Dave spoke this morning on Luke 20:20-26 TNIV, focussing on the question as to what the Christian response to the government of our country should be. Since this is the prayer topic for August, it’s important to think about such issues, since often we feel very ambivalent about politics and what our response as Christians ought to be.

Spies were sent to keep a close watch on Jesus, hoping to catch him out by asking the question ‘is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ They reckoned this was a question demanding a yes/no answer and that either way would trip Jesus up. If he said yes, he could be accused of being a tool of Roman oppression; if he said no, he would be open to accusations of being an insurrectionist.

Jesus’s response was not yes or no, however. He asked about the inscription on a denarius coin and said, ‘Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’

The question about the relationship of personal faith and politics has been asked throughout history. Paul tells us that the institution of human government (also known as the ‘state’) is a gift from God (see Romans 13:1 TNIV). Peter echoes these views in 1 Peter 2:13-16 TNIV. It’s easy for us to be cynical and doubtful about governments, but clearly there is a role for government to restrain evil: as Brooke Alexander writes, ‘The State is called upon to act as God’s firm hand, restraining…by effective force if necessary… the expansion of evil and chaos.’ It is not the State’s role, however, to try to renew spiritual life. There will always be a separation of State and Church because governments so easily step outside God’s intentions for the State, being made up of sinful men!

Just as Jesus didn’t allow Peter to use the sword (He gave that prerogative to the State), neither did He give the keys of the Kingdom to Caesar, but to the Church. If we are to follow what Jesus taught in this passage in Luke 20, then we need to respect authority in political matters but must also give to God what is God’s:

1. We should remind elected officials, by vote and voice, of their God-given duties when they fail to carry these out. If government fails to restrain evil, to preserve order, to protect the defenceless and to promote justice, Christians should speak out about these things. If governments claim power to dictate religious values or persistently violate the higher law of God, Christians have a responsibility to prophetically and strenuously challenge this.

2. Christians can render honour to God and improve the work of the State by stepping forward to serve in the public arena. Christians have been at the forefront of many campaigns to bring about change (the abolition of slavery, the gaining of civil rights, tackling pornographic and drug trades in many neighbourhoods etc.) God’s people, modelling Christ-like love and a persevering commitment to reason intelligently, to listen humbly and to exert creative influence through the political process, have the power to see change occur through their servant leadership.

3. Christians need to ‘come out of the closet’ about their faith. Will Durant has said, ‘The greatest question of our time is whether people can live without God.’ We need to speak out about our faith and not be intimidated. As columnist Michael Novak observed in Forbes magazine, “If you seek a sopiritual community, a link to a higher purpose, a renewal of the honest questioning and courage that are at the base of an ethic worthy of the human person, you don’t simply join a political party. You join… a church.” We have a duty to share Christ with others – not using the political forum as a place for insensitive Bible-banging, but understanding that justice, equality and reconciliation cannot be fully explained in humanist terms alone.

Here are some more of Igor’s holiday photos:

Igor in the ford at Glen Roy:

On his evening constitutional:

Igor travelling in style on the mountain railway to the highest point on the Isle of Man, Snaefell:

You can’t see the seven kingdoms today!

It’s cosier in the Summit restaurant!

We made it! (The things we do for the church blog…!)

What mist and wind? At Tynwald Hill, the same afternoon!

Tynwald Hill, home of the Manx Parliament ceremonies held on 5th July:

King of the Onchan postbox, as last year (in celebration of Peter Kennaugh’s gold medal at the 2012 Olympics):

They even painted the phone box gold!

Igor has been on holiday and he has had a really good time! To get us into the spirit of things for tonight’s family service, looking at the topic of holidays under the theme ‘Home and Away’, Igor has been exploring ‘away’ places on the Isle of Man!

Igor in his holiday cottage (Amagary) in Glen Roy, near Laxey:

Igor at church in Onchan:

Where’s Igor? Murraugh Park in Ramsey!

Looking out at the boats:

Trying the boating life:

Igor exploring Groudle Glen:

Travelling on the Groudle Glen railway:

Reaching the summit:

At the northern most point of the Isle of Man:

In the pit of pebbles:

Surfing in the Irish sea, iguana style!

At the southern most point of the Isle of Man, looking out to Kitterland and the Calf of Man:

It’s always interesting to me to find out what has been preached at home while I’ve been on holiday and to think about what has been preached at the church I visited. There is a remarkable similarity of content which I find reassuring!

Last Sunday we were at the Elim Family Centre in Onchan on the Isle of Man. The preacher was from the Elim church in Ramsey. To Garry’s delight, he was a fellow biker!

Pastor Des spoke from Matthew 25:14-30 TNIV, the familiar Parable of the Talents. He spoke about the mission God has given us and how we should keep on mission through our life choices. He urged us:

1) not to live our lives by our own perceptions and beliefs. In this parable, the unwise servant had a wrong view of the master which coloured his outlook and influenced his actions. With wrong perspectives, we can miss out on what God wants us to do and what He can do in our lives, often ending up unhappy and unfulfilled.

2) not to make excuses by accusing other people. The unfaithful servant blamed the master because of his wrong perceptions. We need to stop making excuses at times and be prepared to humble ourselves and repent (2 Chron 7:14 TNIV.) We have to decide to do what is right, regardless of what anyone else may do. The servant did not fully understand the amster, but pre-judged him without getting to know him. This leads us into all kinds of prejudice.

