Love is ...

... more than a cartoon strip devised by Kim Casali and drawn by Bill Asprey.

But before I go any further, let me introduce a much-loved little girl, my friend Bethany.  She is just a few weeks short of her first birthday, and she already has a personality that makes her quite recognisable when seen apart from her mum or dad.  When I visited her mother a couple of months after her birth, her grandma was there to lend a hand, as grandmothers are often wont to do.  This was the only time that I had seen that lady, but a few weeks later I was chatting to the proud parents in church when a particular angle of Bethany’s head and her facial expression gave me an instant of recollection of her grandma’s features.  It was a ‘spitting image’ moment.

When was your last spitting image experience?  Or when did someone last observe that you were the very image of your parent?  The answer to these questions may depend on your own age and circumstances, but it’s commonly recognised that our inherited genes include a physical dimension.  That’s an idea that has Biblical precedent too.

Jesus claimed resemblance to his Heavenly Father.  “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father,” He said (John 14:9); and one manifestation of this was the way He showed His Father’s love to those around him.  He healed people left, right and centre, raised some from death, and he wept with love along with Mary and the others over Lazarus’ death (John 11:33-36.)  This was how Jesus wanted his followers to behave, too.  In that remarkable illustration of the vine and its branches, He said, “Love each other, as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12-13.)  And that was, literally, what Jesus did of course, as Paul reported and explained (Rom. 5:6-8.)

As well as his narration of these matters, John was also so impressed by Jesus’ love that he seems to have filled his pastoral letters with it.  In one example, he says that we should show that we’re Jesus’ followers by walking as He did (I John 2:6.)  In effect, he’s reminding us of Jesus’ very words, to pass on to others the love that we have received; and if you are uncertain just what that involves and need Paul’s blueprint, you’ll find it at Romans 12:9-21

So, let’s think back to those ‘spitting images.’  It’s not just the genes that are passed down from one generation to the next that cause them to resemble their parents and grandparents.  If you saw Bethany with her mum and dad, you would instantly realise what a loving and happy family they are.  They enjoy love in their lives, from each other and from their parents and friends; but also from the church where we all worship.  We are privileged to be part of a loving community where Jesus’ command to love one another is fulfilled widely and often.  How about you?  Is there someone to whom you should be showing God’s love – to whom you should appear the spitting image of your heavenly Father?

A Good Ending

So much in the news lately seems to fly in the face of our Christian beliefs; as I’ve pondered why this should be, and what might be done about it, I’ve been thinking a lot about three words: ‘back to basics.’  I believe it was Prime Minister John Major who brought currency to the term not all that long ago.  Among the ‘basics’ that have crossed my mind has been the basic premise upon which this series of articles was founded many years ago.  That premise was the idea that links can be observed, or without too much effort contrived, between aspects of our faith and everyday things or happenings, so that the one can be seen as a pointer to the other.  I realise that my articles have sometimes drifted away from that basic aim and, as it’s good once in a while for any of us to stand back, reflect and re-affirm what it is we’re doing, so now is as good a time as any for The Gospel Around Us to do the same.

One of the everyday ‘things’ that is basic and very important to each of us is our body, and I’d like to focus this article on ten little parts of it that are almost constantly visible and perhaps most frequently taken for granted – our fingernails.  Apart from being at one extreme a convenient surface for the application of coloured varnish, and at the other a fragile substitute for a screwdriver, what use are they?  They can be easily chipped or broken (especially if used as screwdrivers!) and are then, if not painful, at least most irritating.  If assaulted by a heavy article, e.g. a car door, then they are most definitely painful, and it takes months for the resulting unsightly black part to grow out.  Oh, and we shouldn’t forget that terrible grating sound that could be produced by scraping them on a blackboard!

