Duty

This morning, in my capacity as a Force Chaplain, I had the privilege of attending the Annual Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for Officers and civilian Staff of Strathclyde Police Force, who had died in service during the previous twelve months.  It was, as usual, a time to reflect on all of those who serve within the Police Forces, and other Emergency Services - not only within Strathclyde Region, but throughout the country.  As a general public, we owe much more to dedicated officers, and others, who faithfully do their duty day in and day out, than we sometimes realise.  As I remarked to one Inspector with whom I was chatting afterwards, I sometimes hear of so-called 'rogue' police officers, but I have yet to meet one!

Duty, of course, is a very strong source of motivation - even if the concept appears to have all but disappeared in the culture in which I live.  This past week has seen HM Queen Elizabeth, the British and Commonwealth Head of State, pass an important milestone in becoming the second-longest reigning monarch in recorded history.  One of the things that makes her the recipient of a great measure of respect - even from those of us who are not particularly monarchist in our leanings - is her generally recognised sense of duty.  At her coronation, she made solemn vows, and accepted great responsibility and, while so much around her has changed, and while she must have shed many a tear, in private, as she watched the shenanigans of many in her family, she has steadfastly remained true to her calling - basically from a sense of duty.

In Luke's account of the Gospel record, we find these words concerning the Lord Jesus: "Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, ..." (Luke 9:51; NKJV).  The crucifixion of Jesus, that was especially remembered just a few weeks ago, was not an accident; it was not a victory for evil; it was the result of One Who knew that it was His duty to fulfil the eternal purposes of the Father, and Who advanced to meet the enemy at Calvary.  Of course, we know that Good Friday led to Easter Day or, as Tony Campolo memorably put it "It's Friday - but Sunday's coming!"  What is sometimes forgotten is that, in His Humanity, Jesus suffered the same physical pain and agony as any other victim of crucifixion; that He knew exactly what He was being called upon to experience - hence His anguished cry in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will , but Thine, be done." (Luke 22:42; RSV); that the spiritual suffering that He experienced ("My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me ?" [Matt 27:46]) was over and above the physical torture.

And even that is not the whole story.  Because it was not only duty that took Jesus to the cross; it was love - love for you, and love for me.  That's why I find it difficult to understand the ingratitude of so many.  If a police officer, doing no more than his/her duty, were to die in the act of saving my physical life, I would be more grateful than I could ever express in words.  Jesus died, not just out of a sense of duty, but because of an eternal love, in order that might have spiritual life.  My debt of gratitude to this One - Who is King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who is "... the same yesterday , today, and forever." (Heb 13:8)  - must, surely, be overwhelming.  I trust that yours is, too!

Heaven - or Hell?

I had an interesting conversation at Liberty Community Church this morning, prior to the Communion Service.  One of the members had been asked to conduct a funeral service during the week, and I had inquired as to how he had coped.  He explained that, with the exception of one lady in the group of mourners who had gathered at the local crematorium, he was unaware of anyone who has a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  However, he was able to use the opportunity to present the Gospel message - not just that Christ died for our sins in order that we might have the opportunity to gain eternal life; but that to reject the salvation that was won for us at Calvary, is to assure us of an eternity separated from God, aware of our mistake, and unable to do anything about it!

It is true that the church, at least in the so-called developed world (in which we have developed increasingly sophisticated methods of destroying our fellow-man; in which rights are considered to be of more importance than responsibilities; in which materialism and consumerism appear to be the religions of the majority; etc) seems, in the main, to have forgotten about that particular side of the coin.  It is also true that Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven!

The Gospel message is not being presented in all of its fullness if we fail to warn people of the consequences of their rejection, or even neglect, of the salvation that was purchased at the cost of the very blood of the Lord Jesus.  Some weeks ago, I was preaching before one particular fellowship on the question that even the Omniscient (all-knowing) God is unable to answer.  It's found in Hebrews 2:3 and it asks, simply, "... how shall we escape, if we neglect such a great salvation?"  The answer is that there is, in fact, no escape!  By the way, a recording of that whole message may be found at www.revcbross.blogspot.com under the heading The Unanswerable Question.

Many years ago, there was an open-air preacher who kept telling people to "Turn, or burn" - a reference to the choice of turning one's life over to the control of Jesus; or burning in hell.  It's a message that, today, would probably be considered not to be 'politically correct'.  However, it's the Gospel message that we ignore at our peril!

Election Results!

Well, the votes have been cast - and counted (apart from those in N.Ireland)- and there are a number of significant changes in the political landscape of the UK, especially that of Scotland!  The Scottish National Party have achieved a result that even they, in their wildest dreams, would not have considered possible.  It's a result, indeed, that the current voting procedure was specifically introduced, by the then governing Labour Party, to ensure that it would never come about.  So much for Labour's "forward planning"!

I didn't give the SNP my personal vote on either the Constituency, or the List, ballot forms. However, it would be churlish of anyone not to congratulate Alex Salmond and the Party on their overwhelming success.

Having said that, there are other things that need to be said.  First of all, although Mr Salmond is unlikely to read this blog, I hope that someone close to him counsels him with regard to the old adage "Pride comes before a fall"!  It would be sad, indeed, if the SNP were to, in any way, abuse their newly obtained position of political power.  To be fair, the words that I have, so far, heard Mr Salmond speak would indicate that he plans to continue, as far as possible, with 'consensus politics'.  That, I believe, will be for the good of Scotland.

