Thinx 61: Faith Awakened Review

'Faith Awakened', by Grace Bridges, describes a virtual utopia inside a post-pandemic dystopia. It's "Second Life" and "Earth 2" on steroids, where you are your own avatar, wired directly to the network (thanks to a cable punched through your forehead.) As for the dystopia, while your body whiles away the years in solar-powered cryosleep, the rest of the world perishes, thanks to a genetically-modified air-borne ebola.

There are two interwoven narratives. The first describes life in dystopia and the events leading to the pandemic. Then there is the discovery of utopia, and a hurried escape into it. Finally, there is an emergence into a world reborn: safe, clean … and massively depopulated.

The second narrative describes an idiosyncratic utopia, modelled by a computer in response to programming performed by its inhabitants before their entry into it. The virtual reality software takes care of the details -- when it works.

There is spirituality here too: both narratives refer to an Awakener, a semi-personal figure who brings them out of darkness into light, who meets them in both the real and the virtual world, and who is somehow involved in their physical and spiritual salvation. Who is he? That remains to be revealed, it seems.

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2007

Thinx 60: Faith Awakened

Yes, I've read it and I'm writing a review. Stay tuned.

Thinx 59: Something I said at Communion

This piece of bread is food. It reminds us of the Passover. The food was preparation for a journey -- the Exodus. For us it is also a preparation -- for the journey of Faith.

Eating this is an act of worship, part of the worship that began at conversion and that will continue through this service and out into the week.

Every thought, word, and action which reflects the glory of God is an act of worship, even the eating of something as simple as a piece of bread.

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2007

Thinx 58: Revenge

What is it about human beings: we get hurt and then say to ourselves, "Okay, you hurt me, I'm going to hurt you back." And escalation seems strangely inevitable -- there's no way of measuring our pain against some external standard, so we never give back exactly what we have received. In any case, everyone's perception of pain is not the same. So we set out to make them really hurt, often hurting ourselves -- doing some kind of violence to our souls -- in the process.

As God says to us, through Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6:7, "Why not be wronged? Why not be defrauded?" We defraud God often, making promises which we do not keep. We do that which wounds God. We hurt him with out disobedience. We break the first commandment, listening to and obeying the voices of the flesh, the world and the devil. Does God turn around and give us as we have given him?

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2007

Thinx 57: Catalyst #2

Another reason why I'm part of Riverton Baptist Church's Catalyst group:

What do you do when carers don't care? What do you do when government agencies no longer work out of love and respect, but instead treat people as an inconvenience, a burden to which the barest minimum of care is to be given, so that a box can be ticked and a pay-packet collected? How do you seek, and actually get, justice for the poor, the widow, the orphan and the immigrant? What do you do when people suffer injustice, not just at the global level, but also at the national, and community levels? How can issues of unfair treatment be addressed in a way that is appropriate but also effective?

I went to the Catalyst training because I was interested in the global issues. But I also went because I wanted to find out if Catalyst's methods could also be used to make a difference at the community level. I have found that the methods work across the board.

Do you want to make a difference now, and for eternity? Consider Catalyst.

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2007

Thinx 56: Catalyst

One reason why I'm part of Riverton Baptist Church's Catalyst group:

Seven years ago last Sunday, my father died. His passing was noted in a number of places, including the front page of The Sydney Morning Herald, in Column 8, and Wesley Mission's Sharkwatch.

My father was a dangerous man -- dangerous because he acted on his beliefs. He believed in Jesus (and that's often enough danger for most.) However, he also believed that the government, though in its place by the behest of God, is nevertheless a human organisation. Government, at all levels, is staffed by men and women, all subject to the foibles, fears and failings that are part and parcel of being sons and daughters of Adam.

Dad also knew, better than most it seems, that the government is neither all powerful, all present nor all knowing. In fact, quite the opposite: it needs the help and efforts of others in order to get anything done; it often can't see past the end of its own nose; and it is totally incapable of reading people's minds.

So my father set about improving things for the government of his day: he wrote letters -- sometimes 10 or more per week. He sent them to the government, and to the media, by mail, by documents exchange, and later, by email. He wrote on a wide range of subjects: from Starr-Bowkett Societies through to pointed debunkings of whatever the government's "spin of the day" may have been. He wrote tight, dense prose, fortified with legalese, squeezing into a sentence what others often take a paragraph to achieve.