Maybe these incidents are precise examples of one of the main functions of the fingernail – to protect the finger; and if you ask a comedian what they’re for, he might reply, ‘to stop your fingers fraying at the ends!’ – which, even if it seems a silly idea, is quite true.  So, what have fingernails to do with our faith?  Instead of looking at them in bewilderment, take a look at Hebrews 12:2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith ... .”  It was through Jesus, the Word, that God made us: body soul and all (John 1:3.)  He made us perfect, right down to our fingernails. 

That word ‘perfector’ is vital.  It’s not just that we were made without blemish; we were made complete ... even down to fastening the ends of our fingers – we were properly finished off.  Doesn’t that deserve, if not inspire, our praise?  No detail was overlooked in the marvel of our creation.  Then, after we’ve exercised our freewill and messed up our lives, that same Jesus “by one offering ... has perfected [us] for all time” (Heb. 10:14.)

When in thoughtful mood, we are likely to drop our eyes and gaze reflectively at our fingernails.  Next time you find yourself doing that, I pray you will recall these paragraphs, and call to mind our amazing faith, and the incredible gift of life that God has given us.

Too Common by Half

Just before the recent Eurovision Song Contest, a radio presenter spoke of “the unthinkable having become commonplace”.  He referred to the transformation of the former Soviet republics, in that they now exhibit a feverish enthusiasm to take part in something that once would have been deplored in their culture.

Those words can be lifted from their context and re-applied in precisely the opposite direction.  How much of what is around us ought to be deplored instead of being welcomed with enthusiasm?  Such deplorable facets of society include so-called ‘reality’ TV programmes that stop little short of pornography.  Profanity or blasphemy (or both) are heard all too often on our streets.  Self-discipline and respect for those in authority – and indeed behaviour by such people that is deserving of respect – have plummeted to such a depth that successive governments have seen fit from time to time to mount positive campaigns to attempt their revival.  And that’s before we even consider the field of professional sport, and the recent Respect campaign that has been seen on our football fields.

Jesus took the Pharisees to task about their hypocrisy: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions,” (Mk 7:9, NIV).  He gave a list of unworthy priorities and bad character traits (vv. 21-22) that identify man’s lower nature.  It’s the work of only a few moments to check these off against the values and lifestyles of people we know.  Even more worrying is the way that, if we dare, we can find some of them in our own behaviour!

 

Join me, if you will, in a ‘Summer Resolution’ to root these out and destroy them, and to encourage those close to us to do the same … with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Shoving Annie - the Postscript

The company of bell-ringers in my home town have a long-standing practice of going away for a weekend in the spring, to visit and ring the bells at churches in a selected area and enjoy each other’s company in a comfortable hotel.  Sometimes the support for this expedition is greater than at others.  This year we struggled to make the minimum requirements for the group rate at the hotel; we needed just one more to qualify.  I think it was the husband of Dianne, our social secretary, who pointed out that the cheapest strategy to overcome the problem would be to double-up one of the single bookings and share the small addition to the overall cost.  This we did, and thus had an ‘empty bed’.

Two weeks before the event, at our regular practice evening, an informal draw was made to see who should occupy the double room instead of a single: a draw which I was lucky enough to win.  The next day, Dianne had to submit the rooming list to the hotel; she texted me as I was driving to ask what name I would prefer for my 'room-mate'. As I wondered about this, the situation became more real and I considered the possible problem of explaining this person's absence.  I replied, ‘call my wife Hilary – I can easily say she couldn’t make it’.

At that time the text for the blog here called 'Shoving Annie' was already almost complete; that same evening, having been ‘married on the motorway’, as it were, I opened the file to review what I’d written.  As you will see, that blog attacked people who are playing a part, trying to appear something they're not... involved in essence, in deception.  As I read through it again, it hit me that what I had engaged in here, however harmless it might have been, was ... in essence, deception.

I felt a bit like King David confronted by Nathan, post-Bathsheba. I'm sure you’re familiar with the story, but if not you'll find it in II Samuel ch. 12. David got annoyed with the man Nathan told him about; then Nathan pointed out that he had, in effect, condemned himself over his treatment of Uriah.  My draft article now condemned me.

