Page 26 - Contact Winter 2015

ELDER’S VIEWPOINT The bible certainly doesn’t speak the message we hear from the world on a daily As each year goes by I am becoming basis. Then there’s the Apostle Paul. He’s more and more convinced that Christians not much better. Take these for example, are seldom reading their bibles. “Here we ‘that I may know Him (Jesus) and the go again”, I can hear you cry, but before power of His resurrection and may share you write me of as a legalistic old His suferings, becoming like Him in His What When curmudgeon, hear me out. Unlike how death…’ (Phil 3:10) or ‘…all who desire to this conversation usually goes, it’s not live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be One to One Bible reading is an initiative we Whenever it suits you and the other person... because I think Christians are less spiritual, persecuted…’ (2 Tim 3:12). We all want to have all heard about in church and through the every fortnight/month and for a period of 3 committed or that they are just too busy. know Jesus more and the power of his article in Contact. In short and at its most basic, months/a year/3 years and maybe a lifetime! It’s because in most of my conversations resurrection but, “Can we do without the it is reading the Bible with another individual. It with fellow believers, I don’t fnd them sufering?” I certainly want to live a godly is aimed at men and women, but my focus is How saying things like “Don’t you think the bible life in Christ Jesus but do I really need the on encouraging it among the men. is actually quite weird?” Again, before you persecution bit? The bible is so upside Ask me for a copy of the ‘One to One’ book; have me stricken from the eldership, let down, surprising, challenging, unsettling Why it’s short, easy to read and ofers various me explain myself. and yet strangely, I can’t get enough of it. reasons, suggestions and formats for One to What seems most surprising of all is the We all need to read His word and as we One. Then simply let me know you are ready Why would I expect that kind of a main storyline of the bible, what we call the discuss, share, pray and talk through a passage and willing and you will be given a mentor/ mentored as appropriate. There is no training question? It’s not because of all the Good News. If you asked 100 politicians, of the Bible, we grow deeper in our faith and it as such, no meetings etc, just come to me with helps us to cope better with all that life throws things that seem to usually trip people scientists, celebrities and the great thinkers at us. any queries along the way; this will be a up; creation, talking donkeys, large man- of the day how to deal with all the ills of the confdential format with each pair involved. swallowing fsh or a virgin giving birth. world, I’m pretty certain you’d get 100 Where Why wouldn’t an all-powerful God be able diferent answers. The bible tells us that Just remember your life is unique, you have to make those things possible? No, these God chose to come to the world He A cofee shop (e.g. Hebrews, Montgomerys, unique experiences no one else has had and are not the things that make me pause and created, not as one of these ‘great’ Ground, Follow, Cofee Central) or your home. maybe this is your opportunity to come think, rather it’s statements like, ‘…who- people, but was born to a young woman alongside someone and have someone come ever would be great among you must be from an oppressed people living in a Who alongside you and use those experiences. your servant, and whoever would be frst seemingly insignifcant town in the Middle If this interests you or you know of someone among you must be your slave…’ (Matt East. This God Man gathered a rabble This is for everyone from the ‘2nd half’ older who would like a mentor then come see me or contact me on: 20:26-27) or ‘…what does it proft a man to of fshermen and outcasts as his world- generation down to our young men. The idea gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?’ changers, ticked of the religious is to have a mentor/mentored format, whether brown_james_brown@hotmail.com or (Mark 8:35-36) or even, ‘Woe to you, when establishment and got publicly mocked, you feel like you could be a mentor or if you 07763712417 and we can have a chat. all people speak well of you, for so their beaten and killed by the enemies of his are a new Christian or even just considering it, fathers did to the false prophets’ (Luke people. Not exactly the solution we would you might want a mentor to come alongside James Brown 6:26). These statements from our Lord are have devised! And yet, that life and death you. so counterintuitive that they should cause (and return to life) changed the world more us to stop and say “Hold on a minute, is dramatically than we could imagine. this serious?” How many people actually On the run up to Christmas this year, pause consider servanthood greatness? I’m sure to think about this wonderful and bizarre that when Frank Sinatra sang that he was story and marvel again that the foolishness ‘top of the list, king of the hill, a number of God is wiser than men (1 Cor 1:25). one’, he wasn’t thinking of himself as a Then, next time someone says to you, slave. When tele-evangelists are peddling “Don’t you think the bible is actually quite their message of “Give us your hard earned weird?” - you’ll know that they’ve been money and God will bless you”, they’re reading it. hoping you won’t read Jesus’ words about gaining the world but forfeiting your soul. Keith McIlroy As for all people speaking well of us…who can honestly say they don’t long for this? Yet Jesus says “Woe to you”, in efect, “cursed are you when all people speak well of you…”