The (W)right Move

The Bishop of Durham, Dr N. T. Wright, has announced that he will be retiring from the See of Durham on August 31. He has been appointed to a Chair in New Testament and Early Christianity at St Andrews.

So in a surprise move, N. T. Wright (my favourite theologian) is leaving the Church of England to return to the academic world. He has explained that his 'continuing vocation to be a writer, teacher and broadcaster, for the benefit of the wider world and church, has been increasingly difficult to combine with the complex demands and duties of a diocesan bishop'. But part of me wonders whether his decision has anything to do with the current crisis in the Church of England.

Anyway, I think this is a good move for both him and St Andrews. I'm just glad I managed to catch him in York in one of his last few months as the Bishop of Durham.

On another note, N. T. Wright is, as I have previously suspected (see here and here), a lifelong supporter of recently-promoted Newcastle United FC.

"I breathed a huge sigh of relief when Newcastle United were promoted," he said. "It is always a worry when a team goes down that they will become disheartened and fall to the bottom of the league, but this has been a great season." I approve!

The Butterfly Effect in Evangelism

"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." - 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 (NIV)

This passage is usually used to teach that the church is not about individuals but about Christ, the church's one foundation. More generally, evangelism is not about who sows or who reaps the seed of the gospel but about God, who is sovereign in salvation.

As I was thinking a bit more about this passage, it struck me that there is a butterfly effect in evangelism. If Paul did not plant the seed, there would not have been anything for Apollos to water. The butterfly effect applies not only to sanctification but also to evangelism (which, if you think about it, is really part of sanctification)!

Links: The Butterfly Effect (15 Sep 09), The Butterfly Effect in Sanctification (26 Apr 10)

The Butterfly Effect in Sanctification

*This post itself demonstrates the butterfly effect. If I hadn't made a note (7 months ago) of C. S. Lewis' observation that 'good and evil both increase at compound interest', I wouldn't be blogging about it now.*

Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.

The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of.

An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.

- C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." - Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV)

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

"Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!" - Philippians 3:17-4:1 (NIV)

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

"But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." - Colossians 3:5-10 (NIV)

Every (bitter) thought, every (evil) deed either brings us closer to Christ or further away from Him. Even if there are no apparent consequences, at the very least our thoughts and actions contribute to forming habits of either virtue or vice.

As N. T. Wright puts it, 'the point about the word "virtue" - if we can recapture it in its strong sense - is that it refers, not so much to "doing the right things", but to the forming of habits and hence of moral character'.

Links: The Butterfly Effect (15 Sep 09), The Butterfly Effect in Evangelism (27 Apr 10)

Blessed Assurance

Contentment

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

Refreshment

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

Guidance

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Comfort

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Blessing

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Assurance

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

- Psalm 23 (NIV)

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Saviour am happy and blest
Watching and waiting, looking above
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Saviour all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Saviour all the day long

Making the Most of Every Opportunity

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate to do." - Romans 7:15 (NIV)

I was just reflecting on a missed opportunity, to do something good for someone, which I had a while ago. But it's time to move on from that.

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." - Galatians 6:10 (NIV)

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." - Colossians 4:5 (NIV)

Understanding What the Lord's Will Is

"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." - Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)

not as unwise but as wise -> do not be foolish
making the most of every opportunity -> understand what the Lord's will is

The construction of Ephesians 5:15-17 indicates that making the most of every opportunity is (related to) understanding what the Lord's will is.

Are we making the most of every opportunity?

By Grace Alone

"Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." - Romans 4:4-5 (NIV)

We do not earn our salvation as an obligation. We receive our salvation as a gift. We do not work for our salvation. We work out our salvation.

(Of course, just because salvation is a gift does not mean that it is only given to some. On the contrary, salvation is given to all and only received by some.)

"For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed." - 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (NIV)

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." - Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

"We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." - Colossians 1:28-29 (NIV)

*****

If salvation is by grace alone, we cannot earn it. If we cannot earn our salvation, what makes us think that we can earn anything else? If we cannot earn our salvation, how much more can we not earn a degree, a job, a husband/wife?

Links: Grace-Driven Effort (11 Jun 10), Grace and Growth (29 Jun 10)

Apr 15 to 21

Apr 15: "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" - Luke 17:10 (NIV)

Apr 16: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." - Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Apr 17: "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." - Luke 18:1 (NIV)

Apr 18: "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." - Deuteronomy 29:29 (NIV)

Apr 19: "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." - Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

Apr 20: "I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." - Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (NIV)

Apr 21: "All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." - Luke 21:4 (NIV)

The Gospel of Grace

*From Caleb's blog*

The one basic message that both Christians and unbelievers need to hear is the gospel of grace. It can then be applied to both groups, right on the spot and directly. Sermons which are basically moralistic will only be applicable to either Christians OR non-Christians. But Christo-centric preaching, preaching the gospel both grows believers and challenges non-believers.

If the Sunday service and sermon aim primarily at evangelism, it will bore the saints. If they aim primarily at education, they'll bore and confuse unbelievers. If they aim at praising the God who saves by grace they'll both instruct insiders and challenge outsiders.

- Tim Keller, Evangelistic Worship

Reflections on New Word Alive

77 days to New Word Alive 2010, I wrote that:

During my national service from Jan 05 to Nov 06, I spent most of my time hoping that I could disrupt from national service and come to York in Oct 05, or at least Oct 06. But looking back, Oct 07 was exactly the right time for me to come to York.

Now I see that had I come to York earlier, I would not have had the opportunity to go for New Word Alive for all 3 years of my time in the UK (Word Alive only split off from Spring Harvest to form New Word Alive in 2008). Of course, New Word Alive is just one of many reasons as to why Oct 07 was exactly the right time for me to come to York.

"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." - Acts 17:26-27 (NIV)

Going mysteriously forward, I trust that Jul 10 will be exactly the right time for me to return to Singapore.

The best is yet to be!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Epilogue

Now that New Word Alive 2010 - my third (and in all likelihood last ever) New Word Alive - has come and gone, I can say that I've been greatly blessed by New Word Alive over the past 3 years. The teaching has been excellent and the fellowship has been equally amazing, both with friends living in the same caravan and friends I've made/run into throughout the conference.

As I graduate from York and return to Singapore for good this Jul, I will miss many things about the UK, not least New Word Alive. It's tempting to wish that I could stay on for another year, but I trust that God - who brought me to York at just the right time - will bring me back to Singapore at just the right time as well.

Back to school next week, back to Singapore on 29 Jul and back to work with the Singapore Prison Service thereafter. As the tagline for New Word Alive goes - Serving the Church, Reaching the World.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)

Link: The Providence of God (26 Jan 10)

Apr 8 to 14

Apr 8: "And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?" - Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NIV)

Apr 9: "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him." - Luke 12:35-36 (NIV)

Apr 10: "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." - Luke 13:24 (NIV)

Apr 11: "In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name for ever." - Psalm 44:8 (NIV)

Apr 12: "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:33 (NIV)

Apr 13: "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" - Luke 15:31-32 (NIV)

Apr 14: "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?" - Luke 16:10-12 (NIV)