Think Christ: A Plea To Charismatics - A cessasioninst argument

I said I was going to be looking more deeply at the cessasionist/charismatic discussion. Here's an interesting post from a cessationist Think Christ: A Plea To Charismatics

Not sure I agree with it though...see what you think.

Christmas Prayer

The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: a Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

"Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him" Luke 2:10-14 (The Message)

Lord,
At this time when we remember the birth of Your Son our saviour,
Disturb me in my comfort
Give me Your heart for all humanity
Help me Love others as You love me, even when it's scary, inconvenient or embarassing.
Keep me from being hypocritical, pompous or proud,
Help me be constantly aware of Your grace
Keep me humble, Lord
And make me more like Jesus Christ
In His name
Amen

God's Grace

Had a great meeting on Sunday - got me thinking about how I've been feeling recently. I decided that guilt can get in the way of God. We can get so caught up with self flagellation for the things that we do wrong, that that feeling stops us spending time with God - it becomes an idol. As the speaker (Dan Dowman - great young preacher) on Sunday night said, if we feel that we can't get close to God because of our sin, we're actually saying that God's Grace isn't enough for our sin - which of course isn't the case (I'm sure I've read similar arguements in a book before, but can't remember which - answers on a postcard...). The incredibly freeing reality is:

Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God. Romans 6:14 - The Message

"The strongest motives against sin, and to enforce holiness, are here stated. Being made free from the reign of sin, alive unto God, and having the prospect of eternal life, it becomes believers to be greatly concerned to advance thereto. But, as unholy lusts are not quite rooted out in this life, it must be the care of the Christian to resist their motions, earnestly striving, that, through Divine grace, they may not prevail in this mortal state. Let the thought that this state will soon be at an end, encourage the true Christian, as to the motions of lusts, which so often perplex and distress him. Let us present all our powers to God, as weapons or tools ready for the warfare, and work of righteousness, in his service. There is strength in the covenant of grace for us. Sin shall not have dominion. God's promises to us are more powerful and effectual for mortifying sin, than our promises to God. Sin may struggle in a real believer, and create him a great deal of trouble, but it shall not have dominion; it may vex him, but it shall not rule over him. Shall any take occasion from this encouraging doctrine to allow themselves in the practice of any sin? Far be such abominable thoughts, so contrary to the perfections of God, and the design of his gospel, so opposed to being under grace. What can be a stronger motive against sin than the love of Christ? Shall we sin against so much goodness, and such love?"
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Explosion in Hemel Hemsted

Heard the news of the explosion at the fuel depot in Hemel this AM at church. My parents used to live quite near there so I am vaguely familiar with the area. The images of the smoke from the air are something to behold - it spreads so far across the country. According the The BBC, no-one has been killed although there are two people seriously injured in hospital. Our prayers must go to anyone affected, particularly those two and their families. In a strange sense I also pray it was just an accident and not a terrorist attack - is that an appropriate thing to pray? I'm not sure really.

On a different note, I sat my exam on Wednesday and Thursday, and true to expectations it was awful. Just got to wait 6 weeks for the results now, which , seeing as its computer-marked seems ludicrous! Patience...

For those who are interested, I've just started reading a book of prophecy called 'The Gift of Prophecy' by Wayne Grudem. I'm hoping that might inform me more on the cessationist/charismatic argument and the Biblical evidence for such views, which should be interesting, if a little challenging. Got to keep the grey stuff working.

Humility

We had a great discussion on Humility last night at our cell group. Adam, the leader had learnt an important lesson that day, and it was great to hear his thoughts, and God's (through The Bible) on the subject. Humility is so difficult to define however. I've just found a very moving poem called "Paradoxes" on a blog called Challies.com which has an almost Psalmic quality about it. This helped direct me a little closer to understanding what "Humility" is and I hope will be useful to others too. It's challenging and convicting, yet ultimately assuring of God's Love and Grace to us.

Humility
a prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22).

Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Christianity that it makes humility the avenue to glory."

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary, Courtesy of BibleGateway.com

Rich (on the left in the photo) visited today. We always have great chats about life, the universe, etc and today was no exception. He's starting to get involved in MCing/rapping in clubs and recordings too, so I'm looking forward to hearing some of that. I'm also trying to persuade him to get a blog - he looked vaguely tempted, but feels its a bit self indulgent. I couldn't possibly comment...

Anthony Walker - racist murder

The murder of Anthony, a young black man in Liverpool stunned the UK. Not just for its ferocity - his head was stove-in by an ice axe - but for its motives. Two young men, Michael Barton and Paul Taylor, murdered him simply because he was black. They were completely unprovoked in their attack, and had clearly planned the deed enough to invest in a weapon prior to hunting him down as he walked home one night with his girlfriend and cousin. I can't find words to describe how this makes me feel.

And yet the horror of this act was blown away by the grace showed by Anthony's mother. Lorna and I were moved to stunned silence as we watched her publicly forgive the two men citing Jesus forgiving his murderers on the cross as her example.

"Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots." Luke 23:34

God's Holy Spirit moving in His people can lead to incredible, radical behaviour. I pray this touched people into thinking anew about God, and I thank God that He's there comforting that family.