God's blessings

A friend was wondering this week if a random telemarketing offer of a bargain travel deal is God's blessing for tithing faithfully. In the face of consumerism and increased exposure to prosperity, I'm wary of any Christians making such an assertion. Not that I don't believe God could bless us in such a way, but it seems too hasty to draw that conclusion out of such circumstance.

We can easily fall into a trap of thinking that it's God blessing us every time say, for example, when I see something I want go on sale in the store.  Or something that I think is good happens. The danger of this is that we are making God our excuse for granting ourselves desires of our heart. What we think is good doesn't necessary mean that God thinks that it's good too. In Luke 6:20-26, Jesus told his disciples who are to be blessed and who will be in trouble. This clearly doesn't only include good things.

It's true that the scripture also says all good things come from God. But good in a way that causes us to ripe spiritual benefits and that include bad things in our eyes. Or else why would James asks us to count it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds? Because as he explains, it will build our character so that we may be mature spiritually.

So if something, however good it may look to us, if it doesn't deepen our relationship with Christ, I'm more inclined to think that it's from us and not God.

An old hymn "Count your blessings" sums it up well.

When you look at others
With their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised
You His wealth untold
Count your many blessings
Money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven
Nor your home on high

Blood Diamond

The Ladies Beyond Diamond conference reminds me of a diamond of another sort and a conference of another kind.

Blood Diamond
Set in Africa and against the backdrop of Sierra Leone's civil war, Blood Diamond is a movie that shows us the workings of the jewelry industry and the human exploitation and bloodshed that's involved and so intricately linked to satisfying the demands in life. Whether it's basic survival (killing for diamonds, exchanging diamonds for money), power (trading diamonds for arms), accomplishing one's ideal (funding civil war with diamonds) or greed (smuggling diamonds, bringing illegal diamonds for higher profits).

Not only the imagery of child soldiers, but what the main character Danny said when he was confronted by his conscience lingered in my head for a while. He was reflecting upon his past and wondered sometimes "if God would forgive what we [Africans white or black] did to each other. And then I realised that God has left this place long time ago." I couldn't help but wonder if God could leave a place full of his creation behind. The country as portrayed in the movie clearly has no fear of God. And it's not hard to find such a place in our world today.

Has God abandoned them? I think not, but He won't and can't interfere when He isn't allowed to. Because they refused even to think about God (Rm 1:28), so God let these people go their own way (Rm 1:24), let them follow their own evil desires (Rm 1:26) and let their useless minds rule over them (Rm 1:28).

Child Soldiers
It's not hard to see how evil manifests itself in kidnapping and turning children into ruthless killers. It's not just in the movie, but in real life, there are up to 200,000 child soldiers in Africa alone.

It's hard to imagine how once happy, innocent and hopeful boys could turn into cruel people disregarding human life and gaining respect by killing. The scriptures came to mind about the influence that the people we surround ourselves with have on us. It says The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray (Prob 12:26) and He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm (Prob 13:20).

This also reminds me of the movie Ripley's Game where in one scene, Ripley said to the "innocent" man he forced into killing that the good thing about doing terrible thing is: you don't remember it after you've done it. It speaks of the state of our evilness as in Romans, the more we entertain it, the easier it gets. And so it's the same in our daily life that the more we focus and surround ourselves with things and thoughts of the world, the easier it gets to be one of them.

Women's Conference
I've been to quite a few women's gatherings, but one that I attended 8 years ago stood out in my mind. In this weekend retreat, all women are divided into groups that they learn and share and look out for one another for the weekend. The talks are by different speakers and topics mirror the stages of our Christian growth followed by a discussion. There are also other activities where all women can have fun together.

I distinctively remember the volume of gifts we received throughout the weekend. We were all showered with gifts constantly and most evidently at the dinning table. But the difference is these gifts all contain messages that reminds us of God. I also remember very well one activity that was very powerful in helping to draw me closer to God.

The talks, the meals, the activities and the gifts during the entire weekend were designed to build up the body of Christ and growing stronger Christian women. To me, that's the kind of gathering that's worth spending my time in. And I wish there are more of this kind of conference in churches today.

Small Groups Get-together

Small Groups are not just lists of names, and the times and places we meet. They're about real relationships and real people who have much to offer. People like you (as leaders and participants), who are part of the Body of Christ.

This Small Group Get-together is a great opportunity for groups to get to know people in other groups, within our church family. This is a great time to meet new friends, and catch up with old ones. So let's come together and encourage each other in love, sharing a little of ourselves and our lives with brothers and sisters in Christ. Let's have a great time out in God's beautiful Creation, sharing a meal and enjoying each other's company.

