GIFTS AND WHAT MIGHT FOLLOW.

GIFTS and what Follows.
It began with an unexpected meeting and an invitation to a cup of tea. The couple were Bangladeshis
who are among those whom I would not usually meet. A conversation followed and a gift offered and received. Al Qur-an in English and Arabic with significant commentary. I indicate that I would reciprocate. Then the comments and calls to back away.

Where to take this?  Communication must be two way - a Dialogue is essential. To leave the matter where it is now is most unsatisfactory. Communication does imply .... demand the removal of walls and barriers. This wall must be addressed not just on mission fields over there but in new home situations.
This new friend had no problem in offering me this gift .... it is a beautiful gift. I selected a hard cover without picture on cover copy of the New Testament in his own language. An exchange of gifts yet there is this protest, reinforcing a wall.
According to my understanding there is the instruction in his gift that if he wishes to know what I believe he should ask me. If I had been a Jew a similar instruction is given. He may not wish to know but he ought not the draw conclusions about what I believe unless he does seek information.
My experience in Brunei showed how much misinformation and nonsense is presented by Islam's religion teachers to students at school. The booklet "Fundamentals of 'Aqeedah - Ahl.Us.Sunnah reveals serious error in its implications about the Christian Faith. Mind you some of it deserved given
the way the Doctrine of the Trinity is presented by members of the church. We are supposed to believe
in Three gods - Father, Mother and Son. Given our history it is not difficult to see how this came about.
This means that Christians need to distance themselves from much of it Greek synthesis.
God whom we are invited to call Father ..... Word Who! became flesh and dwelt amongst us ..... Ruah, Spirit ... Holy Spirit proceeding from God and the Word........

Then Leslie Newbigin's notion of Christian Revelation is much more than information it is invitation to relationship.

A Reflection St Catherine’s Men’s Fellowship exists as a gathering for men in the parish. It is described as a Fellowship with the following four objectives. 1. To establish fellowship among people in the parish 2. To welcome newcomers to the Parish 3. To support the parish priest in projects which may arise 4. To promote Christian Principles and ethics in the Community and provide an opportunity for discussion in such matters. What does this mean? Christian Fellowship is the companion of the Christian Gospel. Do we see ourselves as a Christian Fellowship? What does a Fellowship of Anglican (Christian) men look like? If we are no different to Rotary or Probus then what is our purpose? How are we reaching out to the other men who are connected to the Parish? What kind of connection needs to be made? This leads onto the second objective, What are we doing to welcome newcomers to the parish? While we may maintain our monthly Tuesday gatherings are there other ‘events/ activities’ we could be establishing to make newcomers welcome? … Is this where a few Saturday morning gatherings fit? The third objective invites an engagement with the Parish Priest (and Parish Leadership) to identify aspects of ministry that Men's Fellowship could undertake or at least encourage, or even initiate. This does not necessarily mean maintenance of grounds and building, however because we have grounds and building then there is a responsibility to maintain them. ‘Aspects of ministry’ means more than this. I am suggesting that 'projects' is NOT the appropriate word. The fourth item begs some definition. What Christian Principles? What are they? What are Christian ethics? I think there is an assumption that we all know what these are. Yes, notions of honesty, integrity come to mind but these are principles that many would claim belong to all people, not necessarily Christian. # “Christian ethics grows from a faithful response to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is shaped by the history of God sending His People to be a holy and righteous witness to the nations so that others might know how God's salvation is demonstrated in national life, community and family relationships.” # Matthew 5 : 1 – 12 The Beatitudes set a clear description of what is to be understood by Christian principles. “ Jesus' disciples came to him and he began to speak, and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” These words are NOT aspirational, they describe who we are, how we live. Bishop Tom Frame said the other day: “If we are not living the Sermon on the Mount we should pack up. Stop pretending we are church.” We are to live as if the New World has arrived and it has begun in the Death and Resurrection of Jesus.” This is Living by Faith. They are words to describe the men of the fellowship and give direction to what we might be doing as a fellowship. In other words these are addressed to us first and how we live – cause for reflection. Do newcomers see anything different about us and the group that would cause them to want to join with us? This “Sermon” formed part of Christian instruction in the early church as being People of the Way. The first Christians were called the People of the Way – Not: ‘the people of the experience’ nor ‘the people of the right doctrine’ nor ‘the people of the church’. They saw them-selves as a community. This gives a significant clue as to what ‘fellowship’ should mean when applied to a group that calls itself Christian. I trust I can use the words “Anglican” and ‘Christian’ interchangeably. # The call to Justice, Beauty and Homecoming as noted by Bishop Tom Wright needs exploration here. Note Ministry of Reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5: 11 – 21 and its implications for Fellowship. # There is the injunction for all Christians to “Go forth and make disciples of all nations”. Where does this fit with our objectives? Note the word ‘disciples’ is far more than saving souls. # There has been some concern that Men’s Fellowship not be Evangelical. The suggestion is that if it was it would frighten men away. In the light of what I have written I am concerned as to what is understood by ‘Evangelical’ Some added comments: 1 Jonathan Andrews and later John Brummell more recently came and made their Christian commitment known in their talks and the connection of the Christian faith to their topic. Were these encrouching on this Evangelical border line? 2. A suggestion from our Parish Priest embraces the view that Father’s Day raises issues about what “Father” might mean today. Do we/ Can we engage with Men in the community to support men being fathers and enabling young men to clarify what this role might mean for them. The absent father is a significant experience for many children today in our society. What does this say to boys in particular. What does it say to girls? 3. A further comment from a friend suggests another focus “how one can be a better Christian in the home, in church and in the community?” 4. From tonight’s Men’s meeting a conversation with John Stevenson raised the possibility of “Father and Son” gatherings – perhaps twice a year. As a young fellow I went with my father to such gatherings and found them a great privilege. 5. Another matter raised comes from George Smith the co-ordinator of ABM in Brisbane. Earlier this year he gave me a booklet of studies called “The Faith Effect – God’s Love in the World” It has five sessions : On Earth as in Heaven … Religion Poisons Everything …… God’s Love in the World …… What Can we do? And So what next? A suggestion is that with ten meetings in the year every second meeting could be a viewing of the DVD and a study/discussion of one of these five topics. 6. The parish is seeking to assist/ to minister to those who have been offloaded from work. Is this perhaps another aspect of ministry that we as a fellowship could connect with?
 Consideration: If you reflect on what I have written how might we write our Men's Fellowship Objectives?

