Shakespeare - or Jesus?

Well, the European election results are now known, and they certainly don’t make for happy reading for Gordon Brown and the UK government. However, in all of the furore and the controversy over the elections, other things tend to be pushed to the side.

Yesterday morning, I caught an excerpt from the Radio 4 programme Broadcasting House in which Frank Dobson, MP made the following statements: “He addressed all the great issues that have effected mankind.” and “He has the greatest insights to humankind …”

This morning, The Daily Telegraph newspaper published the results of a survey in which it was discovered that “Jesus Christ is the dead person most Britons would love to meet with Diana, Princess of Wales, second, …”

I found two points of interest in those, seemingly unrelated, items. The first is, of course, that I do not think of the Lord Jesus as a “dead person”! As we celebrate every Sunday – and indeed, as often as we wish – He is the risen Saviour Who has conquered death, and hell, and the grave. The old chorus reminded us:
“He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me, and He talks with me, along life’s narrow way.
He lives! He lives! salvation to impart.
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.”

The other point is that, in spite of what a disciple of the Lord Jesus might think, Frank Dobson was not speaking about the Master. He was, in fact, referring to William Shakespeare! Now, it is true that the English Bard did deal with a number of socio-political, and even religious, themes in his many plays and other writings. And a close study of his collected works does suggest that he had some amazing insights into the heart and mind of mankind. But only the Maker knows the product through and through; and only Jesus deals with the greatest of all issues that effects mankind – sin!

Many years ago, I read a commentary on some of the works of Shakespeare that had, in the preface, the reminder that “The book’s the thing; not the commentary thereon.” Is it pushing things too much to suggest changing that to "The Creator's the thing, not that which He has created"?

Shakespeare may well have provided some insights to the fallen nature of mankind - but only the Saviour can do anything about it! May all who read this post be found in the company of those who have responded positively, with repentant hearts, to His great offer of salvation.

European Election Results

If I have followed the instructions correctly (!!!) then a scroll down to the bottom of the blog will lead you to a chart of the results of the 2004 Euro-elections - that will be updated for 2009 as the results from the various countries are announced. Don't you just love the wonders of modern technology??!!

By the way, have managed to work out:

EPP-ED = European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats
PES = Party of European Socialists
ALDE = Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
IND/DEM = Independence/Democracy Group in the European Parliament
GREENS/EFA = The Greens – European Free Alliance in the European Parliament
GUE/NGL = Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left
UEN = Union for Europe of the Nations
NI = No Group (Independent)

True sacrifice

Today, as has been well publicised, is the 65th anniversary of the D-Day Normandy landings that signalled the beginning of the end of the Second World War – at least in Europe. During the week, in the lead-up to the commemorative activities, a number of commentators spoke of the thousands of young men who willingly gave their lives for king and country. However, I would suggest that this was not really the case. The vast majority of those men were there, on the Normandy beaches, because they were conscripts. It was a commendable submission to a sense of duty that appears to be sadly lacking today; but it was not, for most, a willing sacrifice.

War does, of course, provide other examples of such sacrifice as one comrade willingly places himself in a dangerous situation for the sake of another – and pays the supreme price of his own life. However, even in such cases, it is not always a voluntary, calculated, sacrifice. Often, one hears of those who have performed such acts -without it having cost their own life - stating that they didn't even give any thought to their action: it was just a rush of adrenalin that saw them through!

The greatest war of all is the ‘War of the Worlds’ – not that portrayed in the novel by H.G.Wells, but that which takes place in the spiritual realm, between the forces of good and the forces of evil. It was in the context of that conflict that the greatest sacrifice of all time was made when, in the Persona of the Son (please listen to my audio-message on The Trinity at www.revcbross.blogspot.com), Almighty God hung on a cross, on a hill called Calvary – willingly, and lovingly, sacrificing Himself for a fallen, sinful, mankind, in order that we might have the opportunity of eternal life. Of course if, on the battle-field I am injured but, when my comrade-in-arms risks his own life in order to help me, I tell him to go away as I’ll manage on my own, then I am likely to perish. Similarly, anyone who receives the saving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and rejects it, is condemning themselves to an eternity excluded from His Presence.

