An Englishman in New York (and other US states)

I’m on my first trip to the US, and I’ve been spending lots of time with Christians here—pastors, elders and more “ordinary” believers. And it’s so interesting to observe how as brothers and sisters we are in many ways alike—in faith, in language, in (some) history. And yet we are in some ways so very different, too.

So, from my massively scientific research of eight days on this side of the Atlantic, taking in one small group, one pastors’ conference, two church services and a heap of meetings, I am not-so-confidently making these generalizations:

• US pastors are confident. They expect the gospel to work, so they plan for church growth.
• US Christians are positive. They say what they appreciate about something first, and are quick to see the good in a talk or a resource.
• US evangelism focuses on reaching church-goers. There is a huge job of "inreach" to do, because there are a lot of people in church on Sundays who think they’re Christians, but are probably not.
• Bible-teaching evangelicals are much more cautious with their forms of gathered worship.
• Evangelical reformed preaching is not always as clearly expositional as in the UK, working through a passage and getting hearers’ heads stuck into Scripture. But it is usually pretty passionate.
• US Christians seem very open about their Christian lives—quick to share their struggles and failures, and ask for prayer and help in their Christian lives.

With each of these observations, I want instinctively to follow with a value judgement: to say “US Christians are better than UK Christians for this reason”, or “British believers do this or that better than them”.

But I’ve been struck that actually it’s far more helpful to ask: How are the characteristics of this Christian culture likely to help their growth in godliness and bring glory to Christ, and how are they likely to hinder it?

We all have characteristics, national traits and different ways of doing things. But because we are sinful, they can be used in self-service, rather in serving the Lord.

You’ve probably seen a church which is great at getting doctrine clear (helpful), but the same impulse means it can be quite dry (hindering). Or a church which engages everyone emotionally (helpful), but which therefore struggles to be rigorous in its handling of Scripture (hindering).

So as I experience America, rather than a clear “This is great” or “This is not great” black-and-white view of what I am experiencing, the question I’m trying to ask of the churches I’m seeing and the Christian culture I’m observing is: how do their characteristics help them glorify Christ, and how might they hinder them in glorifying Christ?

And then comes the harder part for anyone: to look at each of the characteristics of our own Christian culture, our own church family, and ourselves, and say: What are we like? Are we prepared to let others tell us what we are like? How does what we’re like help us glorify our Lord? And how do we need to be watchful for the ways in which it might stop us glorifying Him?

Encouraging job-seekers

The statistics are a depressing read. Yet again unemployment is on the rise with many young people affected especially badly.

Not being able to get a job strikes a blow at the core of what it is to be human. And the negative effects of unemployment can be many: financial difficulties, an increase in stress-levels and a decrease in our zest for life to name but 3. We are designed to be workers in God’s world (Genesis 2:15) and not being able to fulfil that call can hurt beyond measure.

So what can the church do to help?

Teaching that inspires
The Bible is clear that work is important and good (even though it has been tainted by the fall). But it’s all too easy for us to see work as more than important – if we’re not careful we see it as the thing that gives us significance and brings our security (Ecclesiastes 2:4-11). And that’s just not true. As Christians we are children of the living God – equally chosen and cherished whether we are a senior executive or signing-on. Equally secure through the blood of Christ and the unswerving sovereignty and providence of God whether our annual income is in 6 figures or 3. Pastors have an important opportunity to help congregations think through the place of work in our lives.

Training that equips
But thinking biblically wont suddenly make a job appear. And that’s where good old fashioned training helps. It’s been great to hear of some churches offering mentoring schemes where experienced men and women guide those looking for work through the process of writing an effective CV, penning suitable covering letters or even the intricacies of setting up their own business. Christians who own their own business can sometimes offer ‘work experience’ to the unemployed to help them maintain existing skills or develop new ones. Others with financial skills offer training on money management / budget control. Still others have sponsored Christians to undertake distance-learning courses that help develop their spiritual gifts – using the ‘down time’ that lack of work brings to increase Bible-knowledge and promote mission in ways that are great for the Kingdom of God.

