This is a matter that every Christian in the UK should be praying for. To find out more, or perhaps to introduce you to this issue for the first time, you can read a helpful article posted yesterday by the national director of the FIEC:
The Elders of Cromhall Chapel have sent a letter to our local MP addressing our concerns and encouraging action. I will post this after the letter has been received.
On the evening of February 25, the Christian Institute is holding a meeting at Headley Park Baptist Church in Bristol for the South West of England that will centre around this issue among others. For those who are especially interested in this matter this would be a good evening to attend.
Over the autumn we had the great privilege to go on an adventure to discover authentic Christianity, how to find it and the great joy and assurance that brings. Over the course of our study on 1 John we encountered a number of tests of assurance to help us know whether we or someone else is in fact a believer. Below is a review, not every test, but a sampling of the main points of each week’s passage:
Do we listen to the apostles message about Jesus (1:3)
What is our attitude to sin…since God is light and to be in fellowship with Him we cannot be in darkness…therefore do we acknowledge the reality of sin in our lives and seek to confess our sins? (1:8)
Are we trusting in the blood of Jesus to turn God’s wrath towards our sin into favour? (ch. 2-Christ our advocate and propitiation)
Do we give evidence of this new relationship with God through Christ by keeping his commandments? (2:4)
Is this new reality in our life further evidenced by obeying the Great Commandment, do we love God, do we love our brother/neighbour? (2:9)
Which Kingdom do we love: the Kingdom of the world or the Kingdom of God? (2:15b) Do we have an eternal perspective?
We have the warning about the anti-Christs: Are we grounded in the truth about Jesus and salvation or are we believing in a lie? (2:23a)
Do we make a habit of practicing righteousness or do we persist in sin? (3:6)
Do we love our brothers or hate them like Cain? (3:15)
Do we believe in the Incarnation, that Jesus is fully God and fully man? (4:2-3a)
Do we love God and one another? (4:20a)
Have we overcome the world by faith in Christ? (5:5)
John also gives believers numerous encouragements, which often come out of a positive response to the tests of assurance such as in 1 John 1:5-10, but he offers others as well.
The joy of having a sure knowledge of Salvation and fellowship with God (1:4)
The knowledge that Jesus is our advocate and propitiation (2)
The promise of forgiveness through the confession of sin (1:9);
General encouragements (2:12-14);
A future hope in the New Heavens and New Earth (2:17)
The love of the Father, through Jesus, for His children (3:1).
(Central and oft repeated) The gift of the Holy One (Holy Spirit) who keeps, guides and teaches Christians and enables us to overcome the world (3:24b), we know because we can sense the abiding presence of the HS in our hearts and see His fruit in our lives;
We know the love of God through the sacrificial love of Christ, that if you ever doubt God’s love look to the cross (3:16)
That Christ’s sacrifice takes away the condemnation, guilt and shame in our hearts (3:20).
That God is love and gives his gift of love to all who receive it by faith in Jesus and that if we have received this gift we do not have to fear judgement because (4:18) perfect love casts out fear.
May we continue to look for a true profession of faith and a life lived that matches this profession.
Last night at Bible study we entered into the explosive beginning of Luke’s Gospel by examining Luke 1:5-25 or the Birth of John foretold to Zechariah in the Temple.
Modern images and technology make sharing information about the Temple that much easier. Such information helps reveal its size and the atmosphere that Zechariah experienced. King Herod began building the temple in c. 20-19 BC. His Temple in Jerusalem was different than past Jewish Temples, it was bigger and more ornate with a myriad of support buildings erected in the Temple precinct than Solomon’s Temple or the Second Temple from the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. The Temple itself almost 200 feet high (that is 20 stories)! This was an impressive engineering feat and physical structure for the 1st Century. This adds to the context of Matt 4:5-7 when Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and urges Him to cast Himself off the top of the temple because of the promise that the angels would not allow God’s Anointed to be harmed. Similarly in John 2:18-22 when Jesus says he would destroy this temple because the Jews knew how long it had taken to build it, 46 years including stones as heavy as 100 tonnes, and so they scoffed at Him.
When it was Zechariah’s divisions shift to attend to the Temple, and further still when he was chosen by lot to enter and burn the incense, this was a once in a life time opportunity as a priest. Image approaching those big doors. Imagine the sacredness he felt entering this massive Temple with such religious tradition. He did not enter the Holy of Holies but rather a fore chamber where the incense was burnt. To his great trepidation this would be the place where he would meet Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, and the story would continue to unfold.