In my subsequent prayers I asked for wisdom concerning what I should do or say. First, how was I to explain the absence of the wife I'd created to occupy the half-empty double room – a challenge that, in the event, was never posed – then, how should I deal with the spiritual situation in which I now found myself?  I decided that to honour my forgiving Lord, I must use this incident as a basis for teaching.  Phase one was a leaflet that I hastily prepared, and handed to all my colleagues at the start of the weekend containing, basically, what you are reading here; this is phase two.

The lesson I’ve learned here is straightforward. We should all be aware just how easy it can be to drift into sin.

Idle Talk that Teaches us

I like watching football, if it’s the local, ‘non-league’ sort, rather than the professional game, but when it comes to other sports, I tend to be quite indifferent.  If it’s on TV when I walk into a room, I’ll watch it, but I wouldn’t scour the schedules and switch on specially to watch an event.  I certainly have no real interest in horse-racing. Nevertheless, a few years ago I found myself in front of a TV set at the time of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.  Amidst the shouts of encouragement from my fellow-watchers (futile, of course, apart from giving vent to their desire for the profitable maturity of the investments they had made with the bookmaker), I sat quietly intrigued by one small detail.

At the fifth fence, one of the horses, Idle Talk, was nudged, and fell, unseating his rider.  Once the remainder of the field had cleared, the jockey got up and walked away unscathed, but the horse continued in the race.  On and on they went, for another lap of the course and more.  Idle Talk was still up with the leaders at the finish and, I believe, crossed the line in second place.

The horse had been well-schooled, and clearly knew what was expected of him.  However, so far as the race itself and the TV commentators were concerned, it was as if he didn’t exist.  Indeed, to the winning jockey he was a definite nuisance, getting in the way of his triumphant run-in to the finish.  Idle Talk certainly didn’t merit a place in the official results, and those who were unfortunate enough to bet on him had seen the last of their money.  And all because of one little slip, as a result of which he arrived at the finish without one essential – his rider.

As I mused on this incident in the succeeding days, I called to mind two verses of Scripture.  In his first letter to the Corinthians, St Paul compared our path through life to running a race.  Pointing out that, in a race, only one competitor wins the prize, he encourages us not to run the race of life aimlessly, but to run it so as not to be disqualified from winning that imperishable wreath, eternal life (I Cor 9:24-27.)  And we see that same need to aim carefully for success illustrated by one of our Lord’s parables.  Jesus spoke of a man who accepted an unexpected invitation to attend a wedding feast (Matt. 22:9ff.)  The king came in to see the guests, and noticed that this man didn’t have the appropriate dress.  The man’s fate was to be ejected ignominiously.  He had reached the winning post, but was found not to qualify – the very thing that Paul advises us to avoid.

 

So, how do we qualify in the race for eternal life?  Simply, in the words of the baptism service, to 'believe and trust in' our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  It really is as simple as that; He has done the hard work - all we have to do is trust Him.

When you next see a horse and rider on the roads (not an uncommon sight even in this age of the universal motor car), join me in thinking of yourself as the horse.  Let’s take great care not to unseat Jesus the Jockey, lest we should arrive at the winning post without a rider, like Idle Talk in the Gold Cup!

Shoving Annie

From time to time as I travel I enjoy a refreshing alternative to the good old BBC on the radio; I turn to my store of podcasts, and listen to programs from the Irish national radio service, RTÉ.  An amusing snippet that has lingered in my memory from a few years ago came from a programme broadcast on the day of a key international soccer  match.  The presenter had expressed a hope that all her listeners would be supporting the home team that afternoon, and asked by way of interest whether they would join in the singing of the national anthem, “or will you be shoving Annie?”

