Are Christians responsible enough?

Recently, a dear sister asked for some help in drafting a template for consent letters to be given out to youth group kids’ parents to allow them to participate in a youth camp.

The consent letter however, includes a disclaimer which parents are to sign, which relieves the church of responsibility in the event of accidents. While I was thinking of some appropriate wording for the disclaimer, some questions popped into my mind, which ended up troubling me a little.

What is the purpose of a consent letter?

1. It is written proof that the children in the group have been taken with the parent’s knowledge
2. Our own confidence that the children have joined the activity with their parent’s knowledge.
3. Useful if there are any police roadblocks and they ask for proof that these children have not been kidnapped.

So yes, a consent letter is important when the church organizes a trip and takes under aged children along.

Sample disclaimer:

I understand that while every effort will be taken to ensure the safety of the child(ren) above, I will not hold InsertChurchNameHere responsible for any loss/damage of belongings and/or injury to the person.

Signature

 

……………………………………………………………………………….

 

Name of Parent/Guardian : _____________________________

 

What is the purpose of the disclaimer?

This is where I had a bit of problem. I can only think of one reason:

1. To protect the church from legal action by the parent in the event of an accident.
   

This raised two questions in my mind as I looked at it in the light of Scripture:

1. Are we taught this in the bible, i.e. to not be responsible for accidents that happen to children under our supervision? Are there any biblical principles, precepts, or practice that can justify this? I could not think of any. It appears to be a worldly practice more than a biblical one.
2. Should such a disclaimer be made to the brethren? Didn’t Paul condemn the Corinthians for bringing one another to the public courts for judgment? Paul says that among Christians, disputes ought to be settled within local assembly? (1 Cor 6:1-8)

Aren’t we all part of a family? If I take my brother’s kids out on a picnic, or camp, do I ask him to sign a disclaimer? No way, its unthinkable. I should not have fear of legal action from a Christian brother, nor should I have any intention of taking legal action against a Christian brother. If anything happens, we’ll sort it out as brethren.

I can understand if we make this disclaimer to non-believing parents, as they are not part of God’s family, but I’m just not comfortable with this idea of getting my own brethren to sign such a statement.

What about you?

Don’t tell people they are sinners!

Read this off one of the fastest growing churches website, which suggests that when gospel sharing, leave the sin issue out ‘kay? Its neither relevant nor important.

Most people are invited into a relationship with God by being told they are wrong, sinful, and in need of salvation. While this is certainly true, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, I certainly wouldn’t show up to a party where the basis of being invited was that I am a screw up. To have the first words of the Gospel of Christ be ones of condemnation present a false concept of the core of the gospel and of God’s love. I certainly don’t like being told that I am a bad person and I assume you don’t either. It’s no wonder people become defensive, cross their arms, and shut down before we get to our point in telling them they are sinners, being that God has forgiven them. Yet the topic sentence of the gospel is a guilty verdict and by the time we get to the good news of God’s undying love we have already put the world on its heels in a defensive position. God is the only Judge of sins I am not. I know what I have done and to condemn others of being sinners is not my place. I would rather have them know Jesus by his love. Remembering that Jesus came not to condemn the world but for its salvation is very important when we encounter the good news.  

What if the first thing that we thought of when we talked about the cross was the hope that it represents and the love of God not just the sin that held Christ there. Sin is only a part of the cross it is not the point. If we invited people into a relationship with a Loving, holy, and untamable God, I think people would be far more apt to listen to the good news and engage it. Then once the basis of their relationship with Jesus is love not sin they would realize the broken state of existence they are in. I believe God would show them that they need Christ and yet know that they are loved even as a broken person. 

How different would our lives as Christians be if at the core of our relationship with God was not the need of a savior but God’s love? That are the center of it all we knew that Jesus had hope in us and that God loved us. Our actions would not be driven by sin management, hiding our true selves, or fear; they would be actions of a free redeemed people. If the core of our relationship with God is mere redemption from sin we fall into so many traps. For instance what is there left to do once we realize that we are forgiven? Well, we could sit around and try to not sin anymore, but if we could have done that, then Christ died in vain. St. Paul writes pretty clearly that how Christ has redeemed us we are free from the law and from sin. Yet if at the center of our gospel is sin, there will be no way to get away from it. We would exist lives of guilt because we kept failing to be sinless. Yet most dangerous is that sin is not Godly and to have a gospel based on sin would be to create one that has something to do with God, but God would not be the foundation of it. To have a Gospel based on sin, is a gospel that is self focused and is no gospel at all.