And he did this consistently from the mid 1950s through to the end of the 1990s.

I am the eldest of his children. I am the son of a catalyst. My methods are not his, but his passion is in my blood.

I am also a son of God, and his love compels me to confess his gospel, and also to act upon it.

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2007

Thinx 55: Gifts ... without Repentance

Gifts ... without Repentance, an amazingly insightful posting, from Paul F. Mitchell who wrote it for his "ninetyandnine" site back in May 2003.

Please pardon the jargon, but the article 'resonates' with me, especially in this excerpt:

God gave the gifts because He desired them to be used. Man created the obstacles. God never forbade sports, or dance, or music. God simply said, “Sin not.” Centuries later, man decided he had to help God out and define all the “modern” ways we sin. God said, “Be holy.” Man decided that holiness should go beyond the scriptural parameters, and began trying to define holiness by setting boundaries. God said, “I’ve come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly,” and man said, “Here’s your abundant life—you can’t do this, this, this, this, or this…and, oh yeah, you can’t do this or that, either. Now aren’t you blessed!”

Thinx 54: Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength: The Annual Anti-Easter Pageant: 2007 Edition

More brilliance from Weekend Fisher.

Thinx 53: Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength: Christianity in Tolkien: What Is Wisdom?

Every so often I stumble over a gem. This is certainly one.

Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength: Christianity in Tolkien: What Is Wisdom?

Thinx 52: If you had permission ...

Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
-- Gil Bailie.

The place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.
-- Frederick Buechner

If you had permission to do what you really want to do, what would you do? Don't ask how; that will cut your desire off at the knees. How is never the right question; how is a faithless question. It means "unless I can see my way clearly I won't believe it, won't venture forth." When the angel told Zechariah that his ancient wife would bear him a son named John, Zechariah asked how and was struck dumb for it. How is God's department. He is asking you what. What is written in your heart? What makes you come alive? If you could do what you've always wanted to do, what would it be?
-- John Eldredge, "Wild At Heart", p. 200

When I read that I pulled out my notebook and wrote the following:

* Pastor a church ... preach

I really enjoy preaching. It's a scary, exciting adventure. Very carefully, you pick up the two-edged sword by the blade. Even as it cuts others, it's cutting you.

* Coach men to be men and women to be women

What is the church's role? To enforce cultural stereotypes or to challenge them?

Society at large can't make up its mind about men. Having spent the last thirty years redefining masculinity into something more safe, sensitive, manageable and, well, feminine, it now berates men for not being men.
...
Christianity, as it currently exists, had done some terrible things to men. When all is said and done, I think most men in the church believe that God put them on the earth to be a good boy. The problem with men we are told, is that they don't know how to keep their promises, be spiritual leaders, talk to their wives, or raise their children. But, if they try real hard they can reach the lofty summit of becoming ... a nice guy. That's what we hold up as models of Christian maturity, Really Nice Guys. We don't smoke, drink, or swear; that's what makes us men. Now let me ask my male readers: In all your boyhood dreams growing up, did you ever dream of becoming a Nice Guy? (Ladies, was the the Prince of your dreams dashing ... or merely nice?)
-- John Eldredge, "Wild At Heart", pp. 6-7.

It's also time to remind everyone that we are all on the front-line of a great spiritual conflict.

For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.
-- Ephesians 6:13 (NET)

And when is this evil day? I used to think it was some time in the future. It's right now.

taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
-- Ephesians 5:16 (NET)

And yes, you will be wounded. The battle is spiritual ... and very real. And the enemy hates you with a violent and implacable hatred.

So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus.
-- Revelation 12:17 (NET)

* Tell people what they can do.

So much time goes into telling Christians what they can't do that they never find out what they can do. Each church tradition has its rules regarding what is acceptable and what isn't. I grew up in an Anglican church; made my first conscious commitment through YFC; was discipled through the Uniting Church; was discipled and then sent out as a missionary by a Presbyterian church; married a Baptist; attended a Brethren assembly while studying with Wycliffe/SIL; worked for an Anglican-derivative church in Pakistan; attended a Southern Baptist (planted) International Church in Pakistan; and now attend a Baptist church in Western Australia.
I've been around. And yet, for all that, I still know more what not to do than what to do. I still don't have much in the way of experience of sharing my faith; I still don't know how to lobby a politician; and I still don't know where to even begin challenging our godless, evolutionized cultural milieu.

