The Dark Knight metaphor: A preview

The above is a trailer for 'The Dark Knight'. The new Batman movie.

I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet. But its brilliant. One of the best films I've ever seen and from Heath Ledger a phenomenal performance on screen. Tragic that he didn't live to witness it in full.

Its amazing how God can speak when you least expect it, and how you can have a spiritual experience without any mention of God. This is what happened when I saw it.

I would love to elaborate on exactly what He said, but that would spoil it for everyone as it kinda involves giving a bit of the story away.

I am going away for a week, but when I get back more of you will have seen it, and I will post on the film. I will try not to give too much away even then, but it will be easier when more of you have seen it.

I think its brilliant. Its two and a half hours long, but you barely notice it. It taps into all of our dark sides. Its in no way a comedy, but plays on a sadistic humour that many of us don't often acknowledge. It has incredible metaphors tied up inside it if you're open to them.

So I'll be back in a week or two and will explain all. In the meantime, go watch it. If you've got any doubts, watch the trailer.

Giving the glory to Jesus

Look at this picture.

Wow.

Its one of the most powerful and iconic sporting images I've ever seen. In fact, personally its one of the most amazing pictures I've ever seen.

For those who don't know, this is the Brazilian footballer Kaka, one of the top three footballers in the world, who plays for one of the biggest clubs in the world, Milan, and the current World Footballer of the Year. Also a committed Christian, who consistently thanks God for his career after nearly being crippled as a teenager and publicly said he was going to remain a virgin until his wedding night.

This man is adored and worshipped by many thousands of fans all over the world and said to be worth £80 million on the football transfer market.

This picture was taken at the end of one of the biggest football matches in the world, the Champions League final, watched by millions all over the globe every year. Milan, his club, had just won the match and lifted arguably the biggest trophy in club football.

This is his moment.

This is the height of his fame and popularity. People from all over the world are queuing up to give him praise, worship, honour and congratulate him.

So what does he do?

He takes off his shirt to reveal a white vest with 'I Belong to Jesus' emblazoned on the front, kneels down, closes his eyes, puts his hands out open and looks up.

And worships, thanks, praises and honours God. Gives God the glory. Puts God first.

The temptation at that moment to savour the glory and take all the praise from the fans, players and media alike would have been incredible, especially when caught up in the emotion of a big football match like that.

But no. He gives glory to God, he has what is clearly a very intimate moment with his Saviour. He's clearly experiencing the power of the Spirit and having an amazing time with God.

Its such a powerful witness.

Whenever I see that picture it fires me up, it makes me want to shout from the rooftops about Jesus. It inspires me yet again to try to live a life centred around Jesus, it reminds me of what life is all about.

That despite what the world says, no matter what I do or where I am, that Jesus is Lord of everything, and is more important than anything else.

In a profession where people are worshipped, honoured, praised, showered with money and publicity, where the temptation to take the easy life is more than ever, this man instead uses his fame to glorify God. He chooses to give that glory back to Jesus.

I truly hope that in the hour of my greatest success and triumph, I have the humility to do the same.

That's something we should all praying for.

Todd Bentley - A response (2)

So back to Todd Bentley again. I fear this subject may becoming way too important so I don't really want to talk about it too many times.

You see that's a really big problem with this. That it distracts us from what's really important about our faith. Whether its actually being involved in it or talking about it, it takes up time.

Yes, we need to look at it and have a response to it. That's important.

But lets not let it distract us from what matters most.

I've had more time to reflect on it all, and I've come to see that the point when analysing this is not to make judgements. Its not to be legalistic. Its not to say 'this is Biblical and this isn't'. Isn't that something many of us criticise others for? Yes it is.

So lets not be hypocrites and make judgements. It's difficult not to, I know this. But its the only right response.

I believe God heals people and that He can do that in any way He chooses, and historically He has done. People like Smith Wigglesworth for example. A man of God, but who had his own methods.

God is gracious and loving, and all-powerful. He heals us and can perform miracles by His spirit even today, I have no doubt of that.

Our response needs to be not one of judgement. We need to be open to whatever God wants to do and how He chooses to do it, and whoever He chooses to do it with or through.

The issue has never been the healing for me because I believe God does heal and these healings could well be of God, and there is plenty of evidence to suggest it is, and some to suggest it might not be.

I'm concerned with the Kingdom of God and how it grows and advances. I'm concerned about playing my part in building a church - that is, a community of believers. I'm concerned with discipleship. I'm concerned about showing and telling people who Jesus really is. I'm concerned with building a community that supports and serves each other and the community around it.

I'm not into the latest trend. I'm not going to change what I believe or how I interpret the Bible.

Of course, we all should be looking for new interpretations of the Bible, new meanings, new perspectives. Of course we need to be trying to discuss how we can apply the basic doctrines of our faith today, and what it means to be a Christian now. Of course we need to keep the message fresh and new, and live and speak it in a way that is culturally relevant.