If love is the center of our theology, then sin becomes a part of our live but we will be able to stop worrying about our own salvation and we will be able to act in freedom the freedom of faith. Our faith would not be measured in how little we sin, rather it will be seen in how we act in love. We would not be burdened with the guilt of a sinful life but we would be free to forgive and to love for we know that at the core of God is love. A gospel based on love is one that is based upon God. I would like to point something out that seems to go unnoticed in most Christian circles. Jesus walked around and taught before he was crucified. And when he arose from the dead he walked around and taught a little bit more. The cross was part of his ministry, It was not the whole deal. It is very important, but during those times of walking with us he also taught us about love. On the cross God shows us how love wins. I am not saying that sin is not an issue, sin is all around us and is very dangerous. As we love Christ more and more, we ought become more aware of our fallen state, yet we also become aware of grace more and more. Christ came for the salvation of the world from sin, but he came because of love. We need to put love first and then realize the effects of a life based on love

Pasted from <http://www.theooze.com/articles/article.cfm?id=1928>

 

What makes the good news, good news? Is not the fact that God has loved the people of this world in spite of its sinfulness?

 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10) 

I mean c’mon, if the gospel was just, “hey, guess what, God loves ya! You wanna love him back?” what so good about that news? That kinda sounds like what I used to do in high school with the girls, thinking they’d be honoured that I’m interested in them (I learnt the hard way that that was rarely true). A cheesy pickup line.The basis of our relationship with God is not our accepting Christ, it’s based on what Christ has done on the cross. We are accepted in the beloved (Eph 1:6).If any suggest that we should cloak the sin problem, and focus only on the God’s love, they are preaching an incomplete gospel. Everybody hates a terrible sales pitch, especially one that emphasizes the desirable good of a product but only reveal the strings attached after they’ve bought in! Preaching an incomplete gospel does just that. No wonder we find so many ‘professing Christians’ in Christendom today. They are the offspring of an incomplete gospel, that doesn’t make known the need for repentance and confession of sin before God as part of their response to the glorious gospel of salvation offered to men through Christ.Paul warned the heretics in Galatia about a different gospel

But if even *we* or an angel out of heaven announce as glad tidings to you anything besides what we have announced as glad tidings to you, let him be accursed Gal 1:8   

what were the key elements of Paul’s gospel?

testifying to both Jews and Greeks repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21    

1. REPENTANCE towards God
2. FAITH towards Christ

  Both need to be explained with love, care and sincerity, not with a holier than thou attitude.      

How many people

We live in this great big world. Countries, nations, civilizations, cities, monuments, landmarks, mountains, valleys, villages, all filled with people.

People wake up every minute of the day, people go to sleep every minute of the day. People eat, work, live and die by the moment.

They run the course of time, using or abusing the equal portion of grace given by God to the, all 24 hours of it. none has more, none has less.

How many stop to think of God? If they believe in God, how many think of what God thinks of them? If they don’t believe in God, how many stop to think if there is more to life that the daily grind?

How many realize, that every moment that passes, is a moment that brings them closer to the final one, the final moment that passes out of this mortality into eternity?

How many know, that a certain judgment awaits every soul whose breath stops, a judgment that determines where they spend the rest of eternity?

How many say, “I’ve earned heaven”, just because they think they’re better than the guy next door? How many say, “I still have time”, ignoring the reality that they don’t know how time they have left.

How many laugh, at another’s expense? How many laugh at the suffering of the godly? How many laugh, and enjoy their days, without regard that God’s holy eye is accounting every deed?

How many cry, seeing only the cause of their tears, but not the root of the problem? How many cry… and curse God?

How many sin, and enjoy it? how many sin, and are proud of it?

How many respond to God who ‘is not willing that any should perish’? How many respond to a Saviour ‘died for the ungodly’?

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believes on Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life - john 3:16

the world is proud of its wonders, its proud of its wealth, its proud of civilization, but God isn’t. God’s interest in on the inhabitants of this world, you and me. God doesn’t love buildings, neither does He love monuments. He loves people, He loves you and me.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son a propitiation for our sins - 1John 4:10

God loves you so much, He sacrificed His Son, to pay the price you and I could not pay.

Forgiveness of sins, sins that ultimately condemn us to hell, is now available for free to you.

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. - Acts 16:31

Is the church willing to suffer?

I usually struggle to find anything to quote Brian McLaren on, but I finally found one that I can almost agree with him on:

To our most bitter opponents we say: “Throw us in jail and we will still love you. Bomb our houses and threaten our children and we will still love you. Beat us and leave us half dead, and we will still love you. But be ye assured that we will wear you down by our capacity to suffer. One day we shall so appeal to your heart and conscience that we shall win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory.”

Brian d McLaren, 2007

Hardly emergent at all, as this was exactly the attitude of godliest Christians I know, who in the face of much injustice, suffering and persecution, yet not reviling nor rebelling. There are numerous accounts of such that have been immortalized in Fox’s Book of Martyrs, but I find myself agreeing with the spirit Brian has, in penning (or typing) those words.