* Take kids on urban mission trips

People who want to get missionary experience usually go overseas. That's fine if you can afford it, or if you have a mob of people behind you who are willing to help you afford it. But there are also lots of possibilities for missionary experience within our own city. Western Urban Associates are into this kind of thing and can link you up with those who do authentic hands-on urban mission.

* Take apologetics students on witnessing trips, exploring and using every evangelism method known to man

I studied apologetics in Bible College. So did a friend of mine. We each passed our respective units. Trouble is, we never actually went out and "did" apologetics. It'd be great to have an apologetics teacher who says,

"Okay, for next week's class we will meet in Hay Street Mall, near the entrance to Wesley Arcade. First I will go and demonstrate how to start a conversation and direct it into a discussion about Jesus. Then we will break up into small groups and each have a go at doing the same. Then we'll go up to Corey's new shop in West Perth for a coffee and debrief."

* Tell the truth about who we are: that there is no such thing as a 'Carnal Christian' -- teach the all-sufficiency of Christ

I've been very much encouraged by Tom Wells's book "Christian: Take Heart!" It thoroughly debunks the 'Carnal Christian' teaching, and is massively encouraging in the process. It's message deserves a wider readership and a sensitive handling from the pulpit

* Help develop a programming language for the world that doesn't require the programmer to know English

Apparently Sun Microsystems went into China a while back claiming that the Chinese could all learn Java in 3 days. It didn't work. Imagine, now, going in with a programming language based on Chinese, or into Bolivia with a programming language based on Quechua, or into Zambia with a programming language based on Nyanja. The vast majority of computer programming languages are based on English, and no one seems interested in doing anything about that, because ...

It comes down to an inability to see outside the comfort zone, or to comprehend the extent to which [programming language] monoglossia pervades. We are not going after people who can already program. [And] we aren't asking people to switch, although that would be nice. [Rather,] we are after the 78% of the population who find it difficult to master a second language (or in the case of southern China, the 83% that are incapable of learning a third, when they have had to get Mandarin in addition to Cantonese, or in Java, where they have had [to] master Indonesian in addition to Javanese, Sundanese or Balinese). These are people who are cut out of advanced scientific or commercial work because their brains can't do English.
We already know this elsewhere; this is after all why we do Bible translation -- because we can't expect Achinese or Andaman Islanders to learn Aramaic and Hebrew ... [before] Christianity on the off-chance that it might appeal to them
-- Diarmuid Pigott, personal communication, December 2006.

Okay, that's my list. What's yours?

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2007

Thinx 51: Vested Interests

So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council, and said, 'What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on thus, every one will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.' But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, 'You know nothing at all; you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.' He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
-- John 11:47-52

So really all they cared about was their holy place and their identity as Jews. Nothing which might threaten that was permitted. 'All mine, bunny.' I'm not sure I see a connection between the reformation of Judaism and the fall of Jerusalem. Indeed, it would appear from history that it was due to the fact that Judaism was not reformed that Jerusalem fell.

And when he approached, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, he things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before you, and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."
-- Luke 19: 41-44

The John passage gives the other side of the occasion. Jesus says, in Luke, that they do not recognise the time of their visitation. The Jews, in John, do not recognise the time of their visitation. If fact, they are threatened by it.

And am I like this? Does Jesus want to visit me and am I afraid of what is good for me? If I resist will judgement come upon me like a storm and raze everything to the ground?

[Memories of Pakistan -- Thursday, 16 January 2003 8:52:59 AM]

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2006

Thinx 50: Repentance

and [Jesus] said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem."
-- Luke 24:46,47 (NET)

I am still reeling, not from recent charges of selfishness, which are largely true, but from reading Luke 24:47. It is also part of the Great Commission and yet how often do we hear it read? "... that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem."