Another thing that needs to be said is that, according to the inspired words of the apostle, Paul, "Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.  For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.  The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.  So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.  Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honour to those who are in authority." (Rom 13:1-7; NLT).

What this means is that for the disciple of Jesus, at least, not having voted for the SNP is no ground for not accepting the temporal (civil) authority that they now have.  Further, we are to pray for those who have this temporal authority over us.  "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.  Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.  This is good and pleases God our Saviour, Who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth." (I Tim 2:1-4; NLT).

The next five years (if the Rapture is delayed) may be more than a little interesting within Scotland! 

Elsewhere, the story is less exciting, although it is the Lib-Dems who appear to have suffered most at the hands of the electorate.  I understand that, in a Coalition, there must be a measure of 'give-and-take'.  However, the real lesson may be that not only the Lib-Dems ought to be careful as to what they promise in the campaigning prior to an election.  Perhaps Mr Clegg isn't the only one who should take heed to the words of James "... let your yes be yes, and your no be no ..." (James 5:12).  In other words, be dependable!

Sadly, the majority of those who voted in the referendum listened to, and swallowed, the blatant untruths put about by the 'No' campaign.  This, I suspect, means that there will be no further opportunity to gain a fairer voting system for Westminster elections in the foreseeable future.

I'm voting "Yes"!

After weeks of campaigning for the various elections being held throughout the UK tomorrow, and months of campaigning for the referendum that will involve the whole adult population, the time to cast votes is almost upon us.

As far as the Scottish Parliament is concerned, I still haven't made up my mind as to who will receive my support.  However, on the referendum, I am in no doubt.  I will be voting 'Yes' to change, and a departure from the "first past the post" system that has long outlived its usefulness.

I added a video to my Facebook page, yesterday, and was asked why, if only three other countries use the Alternative Vote system, I was so obviously in favour of it.  I turned to my catering background in order to provide an analogy!  If I have spent my whole life living on cheap minced beef (and that would still, by the way, make me better fed than the average citizen of North Korea, and of many other parts of the world!), and dreamed of having fillet steak for dinner each evening, I wouldn't refuse a plate of good quality stewed beef!  Of course it wouldn't be exactly what I wanted, but it would be a lot better than what I had.

The AV system is not, nor is it near to, full proportional representation.  However, it is a step in the right direction.  With the FPTP system, in a 'safe' Labour seat, my personal vote is always going to be wasted - as I would never vote for the Labour Party.  With AV, my vote may still be wasted - but only if I have voted for the person who receives the lowest number of votes.  Otherwise, I get, not a second vote (as the 'No' campaigners have erroneously, and mischievously, claimed), but the opportunity for my single vote to be given to the candidate whom I considered to be the second-best on the voting slip.

This means that, in my own constituency, the sitting incumbent will have to take more notice when I write to him about particular matters.  According to past election results, he has never enjoyed the support of 50% of the voters.  But with FPTP that didn't matter.  As long as he received even one vote more than any other candidate, he was home and dry - a job for life in this neck of the woods!  With AV, he will be depending on non-Labour voters placing him as their second choice.  If people are not satisfied with his performance, then they might only place him at No.3, or 4 - and that would probably mean that one of his opponents would reach the 50% threshold before him.  That certainly sounds like an improvement to me.

I'll be at my local Polling Station, tomorrow, encouraging folk to vote "Yes".  I trust that many will do so.

A man has died!

Amazingly, when I listened to the BBC radio news yesterday morning, I was not regaled with further irrelevant minutiae concerning a young couple who had entered the holy state of matrimony on Friday of last week!  Rather, it was the news that Usama bin Laden had been killed by a team of US Navy SEALS, and hastily (although with all due respect, in Islamic tradition, for the body) buried at sea, in order to ensure that there would not be any shrine - any focus for the faithful to venerate.

A couple of thoughts came to mind.  First of all, I realised that a man had died - and millions were rejoicing at the news.  Now I am not for one moment, condoning the atrocities behind which bin Laden is alleged to have been the master-mind.  Nor am I saying that he did not 'deserve to die'.  However, as the mother of a Scotsman who died in the World Trade Centre pointed out, bin Laden's death doesn't bring her son back to her.  Indeed, the manner of his death - without even the show trial that was afforded to Saddam Hussein - does raise important questions that I hope others will ask (and to which, I hope, they will find honest answers!) in the coming months! 

The other thing that caused me to think was the constant reference to 'evil'.  I find it interesting that the world's media, which seldom seems to have any time for spiritual matters, should jump so quickly on to a rolling band-waggon and use a term that is spiritual in its meaning.  But what is evil?  Surely, just as darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of good.  By that measure, which of us can claim to be totally untainted by evil?  Evil is, in Biblical terms, the result of sin.  The Good News is that sin has been dealt with on the cross at Calvary.  There, Paul tells us, Father God "... made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (II Cor 5:21; RSV).  Through that atoning sacrifice, we may be reconciled to God, and the work of making us more like Jesus may begin.

The sad thing about Usama bin Laden is that it appears that either no-one ever told him about the salvation that is readily available to all who will confess their sinfulness, and place their trust in Him; or that, having been told, he rejected that amazing message.