“This is the one to whom I will look,’ declares the LORD, ‘he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” ~Isaiah 66:2b~
Get ready! Throughout 2016 Cromhall Chapel will be journeying through the entire Bible, the greatest story ever told, a message from God Himself about redemption, intimacy and truth! Our back to the Bible campaign will centre on our 2016 chapel theme verse from Isaiah 66:2b.
Why this verse?
As a chapel we are committed to the trustworthiness, relevance and power of Scripture because we believe that it transforms lives producing life, hope and clarity. God has spoken and He desires us to draw near and know Him. Our verse reminds us of the attitude we are to have towards the LORD and His Holy Word. As a people desiring revival Church history reveals how the Bible has always been a light in dark places and that every revival—ever— was and is always associated with a renewed hunger for God’s Word (cf. Acts 2:41, 42 & 47, 6:7, 9:27 & 31, 12:24, 16:5, 19:20). May the Lord look to us with favour as we humble ourselves and tremble at His Word!
Journey together for enjoyment, profitability, encouragement and accountability
Pastor Chris will be preaching through a chronological survey of the Bible each week;
Visiting preachers are invited (though not compelled) to join with us
Blog posts will centre around what we are reading each week
Focusing on Scripture in other ways and bringing Isa 66:2b into our weekly conversations
Why read the Bible?
Central to why we believe the Bible should be read and proclaimed is because of what we believe it to be, the very Word of God:
God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice. (FIEC Statement of Faith).
Similarly, we believe in the importance of the proclaimed Word of God. We believe the Bible is God’s written word and that, by the work of the Holy Spirit, as it is faithfully preached, God’s voice is truly heard. That is why preaching is at the heart of chapel life; the people of God gathering under the Word of God, to hear from Him just as we see it in Scripture.
Do I have to read the Bible?
No. No one can be forced to read the Bible. But ultimately it is your loss. That is why we would love to see everyone pledge to make this journey! The elders will be leading by example because they believe this is so important. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! If you choose not to participate, decide to join part way, or are already mid-way through a reading plan of your own (which is great!), then that is between you and the Lord. However, we hope you’ll read what you can, follow the sermons, and put the spirit of our verse into practice. There are lots of excuses why not to read the Bible but the reasons to read it make these appear feeble. The Bible is the most precious possession this world affords. What shall we say if we neglect so great a treasure? How can we be wise and discerning if we don’t know what it says?
How does reading the Bible spiritually bless us? (The Bible as a means of grace):
God’s Word is used by Him as an instrument to impart spiritual life to us (Jas 1:18, 1 Pe 1:23)
It makes us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus; is inspired by God; and convicts of us sin and points us to righteousness (2 Ti 3:15-16)
As new Christians this continues as the Word is able to build you up (Acts 20:32)
By it we are spiritually nourished (Deut 8:3; Matt 4:4)
It is of absolute necessity and is not an extra or something to be trivialized (Deut 32:47)
It guides us in the correct way and speaks wisdom into life’s journey (Ps 119:105, Ps 19:7) especially in the midst of an ungodly culture (1 Pe 1:19)
It provides us with encouragement and hope in life’s journey (Ro 15:4)
God’s Word is powerful like fire and a hammer (Jer 23:29) and a sword (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12)
And at the end of the day you really do become what you eat (Ps 115:8)
Prayer Points:
Please pray that the Holy Spirit might:
Place within our hearts an insatiable hunger for God and His Word
Give us the spiritual stamina to stick with the readings and make regularly spending time in God’s Word a spiritual discipline that will last a life time
Be encouraged to grow our faith and that we would apply the Word to our lives
Do great things amongst us throughout 2016 at Cromhall Chapel!
Bible Reading Plan
We will be following a chronological reading plan (enclosed, posted at the chapel and online). There are many online versions of this plan including, e-calendar alerts, emails, mobile apps, and an online tracker and additional resources (not to mention Mp3 audio Bibles available online). These can be found by going to: http://about.esvbible.org/resources/reading/. We are doing a chronological plan primarily because it is easiest to preach, however, this will also help us understand God’s story of redemption as it unfolds.
