the first kart racer, but it really defined this kind of game, and it's just loads of fun to play.

Just to backtrack a little for anyone not familiar with the game series (where have you been?)

The Mario Kart series, is a racing game featuring some of Nintendo's most popular characters, the characters race around on go karts (hence the name) later games added motorbikes, and prams, barrels, rockets and so on. There are a huge amount of items, weapons and power-ups; some that make you go faster, slow others down, make others crash or spin off the tracks...it's almost as famous for causing arguments as monopoly.

Running the race

You may already be questioning where I'm going with all this. I originally planned a simple post based around the well known verses about running the race Hebrews, Galatians, Corinthians, Paul in particular seemed to like using the race analogy, but the old testament is full of references to races as well; Jeremiah, Joel, Samuel and the Psalms to name a few.

But that's not really where I felt led to, while planning this post. Mario Kart and those games like it, aren't like normal racing games or any other real world race. Normally you'd expect the best racer to win, the one that's spent the most time practicing. And yes that is part of it, but the items and weapons I mentioned above, as well as obstacles and traps on the game's tracks add a real element of chance. This is where it's reputation for causing arguments comes from...often you can find yourself way ahead of the pack, then just before the finish line, you get hit with a red turtle shell that hunts you down and is very difficult to avoid...then you suddenly end up in last place and depending on whether or not you're a good loser you might have something to say about that...

Our own 'Red shell' moments

I've been pondering, as I often do, and it jumped into my head that getting hit by sudden nasty surprises like that, that totally derail our plans, sometimes send us spiraling in a different direction or cause us to lose our cool can often be a part of everyday life...from an unexpected redundancy, bereavement, illness, even floods and other natural disasters.

Sometimes when these things happen we look for someone or something to blame. If it's a video game like Mario Kart, we look for whichever of our friends or the computer characters (who definitely cheat of course) let the weapon fly, or crashed into us, or even just happened to be better at the game than us. and it can cause tension particularly if you're so close to winning and had it snatched away from you at the last second.

I know something of what that's like, which I'll go into pretty briefly, maybe it needs its own post one day...a few years ago I applied to become a full time minister. After what felt like a long time of doing everything that was expected of me, and working really hard on my personal development, putting my whole self into the process, probably more than I've ever applied myself to anything, and putting my whole self worth on the line I was rejected. it's still something that holds me back at times, that every now and again I still think about...I could blame the panel that made the decision, the way the news was delivered, lack of aftercare. I could blame those that mentored and prepared me (I don't, I was lucky . I could blame myself (and sometimes I do). At the time and occasionally now I still briefly and subconsciously look around for someone to blame, including myself. The truth is that perhaps I simply wasn't ready, or it wasn't the right time, or I'm not a right fit. It doesn't really matter I suppose. The point is that I felt really close to achieving something that I really wanted. I believed the assessment was virtually a formality, I probably was a little arrogant. It was my finish line knock back, and it hurt, and set me back. But I'm determined not to let it dictate how I move forward. Maybe one day I'll try again, maybe I won't, but whatever, I can't let a setback or frustration or anger hold me back from whatever God wants me to be and to do. 

I'm sure at some point or another, to a greater or lesser degree, we've all been hit by a finish line knock back; By a red shell smacking into us when we've least expected it. Whatever it was that knocked you off course, big or small, it's so important (but incredibly difficult) not to play the blame game, and look for somebody to shout at and argue with, even ourselves, even God...it's really easy for me to say, I know that I don't know your individual circumstances, how big that red shell was, how much it affects you. but I do know the feeling of having something holding you down, making you fearful of trying again, but that's no way to live. And you'll miss out on all the wonderful things that God can do through you.

God isn't done with us yet

We have a God who cares about our futures, and doesn't want us held back from reaching our potential. And from being the very best version of ourselves.

Here's a couple of key quotes from the batman begins movie that are really appropriate here (and give me an excuse to quote a batman movie, which is always good.)

Alfred Pennyworth : "Why do we fall sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.

Bruce Wayne : You still haven't given up on me?

Alfred Pennyworth : Never."

Alfred Pennyworth : "I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do with your past, sir. Just know that there are those of us who care about what you do with your future."

That's a promise, and a conversation that I can really imagine God having with us. And a conversation that I would have with you...God won't give up on you, no matter how much you may have given up on yourself. He cares about you, your present and your future. If you're struggling and can't find that faith in yourself, please be assured that God has faith in you.

