God (+ Nourishing Food) => Faith, Hope, Love

Was reminded recently that relationships are built on, inter alia, time. Just like grunting over the morning paper at breakfast doesn't quite make a marriage relationship, so that quick "Quiet Time" before the day starts isn't quite enough for our relationship with God.

While mere silent meditation is unfruitful, there is much nourishment in reading God's word, discussing his thoughts and plans and having them explained. It's instructive that Jesus' compassion for the people in Mark 6:30-56 is not directed at their poor health or demon possession but at their lack of knowledge about God and about himself (Mark 6:34); they were like sheep without a shepherd.

Already in Ezekiel's time, the shepherds of Israel were criminally negligent in caring for God's flock (Ezekiel 34): they had not strengthened the weak, nor healed the sick, nor bound up the injured, nor brought back those who strayed, nor sought the lost. Instead, they themselves were like the wild beasts that attacked the sheep (Ezekiel 34:10), and being themselves sheep, had sabotaged any opportunity for other sheep to know God - "Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?" (Ezekiel 34:18-19).

There has been much discussion about church leadership in certain circles lately. Leaders, as David Jackman helpfully points out in relation to 1 Thessalonians 5, are not those designated as "pastor" or "elder" or "deacon" and the like. Perhaps first and foremost, they are shepherds of God's people. They have compassion on those who do not know God and, like Jesus the Promised Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:23-29), feed them with the whole counsel of God, encouraging the fainthearted and helping the weak etc (1 Thessalonians 5:14ff). It is to these that we should give our respect.

But the troublemakers referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2 are despicable. Instead of encouraging and strengthening, they discouraged and deceived, causing sheep to wander off the safe path into minefields by telling them that Jesus had already come secretly or that they had special knowledge of the date and time of his coming. Paul's comfort to the trembling sheep was: (i) anyone who claims to have had a secret visit from Jesus or to be able to predict the time and place of The Day is surely a wolf savaging the sheep because Jesus' coming will be really very obvious and (ii) only God knows the date he himself has chosen for this momentous event and Jesus will come suddenly, like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5).

So we sheep ought not to concern ourselves with trying to predict this future, and we are not to worry about it even when the man of lawlessness, the epitome of human rebellion against God, appears and seems unfettered. God is in complete control (2 Thessalonians 2). Rather, we should concentrate on the fact that this future is certain. Therefore, living in the steadfast hope of such a time of judgment and salvation, we ought to be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:5-10). Proper preparation for the Day is living in imitation of the King who is coming to save his people (cf Isaiah 59:17).

While all the hard work that went into Yio Chu Kang Chapel's Mueller: A Walk of Faith was appreciated, especially in the scoring and costume departments, the script didn't quite grab a big enough chunk of the mind-blowingness and heart-poundingness that is real faith. William Taylor of St. Helen's Bishopsgate though has just completed a series on Heroic Faith and Hebrews 11 which, being too much to do justice in summary, greatly repays listening.

And as we were discussing what this world terms "love" - first "loves", serial dating, the multitude of reasons and circumstances that might cause one to dispose of a dating relationship and the meaninglessness of such relationships in the first place, it seemed that real love (that is, the unselfish patient love first shown by God to us as revealed in Scripture and that we thus show to others) in comparison was a beautiful nourishing thing, patient and kind, brimming with assurance not fear, and headed for a certain and perfect end.

Still, one is reminded time and again of the "both...and" that characterises so much of Christian life: that even if the shepherds aren't feeding frozen tv dinners to the flock or making lamb chops with mashed peas on the side, there will always be those whose sinfulness will excuse their idleness with a misapplication of godliness (cf 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15). Because while the teaching of God's word is God's chosen way of growing his sheep and keeping them on the straight path, it is ultimately not our perseverance but God who perseveres us. For his glory.

And so because God has chosen us to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, calling us through the gospel so that we may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, so then, stand firm and hold to the teachings in the Bible...and also let us pray earnestly that our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort our hearts and establish them in every good work and word (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17).

May we not be like those who do not believe the gospel, refuse to love the truth about God and his Son and so be saved, for God will give them over to their delusion, that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)!

Earworm of the week:

Jesus, Thank You

The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary
You the perfect Holy One, crushed Your Son
Who drank the bitter cup reserved for me

Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus, thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied
Jesus, thank You
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table
Jesus, thank You

By Your perfect sacrifice I’ve been brought near
Your enemy You’ve made Your friend
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end

Lover of my soul
I want to live for You

© 2003 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (ASCAP)/Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP). Words and music by Pat Sczebel. As recorded on Worship God Live.