Reading the Bible After Christendom

This the title of a book by Lloyd Peitersen. Sad, depressing read about the downside of Christendom and its dominance of the Christian message and understanding.
His focus is on the place of the Anabaptist in the life of the church and its way of reading the Bible. Indicating his indebtedness to them he writes: "I shall advocate that reading the Bible after Christendom requires an approach that is Jesus-centered, rooted in Community reading, open to the Spirit and orientated to Obedience. .... I depart from them on their refusal to accept ambiguity in the text and their approach to the two testaments." ( pp 65 -66) The Anabaptist insistence on Obedience as an integral part of reading the Bible is I believe essential given what we understand the Bible to be.
In Part 2 of his book he commences with a chapter on "Jesus as the Centre of Biblical Interpretation" He writes in part: "First, Jesus exemplifies what the Old Testament means by loving God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might and loving your neighbour as your self (Deut 6:5, Lev 19:18) which He states are at the heart of the Old Testament (Matt 22:40) Second, Jesus expands on this by speaking of "justice and mercy and faith" as the weightier matters of the law" (Matt 22:23) So any reading of Scripture which claims to be Christocentric should enhance our love of God and neighbour and contribute to human flourishing in terms of justice, mercy and faithfulness .... This brings ethics and praxis to the fore front of biblical interpretation.
Finally reflection of the person of Jesus can provide us with particular lenses with which to read the Bible .... customary to see this through Christ as Prophet, priest and king. These are too connected to Christendom ... so I propose to use Prophet, Pastor and Poet as angles of vision with which to view the Biblical text" ( p 69 - 70 ) and so he proceeds.
I find this framework to read scripture very persuasive. Echoes of Walter Brueggemann sound as I read this. It is not surprising that the same Walter Brueggemann writes a Foreword to this book. You will note that this post appears under the general label of Narrative Explored which gives a hint of the influence of Bishop Tom Wright as well.
It is to be noted that I now view the first chapter of Genesis to be a declaration contra Idolatry and false religion. That Light is declared to be independent of the Sun and Moon is critical to this. They appear on Day 4, yet light is provided on Day 1