Bideford Bans Prayer

Good or Bad?

Recently the High court has ruled that prayer should not be on the agenda of council meetings in Bideford Devon.

An ex-councilor thought it a serious enough issue to take it to court; because he argued that, as an atheist, it infringed his human rights to have prayer to someone he doesn’t believe in.

When you look at the standard council agenda the format looked like the following:

Item 1) Prayer.

Item 2) Agree minutes of previous meetings.

Item 3)…

…and so on.

Drawbacks of prayer

The effect of putting prayer on the agenda, while being of good intent, does have a few drawbacks.

As an agenda item what that means is that the meeting has started, and I am expected to attend or participate in this activity: whereas the God of the bible shows himself to us and then invites us to come closer. He says, "Come, see and taste the Lord is good." Prayer as an expectation for a person to participate in negates free will.
You could argue, 'Well, you could always just stand or sit there; you don’t have to participate." As a Christian I think I’d be aggrieved if a person of a different faith said that I could come into their place of worship and sit through their prayers before carrying on with more earthly business.
Putting God in a secular agenda creates nominalism. Being there in body, while the mind and more importantly the heart is elsewhere (maybe the supermarket, the chippie or the beach) doesn’t draw us close to God.

Benefits of prayer

Of course not praying before meetings where major decisions are made does come with risks.

Dr Andrew Newberg. a neurobiologist. studied groups of Franciscan nuns and Tibetan monks at prayer or meditation and measured blood flow to different parts of the brain. What he found was with prayer and meditation blood flowed more to the Frontal lobes of the brain. This is the part of the brain we use in focusing and decision making. (See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1847442.stm)
I don’t know about you but, if there were groups of people who were making decisions that would have any impact on my life, I’d much prefer if they were focused.

As a result of this ruling Bideford now has a pre- council prayer time.

Perhaps we should issue a warning to all council meetings: Prayer may improve your decision-making processes.

Johnson Tam-Lit, 13/02/2012

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Looking Good, God

While we were away recently we had the opportunity to see the singer/songwriter Glen Campbell performing in what was described a “Farewell Tour”. A man who’s been making music on the world stage for over 50 years and has more musical ability in his little finger than I have in my body.

So at the age of 75 he decides to do this tour to raise awareness and funds towards Alzheimer’s disease with which he was recently diagnosed. Someone who as a Christ follower is willing to take one more step and use his gift for others.

On the night of the concert as we sat, the warm up act came on and played. They were a group of young musicians that sounded good, on par with what you would expect from any support act. When they finished I looked to Marie my wife and said, “You know what I find unusual? On the posters I’ve seen promoting the tour there is no mention of the name of the supporting group. Usually you see the headline act big and bold and at least the name of the supporting person or band.”

So it’s time for the main event and Glen Campbell comes on to stage and sings a few of his classic songs. And there’s a warmth and connection between him and the backup group, which is as plain as the nose on your face. It turns out that the support act and the backing band are the same people. In fact the backing band is made up of three of his children and a few others.

So here’s a man in his 70’s - talented, yes, but past his prime - surrounded as it turns out by three of his children; his daughter on keyboards, son on bass and one more son on drums. And every now and then you could see one of the musicians give Glen that smile or touch. Then you’d see Glen Campbell start a song on the guitar and one of the others would seamlessly carry it to completion.

And as I watched, what was apparent was a man surrounded by his kids; whose main aim was to make their dad look good. With every look of encouragement, and every action, the bond of love between the father and his children was as obvious as a 20ft yellow panda strolling down Parliament Street would be.

And the more I thought about that night, the more I felt this is how we as children of God are meant to be in terms of our attitude towards God. That our lives are meant to make God the Father look good. That our actions glorify him. And that the things we do reflect our love for Him.

So when I hear the words Jesus spoke to people as recorded in Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV):

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

What Jesus was saying is that our words and actions act as a light and we are asked - even commanded - to be active in being a light. And that my “good deeds” can end up making God look good. What a privilege and a responsibility.

Throughout his ministry on earth Jesus always emphasized the relational dynamic of the Son and the Father, and continually pointed all praise to God the Father. And at the very end of his time with the disciples Jesus prays this prayer:

John 17 (NIV)
…“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.

6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world.

The aim of Jesus the Son is to glorify the Father by finishing the work that he was given to do. In all things Jesus pointed to the Father. My hope is to be a Teflon coated Christian; so that none of God's glory sticks with me.

Some thoughts to ponder:

How do I, in my life, make God look good?
How much are the things that I do centred on love for God?
What are my “good deeds” and do they point to God or does any glory end with me?

Johnson TamLit, 29/10/2011

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I'm ANGRY!

Yes, I'm writing this blog because I'm angry, and before anyone dares to tell me that anger is sin, I'll point out that righteous anger is not sin. Even Jesus got angry at times, yet without sin.

So why am I angry? I've been reading comments on the Internet and on Facebook, written by people who claim to love God, which include distinctly racist attitudes. Strangely, they were all in response to the appalling riots taking place in London and elsewhere, even though the rioters are predominantly British. But intolerable though rioting may be in our society, the attitudes of prejudice, hate and racism expressed in those comments are worse, especially coming from those who claim to be Christians. There is no place for such attitudes in the Kingdom of God.

So my blog today is not so much about the rioting, but concerns our attitudes to foreigners, who it has been erroneously suggested, are responsible for the riots.

Firstly, it is God's will that we care for foreigners. Even in Old Testament times, God commanded his chosen people to accept foreigners that wanted to come and live with them (Exodus 12:48). Furthermore he gave them the command that they were not to oppress foreigners in any way (Exodus 22:21 & 23:9). God makes it even clearer in Leviticus 19:33-34:

“Do not exploit the foreigners who live in your land. They should be treated like everyone else, and you must love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. I, the LORD, am your God."

He went on to tell them that they should make provision for the poor and foreigners in their harvesting (Leviticus 23:22), and Moses, when instructing the Judges in the land told them that they must be fair at all times, not just to the Israelites, but also to the foreigners (Deuteronomy 1:16). Moses also instructed them that every third year they should bring the tithe of all their crops so that it could be used to feed the foreigners and the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). There are many other instances in the Old Testament where God instructs his people to care for foreigners as well as widows, orphans and others who are poor.

Secondly, as people to whom God has shown mercy and forgiveness, we should recognise that God loves the people we refer to as foreigners. The gospel is to be preached to all nations (Matthew 28:19) because God loves them and wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). How can we not show love and kindness to those that our heavenly Father loves?

Clearly, as a nation, we have to have governmental policies and laws governing immigration and national security. There is not space here to debate whether current law and practice is either right or righteous, but the overriding principle for Christians is that we must show the love of God. I don't see 'racial discrimination' listed as a fruit of the Spirit! (Galatians 5:22-23).

Finally, both in the old and new testaments, God's people have been described as foreigners. The Israelites had no land to call their own either before or after they lived in Egypt. They lived as foreigners until after many years, God bought them into a land that he gave them. We too are told to consider ourselves as foreigners here on earth (1 Peter 1:17 & 2:11). We are only here on earth as foreigners for a time until Christ returns and we enter our eternal home. In the meantime, as foreigners in this world, let us show God's love and compassion to all other foreigners, wherever they are from and wherever they may be. In Hebrews 13:2 we are told to show hospitality to strangers, "for some who have done this have entertained angels without realising it"!

There is no place for racial discrimination, prejudice or hatred in the Kingdom of God. Let's be determined to shine as lights in the world showing God's love to all.

"Do your part to live at peace with everyone as much as possible" (Romans 12:18).

John Whitehead, 09/08/2011

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