Come along on this incredible journey, you will never be the same again…
Sometimes I wonder, sometimes I struggle, sometimes amidst all of the anti-Christmas forces that seem to grow stronger each year I wonder where Christmas has gone. I feel that it is slipping away. The true meaning of Christmas is challenged on many fronts. Commercialism seeks to usurp Christmas for capitalistic purposes and increasingly moves the Christmas season forward so when it actually comes we cannot wait for it be to over. Militant secularists bombard society with their “uplifting” message of political correctness that makes one feel guilty about even wanting to wish someone a happy Christmas. Secular Christmas narratives of Santa and elves, while cute, lack the substance to preserve the tradition much longer. Other religions seek to advance their agenda by playing upon all this and not even wanting to entertain the English culture and spirit of Christmas. Then there are those who nominally celebrate it, even going to a religious service or two to do God a yearly favour, and by so doing degrade its meaning and relevance for the next generation still further. And finally there are the 40% of the English who do not even know who Jesus is and are becoming oblivious to Christmas altogether. The momentum of this bah humbug spirit can be disconcerting for the Christian.
BUT in the midst of it all, it is my prayer that we will find opportunities to reclaim Christmas, to take a stand for what it is actually about, to resist succumbing to the pressures and temptations that seek to draw our attention away from it. Most of all, however, it is my prayer we will rediscover adoration at Christmas by responding to the miraculous arrival of Immanuel in the same manner as the heavenly host, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the magi. A spirit of worship:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14).
So as Christmastime nears and we prepare our hearts to welcome our Immanuel I bid us to recall those worshipful words from an old carol:
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
May the blessing of the simplicity of worshiping and adoring Christ this Christmas be the greatest gift you may receive and may it rise far above all bah humbug spirits for the glory of God!
It absolutely continues to befuzzle me (yes, that is a word) when I meet someone who claims to believe the Bible to be the Word of God and then states or does something that contradicts something that the Bible clearly says.
Just the other day in a conference I was present for Malachi 2 was the reading. I thought, “this is great, I love Malachi!” Then we read those challenging words from 2:8 to the priests, “But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts.” These are challenging verses for pastors, who are not priests but do serve in a similar teaching role. All the conference leaders (and participants) were impressed by the reading, giving it a hearty “Amen” and delivering the façade that God’s Word was to be revered and obeyed. Then I could not believe my eyes as to what happened next, the speaker of the conference denied two critical areas of God’s Word, the one pertaining to a core doctrine and the other pertaining to a serious moral issue. The Bible said one thing, the conference and its speaker promoted something entirely different.
What is going on here? Well, probably too many things to summarize in one post, however, what we do find in this situation is people, professing Christians, falling for the oldest lie in the book. Where is that? Check out Genesis 3:1, which says, “Did God actually say…?”
Satan seeks to strike at the foundation by getting us to trust our own wisdom and cast doubt on God’s.
Jesus himself rebuked this way of thinking. When Jesus viewed Scripture He treated it like the very word of God.
In John Jesus often chastises the religious leaders for professing to know and follow the Law but not actually doing what it says. We find an instance of this in John 10:34-36. The Jews above all people should have recognized Jesus was the fulfilment of the prophets but they were too busy viewing the Law from their own perspective. Jesus rebuts them by saying, “Is it not written in your Law,” the Law you claim to adhere to. Should you, above all people, not recognize who I am! It was His Law too but he stresses “your” to imply that they profess to be people of the Word when the opposite is the case. Jesus rebukes them by saying, “Scripture cannot be set aside” (NIV). It still speaks the truth even if we ignore or deny it, speaking instead conviction and judgement.
Psalm 19:7 also tells us that “the law of the LORD is perfect,” that is complete, lacking in nothing or sufficient.
When He speaks we have only to trust and obey, to be hearers and then doers, and not hearers who do or believe what we like after hearing it. This only speaks to our folly and the hardness of our hearts.
If they Bible says something believe it. If it says to do or not do something then follow suit.
Let’s not be hypocrites. Let’s either say we believe the Bible and mean it or disagree, none of this “I believe the Bible” only to in reality lay it aside.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ~1 Peter 5:8~
As more and more people come to reject their Christian heritage and then look for purpose and meaning in other places, the more unhelpful, and indeed harmful spiritual practices are creeping in under our nose. Let me keep you abreast of some of the latest spiritual dangers which are coming (or have already come) to a school near you. This is given because this past week 1 John 4:1-6 encouraged us to TEST THE SPIRITS. There is a spiritual realm we cannot dismiss (Eph 6:10-20). Sadly, many have succumbed to spiritual gullibility.