But let me be real for a moment, as Rocky said in Rocky Balboa (sorry for more movie quotes but it really fits and is just a great quote);

"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

It's rarely quick or easy to get over a red shell moment. It's rarely easy to forgive those that we blame for our misfortunes or failures, it's often even harder to forgive ourselves. It takes time and real effort to heal, and move forward. It takes honesty with ourselves, it involves soul searching and prayer, and it involves turning to others for help, something that I really struggle with. That may be a friend, a minister a mentor, perhaps even a counsellor or other professional. There is no shame, absolutely none, in turning to others for help, in fact I see it as a sign of strength and courage.

But to quote Alfred Pennyworth again, as above:

"I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do with your past, sir. Just know that there are those of us who care about what you do with your future."

All these times we suffer or get knocked back can in a strange way become a positive thing.

Romans 5:3-4 seems really appropriate here:

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,"

I can't really unpack that verse any better than it unpacks itself...it's a great truth; it also happens to be one of the verses that I find kind of irritating. Achieving all it's promises is great, and honourable and all that; but it seems so simple when written down and layed out like that. It really isn't...but the reward both for the kingdom of God on earth,  our place in it, and for ourselves personally if we can achieve it, is immeasurable.

If you persevere, and move forward, trust in God, forgive others, even more importantly forgive yourself. Through self reflection, prayer and with time, you will find your purpose and your victory. It may very well not take the form you want or expect it to, but you will find it, and in doing so, you'll find peace and fulfilment.

A final word.

I thought I'd give the final word to the song 'Wake up O sleeper' by Graham Kendrick. This version Is sung by the Salvation Army's International staff songsters: https://youtu.be/Cd3nHW_ueIo

Wake up O sleeperAnd rise from the dead

And Christ will shine on you

Wake up O sleeper

And rise from the dead

And Christ will shine on you

Once you were darkness

But now you are light

Now you are light in the Lord

So as true children of light you must live

Showing the glory of God

This is the beautiful fruit of the light

The good, the righteous, the true

Let us discover what pleases the Lord

In everything that we do

As days get darker take care how you live

Not as unwise but as wise

Making the most

Of each moment he gives

And pressing on for the prize

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Disclaimer: the opinions and comments expressed in this blog are personal and do not necessarily represent the views and policies of the Salvation Army

'By the Founder's Beard!': A Salvationists guide to swearing

Almost all of us at some point have let some unfortunate words fly out of our mouths...sometimes at inappropriate times or unguarded moments.... stubbing my toe is a particular favourite of mine...

I know there are a wide variety of opinions on what constitutes  swearing and how acceptable it is from Christians, so here's a short exploration of the issue...

What is swearing?

The first question and probably the most obvious place to start is what is swearing?

I guess any word or phrase used in anger or to put down or belittle others would constitute swearing and really is probably unacceptable...I don't suppose they'd be much argument there...but what about well known 'offensive' words? (if you want examples...use your imagination...we all know the ones I'm talking about.)

Are the words themselves offensive, or is it their use that makes them wrong?
I work in an environment where swearing is a natural and accepted conversational tool...it is simply how people talk; there is no morality connected to it (most of the time). Although I do try not to get sucked into that culture.

We talk about Jesus speaking to people on their own levels and in accessible ways. In that situation would Jesus use swear words in the same way he used parables to get his message across?

William Booth is quoted as saying he'd go to great lengths to be accessible, relevant and to reach the lost:

"If I thought I could win one more soul to the Lord by walking on my head and playing the tambourine with my toes, I'd learn how!"

Do we think this would include swearing... I doubt it, I think that's a big leap...but it's something to consider that joining a culture of conversational swearing might make us more accessible...but there comes the danger...we could easily fill every church and Salvation Army hall if we compromised our beliefs, didn't take moral stances and essentially did everything simply to please and entertain people...here's the link to a post I wrote about this issue. 'How to improve church attendance in 5 easy steps' our first priority and duty is to God, and the mission He has called us to undertake and we must not compromise that.

Does swearing compromise our mission and calling? Just for a little food for thought consider that language has changed and evolved and continues to. There was a time when the word 'knackered' was unacceptable in Salvation Army circles...I think it's mostly ok now...has swearing simply become part of our accepted lexicon with no moral connotations?