But that doesn't mean changing everything to fit with the latest trend. Because contrary to some belief, God isn't only at these events.

Oh and lets get rid of one misconception here. People calling this a revival.

No it isn't.

No, its really not.

Its not revival, because revival for me is when a large number of people come to faith in Christ, not just when lots of people are healed. So anyone calling it a revival is misguided.

Call it what it is. A mass outpouring of healing. Possibly an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

But I have said it before and I will say it again.

Jesus
is
so
much
more
than
healing.

If this is Him at work through Todd Bentley then fine. Give Him the glory and worship Him for it.

If it isn't I pray that it is exposed as such and God brings it down.

We all should be praying for that.

We should be praying that if it is God, to work through it, and if it isn't, that He shows it up for what it is, and brings it to a halt.

We need to trust God to do that. He knows what He's doing. He's in control. We need to believe that and trust Him.

If it is God, then lets praise God for healing all those people. If it is God then He deserves the honour, praise and glory. If it is God, then its a very good thing.

But that brings me back to the point.

That this isn't the point.

That's its a sideshow.

Its not the major event or major work.

The real major ongoing work of God, what I believe is more important to Him, is building the Kingdom here.

Now.

Today.

Where we are.

The real work is us trying to live by Jesus values and standards each and every day, trying to become more like Him. Trying to stand for the values and truths He did and to grow in relationship with Him.

If God wants to heal, then let Him do so and praise and worship Him for it.

But lets not allow it to distract us from the root of our faith. If it does that, then that's a very bad thing.

If it does that, then either its not of God, or people have allowed themselves to be distracted and sucked in by a big stage show.

That's just consumer Christianity, a God who gives us what we want when we want or when we need it. In our time, on our agenda.

That's not God either.

So instead of putting all the focus on this, lets pray that God works through it and is at work in it. Lets thank God for healing people if it is Him, and give Him the glory He deserves.

Then lets back to the daily business of trying to live like Jesus and having a relationship with Him.

Trust God to deal with Todd Bentley, because for sure one day Todd Bentley will have to account to God for what He's doing, whether it is God or not.

Trust God and pray for His kingdom to come. That's the priority.

Church - Jesus style

I read today with despair but little surprise that the Church of England is on the verge of splitting over women priests and gay ordination.

More despair than anything.

What kind of message does this send out? The established church dividing again. Wow, what a surprise.

It just strikes me that none of this is what Jesus had in mind when he asked Peter to build His church.

Ask people what 'the church' means to most people now and they mention the institutions of church, the establishment church. They usually mean the Church of England or the Catholic church, which despite whatever they believe appear to a lot of people now as part of the established order, part of tradition, part of culture, even part of politics and royalty.

Jesus didn't come to become part of the establishment, He came to show them what they were doing wrong, and to take them on and re-define his culture.

Jesus didn't come to bring more legalism and tradition, He came to shame those who were very religious and legalistic, and to show them there is more to being a follower of God than following rules and regulations, or knowing the scriptures off by heart.

Jesus didn't come to start a religion, but to show us a new way to live.

Church as Jesus orginially intented, church 'Jesus style', is not a religion, its not establishment, its not legalistic, it doesn't get caught up in single issues and doesn't argue about being right or wrong.

Its a community trying to follow the way of Jesus, to stand for the values He stood for, taking a lead in fighting injustice, taking action where Jesus would take action, making choices daily for God, serving each other, giving to each other, blessing each other, living at peace and don't falling out over 'disputable matters', and showing love and grace to all people, welcoming everyone no matter who they are.

Its a way of life, an organism.

Its constantly changing, growing, learning, developing, nurturing and evolving.

Churches are outwardly different in how they put their faith in to practice, depending on the circumstances, location, culture, need and type of people where its located.

But at their heart they should have the same values, desires, passion, and inspiration. They should all have the way of Jesus at their heart.

Churches shouldn't be political or be used as political tools but, as individuals and as a collective, should be activists, taking the lead in global and local issues where God's values aren't being upheld, and setting the agenda locally, nationally and internationally. They should be leading the way. United, together, as a body and a family and focused on the same thing.

What is happening to the established church today saddens me. Because that name we give it isn't what it really is.

I don't want to give it the name church anymore, because its beginning not to deserve it anymore. Its giving Jesus and His church - His people, that is - a bad name, a wrong name.

Its certainly not the church Jesus had in mind. Its not church, 'Jesus style.'

The Operating System, not Multi-map

As some readers will know, I have a huge respect and admiration for Rob Bell, for his ideas and perspectives, what he believes Christianity to be and how we can communicate and live it out (and no, I'm not trying to look like him with my new glasses, before anyone starts!).

I was listening to him defend himself and his church recently, after they had received a lot of criticism. One thing he said really hit home.