3) not to look for an easy way out. The unfaithful servant accused the master of reaping what he had not sown. We often compare ourselves to other people and feel dissatisfied, but God wants us simply to do what we can with what we have got. We all have been given gifts by God and it doesn’t matter what anyone else can do. God asks us only to use what we have, ‘each according to his ability’. Noah was a one-talent-man! God asked him to build a boat and by that one act, he saved the world. Faithfulness and perseverance are highly valued by God.

4) not to be guided by our fears. Too often we hold back and don’t do things because we’re afraid; this leads to regrets. Faith involves risk. We live by faith and not by sight. We are part of God’s army and there is no such thing as a ‘comfortable army.’ Fear distorts our views and keeps us limited; it robs us of the joy and destiny that God has for us.

If we keep on mission, we will use the talents God has given us and will be rewarded by Him, for He is not at all like the unfaithful servant perceived the master to be. He is good and His love endures for ever; His plans for us are good and are to give us hope and a future.

Last Sunday evening, Dave spoke from Romans 8:26-39 TNIV. At the end of a month where we have focussed on God’s ability to heal, it is always good to remind ourselves of the source of our healing. God is the source of life itself to us and it is He who leads, guides, and protects us throughout our whole lives. He alone is our provider and our comforter in whatever situation we find ourselves.

Like Linus with his security blanket, we all need something to help us feel safe and secure. Many of us seek security in our families, through our friends, through our health, through financial stability and other things… but all these things can be taken away from us swiftly (as in the case of Job). We need to understand that God is our ultimate source of security and help.

In this passage, Paul reminds us that if God is for us, who can be against us? He reminds us that nothing can separate us from God’s love. He reassures us that God works for our good in every single circumstance of our lives.As Christians, we believe that our destiny, and the destiny of this world, is not ultimately in our own hands, nor is it in the hands of world leaders, advanced technology, pension plans, or health foods. No, as Christians we believe that our ultimate destiny, and therefore our ultimate security, is in the hands of God. We believe in the providence of God. We believe that God, in His divine wisdom and goodness and love, holds the future in His hands. We believe that God’s will in human history, as well as in our own lives, will ultimately be done.

This is not to say that bad things don’t happen to God’s people. They definitely do. Paul himself experienced many bad things (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 TNIV and Phil 1:18-21 TNIV). But even in the face of all this suffering, this world and our lives are in the loving hands of God, and God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us. Even though we may face terrible things, the ultimate will of God will be good; it will be life and salvation, not evil and death.We may not always see, or recognise, or know, the good that comes from the bad in our lives. Nor do we simply sit back in passive stoicism, waiting for good to come. We try to do everything in our power and wisdom to live in line with the will of God and be one of God’s agents in bringing about, in this world, the good that God promises. We pray for people in need. We ask that God will heal them. We come in faith and trust to the One who has promised to listen to our prayers. We pray in the absolute confidence that our God can, and often does, heal in response to the prayers of His people. And we continue to walk by faith and not by sight because we trust in the goodness of God’s character.

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”

That promise is our anchor in this troubling and confusing world.

On the last Sunday in July, John spoke on the subject ‘How clean is your crib?’, using Proverbs 14:4 TNIV as a launch: “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.”

The work of the oxen is synonymous with increase and opportunity, but there is a contrast because if the crib is clean, there is presumably no increase. It might look tidy and clean, but if there is no fruit and multiplication in the church, there will be no growth. We have to accept, though, that increase comes with disruption and (at times) dirt! John 15 speaks of our fruitfulness (as a result of our connection to Chris) bringing glory to God and oxen give us insight into how we can live well for God.

The ox played an important part in Jewish life. The ox was used for drawing wagons, for carrying burdens (1 Chron 12:40 TNIV), for ploughing, for treading the corn, for sacrifice and for food. Numbers 7:3-5 TNIV and 1 Sam 6:7 TNIV give examples of the ox in Old Testament narratives. Ploughing was perhaps the most important task carried out by oxen. Without ploughing, there could be no sowing and without sowing, there could be no harvest, but ploughing is hard, physical work which requires commitment and endurance (the sluggard doesn’t plough, Proverbs reminds us, and therefore has to go begging at harvest time!) Jesus reminded His disciples “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 TNIV) We have to be committed to God and plough a straight furrow (a phrase taken nowadays to indicate honesty and integrity and reliability of character, all characteristics of God’s chosen people).

Jer 4:3 TNIV and Hosea 10:11-14 TNIV give further spiritual parallels about ploughing. We are required to break up the unploughed land and do what is right. Prov 14:12 TNIV reminds us “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” If we plough wickedness and sow iniquity, we will reap destruction. Righteousness exalts a nation (Prov 14:34 TNIV) and we need to persevere in breaking up the unploughed land in our own hearts and in our area if we are to live well for God.

Oxen were also used in sacrifices as burnt offerings and peace offerings. Paul exhorts us to present our bodies to God as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1-2 TNIV) and 2 Sam 4:18-25 TNIV reminds us that sacrifices cost us something. We need to understand that God requires us to give Him total control of our whole lives. Sacrifice is a necessary part of our Christian experience – not something we always enjoy, but something which reaps great rewards! (and the oxen had its own reward for its work in ploughing, since it was not to be muzzled – see Deut 25:4 TNIV, 1 Cor 9:9 TNIV).

If we want to see increase in the church, there is a lot we can learn from the ox. Its characteristics – tenacity, perseverance and service – need to be ours too. Then we can bear burdens and be fit for God’s service.