Gosh Darn it!
I was watching the Simpsons the other day and anyone will know the devout, church going Ned Flanders often uses gibberish when he talks..."diddly doodly" and so on...in one episode it's explained that this his way of expressing anger...is this godly man one of the worst potty mouths in the show?

https://youtu.be/K_hprv7uaK4

The question is, are the alternative words that Christians sometimes use to avoid swearing in fact swearing themselves...and if they are then they are just as morally reprehensible as the more well known words...

Speaking of alternative swear words, here's a link to a video that helped inspired this post...Tim Hawkins Christian cuss words. https://youtu.be/aHGbKuZzq3E

Context and intention
So this is my opinion... context and intention is everything...I don't really think it matters what words we use and that words are not necessarily good or bad in themselves...but it's how and where we use them that's the issue.
If you know that people around you particularly fellow believers will be offended by them; then it's probably best to give them a miss in order to show ourselves as people that love and support each other and take notice of other people's concerns.
And of course as above using any words to put down or belittle others is totally unacceptable... regardless as to whether you or they consider the words offensive or not.

In conversation...well that's the tricky question...let's be honest if your non Christian friends/co-workers hear you cussing up a storm expect to have questions asked because even in conversational swearing there is a morality attached to certain words...I suppose it's up to each of us to decide where our lines are...the bible clearly speaks out against swearing (Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:8, Psalm 10:7) but once again, as above, I believe that it is the context and intention that makes a word moral or immoral...not the words themselves.

So in summary; I don't offer a solution or hard-line stance on this issue just an opinion...and here it is:
Be kind, be holy.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength...and love your neighbour as yourself...if we keep all this in mind and put others before ourselves I don't think we'll go far wrong...if in doubt though, keep it clean.







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Thank God it's Monday

Anybody out there really love their jobs? Like, really, really love their jobs?

Do you wake up on a Monday morning (or whatever day your working week starts) feeling energised, inspired and ready for action?

If not, this post is for you...

No Escape from the daily grind
So, work sometimes seems designed to be draining...there's often far more interesting things we'd rather be doing...but we've got to pay our bills, put food on the table and pay for whatever unexpected expenses come our way.

like it or not, most have us have got to keep working for the time being...

Wherever you work it can be stressful, demanding and draining. And of course, since this is a Christian blog the obvious question soon presents itself...where does God fit into all this?

Leaving God at the door
If (like me) you work in a secular environment. You might have been asked to 'leave things at the door' when you get to work...a phrase with some logic of course...the idea is you forget any personal feelings or problems you may be facing so you can focus on what you need to get done; without distractions, prejudices, favouritism or discrimination...a nice phrase...but often easier said than done...

It can be difficult to keep your eyes on God and on higher matters of faith at work; there is busyness, stress, perhaps co-workers don't understand or are actively disrespecting or dismissive or even hostile to our beliefs...it can be easier to 'leave God at the door' to focus only on our work and hide our beliefs from others... I've never made a secret of my beliefs at work, sometimes it would definitely be easier to hide and keep quiet...but how can you 'leave God at the door' when He's with you all the time?

Obviously there is an important difference between walking with God and forcing our beliefs on others or disrespecting them...both of which are inappropriate in most professional settings.

Our heavenly employer
However you feel about your job, love it or hate it... whether you work with 1 person, 1000 people or by yourself; wherever you work and whatever you do, it can be a great opportunity to spread the word and the love of God and to be a positive influence in the world around you.

Ministers, priests and pastors are not God's only full time employees...we all are. We just serve in different arenas...God needs servants, workers and light-bringers in all areas of society...Godly ministers are needed just as much as Godly cleaners, politicians, nurses, lawyers, administrators, carers, soldiers, firefighters, paramedics, accountants and every other possible, conceivable job or responsibility...there are no greater or lesser callings or avenues of service... wherever God places us we can rest assured; even during the bad times, that we're following the greatest boss we could ever have the honour of working for.

A bad day
However much you enjoy your job, I'm sure there are days when you feel disheartened or unfulfilled, maybe you feel like that more often than not...

That's why I decided to write this blog post... I often don't feel fulfilled at work...it has its moments, but sometimes I wish I was doing something 'more' whatever that means. I wanted to write some words of encouragement and challenge to anybody who might have similar feelings about their own careers or place in God's kingdom.