He said that a lot of Christians have made the Bible their idol, like a golden calf. They have started to worship the Bible rather than focusing on how to live it out. The Bible has become more important to some than following Jesus, its become their idol. Christians can spend so much time and energy picking out phrases and lines from the Bible, and arguing about issues which in the end don't really matter.

Issues which while important, at the end of it all aren't at the root of the message of Jesus.

The Bible is God's word. It is inspired by God and authoritative. It shows us how God wants us to live and shows us the values that God has. It shows us what God has done for us and what He has done throughout history. It is useful for training, for guiding us and directing us. It is to be respected and it has to be used. It is a gift from God.

But it is not to be worshipped or made an idol in itself.

You see, the Bible is not the point.

It is a means to see the point.

God speaks now, He still speaks today. Many of you will have heard God speak to you. Those words He speaks to us are just as authoritative if they are truly from God.

The Bible is God's word for us. But its not the only way God speaks to us is it? God is bigger than just the Bible (I can hear the cries of heretic already!). He is bigger than everything, everyone, bigger than all things we can imagine or comprehend. Beyond our minds and imagination.

The Bible isn't the point

The point is God. The point is living like Jesus and the truth and power of the cross and resurrection.

Following Jesus.

Serving Jesus.

Having the same values as Jesus.

Being a community that reaches out to serve, give, blesses and show the love of God to the world around us. Making a choice each day to live differently.

Being a community that does not judge or condemn or exclude anyone, including those they disagree with of our own faith, but welcomes and includes and forgives.

Knowing that through the cross and resurrection we have a new hope and the promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of God, whatever the Kingdom of God is.

That's what is important as a Christian. The Bible is merely a tool, a way of seeing and understanding God, a collection of books inspired by God and useful for training, equipping and encouraging people in their faith. A device for helping people to see a fuller picture of God and of what He wants for us.

The Bible is not the point. The Bible is not God.

Lets not limit God and the message of Jesus to the Bible. Lets not limit being a Christian to the Bible.

Being a Christian is so much more, and God is so much more.

We aren't made or designed to fully comprehend God. Its like trying to put a computer operating system requiring amounts of memory on to an i-pod-mini. It just can't do it. Its not designed for it.

God is like the operating system, we are the i-pod. We can use the operating system, its the background and the method we choose to live and work by and through. The Bible is one of the tunes that God gives us, to take with us, to use as a tool to help understand Him. Its almost like Multi-map, in that it shows you who and what God, the cross and resurrection is all about, and you can zoom in to the point you want to refer to, to examine and to try and navigate, and you can keep coming back to it again to try and understand it better.

But we'll never have the full operating system or be able to fully comprehend it. We just aren't designed to.

People try to limit God to the Bible and the visual signs He performs today. People seem to want to have an organised and rigid explanation for everything.

The answer to everything, ultimately always comes back to God. We don't need to know everything about God. If we can't explain something, say so. Just say that you trust that God knows what He's doing. Sometimes things happen we can't explain and all we can say is that we don't know why but we still love and trust God.

But although we can never know Him fully, God still wants us to know and understand Him more. Because we can't comprehend God we can always learn more about Him. He wants us to.

We have to keep probing, questioning, re-examining the Bible, listening to what God is saying, seeing what He's doing, and what it is to be a Christian here. Today. Now. Wherever we are.

We have to keep on going, and never be satisfied or think we 'have the answer'.

We need to accept that God is more than we will ever be able to comprehend or imagine or understand.

But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to learn as much as we can.

That's why God gave us enquiring minds.

To explore, probe, question and think about what He has said, and to try to understand it better and in doing so understand Him better. To understand better what it means to follow Jesus and live like Him.

We keep on learning, we never stop learning, we never know it all or have all the answers. There is always more to learn about God and always will be. We should keep trying to learn more and have the humility to know that we will never know it all, and that there are some things we will never totally understand about God.

And at the same time we need to live out what we learn and put it into practice every day, relying on God to guide, direct and strengthen us.

It doesn't mean we have to be religious nuts or Bible-bashers. It doesn't mean we have to quote the Bible all the time in every conversation we have. That's not it at all. That's going to make us look weird and strange, and alienate people.

But we need to just live it. Do it. Put it into practice, and just keep on learning. There's a time for talking about it, and God will show us when that is.

What an adventure we are on with God in learning about Him, and the great thing is it just keeps on going, we keep on learning and growing and doing. It excites me even writing about it.

Its God, not the Bible, that we worship. The Bible is hugely important, but its not the point.

God is the point. God is the reason for everything and what everything comes back to.

Let us never forget that.

Todd Bentley - A response (1)

In my 100th post I posed some questions regarding Todd Bentley, and today I will try to begin answering them.

I don't know where this will take me, but it should be interesting.