Bring yourself, your group and your friends! You don't have to belong to a small group to come along. Everyone's welcome, and maybe you'll find a group to fit in to!


What: A BBQ
Date: Sunday, August 19
Time: 12:00PM
Place: Shuster Park, Heather St, Tallebudgera (click here for directions)
Food: Please talk to your small group.

Insider story of Hillsong

There's a bit of publicity surrounding the launch of Tanya Levin's People in Glass Houses, an insider story of a former Hillsong goer.

The book is a recount of Tanya's spiritual journey and her experience at Hillsong. Before the book release, Andrew Denton interviewed her on Enough Rope about her experience and her book. And the Sydney Morning Herald has written a review on the book.

Hillsong is the biggest church in Australia and the most influential among the Christian community with its music widely used by churches. Its popularity of course has attracted some attention over the years. The main criticisms are mostly about Hillsong and their counterparts' view on money and wealth that has obviously prompted BRW's article God's millionaires in 2005.

Prosperity doctrine is foundational to the growth of the Pentecostal movement now gaining momentum as our society is getting richer. My first taste of this was during my visit at Hillsong about 9 years ago. Brian Houston was speaking that day and what left me with a lasting impression was his illustration using a front row audience's $10 note. Lifting the $10 note, he presented the message of tithing by emphasizing on the giving of $1(10%) to God and the rest of $9 being ours. And God will multiply that and bless us with more. I remember thinking that that $9 isn't mine, it's all God's and it's not to be used for my pleasure but for God's purposes.

Jesus came so that everyone would have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). But that abundance or fullness is in knowing Christ and not in material possessions. In other words, being rich spiritually. Being successful is living a life that is in line and fulfills God's plan in our lives. It doesn't necessary equate to a good life.

The disciples in the early church go from place to place preaching the word of God, enduring persecution and relying on others to support them. They were poor materially but rich in spirit. Their focus was on fulfilling the mission that God has given them and not on the reward that they may receive. As in Psalm 56:16-17, God delights more in a broken spirit and a contrite heart than material sacrifice that we can offer.

I wonder why Jesus wasn't wealthy. Was he not giving enough that the Father should reward him financially? Or did he simply placing his priority in fulfilling God's mission in his life?

Prosperity doctrine appeals to our fallen human nature and our desire for a good and comfortable life. But it's at odds with the examples we see in the Bible (see my earlier post riches in God's eyes). What's of concern is many churches in other denominations today are modelling their church on the success of Hillsong without careful consideration of its validity from God's perspective or realising the danger or implications it may have.

David Collis' Kingdom Coffee: (mega)church means business provides some good insight in this issue and Jim Reiher’s The eye of the needle is said to be a must for those who wants to think through the teachings of prosperity. There's also The lord's profits and Hillsong's own website for those who have further interest.

What about welcoming?

What does it take to welcome someone?  I've been hearing about people from our church not feeling belonged or included.  

To be able to show interest to unfamiliar faces requires maturity and effort.  It's never hard to stay in your own crowd, but church isn't for social purposes.  And if we're all brothers and sisters in Christ, wouldn't we want to know one another?  And if the church is a body, doesn't it make sense that the better we know our fellow hands and feet and eyes and ears... the smoother and effective our body will function?

I remember the sermon by Pastor Bill a few months ago on unity using the story of Cain and Abel and Cain's question of his role as his brother's keeper.  What struck a chord with me from that is the message to extend our welcome and friendship to one another, whether they are strangers or people who we seemingly have nothing in common.  We aren't expected to know everyone in one day, but as part of the family, shouldn't we be as Pastor Bill puts it, to show interest and care in one another?

The welcoming team does a great job in making people feel welcome especially for new people.  But that's not enough.  That mindset needs to permeate into everyone who claims to be in the family of God.  That's what the scripture talks about being in one mind. For me, I've long made it my personal policy to meet new people and catch up with those I don't get to talk to for some time.  My small group knows about this and everyone is encouraged to do the same.

Yes, it's not easy because it takes us out of our comfort zone.  And requires a focus that's on the 'other' and not 'us'.  With my moving around a bit in my earlier years, I've been to many churches.  You may have felt the same as I did when you step into a new church knowing no one and feeling a bit awkward or strange and not surprisingly opted to be the first one to leave after the service.  But the experience of people coming up to befriend me has blessed my heart and forever changed my way of treating others.  It makes me want to do the same to others.

Are you interested in those who you don't know well or have seemingly nothing in common? (btw, isn't having the same heavenly Father the most awesome common ground we share?)  Have you been looking around for those who're standing on their own and make an effort to talk to them or are you too absorbed in your own circle?  If you're serious about God's kingdom, won't you be your brother's and sister's keeper and lavish them with your interest, attention and care?