'Only following orders'
It's so important that we remember who we serve; and who our real boss is.
We serve God first and foremost. The decisions we make, the things we choose to do, the orders we choose to follow all play a part in defining us personally and our mission in the kingdom...
We are not just called to be holy on a Sunday but even more so during our working week with those who we will come into contact with....the Salvation Army often refers to their church services as 'meetings'... because as we often say; our service starts after we leave the building...that's where we put into practice all that we are taught and experience on a Sunday.

The well known Bible verse Matthew 6:24 says: "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.'

Our jobs often make us face this dilemma...do we do what God asks of us, what we know is right...or do we do what our boss asks of us after all they're paying our wages...do we owe them our unquestioning loyalty?

We have to decide who we will serve and where our focus will be... however hard it might be we can't just follow our employer's instructions blindly...our real employer; God comes first...we must never compromise our faith or ideals because of what someone tells us to do;
again I know, that's easier said than done when your employer pays you and ultimately is responsible for you being able to pay bills and keep a roof over your head...but God is with you and will bless your courage in stepping out, He will take care of you...you might be asked to lie to a client or customer, to bend the rules or even break the law...sad to say, but it does happen, and some of the most disgusting and shameful acts in human history have happened because people were 'only following orders' from massacres, to the Holocaust, and even the crucifixion of Jesus...we have to be better and stronger than that.

The Mission
This is the privilege and responsibility of us as believers in the workplace...to be Christ's hands, feet, voice and heart where we are, secular or religious employment, days off, leisure time etc... wherever we are, we are God's employees, His friends, of course. But also called and commissioned to serve Him; not just to pay lip service once a week but all the time in whatever we are doing and whoever we come into contact with.

If we lock ourselves away from the world even in church we miss reaching our full potential and being all that we can be...we miss the opportunity to reach all those that God wants us to reach.

Surviving Shift Work
My own experience of work is as a hospital worker. Obviously a hospital is a 24/7 workplace...we can't close down evenings and weekends or bank holidays; this means that shift work is necessary to keep the place running...shift work is awful when it comes to trying to build any kind of work/life balance...of course wherever you work this can be a struggle, but shift work is particularly draining, there's no sense of continuity or pattern, and forget having a body clock... I'm sure many reading this will have had that experience. It takes over your life and drags you down if you let it, it can damage friendships, personal life and make it harder to get to church and fulfill commitments, it has any number of disastrous consequences...if you let it...and that's the real issue; the fact that all these excuses do not let you off, it might make life difficult or make planning ahead difficult...but you can't let these excuses beat you... you've got to find the reasons why life, church, family are important and make them a priority...no holding back, no excuses!

The only way we'll reach our potential is to grab hold of the opportunities, to reach into the lives of those around us...so when you start your working week and work gets you down, when it's been a struggle just to get out of bed, when you're feeling unfulfilled, unappreciated or wasted at work, remember your true calling, your true job given by God Himself, thank Him for the opportunity to reach others, and for paid employment that so many in our society long for and struggle to find...when you face all these situations, challenges and opportunities; bow your head and, above all else...
Thank God...it's Monday!







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Jesus Christ: Humanitarian, Showman or Dictator?

Today I'm asking probably one of the most foundational questions about Christianity:

Who Is Jesus Christ?

Is He a liar or a fool, mentally unstable, a power hungry despot, a great teacher, a good man, or just a figment of the Gospel writers imaginations?

Or is He... something more...

Matthew 4:1-11 (What kind of Saviour)

I love the account of Christ's temptation in the desert. We, as readers are still trying to understand who Jesus is and what He's about...we know He's the Son of God, who has come to save us from our sin...but we're still wrestling with exactly what that means.

The crowds at the river Jordan have seen and heard strange, bewildering things and like us, don't really know what's going on.

Jesus enters the desert and faces some foundational temptations: physical need, ego, and power...

It's as if He's being given the choice of what kind of Saviour, what kind of man He's going to be.

THE HUMANITARIAN (verses 1-4)

So let's imagine you're stuck in the desert, no food or water, starving...but with the power to do something about it, what do you do?

Pretty reasonable request I suppose, to get yourself some food, but that wasn't the point of entering the desert; it was to meditate, to seek nourishment and energy, not from physical things but from the Father. Jesus is presented with the choice of relying on His own power or that of the Father.

Now, before I get carried away, I have to clarify that food, water, a safe place to sleep etc are important, of course they are.

