To the Cross

The BBC are today reporting on an atheist camp - an alternative to the Christian Camps that happen throughout summer: "For the "centrepiece" of its scientific approach to religion the camp asks its participants to search for two invisible unicorns. The unicorns cannot be seen or heard, tasted, smelt or touched, they cannot escape from the camp and they eat nothing. The only proof of their existence is contained in an ancient book handed down over "countless generations". A prize - a £10 note signed by Professor Richard Dawkins - is offered to any child who can disprove the existence of the unicorns." This is of course indoctrinatioin of the highest order - the very thing that atheists like Dawkins complains about. It is implying that the only proof of God's existence is an ancient Bible - of course this is not the case. I have never seen any person change their lives around from violent robber/drug addict/theif/ to servant simply because they have ...

The orders from the head of the Church of England to 'prevent' catching Mexican Swine Flu in church: (1) Only the Priest may partake in the wine during the Lord's Supper (2) Those distributing bread should first wash their hands in a cleansing gel (3) All physical contact should be avoided during the church service at all costs What foolish panic!!! You might as well put out a notice "Don't come to church - you are likely to catch swine flu". It is effectively banning all social functions in church (especially where food is served), banning the laying on of hands for prayer, and more importantly banning full participation in the Lord's Supper. Why do I get the feeling that the leaders of the church have not prayed this one through and asked God for His guidance? Why do I get the feeling that Jesus is saying "Oh ye of little faith!"?

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off, it is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell . And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where "their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9: 43-48) From this teaching of Jesus we can see: (1) That Jesus certianly does believe that hell (greek - geenna) exists. (Indeed if there is no hell, as many churches are now teaching, Jesus suffering was futile!) (2) Jesus is asserting the fact that no one who has sinned can enter the kingdom of God. (Gulp! that's all of us!) (3) The fate of the sinner is so serious that it is worth endless sel...

Perhaps a strange question, but the way many churches talk (or refuse to talk) about hell, you would think he didn't. In the next few days I am going to remind people about the truth about Jesus' beliefs on this subject, according to the most reliable source - ie the Bible.

Question: What is the first verb in Jesus' great commission (Matthew 28:20) That is right we are told to "GO ... therefore and make disciples of all nations". Simple isn't it? Why then have we continuously expected people to 'come' to church, to come to us? Jesus' model for the Church is for the Church to Go! This verb should run through our veins, should be our reason for being, our very essence/DNA. It's about time the whole church got out there in the community to proclaim to the world the Good News of Jesus Christ. A church that is not continuously looking outwardly is dying inwardly!

So I arrived at Elim Church Huddersfield expecting the usual good worship and challenging sermon, only to find that this evening was going to be different. Yes there would be some worship but then we were to be sent out into the market square to witness to passers by. How refreshing is that! We were to use use a questionnaire called 'Who do You Trust the Most?' to start off our conversations with people and invite them to a service on this subject the following week. For some, this was their first experience of public witnessing in this way. Conversation with Chris and his two friends There were three students sat outside McDonalds and I felt that the Holy Spirit was guiding me to them. They were most willing to fill in the questionnaire and treated me with some respect. One of the questions was about who we trust the most. Whilst to Chris politicians were the least trustable, he thought that he himself was amogst those he trusted the most:- Neil: What makes you think that y...