Persecution ahead?

For many years, Christians and others have complained, in different ways, about Pakistan’s notorious 295C blasphemy laws. These laws have been abused, on a regular basis, in order to gain property; settle old scores; or simply harass non-Muslims. One of the major problems is that the law allows a complaint to be made – and it is up to the accused to prove his/her innocence!

How grateful those of us in the ‘West’ should be that we do not live under such a draconian law! But, if the European Commission (the unelected body that, effectively, runs the European Union) has its way, it would seem that the EU is preparing to adopt a similar set of laws! The EU Directive on Equal Treatment, that is currently making its way through the system creates a frightening threat to free speech and the free exercise of religious conscience. If executed in its current form, the Directive increases inequality for Christians – and members of other religious-belief communities – and places perilous restrictions on believers expressing their faith. If implemented, it is certainly expected to increase censorship of Christian expression and Government-sanctioned persecution of Christians in any of the member-states of the EU!

Rather than attempting to rehearse the situation in writing, I have downloaded a video from CCfON (Christian Concern for our Nation – www.ccfon.org ) in which Prof. William Wagner explains the situation with clarity and passion. It’s less than 15 mins long – and well worth viewing (and listening to, of course!).

For years, disciples of Jesus have been warning that the persecution that is seen in over fifty countries around the world, could reach the so-called ‘Christian West’. This directive, if written into law, could well be the catalyst that would turn that prediction into reality. If ever there was a time for disciples of Jesus to be intercessors for the nation, this must surely be it! Let us "pray without ceasing" (I Thes.5:17) - but let us also be prepared for the revealing of "the man of lawlessness", "the one who brings destruction" (II Thess.2:3).

P.S. I have discovered that I cannot create a direct link to the video. Please go to http://www.ccfon.org/ (copy and paste!) where you will find it under the heading "TV & Radio Media centre"! Apologies!

Atonement.

It’s strange the way in which something, that one has taught in a certain way for decades, suddenly reveals itself with a startlingly fresh clarity and vividness! I had such an experience earlier this morning during my personal devotions.

For as long as I can recall, I have sought to explain, or illustrate, the Christian doctrine of the substitionary sacrifice of the Lord, Jesus Christ by comparing it to a judge who has found the accused person guilty of the crime for which he has stood trial, and then paid the imposed fine out of his own pocket.

This morning, however, I caught a glimpse of what is, I believe, much closer to the reality of the situation – although, of course, no analogy can ever do full justice to the doctrine of the atonement!

I saw myself, guilty of murder, in an earlier age when the death penalty was still in force. The judge placed the black cap on his head and pronounced that I should be “taken from this place to a place of lawful execution, and there be hanged by the neck until ... dead.” I said nothing. I knew that I was guilty, and that I fully deserved the sentence that had now been passed.

Then, to my utter astonishment, the judge took the cap off his head; removed his judge’s wig; slipped out of his judicial robes; and revealed himself as my own dad. He walked over to the dock and took my place – allowing himself to be bound; taken to stand on the trapdoor; have the noose placed around his neck and, as the lever was pulled, to take the ‘long drop’.

I stand amazed. He who had committed no crime has allowed himself to suffer the death penalty that I deserve!

And that is what happened at Calvary. The sinless One didn’t merely pay a fine on my behalf. He allowed Himself to be whipped, and bound to a cross; there to die an agonising death that I should have died, and that I fully deserve! He “…came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk.10:45). “For our sake the Father made the Lord Jesus to be sin, Who knew no sin; so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (II Cor.5:21).

It’s an unfathomable love, that I am incapable of fully understanding – but I praise Him for it.

An attitude of gratitude

On Sunday, my younger daughter learned of the death, from cancer, of a lady whom she had come to know quite well, and whom she had visited with some regularity. She was, understandably, upset.

Last night, she ‘phoned me to tell me that, although she is very happy with her flat (apartment), and her job, and her walk with the Lord, and life in general, she couldn’t shake of a sadness! I suggested that the news of Evelyn’s death was only now ‘sinking in’, and we chatted for a while until she assured me that she felt much better! Later, she sent me a text message, thanking me for ‘being there’ for her.

Two little thoughts came to my mind. The first was that, of course I was there for my child. I may not be able, any longer, to bounce her on my knee as I once could; but she is still my child, and I love her (and her sister) more than I could ever express.

That is a picture, albeit an imperfect one, of the relationship that the disciple of Jesus has with Father God. As one who has been adopted into His family, I am His child – and He is always there for me. I have access to Him at all times, through prayer; I can take everything to Him – my problems, and my pleasures; my sorrows, and my joys; my problems, and my successes. He is always available to listen, and then to speak into my situation.