These four examples are each true and disconcerting ways in which these practices have crept into our schools:
1. Voodoo Dolls. Originally a West African spiritual practice (also present in the Caribbean), which in a nutshell uses dolls to manipulate the spirits to protect you or bring harm to others. Voodoo Dolls, being sold in the UK under various names including Watchover Voodoo Dolls, are being worn by children in our schools who attach them to their backpacks. They believe that the doll is watching over them and that it can be a tool of manipulation. Instead of relying on dolls and false spirits for protection we should look to the Lord (Ps 121:1-2).
2. Prayer Mats. These are utilized in Eastern Religions to aid the process of self-realization (see below). They are also used by Muslims to keep themselves ritually pure while praying (and could also be seen to aid the focus of prayer). When I was in Ontario recently I saw a class on the playground in a grove of trees all sitting on prayer mats, with two likely possibilities for this being either that they were i) meditating, or ii) learning about Islam (but we cannot pray to the Christian God in school?). Prayer is referenced over 500 times in the Bible, so pray is clearly important. While it may be appropriate for Christians to have prayer aids their prayers are to be directed to the Lord; are relational in nature; we fill ourselves with Him (vs. empty ourselves to find self-realization); and prayer can be done anywhere.
3. Yoga. A meditative exercise from Hinduism whereby each pose represents a Hindu god. This is often used in schools under the guise of fitness and also as a means to quiet otherwise unruly children (and sadly in many churches and Christians fitness workouts too). Yoga (Sanskrit- to join or unite) is a series of body movements and exercises designed to unite the body and mind with its end being to find the divine within yourself or to get in touch with your divinity as the highest spiritual end (self-realization). Contrary to this, is the Christian teaching of recognizing yourself as created and coming to know your Creator through Jesus (Ro 1:25). In terms of exercise how about finding appropriate ways to be a steward of the body our Creator entrusted us with, and if we are Christians, to treat it as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19).
4. Spiritual Garden. A place at school where children can go and be encouraged to be “spiritual” by doing who knows what to achieve a rather loosey-goosy state (by the way- being spiritual in a Christian sense can only come when we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit). Why not encourage children to plant a garden so they learn to be good stewards of God’s creation, learn about the species planted and marvel at God’s glory (Ro 1:20)? Then in that context that garden (or other wonderful places in creation) may be a place where they may want to go to talk to God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
John reminds us to be discerning! Put away all moral filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls, as James 1:21 also reminds us.
It appears to me that society has largely rejected not authentic Christianity but nominal Christianity (they have rejected Christianity without actually having heard the Gospel or experience authentic Christianity) and as one demon (nominal Christianity) has been cast out many other demons far worse than the first have taken its place (cf. Matt 12:43-45).
How has this onslaught of new religions (like Islam) or New Age practices (like yoga) crept in? Two initial reasons emerge. In our liberal and enlightened modern world we have embraced two lies. The first is that as we all know spiritual things do not really exist we can allow people to dabble in whatever they want. As it is not real it cannot possibly hurt them. The second is like it and is the post-modern belief that all spiritual beliefs are equally true, valid and helpful and must be embraced and affirmed.
Oh let us hear and embrace the exclusive and life giving promises of the Lord and fill our schools and society and hearts with them instead of with spiritual rubbish.
Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Ps 37:4).
If you are interested in identifying the unsuspecting influence of New Age religion these core beliefs may be helpful[1]:
Monism (the belief that every diverse thing in the world has its origin in a single source).
Pantheism or the belief that “all is one and all is God”; God is therefore not a person or a personal creator but “the Force.”
Humanity’s immortal divinity; the realization of that divinity being the goal for every human being; “Everyone is God.”
Reincarnation based on the concept of karma (actions and consequences), with good karma moving individuals towards a higher state.
The ultimate restoration to wholeness of the creation, which is a living being, Gaia, with men and women discovering new powers within themselves that will be released into the earth to right ecological imbalances.
The disappearance of boundaries leading to the world becoming a global family.
One universal religion (the belief that all the different religions in the world are alternate paths to the same end).
From examining these you can see many similarities to post-modern views and other current worldviews. At the end of the day not all truths can be true. Holding mutually opposing beliefs can only be held for so long until we reach a breaking point. May we seek the truth before it is too late and may we not be guilty of spiritual gullibility.
