Why as a Christian I want to put my head under a pillow...

Every time Danny Nalliah opens his mouth in public I want to hide.

That's because Mr Rudd "spoke against Israel" in December 2010, Daniel Nalliah from the Catch the Fire Ministries has written on his website.
"It is very interesting that Kevin Rudd is from Queensland. Is God trying to get our attention? I believe so," he said.
Mr Rudd, during a visit to Israel in December, called on the Jewish state to allow international inspectors into its nuclear facilities.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/pastor-says-kevin-rudd-to-blame-for-floods/story-e6frfku0-1225985730895#ixzz1AsXZPA3V

 I've never heard so much rot come from a Christian mouth. It happens every time a natural disaster occurs in Australia Danny has someone usually from the Labour party to blame.

A much better response if from the 'Wondering pilgrim' 'Responding to natural disasters' .

Lets hope the collective church responds appropriately and includes a response to Danny Nalliah.
Mark Connors did so last time with the Brushfires lets hope he does so again...For the sake of Christian credibility in Australia.

Related articles

• Pastor blames Australian floods on Rudd's Israel views (thejc.com)
• What Caused Australia's Devastating Floods: Why Kevin Rudd of Course (zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com)

The what do we do now question?

The Last question in Brian McLaren's book 'A New Kind of Christianity' is most importantly is "What do we do now?"

This is in many ways the most important question even if you agree with only one of the previous questions. There is then a mandate for you to change.

A few things which had me in agreement or pondering::


Keeping the balance between action and contemplation/reflection, in our life. (Ch 20)


What to do if you agree with 'A new type of Christianity', but your Church is not in this place? Some really good hints here. I like the way he gives good hints at sticking it out. (Ch 21)

Point 5, I particulary like about helping churches change.

::"Get an outside consultant":: Unfortuantely my time in the Vineyard in Australia all consultancy/mentoring was done 'in house', I think you really loose something no going outside the denomination.
::Look at 'parachurch' for an option in a denomination. I never even thought of this. Although I would think that Forge was probably in this bracket until it left Churches of Christ.
::When new people enter a Church embrace what the diversity in what they have to offer from their denomination. They most probably on want to share the things that are positive. Makes scene.


So that's "A New Kind of Christianity' all read and dusted. Would I recommend it to anyone. Nope. Its a book for people who struggles with any of these questions. But if you have it all down pat and happy with the way the world works you will probably on find this book frustrating.

The Pluralism question

The ninth question in Brian McLaren's book 'A new kind of Christianity' is the 'Pluralism question'.

Another way of asking the question is: the majority world doomed, because they do not acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.


I've always been on the same wave length as McLaren on this one. He uses 2:1-29

...people are never judged based on knowledge they don't have, and that God well bless

McLaren also takes time in writing about Jesus and his claims of John 14:6. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Though good exegesis he makes the point that it was a message for his disciples. Not for those outside the room or the generations to come. Interesting and probably open to debate.

My belief is that if God is one of love.  He can see through the crap and into the heart, no mater what the culture.

Can we fine a better way of viewing the future

Up to the eighth question from Mclaren's 'A New Kind of Christianity' the 'Can We Find a Better Way of Viewing the Future' question.

Mclaren offers a three dimensional approach to end time. One which is expanding. As opposed to the traditional view of evangelicals: salvation and heaven or death.

So what does he mean and expanding approach?

'...there is no single fixed end point towards which we move, but rather a widening space, opening into an infinitely expanding goodness, like air and sunlight into which a tree spreads out its branches. Creation branches out into an ever-widening sphere of goodness, justice and peace...'

 Sounds good to me. It also I thinks it fits with the term ''Kingdom of God"


The other interesting thing is how we define judgement. Instead of the traditional 'Condemnation'. Instead of retributive balancing the equation. It involves 'putting things right',

"...reconciling, not merely punishing; healing, not merely diagnosing; transforming, not merely exposing; revaluing (or redeeming), not merely evaluating"

I like it, but he don't use the word 'Universalism'  or address it. (Unless I missed something)

Open Theism and Brian Mclaren

Brian McLaren is the classic post modern guy.

Repetativley, yet rightly so he always declines been a spokesman for the 'Emerging Church'.

The other thing is how he often dodges direct questions. Recently he was asked in his question and answer section about Open Theism.

1. God does not determine the future in detail because He cannot know the future…the future simply cannot be known by anyone
I would phrase this a bit differently. I would put it in terms of these questions: What kind of relationship does God want with the universe? What kind of universe did God make?

What a postmodern classic, throwing out another question. Interestingly just like Jesus. 'Who do you think I am?"