Today, many gave thanks – and it was right and proper that they should do so – for those who, willingly or not, died in order to ensure the physical freedom that so many of us enjoy. May it be that many, tomorrow (and every day!) will give thanks for the One Who gave His sinless life that we might know spiritual freedom now, and the joy of His Presence in eternity.

Presbyterian Brown?

Recent reports on the unenviable situation in which Gordon Brown (currently Prime Minister of the UK government) finds himself, have made barbed comments with regard to his Presbyterianism, and his alleged Christian beliefs.

However, as I frequently point out to pupils, there is a great deal of truth in the old adage that “Words are cheap”? The very Jesus Who is the Centre and Foundation of the Christian faith said, in the context of discerning character, that “You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don't pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles.” (Matt.7:16). The words were originally spoken about false prophets but, surely, they are applicable to others as well?!

Mr Brown’s actions, both as Chancellor of the Exchequer and as Prime Minister, do not, I would suggest, stand up to very much scrutiny. Whether it be the ‘robbing’ of pension funds, or the abolition of the 10p rate of Income Tax; his support for the illegal invasion of Iraq, or his failure to ensure adequate equipment for the forces who have been sent there; his failure to support the Ghurkas, or his apparent support for some of his fellow-members who have blatently fleeced the British taxpayers; his actions have not been easily seen as compatible with the teaching of the Carpenter from Nazareth!

As far as Presbyterianism is concerned, the basic difference between that denomination and some others is, not as much doctrinal as governmental. Presbyterian churches have a structure that has the basic ‘power’ in the pew rather than in the pulpit. The clergyman is referred to as ‘the minister’ because he is there to serve (minister to) the congregation; and the various courts of the church take their power from those below – in spite of what the grandees of the General Assembly sometimes seem to believe!

It is in the Episcopal churches that ‘power’ cascades from ‘the top’. In this sense, Mr Brown’s government has been consistently, and increasingly, episcopal. “Listening to the people”, has been a convenient sound-bite – but the lack of a referendum on the European Constitution/Lisbon Treaty, in spite of a manifesto commitment, shows that the people’s clearly-expressed wishes have been totally ignored.

However, the coming days may well illustrate that Mr Brown has failed to read – or, at least, understand – the injunction of Paul, in his letter to the followers of Jesus, living in 1st century Corinth: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!” (I Cor.10:12).

What is Truth?

The saga over the expense claims of many members of the UK parliament shows no sign of an early conclusion. Indeed, I found myself thinking of the radio programme, "Mrs Dale's Diary" - and if that means nothing to you, be pleased that you are so young!!

One of the many outcomes of this scandalous situation is the apparent evaporation of trust in our elected representatives. A survey, published earlier this week, suggested that some 75% of the British public don't believe that "honourable members" speak the truth or, to put it more bluntly (and, probably, 'politically incorrectly'!) that they are liars. Of course, one ought not to forget that there are many members who have not, selfishly, greedily, and fraudulently, abused the system. Unfortunately, as I frequently explain to pupils, it only takes a few bad apples to get the whole barrel a bad name!

Some 2,000 years ago, a prominent politician asked the profound question, "What is truth?" (Jn.18:38). He asked it of the One Who, alone, could give the fullest and most accurate answer. And Pontius Pilate - for that was his name - asked 'What is truth?'; not 'What is the truth about the accusations being made against You?' In other words, he was seeking, not factual information about a specific situation, but beyond that, to the very concept itself. However, for whatever reason - and speculation is not always helpful - the Lord Jesus makes no answer to this man. Of course, it could be because He has already given the answer to one of His disciples? In Jn.14:6, we find Thomas, in response to the Master's assurance that "There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. ... And you know where I am going and how to get there" (v.2, 4) responding with "No, we don't know, Lord," ... "We haven't any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (v.5) Jesus tells him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."

"I am ... the truth". What an amazing claim! It seems to me that Jesus is stating, quite categorically, that He is the very embodiment of truth; that, in Him, and in Him alone, is real truth to be found; that all that is true finds its source and foundation in Him.

Decades later, one of the most prominent of the disciples of Jesus wrote these words to his fellow disciples in the Roman colonial city of Philippi: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Phil.4:8).

Perhaps if politicians - at every level of government - were to follow Paul's advice, we would live in a more honest, more open, and much better society!