As a proud Irish-speaker herself, she then explained this expression.  It referred to those Irishmen in the crowd who either didn’t speak Irish, or didn’t know the words of the national anthem, or both.  Their habit, she alleged, was to mumble along with the tune until the rousing final line, when they would raise their voices (their actual words being disguised by the overall volume of the singing) and bellow, “Shoving Annie around the green!”  This is a convenient piece of meaningless English doggerel that sounds roughly like the final words of the original, “Seo libh canaig amhrán na bhFiann.”  Its use was an attempt, she said, to appear as one with the whole body of supporters, despite their personal linguistic shortcomings. 

So, the term ‘shoving Annie’ would refer to mimics, imitators, people trying to be something they are not.  Does this strike a chord with you?  Do you prickle with embarrassment as you recall some way in which you try to cover up your inadequacies, hoping that others won’t notice as you seek benefits to which you aren’t entitled?  The Bible condemns all falsehood, and this is no exception.  We can see from his letters that Paul was on the case.  “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself,” he told his readers in Galatia (Gal. 6:3.)  In another letter the apostle cautioned, “Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Col. 2:8.)”

Many of the frailties of the church’s rank and file are exposed in the ‘Letters to the Churches’ that St John shares in his Revelation.  It was those in Thyatira who were told, “I know your deeds: your love, faith, service, and steadfast endurance.  In fact, your more recent deeds are greater than your earlier ones.”  Yes, they were very active, but beneath the surface they were far from pure: “I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve.” (Rev. 2:19, 23b.)

The question that faces each of us is this: how open are we to our Lord’s scrutiny?  To what extent are we trying to be something we’re not?  Or put another way, are you a true believer (supporter), or simply shoving Annie?

What it Says on the Tin

Do you have an embarrassing incident that lingers down the years - something that makes you cringe every time you recall it, and yet you still think of it from time to time?  Here's one of mine.

 

One day my daughter, paying a visit, decided she was hungry and asked if I minded if she made a sandwich.  A few moments later, a sharp squeal sent me dashing into the kitchen.  She had picked up a margarine carton from the fridge and was surprised and not a little embarrassed when the apricots and syrup that it contained spilled onto the kitchen floor.  She told me off soundly about not putting labels on containers when I re-use them for a different purpose.

I realised recently how little parents learn from their children!  I have three matching canisters in my present kitchen, labelled ‘tea’, ‘coffee’ and ‘sugar’.  I always find it difficult to remember whether it is ‘tea’ or ‘coffee’ that contains the rice!

These are simple domestic arrangements, perhaps but, if nothing else, they illustrate the way that one person’s idiosyncratic habits, while normal to him, are not always what someone else might expect.  But had you ever considered that our very lives are a bit like that?  What is an acceptable way of life for us – whether as individuals or as a family – might not be so for other people.  This general consideration applies to wide ranges of behaviour: from domestic violence to offering food to guests and ladies first; from saying grace before meals to whether or not we cover our bodies in the presence of family members.

Far more importantly, these personal habits might not be acceptable to God.  In the Old Testament we learn that God has called each of us by our name – we are His (Isaiah 43:1).  He has given us that label which says ‘Mine’.  We belong to Him, and He cares for us and protects us.  We are made in the image of God, and St. Paul tells us more about this in I Corinthians 6:19-20.  The apostle reminds us of the price that was paid for us, the sacrifice that won for us eternal life.  Because of this, we have a responsibility to act properly, to use our lives wisely, and to treat our bodies in a manner fitting for a holy temple.

Some people wear a cross all the time.  For some it is merely a piece of jewellery and, if it causes trouble with our employers, it can be removed with no deep consideration.  For others, however, it signifies their deep faith and presents a constant challenge to live up to its meaning.  They find it a constant reminder of the target, of how life should be lived.  For these people, in a very practical way, the cross is a kind of label.  Whether visibly expressed or not, it’s a label that applies to all who have chosen to follow Him. 

‘Temple of the Holy Spirit’ - that’s what the label says.  How closely does your life ‘do what it says on the tin’?