Support that nurtures
And finally, churches have a fantastic opportunity to show love to those in need. Inviting people round for meals; anonymously offering people financial gifts; being a listening ear in times of frustration; organizing social days that don’t involve huge expenditure (picnics / rambles in the country / meeting to watch the game on the box) can all be a helpful expression of God’s love in times of difficulty. And, of course, praying for those who struggle to find work always brings great encouragement and change…

A new home for The Good Book Company

After 13 years in their current premises, The Good Book Company (TGBC) is moving on to larger, more flexible accommodation in Epsom, with plenty of room to continue expanding.

“Elm House has been great for us, as we grew from a small three-man band to our current staff of over 25, but the time has come to move on,” said publisher Tim Thornborough.

“We are convinced that we need to stay innovative and creative in our thinking on how to serve local churches in their work for the Lord. This move comes at a time when we are developing new initiatives in digital media, and video production. The new GBC HQ will give us the space we need to do that,” he said.

TGBC is now a thriving Christian publishing, conference and training organisation, with offices in Australia and the US. It publishes Christianity Explored, a wide range of daily Bible reading aids, the Good Book Guide home-group Bible studies series, and a wide range of teaching material for children and young people.

Commercial Director James Burstow added: “Our rapid growth in overseas markets, such as the USA and Australia, as well as our charitable work in the developing world, means we need a more flexible distribution operation. The purpose-built warehouse in Epsom will help us to ensure that we can get great gospel resources into the hands of the people who need them.

From 14th November The Good Book Company will be open for business at:
Unit B1
Blenheim House
Longmead Business Park
Epsom
Surrey
KT19 9AP
Telephone contacts remain the same:
0333-123-0880 (low-call from anywhere in the UK and from mobiles)

Birthday Boy: Martin Bucer (11 November 1491)

When you think of great Reformers, Bucer is unlikely to be the first name that springs to mind. But, despite inevitable imperfections, a great reformer he was! On this his birthday, it’s worth reflecting on his contributions. His 4 profound passions still inspire today:

1. Passion for the Bible

The systematic teaching of Scripture was the bedrock of Bucer’s ministry. He held a deep conviction that every word of the Bible was relevant and, being utterly convinced that all people (even women!) should be given the opportunity to develop their understanding of God, he made it his mission to preach through great swathes of Scripture in ways that were unswervingly accessible.

2. Passion for the Church

His theology stressed that people were created for others not for themselves. His desire was to see authentic Christian community where love leads to service, liturgy leads to obedience and unity leads to Gospel witness.

3. Passion for Justice

When confronted with widespread injustice, Bucer was unable to stand idly by. Scripture compelled him to pursue poor-relief, provision of public education and even the conquest of idleness!

4. Passion for Mentoring

Despite having terrible writing, Bucer was a prolific letter-writer helping to mould and mentor the next generation of reformers, even Calvin noting with thankfulness the influence that Bucer had on his life and ministry.

Not a bad legacy to leave the church! And one that might help encourage us afresh if we let this birthday boy motivate us today ...

Fantastic feedback

Good Book Company youth Editor Martin Cole sits among some of the many thousands of letters he has received and responded to from Discover readers over the last 10 years.

"Helping young people get their heads into God's word is the best job in the world", he says. "The direct contact with readers is a brilliant bonus for me. What a privilege to hear from readers who are growing in their faith, wrestling with tricky questions, and struggling to apply their trust in Jesus in difficult circumstances."

"I reply to every single letter that comes in, and we regularly pray for readers with particular things that they need help with."

Martin is also the Editor of Engage Bible reading notes for teenagers.

Death in Sunday School

The mother was flustered and annoyed as she approached me. "What have you been teaching my boy this morning?!" she demanded, eyes glaring.

I was relaxing over a cup of coffee in the church lounge, enjoying the buzz and chatter, after what I thought had been a particularly excellent session. We had been thinking about the story of Lydia, and how she opened her ears, the Lord opened her heart, and she opened her home to Paul and his companions. The teaching material Click had suggested that I start with a demonstration on how to make purple cloth (you'll remember that Lydia was a seller of Purple in Philippi).

We mixed red and blue food colouring, and one by one the children dipped little squares of torn-up T-shirt into the mixture, and it came out Purple. OK, so it was more a muddy maroon – but you get the picture.