How often do we hear about repentance these days when we are talking about people becoming Christians? We hear more about 'asking Jesus into your heart.' But this is fatally flawed: We start with ourselves, acknowledging that something is missing and seeking something that will fill the hole. We find the Filler and that's it; after he has come it would seem that there is nothing further to be done. He's there. You're fine, the gap has been filled. You are now complete and can get on with life. Jesus has become merely a piece of spiritual polyfilla, shoring up a crack in one's psyche. After that, what is he?

But if we start from the need to repent, and with that the knowledge that repentance is not so much a once for all event but a continuing process, then Jesus' own line 'repent and believe' (Mark 1:15) puts the focus not on the hole that needs to be filled but rather the life that needs constantly to be refocussed on God, by a change of behaviour (the 'repentance' part) and a change of mind (the 'believe' part).

Luke talks frequently about repentance leading to a change in behaviour -- Zacchaeus' belief in Jesus was demonstrated by a change in attitude to his riches and by a change in attitude toward those whom he was hired to tax. He now saw the poor not as defenceless ones ripe for exploitation, but as ones valuable to God and in need of assistance. And he saw that his behaviour in the past had been unjust and that he needed to make amends. The Law stated that he had to give back double what he stole.

For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for ass, for sheep, for clothing, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, 'This is it,' the case of both parties shall come before God; he whom God shall condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.'
-- Exodus 22:9

Zacchaeus knew that he had been guilty of a breach of trust and so did as the Law required. Zacchaeus however gave not double but rather four times as much -- double double -- not because he was compelled to but because he wanted to. It was an expression of his repentance and belief.

[Memories of Pakistan -- 9 January 2003]

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2006

Thinx 49: Made Free

'Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly disciples of mine; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."'
-- John 8:31-32

This feeds into the whole repentance/belief thing because abiding in the word is a constant purposive activity, a deliberate choice to orientate oneself around, by and through the word of Christ. Such is the mark of the true disciple. And knowing the truth experientially frees. As McDonald says in his 'Memo to the Disorganised #12':

If my private world is in order, it will be because I absorb the words of Christ into my attitudes and actions.

[Memories of Pakistan -- 13 January 2006]

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2006

Thinx 48: Even God Has His Limits

And when he approached, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before you, and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."
--Luke 19: 41-44 (NASB)

You can only push God so far. Eventually, having pushed him away and away and away, he will finally pronounce a verdict upon you and you will find that you have received in full all that you inevitably get by pushing him away. In Jerusalem's case God declared judgement on it: "if you do not want to see, okay, from now on you can not see." Jerusalem did not recognize Jesus as the Seeker and the Saver. All they wanted was another king to rule in place of Caesar and to let them blithely and blindly continue as 'God's chosen people', never fulfilling their role as a light to the Gentiles. They wanted, not a new system, but the existing system with different rulers. They got the existing system: AD70. Jesus arrived declaring a different system but Jerusalem didn't want to see. So God made them unable to see.

We can only push God so far. Then we may find that what we thought we wanted is actually not what we want at all. But by then it may be too late to turn back. Constant rejection of God cements into one's character the habit of rejection. Eventually, the heart hardens -- impervious to all influences, internal and external.

Jesus goes on to clear out the temple. The religious rulers try to kill him. The common people hang upon his every word.

[Memories of Pakistan -- 3 Jan 2003]

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2006

Thinx 47: Deity

So much about Jesus deity in John: he has the power to lay down his life and the power and authority to take it up again. We may be able to lay down our lives for our friends but no one can take his life back up again once he has laid it down. But Jesus can.

Then he says, "I and the Father are one" (10:30) "... the Father is in me, and I am in the Father." (v38). It's as if v38 is to clarify the reality of the oneness of v30. Not just a composite oneness, not just a "Royal 'We'", but oneness of essence, each being in the other.

John 12:10 and the Jews were also considering killing Lazarus. Too many were leaving the fold. The instant legend of the resurrection of Lazarus needed to be turned into a myth, so that the Jews could say, "Yes, we heard it too, but see, he is dead. They only 'thought' he was raised. It was all a trick; smoke and mirrors stuff."

Here Jesus offers so much, and we, being more like the Pharisees than we are prepared to admit, cling tightly to what we have rather than give it up for something way better. It's just that in the giving up, we may have to give up power, prestige, position and so on, which isn't easy the older you get.

