Jesus on the phone

On twitter this week was a tweet from the Guardian regarding a banned advert ran by Phones4U. There were complaints on the use of the Jesus image on the advert as irreverent and inappropriate.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/sep/07/jesus-mobile-phone-ad-banned?CMP=twt_fd

I do wonder who it was that complained. I understand why they would, even if I think they are wasting their time. For me the issue of the use of this image is not offensive, irreverent by simply highlights the underling message of Jesus still in people's lives, even if they don't know it. The fact that they used the word "miraculous" says to me that people relate the story of Jesus still to our culture in the 21st Century. What is it about this man Jesus that still stirs up interest in people imagination? For me it is the mystery of a man who walked on earth, created controversy and yet was willing to be a sacrifice for a world that didn't deserve God's forgiveness is pretty facinating. The stories of Jesus miracles are brilliant, not because of what Jesus does but because of who he does them for and the reactions those that are healed express. The churches responsability should be to tell the stories openly and passionatly rather than complaining about silly adverts. If we get that right people will know and understand what all the fuss is about when it comes to this man Jesus.

If you don't know much about him, he's worth finding out about.

Matt

Leading Evangelism 1 - why?

One of the biggest impacts the Arrow Leadership process has had on me is my attitude towards leading evangelism in the church I am appointed to currently (and beyond). I have often seen ministers who can clearly lead others in evangelism but then opt out of doing it themselves. I would like to think I have always been open and willing in leading by example but know I have not always been effective or intentional about this. I know that I have a strong missional heart and am willing to go into situations that require me to show faith without necessary having or seeking the opportunity to speak about my faith.

However, I do wonder if I don't say enough! Evangelism is more than deed, it is about what we share verbally with others. As this point I acknowledge that the language we use is part of the issues but Evangelism isn't mission just very closely related and complementary too. People have become scared of the "e" word but it is crucial to our mission and purpose as the voice of God in our world. Maybe many of the issues surrounding the suppression of Christianity stem from the churches silence rather than supposedly being gagged. Whatever the cause, we are fearful of speaking about Jesus to our world today for fear of ridicule, losing friends or being seen as weird.

What I have discovered recently is that when you mention Jesus, people are intriged, respectful and open to knowing more. So lets tell them!

Matt

Risk and Loss (3) Pain

I am an avid House (the Sky Drama rather than the type of music) fan. It is a great example of good and bad leadership. House is a egotistical but brilliant diagnostician who feeds off the plight of others. Cutty, his boss, is responsible for House (they were in a relationship as well) antics but recognises his brilliance. During a recent episode, Cutty got ill and House responded in his one inevitable way. During one scene came this quote: "Pain happens when you care!" Cutty (House S7 Ep 15).

One of the tensions in leadership is showing and sharing our pain (not just in leadership decisions but personal issues also). As previous discussed when we are prepared to risk something we may experience loss. With loss comes pain. It has been said that leaders in the church find it easier to make the hard decisions because it isn't there church and can move at any time. In the SA it can be easy to hide behind the fact that we are appointed to a place rather than choosing to be there. However, this is to the detriment of the church we are appointed to and to our own leadership development. I once had an officer mutter the words "don't take it personally" to me about a decisions that had been made effecting me.

Where ever I have been (which is limited to 2 communities) I have sought to embed my life in the community I serve. I really have cared about the people I have served along side and believe that it has to be personal to make my leadership effective and meaningful for me and the church I lead. Often, it is in the pain that leadership can be refined.

When Jesus came into our world, he demonstrate just how personnally God took the worlds plight. He became flesh, he became an equal and walked with us.

Matt

Is death the answer?

Whilst listening to 5 live on the way to church the other morning, I heard a disturbing comment made by a caller. The phone in was regarding what themes are people thinking about in the run up to the election. She made the point that prisons were to comfortable and that capital punishment should be brought back. People are in titled to their opinions and thoughts but I should tell you that at the beginning of her call she boldly told Nicky Campbell she was a christian.


For me this doesn't fit. No one deserves to have their life taken by another, even by law. The death penalty and my faith do not sit together in any way. When I was sharing this at band practice (on the Wednesday after Easter), Sam piped up with "Jesus died by execution, didn't he." Interesting observation. Jesus not only came as a baby, grew up as a teenage and learnt a trade but also was put to death by the most inhuman form of execution available to humanity.

People wonder about the sense in God's plan in sending Jesus as a human in to the world but then to be put to death by humanity as well.

Thank God this wasn't the end of the plan.

Matt

Back to church?

Last Sunday morning Lizzy and I went to Southampton to lead the Children's Celebration Sunday. Whilst on the journey (which was 2 hours shorter than the journey home) down from Nottingham we listened to Aled Jones on Radio 2 Sunday breakfast show. One of the guests on there was chatting about "Back to church Sunday" with the tag line "come as you are."

This got me thinking about how this idea is the wrong way round and that we should be going into the world rather than thinking people are going to stop what they are doing and come to church. We have been trying that for a long time and I don't believe it is a sustainable solution for the church. It is about time we turned our own backs on our church buildings and set out into the community to find out what exactly is needed rather than react to what is presented before us by people.

Jesus met people in their own village or town, He got out and about and His name and works spread out across the whole of the region. He was active not passive, mobile not static and people knew what he was about. In Matthew 13 Jesus sends out his disciples to go and cast out demons and heal the sick. He sends them out into the reality of a world where people needed to be freed, healed, restored and resurrected. He commands them to "go" and they go.

Isn't it about time we went back into our local pubs, shops, barbers, sports teams, schools, library, sheltered housing, council offices and many other places and take the message of Jesus with us for all to see.

Matt

Make room for Jesus

I got this from a brochure of christian literature that I got this week. There were a number of them of a similar theme.

What struck me was the way it depicts our lives being departmentalised and Jesus being just one part. To say I disagree with it (and therefore will not be buying one) is an understatement. It says to me that these things are OK but Jesus isn't in them. That surely diminishes God's ability to be in all things. I think that God loves sport, jobs, films as much as we do and He is in them too.

Maybe the poster should read "Whatever you get up too, Jesus is there to."

Matt