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Fruit Paradise

Royal Copenhagen Tea Lounge
391 Orchard Road
Takashimaya Singapore Department Store, Level 2
Tel: +65 6735 6833

Funan Weng Ipoh Ho Fun
32 Maxwell Road
#01-07 Maxwell Chambers
Tel: +65 6238 5038

once upon a milkshake
32 Maxwell Road
#01-08 Maxwell Chambers
Tel: +65 9823 3779

"Please, Sir, May I Have More?" or No, I Do Not Appreciate the Untoward Application of Your "Heart"-Shaped Cookie Cutter to My Camembert

No! Don't do it!

"How have you grown in your church?" he asked, over the desecrated cheese.

Christian jargon brain freeze. "Grow"? What about me should have increased in quantity/quality?

1 Thessalonians 1-3 so far has indicated that the authentic message, brought by authentic messengers produces an authentic church. But past performance is no indication of future merit. There have been many whose testimonies of God's grace have brought forth enough tears to wash a fleet of Hummers, who have later rejected his kingship. There has been many a church which has started out loving the God of the Bible and ended up loving only their past reputation as bible-loving church, there have been many a person touted as godly but really only any good at gaining literary insights with a Christian twist in bible studies.

The growth question was therefore valid. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-1 suggests that in the real Christian and the authentic church, gospel qualities will develop "more and more". The authentic gospel/real message, when it came "in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction" (1 Thessalonians 1:5), induced authentic believers to turn "to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come" (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10) = "work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 1:3). The real Christian and the authentic church do not move away from faith, love and hope to something else, but grow in these things, in all circumstances and in much persecution keep believing "more and more", keep loving "more and more" and keep hoping "more and more".

The work of faith on view here is hardly anything as glamorous or dramatic as calling upon God to miraculously heal the sick or cast out demons: it is about believing so much in the reality of God, of his wrath because of sin, and of the salvation that Jesus will bring that one goes on preaching this good news despite all sorts of struggles (1 Thessalonians 1); it is about knowing and trusting so much in God's character and instructions and goodness that one desires to please God (1 Thessalonians 4:1), do his will (1 Thessalonians 4:3) and heed his call (1 Thessalonians 4:7). A believer with real faith will not disregard God who gives his Spirit to us so that by knowing he who is holy, we know how to be holy and control our bodies in holiness and honour (1 Thessalonians 4:4); so that knowing that God punishes all sin, are duly warned not to transgress and wrong our brothers (1 Thessalonians 4:6)(loving God and loving neighbour being the Jesus-endorsed pithy summary of the commandments which themselves revealed the character of God); so that we have the ability to live pure lives pleasing to God (1 Thessalonians 4:7). The Thessalonians had great models of this in Paul, Silas and Timothy (1 Thessalonians 2).

Similarly, the labour of love has nothing to do with extravagant displays of affection but the mostly anonymous mundanity of being deeply concerned for the well-being of the other heterogenous members of the same body: praying for each other, strengthening each other, edifying each other, building each other up, admonishing the idle, encouraging the faint-hearted, helping the weak, being patient (1 Thessalonians 5:11,14). This love has been demonstrated ultimately by God in sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins (cf 1 Thessalonians 1:4) and is something that has been generated naturally within us when we turned to God from idols (1 Thessalonians 4:9, fulfilment perhaps of Isaiah 54:13). The Thessalonians, being genuine believers, were already displaying brotherly love but they were to do so even more and in their context that meant not slacking about and being busybodies while depending on the handouts of others but demonstrating love in leading quiet lives and working to feed themselves so that they would not be a burden to others (1 Thessalonians 4:11), just as Paul, Silas (and perhaps Timothy) too worked day and night so that they would not be a burden to any of them while they proclaimed the gospel of God to them (1 Thessalonians 2:9) though they could have made demands as apostles of Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:6).

And all this is done with eyes fixed firmly on the future, on the coming of the Lord. But more of that distinctive Christian hope in the next chunk of 1 Thessalonians.

It is good to ask ourselves and each other if we are growing more and more:
(i) in works that demonstrate that we really believe in the existence, character and words of God,
(ii) in love for our brothers and sisters,
(iii) in hope of the Last Day,
and if we are hungering to do so.

If we find ourselves rather deficient or feeling rather uninterested in these areas, it is probably worth taking urgent action to clear the rocks, thorns and weeds from our soil, and ensure that we are being fed and watered regularly by the authentic message through authentic messengers. Before it is too late.