The other thought concerned the text message. This morning, in my private devotions, I read the following in the UCB devotional The Word for Today (see UCB link at the bottom of this page to order your own FREE copy; or visit http://ucbmedia.co.uk/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6&Itemid=7 to read online!): “Author Barbara Glanz tells about a successful businessman who remembered his 8th grade literature teacher. He wrote to her and received this reply: 'You'll never know how much your letter meant. I'm 83 and living alone. My friends and family are all gone. I taught school for fifty years and yours is the first thank-you I've ever received from a student. Sometimes I wonder what I did with my life. I will read, and reread your letter until the day I die.'”

I am so glad that my wife and I have brought up our daughters to say “Thank you” – and that even now, as adults themselves, they still remember to do so. It’s a good thing to develop an attitude of gratitude – to those who help us, sometimes more than they realise and, of course, to Almighty God Himself for all that He provides as He “…gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and … sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too.” (Matt.5:45)

The one that got away!

On Friday evening, The Original Christian Web and New Media Awards event took place in London, England. My personal interest was that The CrazyRev Page was one of the five finalists in the Inspiring Leadership category!!!

I would like to have been able to add that I was also one of the prizewinners but, alas, that was not to be! However, when I checked and discovered that the winner was an Anglican bishop, and the runner-up was the site of the President and vice-President of the Methodist Conference, I felt more at ease! I trust that it is not a case of sour grapes (!) but I find it difficult to believe that these three brothers were solely responsible for their respective blog-sites. They also had the advantage, it would seem, of travelling around the world on official business on behalf of their respective denominations - providing a travelogue (and, I suppose, more of what a blog was originally intended to be) of which I can only dream!

However, I am happy that my provision of comment, from a Biblical perspective, on a fairly wide variety of topics, was considered worthy to be in there at the end. I have only ever thought of this blog as a form of Christian ministry, and have no intention of changing anything merely to receive an award! My only regret is that only the addresses of the winners in each category appear to have been published, as I had hoped for an increase in traffic as a result of my 'finalist placing'!

Of course, personal recommendation is still the best way in which to have this blog made better-known. Please feel free to play your part in publicising it to your own friends, family-members, work colleagues, fellowship/congregation, or whoever! I will certainly be very grateful - and, by the grace of God, someone might be blessed!

Prayer!

I’ve been trying to find a podcast of the programme in order to acquire all of the relevant details – but have been unable to source it! However, I was going to collect my wife and, as I switched on the ignition in the car, the radio came on, and a lady was saying something along the lines of “I don’t really believe in God, or prayer, but I said, ‘God, if You’re there, I want to transfer a thought’”!!

It used to be said, in reference to the battle-fields of WWI, that “There are no atheists in a fox-hole”. That may, or may not, be true, but I find it interesting that there are so many ‘unbelievers’ who turn to the God Whose existence they deny, in moments of extremity! It has also been said that the most sincere prayer can be, “God, help me!”.

But is that all that prayer is? Is it nothing more than a red button marked “For Emergency Use Only”; merely the transference of a thought? Or is it something much more meaningful and precious? From a Christian perspective, the answer is that it is the latter! Certainly, it was something that Jesus Himself did often; and I always think it very interesting that the early disciples – even the ‘inner band’ – are nowhere recorded as having asked the Master for some guidelines to sermon preparation, or a master-class in the miraculous. The one recorded request is “Lord, teach us to pray”! (Luke 11:1) – a request that led to the mis-named ‘Lord’s Prayer’, that is, in fact, the disciples’ prayer: and it is a model to follow, not a set of words to be slavishly parroted in every gathering of a congregation or fellowship!

However, even among professed believers in the Lord, Jesus Christ, prayer can be little more than a shopping list of, albeit commendable, requests. But real prayer is much more than that. I find the old acronym to be helpful.

Prayer starts with Adoration. This is when I tell the Lord how wonderful He is; when I acknowledge His holiness and power; when I recognise His many attributes. Now this isn’t because, as some sceptics would pronounce, God ‘needs’ my adulation. He is totally self-sufficient and does not ‘need’ anything that I can bring to Him. However, He does want me to recognise Him for Who He is – and to vocalise that understanding in prayer.

The next stage follows on quite naturally. As I recognise God’s holiness, and His perfection, I am made very aware of my own sinfulness. This means that I have to involve myself in some Confession – again, not as much for His benefit (He already knows me through and through!), as for my own: making me face up to the real me that is often kept well hidden from others!

However, I can also claim the promise that “…if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” (I Jn.1:9), and this causes me to express my sincere Thankfulness.

Finally, I may bring my requests before Him in Supplication.

Adoration; Confession; Thanksgiving; Supplication. ACTS – it’s the sort of praying that, when done sincerely, really works (see James 5:16). Let us pray!