Today, in Northern Ireland, a man is on trial. He is on trial for saying that Islam is a heathen and Satanic religion. Whilst he is on trial because he broadcast an apparently 'grossly offensive' sermon, I think that he is basically on trial for saying that Jesus isn't the only way to God. This is the country we live in. The core message of the Bible is on trial and I have no idea where the case will go.

James McConnell preached a sermon that was then broadcast online. He was not very conciliatory and was a little too fire and brimstone for my liking. He was not loving and he made a mistake (in my opinion) to label all Muslims in one way. We need to share the gospel with love and grace and I don't think he did. However, the message, that Jesus is the only way to God is, in my opinion, sound. 

Scripture makes this clear; John 14:6 says it explicitly and the rest of the Bible is also just as clear. However, we live in a world where all religions have the same ending apparently. It is wrong to say that ours is right. The problem is, they can't all be right.

Christianity says that God is a Triune God, Father Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus died on the cross and rose again and was the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Islam says God is one. Jesus didn't die on the cross and was merely a (albeit very special one) prophet. They can't both be right.

Christianity says there is one (triune) God. Hinduism says there are many gods. They can't both be right.

Christianity says there is a God. Buddhism says there is no god. They can't both be right.

I think Christianity is right and I reject all the other religions. I love all of them dearly because they, like me, are sinners loved by God. I don't hate them, I don't dislike them and I will do my best to convince as many as I can. 

Nothing can stop me saying that Jesus is the only way to God. Even though we live in the world Paul foretold where

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather round them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

I have a wonderful piece of artwork on my wall at home, bought by my beautiful wife. It is a mock up of a train ticket which contains a reference to Joshua 24:15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’

Lots of time to listen to some wonderful worship songs recently. The other day was very very stormy and I was in the bus stop belting out these two into the wind.






Both of them are amazing. I always feel so empowered when I sing them

I preached the other week (first Sunday in Advent) on approaching the kingdom of God. What inspired me (apart from the Spirit of course) was the decision to ban the release in cinemas of the advert below



At first I was angry, as usual, but then I thought a little about it and read some stuff which suggested that the advertising people were right to ban it. Think about it, it is hardly a welcome prayer in the modern world.

Our father - see we are all one family, we are not these disparate floating pieces all doomed to loneliness for eternity. Advertisers can't sell much stuff to people who aren't lonely.

Hallowed be your name - we have a holy father, we are to be encouraged to be like God. Be different. Don't be selfish. Don't let our desires overrule our heads. Not a popular idea with some.

Your will be done, on earth ... - Easy to see why this is hated.

Give us this day our daily bread - we should only have what we need, not what we want. I imagine some alarm bells went off over this part.

Forgive us our sins - we can't get a better life with better stuff. We get a better life with Grace.

As we forgive others - don't compete or compare, but forgive!

Lead us not into temptation - advertisers are like the devil. They offer seemingly easy solutions to problems./ We have another solution.


You see, we are hated in this world. We always will be. But there is another Kingdom. a kingdom that is so different (I actually had a real glimpse at what Holy means) that we should be amazed whenever we catch a little tiny peek.

We need a guide though and that's what Christmas is all about. A newborn king, a king who would pierce our hearts and die on a cross for our sins.

Amen, come lord Jesus come

Am off Facebook for a while. Am back on Twitter. I'm trying to get myself sorted a little bit. Been very poor at reading lately so I am trying to work through the new Tim Keller book on preaching ...

Been busy as the title suggests. Preaching more often now and that's been a challenge.

Previously we didn't have a real pattern at church. It was nice to let God lead us and to see what He brought to mind. This usually allowed me a good couple of weeks to get a sermon ready.

However, we have been through Hebrews and now are doing James. We decided that it would be better service to God and the congregation. But, it is not quite perfect as I don't know until the week before what section the previous preacher is covering!

Title says it all really. The family and I are away for three weeks from tomorrow. I probably won't be blogging much (nothing new there eh!) but there are some things that I wanted to think about for a bit before we descend into the family.

First off, family. Mine are not Christian, the wife's are. Church at my mum's house if not only boring but it is taking precious time away from family time. What's the Christian thing to do? I am hoping to get to church at least once. I hope to get to this church ...


St Mary's Ruabon.


It is where I used to go when I was first a Christian and away from Uni. They are a lovely church and I have learned the hard way not to think that God is not there just because it is a conservative Anglican church.

When we are at the other family there is much more chance that we will get to church. The wife's sister goes to what sounds like a very interesting church



Welspring.

We shall have to see.

Something else I saw again today was the consecration of the first Diocesan bishop who also happens to be a woman. Now, I have discussed this before but it would seem that my residual Anglicanism has finally gone. I saw the pictures today and read the words published about it but I felt so much that it was wrong. I definitely have to try and think some more about this.

Yet another reference to Matthew 10 today (see yesterday's post). Made me think about families.

You see, none of my family (except my beautiful wife) are Christians. I have spent a good deal of time wondering if they will become Christians. I used to worry about it a lot but these days I trust god a lot more than I used to.

The issue is though; how much of a 'Christian' should I be? We have a party coming up soon with lots of family there. There will be drinking, swearing, lewdness and general being an idiotness.Should I sit in the corner and tut away? Not go? Dip my toe in the water? Dive in? I don't know really. Scripture says that we are to be salt and light but we also need to be in the world sharing the Gospel. how are we to share the Gospel if we never mix?

Worst part of it is though, that many of the family use Jesus Christ as an extra piece of punctuation!


Guess I will have to try and remember Exodus 20:12

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.