"Have you eaten?"
"What shall we eat?"

Authentic Gospel Ministry: Tough But Tasty

There is something deliciously and transformingly wholesome about true gospel ministry; like from-scratch pasta sauce with its layered texture and complex flavour that inevitably prompts the singing of (silly) songs late into the night thereafter. Or that could have been the pinot noir.

Bad simile, bad bad simile. Go sit in the naughty corner.

Right.

Authentic gospel ministry is deliciously and transformingly wholesome. It concerns the authentic gospel of course (1 Thesslonians 1). But mainstream Martha Stewart fans would snub it, as would the editors of the most niche food or shelter magazines. It's just not pretty enough. It does not rely on effective technique or any display of human power.

(Jesus, who displayed more out-of-this-world power than any human in history, was not keen on making it the cornerstone of his ministry. He did not seem to think that healing and driving out demons were great evangelistic tools to draw the crowds (though they did in droves so he could not enter a town openly (Mark 1:45) or even eat (Mark 3:21)). Instead, he was far more concerned about preaching the gospel of God (Mark 1:39) - the fulfilment of Scripture (Mark 1:14), the repentance of sins and the good news that he had come as king (Mark 1:14, 2:17), the promised Son of Man who would have the authority of God to, inter alia, forgive sins and give real rest (Mark 2:9, 2:28) and usher in a new era (Mark 2:22ff).)

Paul arrived in Thessalonica beaten black and blue from his reception at Philippi. It would seem that both he and Silas still had the dust of shame of failure on their cloaks (1 Thessalonians 2:2) and could be sure of more of the same in Thessalonica. There was no triumphalism in their coming nor anything impressive about them as messengers. Boldness in continuing to preach the controversial gospel required more than human courage - it required the power of God and for us today it will always depend on the power of God (1 Thessalonians 2:2). For if the gospel belongs to God, then the courage to proclaim it will come from God as well.

Because it comes from God and is all about God, authentic gospel ministry also always seeks the approval of God(1 Thessalonians 2:4a). God is not hoodwinked by the doing of seemingly right things with impure motives for he knows and tests men's hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:4b).

And since it is God's gospel and depends on God's power and seeks the approval of God, then it would be smack-forehead silly to use deceptive methods to get people to believe in Jesus, no matter how desperate we are for the salvation of those we love. It would completely miss the point to flatter men or become the nice, tame religious person they would prefer, allegedly to win souls. Jesus, who wept over Jerusalem and died for the sins of the world, did not hesitate to alienate those of his hearers who were opposed to his gospel (not his personality) (Mark 3).

The authentic gospel, because it must have already transformed its messengers, is communicated with the love of God (1 Thessalonians 2:6-12). Like a nursing mother thoroughly committed to her child, Paul and Silas' whole lives revolved around sharing the gospel and their very beings with the Thessalonians without wanting anything in return and concerned not to burden them. Only God could have given a love that was/is not content with the mass spraying of the gospel but was/is eager for a long-term commitment to sharing lives. Like a father with his children, this love is keen to nurture: to come alongside, to put strength in and to demonstrate how to walk in a manner worthy of God.

Do we minister to each other depending on God's power (not relying on the latest sure-win-others-for-Christ technique), for God's approval (not to demonstrate to the Evangelist Idol panel that we are godly or effective workers for Christ), with God's love (not just human interest)?

Do we minister with the authentic word of God? For the authentic gospel carries authority of God, not of men. And it will work in authentic believers so that after they have accepted the objective truth of what has been proclaimed, they will have faith in God and in the message and turn to the living and true God and serve him, waiting for his son from heaven whom he raised from the dead who is coming oto save from coming wrath, and because of this hope, be prepared to suffer as Christ did and as church always has rather than deny truth of gospel or to desist from proclaiming it. (1 Thessalonians 2:13-16)

Are these very basic requirements part of our church leadership selection criteria?


Someone was demonstrating a guitar technique with this song yesterday and now its a earworm.

Everlasting God (Lincoln Brewster, popularised by Chris Tomlin)
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

It's just crying out for an 80s drum machine. Anyway, horrible paucity of lyrical substance made up by embarrassing riches of 1 Thessalonians 1-2, Mark 1-3 and Acts 10-12 (see the St. Helen's Bishopsgate series on The Advance of the Gospel). Yums.

Fast (But Satisfying) Food (1 Thessalonians 1)

Paul and Silvanus (Silas) had served up some very good food indeed (the bread of life) in Thessalonica for three Sabbaths before they were forced to leave by jealous Jews (Acts 17:1-9).

