A question of Timing

I am currently preparing a study on 1 Corinthians 4.

A bit that has always intrigued me is as follows:

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

It seems to me, upon a bit of reflection that the Corinthians had fallen for a mistake when it comes to timing. Correct exposition of other bible passages (like Ephesians 2) clearly leads to a correct assumption that Christians have by grace been raised to rule with Christ over the whole of creation.

But that is not what the present age experience should be like for the Christian. We can know this because the faithful in many parts are still being treated as sport for the world, and are still under intense persecution.

The present time is for proclaiming unashamedly the message of Christ Crucified. What this leads to is the potential for suffering like Christ.

Unfortunately, as a Christian in a stable denomination (at least within Sydney) and in a prosperous city, it is easy to forget what the time is for. Paul genuinely desires in the above passage to be able to say the time is for reigning, so he doesn't have to suffer any more, but he can't.

We are called in the gospel to serve a crucified (cursed) king. The king who took our punishment upon himself. The King has been vindicated (the resurrection), and he will be vindicated (the second coming). While we wait for that final triumphant vindication, honouring the king is not by living as kings, but by serving him with our lives.

The gospel goes out

Went to a support night last night for my friend Alex who I have gotten to know at uni the past few years.

It is so exciting that he is taking a few years to try missionary service and to see what God can be doing with his life.

Please pray for Alex, and also the people of Japan. Please also pray for those involved as partners in the ministry effort at home.

Grace Explained...

Reflection on Ephesians 2:1-10

With all of mankind, we are by nature condemned by God; no matter how nice, charitable, generous and moral we are we need God’s gracious mercy.

Only when we fully comprehend our dependence on God, can we seriously appreciate the richness of his grace.

All of us through our actions have brought upon ourself a death sentence. While we are as good as dead, we have been made alive together with Christ, because of the incredible mercy of God, and the great love he has for his people.

More Thoughts on Denominationalism

The current scourge of the Anglican Church afflicts any worldly instrument of Christian unity from time to time.

As tends to happen, people who share the same gospel will differ in how to handle those who don't share the same gospel, and whose emphasis or theology relies on something other than the authority of God's revealed word.

Unfortunately, I cannot help but feel that the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union is a suitable example for bible-believing Christians in Anglican churches. As a student group, their stand when dealing with the direction of the Student Christian Movement held a different scope to that required now, but the principles are the same almost a hundred years later.

I wish I knew of other examples, but aside from the general life and vitality of many independent churches (including one my sister attends) in non-metropolitain New South Wales, the feeling is that Cambridge as a well documented example, shows the way forward.

Human institutions should always be made for the service of God's people. God's people aren't made to serve the institution. Any efforts for more fluidity in the interactions between churches, encouraging interactions and gospel partnerships which are mutually beneficial should be directly encouraged.

Unfortunately, this may force people to abandon property, or to find themselves using a different name to describe their group. It may see a need to start new fellowships and denominational structures, or for a simple lessening of geographic controls. But in the end, these steps are necessary because of the need not to preserve a particular denomination, but for churches to proclaim the message of God's redeeming love for the lost both to their congregation and to the world.

Some will urge patience and diplomacy in many situations, but this needs to be moderated by a need to ensure that a degree of tolerance does not go too far, because at present every toleration of heresy has just led to another problem arising.

If that overarching aim is remembered, the personalities won't get in the way, and hopefully God's people can work to reach his world.