Last Lord’s Day (Sunday) we were looking at 1 John 4:1-6, especially about who Jesus is and the importance of getting that correct so we can believe in and proclaim the correct Jesus; a real and living and reigning Jesus who changes lives today!
But the challenge today is not just in getting Jesus right, but of people knowing about Him at all. A 2015 survey of England found that 40% of people do not know or believe Jesus was a real historical person. Clearly we have work to do.
Disclaimer: I believe this video could articulate the Gospel much more robustly and some of its phraseology (i.e. practicing Christians) I would want to clarify by saying there are truly only Christians and non-Christians. As for statistics the 9% who are “active Christians” or who regularly attend church is (I believe) based upon a casual record of attendance. If this figure included even “at least twice a month” the number would drop to between 4-5%. However, estimates are that while 4-5% of the population may go to church semi-regularly only about 1% are Christian.
If the findings of this study interest you click here for more details.
These figures present English Christians with both some discouraging news but also an amazing opportunity. We need to get the Good News of Jesus Christ out!
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? (Ro 10:14)
Let us ensure that all people have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and know about Jesus. Even if they fail in their duty to believe in Him, may we not be able to be said to have neglected our duty of proclaiming Him. Or, in the words of Charles Spurgeon:
If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and un-prayed for.
And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. ~Jesus Christ~ (John 8:32)
Recently in our study of 1 John we have come across the vital importance of correct doctrine. But what is doctrine and why is it so important?
Simply put, doctrine is the sum total of what the Bible teaches on any given subject and comes from the New Testament word didaskalia which is often translated teaching, instruction or doctrine.
In total the New Testament explicitly commends sound doctrine to us 28 times! (ex. 1 Tim 4:13, 16; 2 Tim 4:2-3; Tit1:9).
According to Jesus accuracy in belief is important because correct belief leads to spiritual life and incorrect belief leads to spiritual death. This is at the heart of the importance of doctrine.
Primary doctrinal areas lead to spiritual death, however, secondary and tertiary areas, while still important to pursue truth in, may have varying degrees of harmful impact upon the health and effectiveness of the Church and one’s spiritual life, whilst still allowing for someone to be considered a Christian.
However, lest I give the wrong impression, knowing the truth is not all about propositional truths or doctrine. Ultimately Jesus uses this word truth as a play on words to refer to Himself (Jn 14:6). Ultimately we come to know God the Father through a correct knowledge of the Truth, Jesus God’s only Son. Propositional truths are meant to point us to a relational (and factual) knowledge of Jesus that leads to eternal life.
Therefore, doctrine is not a bore but an exciting adventure of discovery about God and His ways. It helps us overcome wrong ideas that are harmful to either one’s salvation or a hindrance to their spiritual life and the life of the Church. Its study helps us make better Christian decisions, answer people’s questions about our Faith (i.e. be more effective in evangelism), develop a greater Christian confidence, and it helps us grow to become healthier and more robust Christians because we have a solid diet.
By growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (which includes doctrine!) may we all be built up into the most Holy Faith (2 Pet 3:18; Jude 20).
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. Psalm 94:19
Here we are, mid-way through the autumn and half-way through our study of 1 John, the letter of assurance. We have seen seven tests of assurance, yet 1 John not only provides ways in which we can discern if one is a Christian (thereby bringing assurance) but also devotional encouragements through which he seeks to build his people up in the most holy Faith (Jude 20). The Christian life is a great joy; but as we live it in a broken world filled with trials, doubts, temptations and even difficult things to which Jesus calls us to, these can seem insurmountable. We often require consolations that cheer the soul. There are few other books that surpass 1 John in the imposing demands made on the reader, along with the rich devotional rewards such study brings. To go with these challenges John also gives his readers encouragement:
The joy found in responding to the Gospel (1:4);
The promise of forgiveness through the confession of sin (1:9);
Christ, the believer’s Advocate (2:1-2);
General encouragements (2:12-14);
A future hope in the New Heavens and New Earth (2:17)
The gift of the Holy One (Holy Spirit) who keeps, guides and teaches Christians (2:20); and
The love of the Father, through Jesus, for His children (3:1).
So if your cares happen to be many, hope on these promises, and may they be a consolation to your souls in times of many cares.
Cromhall Chapel 