As usual there has been something of a fuss made of an organisation taking the word Easter off their eggs. I have to say something like that just doesn't bother me. The sooner we wake up and realise that we live in a post Christian culture the better. Christianity is an increasingly small part of our nations thinking, it plays little part in moulding national policies and laws or in people's everyday actions. So why does this sort of thing surprise us? Why do people protest this?
What is the correct reaction? Easter gives us a prime opportunity to tell people the gospel, not moan about the word being removed by a secular organisation from their publicity or products. Easter is good news to tell people, yet if that isn't know or realised then surely that is our fault for not making it known. Surely this just shows us again the scale of the need for us to go and tell people all about the great news Easter marks.
The result of Jesus resurrection was a spirit filled, passionate and galvanised community that revolutionised the world as they told everyone the good news of Jesus and the redemption now available in him. Sadly we seem to be more interested in writing a letter of complaint than talking about Jesus to our neighbours or our community. Do we get as het up about people's eternal destiny as about Cadbury's packaging? Someone is unlikely to buy a chocolate egg see the world Easter and drop to their knees in repentance in an aisle in ASDA. In fact when scouring my Bible I can't find that evangelisation strategy in there. And yet, again and again, in scripture when a friend, or even a stranger, in love shares the gospel with someone they turn to Christ. Perhaps we ought to redirect our efforts.
While I'm here let me mention another bug bear of mine. Why, oh why, do christian organisations put conferences on during Easter? Seriously? Why not use a half term? As far as I'm aware, unless I'm missing something, there are no obvious evangelism opportunities in October or February and May half term. But Easter. Easter is a time when we ought to be telling friends, family, neighbours all about Jesus. When local churches ought to be on mission in their communities, inviting friends, family and neighbours to a service, making the most of every opportunity. And yet this is when thousands of Christians leave their home church and gather in holiday centres away from those who need the gospel. (I know the teaching helps, I know the arguments for such conferences, it's the timing I'm bemoaning.)
I wonder is it just Cadbury's who are missing the good news of what Easter is all about?
Showing posts with label conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conference. Show all posts
Tuesday, 4 April 2017
Thursday, 8 October 2015
Gospel Yorkshire: Why not now?
Yesterday was the launch day conference of Gospel Yorkshire entitled 'Why not now?' Here are some reflections the day.
The first session was Neil Powell speaking from the book of Jonah and challenging us about where our hearts are for the lost. Are we prepared to go outside of our structures, outside of our comfort in order to reach the lost? The four points of his overview were very helpful: Grace forgotten threatens our mission, Grace rediscovered empowers our mission, Grace rediscovered send us on our mission and lastly Grace, living, sustains our mission. The challenge we were left with was that if God is so concerned with the lost, if Jesus is so concerned with the lost how can we not be?
The second session was various people sharing about plants they were involved in and/or planting networks they were part of. The Gospel Yorkshire committee also introduced themselves and explained more about their vision. After the break out groups, about which more in a moment, Andy Paterson from FIEC spoke on Planting a shared commission. His nine (yes nine) points were that there should be: a shared passion for the glory of Jesus, a shared understanding of the lostness of the lost, a shared commitment to pray and plan, a shared humility toward other networks, a shared vision for training new leaders, a shared sensitivity to cultural diversity, a shared awareness of community engagement, a shared sacrifice of people, resources and time, and finally a shared perseverance through tough times. One thing that struck me that Andy said was that his observation would be that Yorkshire has a rugged individualism, I'd suggest that is the case not only in Yorkshire society but in our churches as well.
Many churches in Yorkshire adopt that approach, they are little red hen churches (I'll do it myself). Even those who are part of larger networks often seem to display that characteristic within their network. And what strikes me is how tragic that is because most of our churches in Yorkshire are not full of indigenous Yorkshire people, and are certainly not led by them. If we are going to absorb anything of the culture around us why can we not adopt the generosity of spirit, the sheer determination, or friendliness of Yorkshire folk.
I guess my frustration with the day is in many ways my frustration with ministry in Yorkshire and it was well illustrated in the break out session, when we broke into regions the South Yorkshire region had representatives from only 4 churches, no doubt there were others who had good reason for not attending, but in many ways Yorkshire feels fragmented. When Neil Powell shared with us how Birmingham 20:20 works it was encouraging to see the diversity of churches involved and partnering together in the gospel, my prayer and the challenge I have come away from the day with is that we need to build those connections and quickly.
The first session was Neil Powell speaking from the book of Jonah and challenging us about where our hearts are for the lost. Are we prepared to go outside of our structures, outside of our comfort in order to reach the lost? The four points of his overview were very helpful: Grace forgotten threatens our mission, Grace rediscovered empowers our mission, Grace rediscovered send us on our mission and lastly Grace, living, sustains our mission. The challenge we were left with was that if God is so concerned with the lost, if Jesus is so concerned with the lost how can we not be?
The second session was various people sharing about plants they were involved in and/or planting networks they were part of. The Gospel Yorkshire committee also introduced themselves and explained more about their vision. After the break out groups, about which more in a moment, Andy Paterson from FIEC spoke on Planting a shared commission. His nine (yes nine) points were that there should be: a shared passion for the glory of Jesus, a shared understanding of the lostness of the lost, a shared commitment to pray and plan, a shared humility toward other networks, a shared vision for training new leaders, a shared sensitivity to cultural diversity, a shared awareness of community engagement, a shared sacrifice of people, resources and time, and finally a shared perseverance through tough times. One thing that struck me that Andy said was that his observation would be that Yorkshire has a rugged individualism, I'd suggest that is the case not only in Yorkshire society but in our churches as well.
Many churches in Yorkshire adopt that approach, they are little red hen churches (I'll do it myself). Even those who are part of larger networks often seem to display that characteristic within their network. And what strikes me is how tragic that is because most of our churches in Yorkshire are not full of indigenous Yorkshire people, and are certainly not led by them. If we are going to absorb anything of the culture around us why can we not adopt the generosity of spirit, the sheer determination, or friendliness of Yorkshire folk.
I guess my frustration with the day is in many ways my frustration with ministry in Yorkshire and it was well illustrated in the break out session, when we broke into regions the South Yorkshire region had representatives from only 4 churches, no doubt there were others who had good reason for not attending, but in many ways Yorkshire feels fragmented. When Neil Powell shared with us how Birmingham 20:20 works it was encouraging to see the diversity of churches involved and partnering together in the gospel, my prayer and the challenge I have come away from the day with is that we need to build those connections and quickly.
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Reaching the Unreached II
Just booked my place for this conference taking place in Barnsley where we'll be looking at the questions 'Does the gospel work in the hard places of our land?', here's a link to the website: http://www.reachingtheunreached.org.uk/
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