Friday, 30 April 2010

Little Green Men

In advance of Stephen Hawkin's new documentary series to be aired on the discovery channel starting this weekend where he discusses his belief in 'Alien life forms' I want to make an observation.

It is well known that Mr Hawkin is an extremely clever man and in terms of intelligence compared to this poor blogger it's probably like the difference between the Premier league and the Unibond league, however, I believe I might be right on this one.

This is a man who denies the existence of a creator, even though we live on the proof. He is prepared to accept that this world came into existence by mere chance and has evolved into it's current form even though that goes against the law of Physics known as entropy (the tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity).

Here is the observation, this man cannot believe in the possibility of a greater being who could have created this world even thought it is a reasonable and defendable position but he is prepared to believe in Aliens!!!

Little green men? Sweetie mice more like! In his head!!!

'In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.' Luke 10 v21

Monday, 26 April 2010

Fearsome or Fearful?

I was bringing some lessons to a lovely group of young people at the weekend about the infant church as we find it in Acts chapter 2. Our studies finished with verse 42 where we saw how the early believers participated in the life of the church.

'And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.'

As I have continued to meditate on the passage I was struck by the outcome of their participation in the life of their local church in the very next verse.

'And fear came upon every soul:'

A Godly fear came upon the people of Jerusalem as they witnessed the fervour and commitment of these early Christians. Sad to day in the 21st Century western church we do not strike such a Godly fear into our communities. We are not the fearsome church but we are the fearful church! To many in our nation the church is irrelevant or even a joke.

I think our lack of impact can be traced to our abandonment of the pattern of verses 41&42. Many Christians our not added to their local assemblies or baptised as outlined in verse 41. As we think about verse 42 we see that many Christians do not put themselves under the teaching of the apostles doctrine, nor do they enjoy the fellowship of other believers (preferring the friendship of this world), nor do they remember the Lord in his own appointed way and sad to say they have no interest in the place of prayer either privately or corporately. Herein is our weakness, we must say with the Apostle John: -

'Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.' Revelation chapter 2 v5

May God give us the grace to repent.

Friday, 16 April 2010

Mephedrone Ban

Today a ban comes into force on the substance Mephedrone that has become infamous in recent days due to a number of related deaths. Like any right thinking person I welcome this ban and only wish it had happened sooner. However, there still is another substance, which is abused by many in our society, which is perfectly legal and yet destroys thousand of lives every year. That substance is Alcohol.

This weekend Alcohol fuelled teenagers will fight on our streets, destroying property and straining police resources. Doctors and nurses in our A&E departments will be inundated with the unconscious and injured due to Alcohol. Wives and children will wait in fear for a drunken husband and father to come home and beat the living daylights out of them. Some drink-fuelled madman behind a wheel will wipe out some unsuspecting innocent driver or pedestrian.

On Wednesday of this week Judge Eamonn King remarked at Limavady Magistrates court that 80% of cases that come before his court are drink related. Despite all of these things this substance is available in supermarkets, off sales and pubs across our land with limited restrictions.

From a Christian point of view the Bible has a lot to say about Alcohol and the vast bulk of it is negative and yet today in increasing numbers young Christians are starting to dabble with this dangerous substance. They should listen to the wise words of Solomon rather than the counsel of their compromising friends.

'Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.' Proverbs 20 v1

Thursday, 15 April 2010

Letting the side down

Sadly I find myself for the second time this week vexed by the goings on of God’s people in politics.

I refer to the court proceedings between Jim Allister (TUV) and Ian Paisley Jnr (DUP). As I watched the news last night I was saddened to see God’s children in such a situation. My wife hit it on the head when she remarked, ‘that’s Christians against Christians’. The apostle Paul rebuked the Church in Corinth for the very same thing when he said: -

I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?’ 1st Corinthians 6 v5-7

For me the key phrase in Paul’s comment above is his reference to the fact that this is done before the unbelievers. God’s people should been known for their love for one another and not for their animosity.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.’ John 13 v35

There is a sceptical world out there ready to hammer Christians and sadly many Christians who are in politics are bringing shame on the name of Christ.

We are never going to agree on everything in life or politics. There is nothing wrong with debating those differences in healthy political debate but let’s not turn it into a vicious personal war where brothers in Christ are tearing strips of each other in full view of the world!

Tuesday, 13 April 2010

A Wrong Priority

So the election has been called and the UK will go to the Polls on the 06th May. Like most people from the ‘religious right’ in Northern Ireland I am very interested in political life and enjoy the cut and thrust of political debate.

However, amongst all of the excitement that an election brings there is also something about the whole thing that grieves me and that is the sight of people with wrong priorities.

At this time of the year I see Christian people motivated into action in order to support their preferred candidate, people who sadly are inactive when it comes to Christian service.

You can get them to a political meeting but not a prayer meeting, they will put up posters for a political position but not a gospel mission, they will rap doors encouraging people to vote when the election will come but not to warn them to flee from the wrath to come.

Often these people have a good motivation for what they do, they want to promote candidates who will take a strong stand on moral issues and that is fine. I am not knocking involvement in politics, after all Christians are meant to be the salt of the earth and we are to have a preserving influence on society. What I am knocking is wrong priorities.

Let us not think that we are going to change our nation by politics no matter how good our policies may be. Only the Lord can change our society for the better.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)’ 2nd Corinthians 10 v 4

The real battlefield is the place of prayer and the preaching of the gospel. This is where our priority should be.