Afraid that the Thessalonians might have gone on to ruin their lives with poisonous junk, they sent Timothy to check in on them and encourage them to keep feeding on the good stuff (1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:10).

Fruity

Paul, Silas and Tim were now writing to provide (further) assurance that they did really have the gospel of God and were on track.

The gospel of Paul/Silas/Timothy/God had objective content. The Thessalonians had neither been persuaded by Paul/Silas' eloquence nor their cutting illustrations nor confident speech. Rather, they had been convinced (1) by proof from scripture (Acts 17:2-3) that Jesus was the Christ who had to suffer and rise from the dead; (2) by proof from the lives of Paul/Silas/Timothy (1 Thessalonians 1:5) that they were really convinced about their message - suffering for the proclamation of the gospel and leading holy, righteous and blamesless lives (Acts, 1 Thessalonians).

The Thessalonians then came to trust in objective realities: they had faith that Jesus was the Son of God, that he died on cross as an atoning sacrifice for sins, that he was raised from dead and that he would come to save them from God's coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Knowing the love of God (1 Thessalonians 1:4), they loved others (1 Thessalonians 3:12, 4:9-10). They had a sure and certain hope of the future when God's Son would come from heaven and deliver them from the wrath to come.

Therefore, there was two-fold (or perhaps just one-fold) proof that they were alright by God: (1) that they were intellectually persuaded and had accepted the gospel; and (2) evidence that they had really accepted the gospel was that their lives had been changed and shaped by these doctrines (their faith worked, their love laboured and their hope was steadfast) because they had come into a relationship with God who was now their Father (1 Thessalonians 1:3). So the three letterwriters observe that the gospel had come to them not only in words but, as evidence that they had been chosen by God in power, in the Holy Spirit and in full conviction and so they received it with joy.

Remembering Babel

If this is so, then:
- one cannot claim to be on a "mission trip" or be serving God if one is merely building houses in a developing country or being hospitable to all and patient to the longwinded and, by common consensus, irritating. These were certainly not the things Paul/Silas/Tim/the Thessies were concerned about and persecuted for. If it is the word (1 Thessalonians 1:5,6,8), and the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:5,6) through that word (and the choice of God ultimately), that transforms lives, then any work of God must include the proclaiming of the good news. After all, this was also why Jesus came to earth (Mark 1). And after all, this shows that one's own life has been transformed so to the service of the living and true God who wants all to be saved and not perish.

- while there is a place for bridge-building to, eg. the yet-unnamed post-cyberspace generations, it is the pure gospel that must be preached, not adulterated in the desperate but baseless hope that leaving out sin or Jesus might make "Christianity" much more attractive to unsubscribers. The God who is to be worshipped must be proclaimed in his full justice and glory so that he can be worshipped, and in so doing show that the preacher does actually worship this God. His Spirit will work in those who are his.

- we know we are alright by God and really believe the gospel not because we are in the right (Bible-believing) church or that the church leadership demonstrates their approval of us by appointing us to positions in the church hierarchy or because our friends so assure us, but by the proof in our lives that we have turned from idols to serve the living God, with love for all, while clinging steadily to the hope of Jesus' coming.

- elders, pastors, overseers, leaders and the like who have to account for their flock and who see their sheep wandering off cliffs and taking candy from wolves, need, themselves not to lose sight of the way God has designed lives to be turned back and transformed - by the Spirit, through the word - in both the sheep's lives and their own. Therefore, better music with emotional song leaders, a more persuasive and/or emotive preaching style, church-wide programmes for unity, love and service, a push to missions, more rules on what should or should not be done, accountability groups, topical comments on the latest scandal or political hot potato etc will, of themselves and despite the best of intentions, never bring anyone into a living relationship with God because they point to man rather than God. Better to be preoccupied with God and concentrate on teaching faithfully from the Bible the Christ to be worshipped (or rather, not to obfuscate God's word in proclaiming what God says about the his own glory) and praying, and also (and simultaneously by so doing) demonstrating the conviction of one's faith in one's life, setting the example of living according to the center of one's faith, love and hope. The gospel must first convict the undershepherds before they can so speak and so live in a way that, with the power of the Holy Spirit, generate conviction in the sheep.

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Fruit tart recipe from Keiko Ishida's Okashi.
Double chocolate cookie recipe from Donna Hay.


Blood sugar high and failure to make much sense not completely attributable to Mark Bittman's macaroni animal pasta and cheese recipe (accidentally left for too long while Rabbids invaded the Phone).