So to begin, lets look at the issue of substance. Now its all very well performing miracles, healing people and making people fall over in the spirit on stage. But if their core root beliefs are not rooted in the truth of Jesus and the Bible and there is no backbone to what they are doing, and they are merely doing miracles and healings for the sake of doing them, well that to me is a faith without substance, a message without substance, a ministry without substance.

I mean exactly what else happens apart from healing and prayer ministry? Everything else seems to fit around it. Its like that is the centre of what they are doing and everything else isn't as important.

Its very dangerous to submit yourselves to prayer ministry by anyone not knowing what they believe or what they are preaching.

Being a Christian, and being a church, is about being community together and healing is only one dimension to this. Good teaching and getting spiritual direction to help you follow Jesus in the world is more important, to me and I think to God, than how many people get healed of whatever sicknesses or conditions. Surely its more important to know the right way to live and get good direction and teaching on that, so you can put it into practice, than to be healed. God cares about both, but learning to live like Jesus is of more long-term value to us as people.

So when people come along doing things like this we need to ask the question of what they believe, and where their faith comes from.

If someones faith in Jesus is dependent on Him healing people to 'prove' He loves us and His power is real, then in my opinion that's not true faith. Faith is believing in something we cannot see or prove 100%, and if someone is medically healed, that is a very obvious and outward demonstration of God's power.

Jesus attitude to all of this? Even Jesus got tired eventually of how He kept having to perform miracles for people, not because He didn't want to heal people, but because of what it said about the faith and character of the people who asked for a healing.

In John 4 v 48 Jesus says something very telling which is very relevant to this. A man has come to Him to ask Him to heal his child. Jesus does go on to heal him, but His first response speaks volumes. This is Jesus initial response when asked the heal the child. The first thing He says.

"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe.""

Wow. What a response.

Try and imagine His tone of voice here as well. I think its almost an air of resignation. People needing to see miracles to believe and Jesus knows this, and He wishes it were otherwise.

This is precisely the danger here. Do people going to this and the leaders involved need miracles to support and justify their faith in Jesus?

One of the big dangers with this too is that people end up thinking that Jesus is 'only' in this place, that Todd Bentley is the only man who is bringing the power and spirit of Jesus down for healing, that everyone needs to go to these meetings to meet with Jesus.

This of course leads to people beginning to idolise the leaders of these meetings, like Todd Bentley.

The other big danger is that people will start to go to these meetings expecting to get their needs met, almost demanding it. They will start to think that if they aren't healed then God is being unfair, unjust, or doesn't love them as much. They will become consumer Christians, taking what they can get and beginning to demand more of God to prove He is there and that He loves them.

They could slowly and surely start to consume Jesus, demand to get what they want and have their prayers answered, and think God doesn't love them if He doesn't.

When its over, they can become disillusioned and lose their faith because God isn't doing such spectacular miracles and they've come to expect them. They could fall away from the church, which would make the healing totally counter-productive. But that has more to do with the attitude of those going and the character of the leaders than the power of God to heal.

It becomes a show, and the leaders become celebrities and in all the tide of emotion and popularity there is a big temptation for them to start to think its all about them and forget about God - if it is the power of God they are using.

These are all big issues and very real dangers of meetings like this.

In the verse above in John 4 Jesus gives his response. He is saying that the signs and wonders are not the most important thing.

That there is more to faith than miracles, signs and wonders.

There is more than a spectacular show.

He's totally spot on.

Christianity isn't just about miracles of the Spirit. Its about how you live.

I wonder, would he say the something like that to these people if He got up on stage?

Christianity is about living a life like Jesus.

Having the same values as Jesus.

Being Jesus wherever we are and whatever we do or say. Jesus isn't just in these meetings, He's always with us.

He's with us wherever we are. He can heal us wherever we are.

He is all around us.

Faith in Jesus is not about all the signs and wonders, its about staying true to what we believe even when all seems against us. Signs and wonders are encouraging, but they don't develop character and a strong faith which sustains through the good and bad times.

Jesus can choose whether to heal us or not, and its His choice. Either way, He still loves us.

I believe in Jesus whether He's healing me or not, whether I feel good or bad, whether things are happy or painful. In fact the painful times are often the times that I've actually felt I've grown and developed and got closer to God. Not when God's been obviously present and doing powerful stuff in a congregation, but when life is difficult and I have to trust God more because I need Him more and He might feel more distant.

Faith is so much more than deeds. Being a Christian is so much more than God doing miracles.

We need to remember that.

I have still to make my conclusions on Todd Bentley and there are more issues to tackle in a future blog before I do so. But so far, I can only say I am concerned about what is happening - not because it may not be God necessarily, but because there doesn't appear to be much substance behind it, and because it may be leading people to put their faith in something which is only an outward sign, rather than on something far stronger - the real God at the centre of it.

There is more to discuss, and I am looking forward to doing so.