Yes, although the context of his statement was to those who oppose the emergent church (EC), I’d like to think of it on a broader scope, of our place as Christians in society, in the country, in our families.

The idea of the suffering church is hardly what people would call Christians today, let alone Malaysia. Religious tolerance, democracy, freedom of speech (limited as it may be), human rights and society’s pursuit of modernism have given Christians a comfortable life, so comfortable, (i’d suggest) a sense of boldness and security never before enjoyed by the christian church.

If christians are unjustly treated or persecuted, they complain bitterly and plea to human rights, freedom of religion, and fight, struggle and squeal. What? Do we really expect to be treated fairly when the Lord Jesus Himself tells us

If the world hateh you, ye know that it hath hateth me first before it hateh you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:18-19

Don’t you think the church today is afraid of being hated by the world? Why? I’ll suggest only two reasons:

1. The cost is to high: We have jobs, houses and cars, we need money sustain these lifestyles, we don’t dare imagine if these were taken away from us. We dare not imagine the consequence of being thrown out of the home and into the streets. Oh, the cost not being able to lay my head on my chiropractor-endorsed pillow tonight. And what about the prospect of waiting hours in a general hospital to get medical care and be treated like everyone else, ah, we’d rather go to the private hospital and pay by the thousands to be treated like a VIP and as we walk out, glance around to see who’s noticed our wealth. We cannot imagine if our friends shun us and stop calling us and inviting us to their weddings and birthday parties. Never mind that the Lord said “I will never leave you nor forsake you”, but oh, may it never be that we should be considered scum of the earth!

2. We love the world: Let’s face it. We love what the world has to offer: we want to have that nice black dress, we want to be able to have coffee in Starbucks, we want to able to walk into a boutique and not be looked at with scorn by the staff, we want to attend our friends’ weddings and be ‘on par’ with the rest of society, we want to be able to whip out that cool mobile phone in front of our friends. We want that promotion, we want to be able give out an impressive business card. We love the entertainment the world has, reality TV, singing competitions, video games, movies, travel, hobbies. We love the ‘feel good’ factor when we are treated well and with respect. We love the words “what a nice church building you have!”. We just love this world.

Lets not live in delusion, thinking all is hunky-dory for the christian, the Word of God makes it clear:

because to you it has been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for Him Php 1:29

be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God - 2Tim1:8

These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world - John 16:33

Let us not take the Lord’s grace for granted. I’m always impressed by this statement by Ignatius when at his martydom:

“Now I begin to be a disciple. I care for nothing, of visible or invisible things, so that I may but win Christ. Let fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bones and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Christ Jesus!”

As the new year comes, let us ask ourselves, in what way can we suffer, rather than prosper, be selfless, rather than selfish. Let us be like Moses, who “accounted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt…” (Heb 11:26)

When we are willing to suffer, take courage, the Lord is not blind to it:

And shall not God avenge his elect, which cry to Him day and night, and He is longsuffering over them? Luk 18:7

… and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and jointheirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him , that we may be also glorified with him. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to usward - Rom 8:17-18

…because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, threatened not, but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously… - 1Pet2:22

Fear not the things which thou are about to suffer: behold the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, … Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life - Rev 2:10

I’d like to leave you with an excerpt from the Fox’s book of Martyrs. It isn’t the worst of persecutions, but one that has taught me the meaning of putting Christ above even your own wife.

Timothy, a deacon of Mauritania, and Maura his wife, had not been united together by the bands of wedlock above three weeks, when they were separated from each other by the persecution. Timothy, being apprehended, as a Christian, was carried before Arrianus, the governor of Thebais, who, knowing that he had the keeping of the Holy Scriptures, commanded him to deliver them up to be burnt; to which he answered, “Had I children, I would sooner deliver them up to be sacrificed, than part with the Word of God.” The governor being much incensed at this reply, ordered his eyes to be put out, with red-hot irons, saying, “The books shall at least be useless to you, for you shall not see to read them.” His patience under the operation was so great that the governor grew more exasperated; he, therefore, in order, if possible, to overcome his fortitude, ordered him to be hung up by the feet, with a weight tied about his neck, and a gag in his mouth. In this state, Maura his wife, tenderly urged him for her sake to recant; but, when the gag was taken out of his mouth, instead of consenting to his wife’s entreaties, he greatly blamed her mistaken love, and declared his resolution of dying for the faith. The consequence was, that Maura resolved to imitate his courage and fidelity and either to accompany or follow him to glory. The governor, after trying in vain to alter her resolution, ordered her to be tortured, which was executed with great severity. After this, Timothy and Maura were crucified near each other, A.D. 304.

Blessed new year.