[Memories of Pakistan -- Friday, 17 January 2003 9:59:16 AM]

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2006

Thinx 46: Deity of Christ

'"The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him."'
-- John 5: 22-23

These words of Jesus are as clear a declaration of his deity as any other. They belong on the short list which included such pearls as John 8:58 [Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."]

That all may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father? So then all worship, honour, praise, thanksgiving, service, sacrifice, prayer etcetera goes as much to the Son as to the Father. As much as we honour the Father by our declarations of worth and the actions which reflect our belief in him and his worth; all this goes equally to the Son.

How can anyone say that the deity of Christ is a recent thing and not to be believed?

[Memories of Pakistan -- 11 January 2003]

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2006

Thinx 45: Comfort and Growth

"... we exult in hope [expectation] of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope [expectation]; and hope [expectation] does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."
-- Romans 5:2b-6

As a colleague was saying last night on the way home from the office, God seems more interested in our welfare than in our comfort; that sometimes there is no comfort, or indeed anti-comfort (tribulation) and yet God is there ensuring our longterm welfare by bringing out of that absence of comfort the more useful attributes of perseverance, proven character and hope.

[Memories of Pakistan -- Tuesday, 6 May 2003]

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2006

Thinx 44: The Coalface

Where is the coal-face? When I'm praying, interceding for others, that's the coal-face. Whatever battles are fought in the world, they are fought first in prayer. Wherever I am praying, that is the coal-face.

I could be back serving as a missionary in PNG or Pakistan and yet be far from the place there God wants me to be; though it may appear to be for service, sometimes a change of location may be for the purpose of escape.

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2006

Thinx 43: On Dying For One's Faith

"Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
...
"Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my warfare would I wait, until my release should come. You would call, and I would answer you. You would have a desire to the work of your hands. --Job 14:1, 13-15 (WEB)

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. --Phi 1:21 (WEB)

Dying for one's faith is easier than living for it.

In dying, someone comes and takes away your life -- makes your body incapable of holding life.

In living, no one comes to take away your death -- your body remains able to hold life, much as you may, from time to time, wish otherwise.

In death, you have your one moment to glorify God, before being released into his presence.

In life, you have the opportunity to glorify God day after day. He is still present but there is no release.

In death, you can set your burden down, your work on earth is done.

In life, your burden remains and your work continues.

Living for one's faith is harder than dying for it.

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2006

Thinx 42: For the Children of Wrath

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
--Rom 11:29

If the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable, 'without repentance' as other translations put it, does this mean that the call to mission and service that God placed on my life in the mid 80s still applies?

One might think not. I have spent about 8 of my 45 years as a cross-cultural missionary. Some might say that I have done my dash, that now is the time to rejoin the rat-race.

Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to Yahweh for it; for in its peace you shall have peace.
--Jer 29:7 (WEB)

Vast numbers of Australians are surging over the cliff into the abyss. Can I stand by, or go along with the flow, and do nothing about the lives about to be destroyed before my eyes? At the edge of the precipice, I will fly. But others will plummet.

Can I, can we Christians, avoid being damaged by a society in decline? Australia continues to erase the name and the memory of God out of all traditions and institutions. History repeats itself, for other cultures have done this too, and have suffered accordingly.

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves.
--Rom 1:18 (NLT)

If the stealing of children on their way to and from school increases, how long before it's one of our kids? If road-rage increases, how long before someone we know and love is damaged by another's anger? If corporate corruption continues, how long before we suffer the loss of savings and investments?

Are we somehow immune from societal collapse? No! We are not. If we do not actively seek the peace of the city and the soclety in which we live, we will suffer, and so will our children.

If I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I can't [contain].
--Jer 20:9 (WEB)

If I believe then I must speak, and I must act. I cannot simply care for the church and leave the outside world to take care of itself. We need pastors, preachers, and Sunday School teachers. But we also need evangelists, chaplains and SRE teachers. We're well set up for those who frequent our houses of worship. But what of those who never darken the door of a church; whose parents and grandparents are un-churched? Is there nothing to be done for the children of wrath?

© Copyright Bruce M. Axtens, 2006