I stood there dumbfounded before Mum, who was on the verge of turning purple herself. "What do you mean?" I asked in my most "let's calm the parent down” voice. "I asked my boy what he had learned in Sunday School this morning," she said. "Dying" the boy replied solemnly. Concerned for the heavyweight subject for her delicate 4-year old, she asked: "Who was dying?" "I was!" replied the boy. Still hoping to rescue the situation, Mum asked the next question expecting the answer: "We go to heaven". "What happens when you die, darling?" "Turn purple!"

Fortunately, Mum roared with laughter when the truth came out. But it was a great lesson for me about language and little ones. Next time, I won't call it dyeing – I'll just say we are going to colour some cloth as Lydia might have done…

For some great training on how not to make more mistakes like this, do join us for the Growing Young Disciples Conference at All Souls, London or in Rugby next year!

Is seeing enough?

This week the National Gallery in London opens a major new exhibition of work by Leonardo da Vinci. It includes nine of his surviving fifteen paintings – a coup for them – and is bound to be a sell-out. Leonardo is famous for much more than painting of course – as a scientist, engineer, inventor, philosopher and writer. He filled umpteen booklets with his notes on anything and everything – all written in his fascinating mirror-image handwriting.

But Leonardo thought words a poor substitute for seeing. He even went so far as to say: “My advice is not to trouble yourself with words unless you are speaking to the blind”. And that got me thinking about another famous figure from history – St Francis of Assisi – when he said: “Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words”.

So, are words really a poor substitute, and only to be used when necessary? It’s certainly true that what we do points people to what we believe. The dad who takes his son to watch Chesterfield every week shows he believes they’re the only team worth supporting. The woman who’s in the gym at 6.00am each morning shows that fitness (and image?) matter more than sleep. And we find this in the Bible too. In Deuteronomy 6 parents are to live in a way that honours God and keep his commands. And when their children see them doing this, they will ask why (verse 20) – wanting to know what the belief is behind their actions.

So is St Francis right? Are actions enough to point people to the gospel?

No. That same chapter in Deuteronomy says this:

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6 v 6-7) So it’s not “either/or” – it’s “both/and”. We take every opportunity to speak the truth about the good news, and try to live in a way that points people to the truth of what we say.

I find Leonardo da Vinci fascinating, and will be joining the queues at the National Gallery. He was a brilliant man. But I won’t be following his advice. I’ll keep on “troubling myself with words” as I try to point people to the living Word, Jesus Christ.

Are you singularly attractive?

Are you single? Middle-aged or older? A follower of Jesus? Then there is a great call before you – and me. A call to be singularly attractive!

No, this is not an invitation to invest in some cosmetic surgery. Nor am I giving you a good excuse to purchase some great new clothes, make-up or anything else that makes you look 10 years younger. It’s rather that there is an exciting invitation in the pages of Scripture encouraging us to show others how to live well for Christ as a single person.

You see, the Bible encourages older members of the congregation to be role models to others. Older women to younger women. Older men to younger men (Titus 2:1-8). And just as older married couples have an invaluable role in showing younger people what a privilege it is to be married. So older single people have an enormous role in showing others what a privilege it is to be single. Doing so is an essential part of equipping the next generation to grow up rejoicing in God whether He has given them the gift of marriage or the gift of singleness (1 Corinthians 7).

Now I don’t wish to be glib. There are, of course, challenges associated with being an older single person. It is inevitable that we sometimes think about relationships past and wonder ‘what if …’. There can be pain associated with not having the opportunity to have children. There are moments of loneliness. And in a relationship-obsessed culture it can be hard to refocus our minds on gospel truth rather than conventional wisdom (Romans 12:2). But there are joys and privileges too – not least the extra flexibility to be involved in a whole host of ministries. And if we genuinely believe God is sovereign and loving; if we truly accept that the Bible is correct when it says that singleness is good, then we need to show that in the way we live. And we need to deliberately flee from the temptation to become the next Bridget Jones (full of desperation for a partner), or Miss Havisham (full of the bitterness of relationship lost).

It isn’t an easy call. But it is a clear call. A call to be singularly attractive for Christ in our churches today.