As a Church and as Christians we cannot ignore the needs around us, we are commanded to do something about it, to serve our fellow man. 

But if we become simply a charitable organisation, we lose the heart of who we are. Jesus could have spent His earthly ministry simply doing good. He probably wouldn't have been crucified, but He would have failed in His mission to reconcile God and man, the very heart of why He was sent.

The fundamental truth of humanity is that we are not just physical beings but spiritual, and both physical and spiritual needs must be met...but really the physical only affects our short earthly lives...the spiritual, echoes into eternity. (shameless gladiator movie reference)

'Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (verse 4)

THE SHOWMAN (verses 5-7)

The next temptation is that of ego...the desire to put ourselves on a pedestal, to make ourselves the centre of the world. In the account of Christ's temptation, His own particular challenge was to put His humanity aside, to complete His mission by putting on a show, by wowing the crowd, essentially by putting style over substance.

But Christ is not distant or aloof...He walks with us, meets us where we are. Whatever situations we are facing Christ is there at the heart of it, not playing to the crowd but invested in our situations and in us as individuals that loved and valued by Him

For us, the challenge is to remember Christ's attitude and example.

The Church loves it's Choirs, bands, stained glass windows, buildings, traditions...the list goes on of course. And these are not necessarily bad things in themselves, they can be amazing and truly make us aware of God's presence...but they aren't the most important things...not by a long shot.

We must care, love and walk beside our hurting world, it won't be healed by fancy shows and nice looking buildings...but by getting involved in our world, walking with the broken on their level, by genuinely caring about each other and the things that matter to each of us... that's where we'll find Christ...waist deep in the nitty gritty of life.

THE DICTATOR (verses 8-11)

The final temptation that Christ faces in the desert is the temptation of power.

The temptation to make the world fall into line...to use intimidation and control to achieve His ends.

Of course power like that comes at a cost...it means once again losing sight of who we are and why we're here.

Had Christ accepted the proposal He would have moved away from the Father's purpose, away from worshipping the Father and instead worshipping satan, and power itself...this always reminds me of the scene in the first Lord of the Rings movie; the Wizard Gandalf refuses to use the evil power of the ring, knowing that although he would be much stronger, the power would corrupt him and destroy everything he was. He would lose his very being in order to achieve power for powers sake.

As the Church we face a similar temptation, we seek power to achieve political and social objectives which in themselves are good and righteous.

I have met Church leaders like this... people who would make fantastic social justice champions and politicians but have lost sight of the God who calls them, the mission for which they have been equipped...Christ has been replaced by social, and political ends...again these are honourable aims...but when these leaders rely on themselves and without realising it, subconsciously push out Christ, they are worshipping a different power, putting results ahead of what their true focus and mission should be.

Putting Christ first doesn't mean that we won't be as affective at achieving social and political change, the opposite is true...what it does mean however, is that our aims and mission become aligned with God's. It means that we might have to sacrifice looking good or popular in order to make sure that the glory goes to God.

Christ made that decision...to worship God alone, it meant sacrifice and humiliation but it also meant final victory and put Him at one with the Father. He was made to be nothing so that the Father would get the glory and honour...and this is what is asked of us today.

THE REAL JESUS

"To holy people the very name of Jesus is a name to feed upon, a name to transport. His name can raise the dead and transfigure and beautify the living." - John Henry Newman

The title of this post was deliberately controversial and thought provoking... hopefully it will as intended provoke some thought and discussion and not unintentionally cause offence.

Jesus is of course far more than a Humanitarian, Showman, and certainly not a dictator. He is a Friend, guide, guardian, protector, teacher, master, servant and king. He is all of these things...but so much more.

He is not an abstract concept, or a distant unreachable cosmic entity. He's a real, living, loving, laughing individual being; God incarnate, who walks, laughs, cries alongside us, and who builds us up, rebukes, corrects and desperately calls to us to walk, serve and live by His side.

But it's one thing me telling you all this, it's not up to me to tell you what you should believe...your job is to decide for yourself who Jesus is to you. What will you do, and how will Christ change and inspire you?

Is He just a good teacher, moral example or something more...who do you say Jesus is?

I'll give the final word to C S Lewis...he gives us some brilliant thoughts to ponder as we try to answer all these questions for ourselves:

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

 - C S Lewis (Mere Christianity)

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Disclaimer: the opinions and comments expressed in this blog are personal and do not necessarily represent the views and policies of the Salvation Army