Its Interesting Open Theism, like Mclaren writes, does run 'parallel' to the 'Emergent' movement.
After reading a lot of books from Mclaren, especially the new book 'A New Kind of Christianity', a lot of questions Mclaren asks are answered in Clark Pinnocks book "A Wilderness in God's Mercy".
Yet I would say that McLaren while giving round about answers sits in a similar position as Open Theism. Pinnock is more direct as well giving more theological support.
I can understand Mclaren not wanting to be put in a theological box and not wanting to be linked to anyone yet have something in common with everyone.

The Sex question

 
The next question which Mclaren tackels in his recent book 'A New Kind of Christianity' is the 'Sex Question'.

I've always found that Mclaren skirts around the question reading his literature as well as listening to his podcasts.
In the book, I found his arguments regarding sexuality compelling for a greater need of acceptance with those different in sexual orientation than ourselves. What I find is frustrating once we come to the same conclusion as Mclaren is what do we do with it our new understanding....

Some of the things that I thought compelling::

-What do we do with people who are born with intersexuality? Children born with male and female organs?
- What do we do with people who are born with Klinefelter's syndrome? They have XXY chromosomes rather than XY or XX chromosomes.

-"Jesus' treatment of the marginalised and stigmatised requires us to question the conventional approach (To those of a different sexual orientation). We have many examples of Jesus crossing boundaries to include outcasts and sinners, and not a single example of Jesus crossing his arms and refusing to do so."

 So what would Jesus do? I think Mclaren answers this with the above quote.
-Sexualtiy had changed in the last 50 years
-homosexual sexual problems seem to be highlighted in the  Church yet heterosexual issues are just as rampant. Mclaren gives two good pages of examples on this one.
-The venom has gone out a lot of Christians regarding this topic which a larger percentage of congregations not having any issues with homosexuality.

Julia the Athiest

Nathan Hobby over in Perth has pointed out a link about Julia Gillard being an Atheist. The article left me with a few questions, most importantly: I'd like to understand how she came to this position coming from a Church background.

I suppose my greatest dread with Julia being an  Atheist is that all Christians who have political agendas in Australia will come out of the closet! (I wonder if Danny Nalliah had any prophesy on K Rudd's downfall.) We will then end up with a real American electoral system. Although Australia has had a few Athiests lead the country Bob Hawke and more than likely a few closet Atheist.

I do belive that having a 'Christian', label is a positive in an election. Implimenting a Christian position is more of a positive for me during an electoral term. So strong social justice, a pacifist position, a strong green component and treating all people with equality is very important. If an atheist such as Julia can implement these policies then I'm ok with her. I doubt either the ALP or the Liberal will bring in an pacifist position, so this then like all elections brings the choice down to the lesser of two evils. I believe that God is big enough to implement his will though Atheist.

On the side. While I think that Kevin is a genuine Christian, I think he went a bit to far with the press conferences outside the Church which he attended! It just cheapened his Christian faith.

The Gospel Question

The Gospel Question is the fifth question from Brian Mclaren's book 'A New Kind of Christianity'.

Its a pretty basic premise for the whole question. Mclaren claims that most reading of the 'Gospel' has been done through the eyes of the apostle Paul and not through Jesus. That Paul is not wrong, just misunderstood. Thus most of Chapter 14 and 15 is a re-telling of Romans.

Nothing much in this Chapter that sparked me.

The Jesus Question

The next lot of Chapters from McLaren center on the idea of who Jesus was and why he was importatnt.
I was pretty interested in what I thought this Chapter would be about. The questions which I thought would whirl around was the historical Jesus.
Alas it was not to be. Rather more of an aplogetic based around Mclaren's "loyal critics". Although not naming them you can use the google god you can find out. 
It was fairly interesting way to get his idea's of what Jesus looks like as compared to his Critics. It was fairly main stream stuff. A Jesus who is into social justice, the environment, a Jesus who is in the midst of changing the 'Here and Now'.
I was interested in the whole idea of the 'Here and now' of Jesus ministry especially as it is a different angle on Vineyard theology and practice. But overall disappointed a lot of it was based around 'Loyal critics'.

Dinner plus A New Kind of Christianity

Wednesday we are having Dinner with out neighbour and going through Brian McLaren's "A New Kind of Christianity". It should be an interesting affair, our neighbour new to the Island like ourselfs has a Sydney Anglican background so it will be good to hear his points of views on things.

Anyway Mclarens book looks pretty good. I've already read the first two chapters and the basic premis of the book is 10 questions which he believes the Church needs to examine much like Luther and his questions which he banged on the door.

They are....

1. The Narrative question
2. The Authority question
3. The God question
4. The Jesus question
5. The Gospel question
6. The Church question
7. The Sex Question
8. The future question
9. The pluralism question
10. The what do we do now question