A lot of Christians think that when we apply the Bible, we do so in one of two ways. We may show how it shapes our thinking or beliefs, or how it shapes our behaviours and actions. That's how most of us think that application is done.

However there is actually more to it than that, and such Christian are actually missing a large part of Christian discipleship...

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was one of the major figures in the First Great Awakening in North America in the 18th century. He probably most famous for preaching the famous sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. However another of his most important works is The Religious Affections (you can get it for free here).

The Religious Affections is not easy to read - there are huge paragraphs, and a lengthy buildup to the main point which he has buried in the third part of the book. However what Edwards is doing is outlining what the affections are, and how the gospel should shape not only the beliefs and behaviours of a Christian - but chiefly his affections.

What are affections? Affections sounds like emotions, but they are different. They are our longings, our desires, our thirsts. Godly affections include:

• loving God
• joy in Christ
  
• fearing God
• hating sin
• longing for the return of Jesus

Take for instance how a parent loves their child. The parent may have different emotions on account of their child (eg. happiness, disappointment, sadness), but their affection for their child remains constant (love).

Affections are not actions or beliefs in themselves, although they are based on belief, and will naturally lead to actions. But those actions that have their root in godly affections (eg. a love for the Lord) will have a strength and endurance to them that will not be found in actions that come merely from rule-keeping, emotionalism, or the expectations of others.

Edwards observes that much of the commands in the Bible are actually matters of the affections: "the holy Scriptures do everywhere place religion very much in the affection; such as fear, hope, love, hatred, desire, joy, sorrow, gratitude, compassion, and zeal." And so Edwards can even be so bold as to say, "true religion, in great part, consists in holy affections."

And these affections are matters of the heart. When the Old Testament looks forward to a day when hearts would be circumcised (Deut 30:6), it is so that we love God with all our heart and all our soul - and this will obviously also then translate into godly actions. The one who loves God does not have to force out of themselves those actions that are pleasing to God. They flow out of a heart that only desires to please God!

And so when we open the Bible with people in our Bible study groups or churches, not only must we address their minds (so as to show its implications for their beliefs), and not only must we address their wills (so as to show its implications for their behaviour) - we must also address their hearts, so as to cultivate godly affections.

[ PS: it's free, so download it and read! But be prepared to persevere through the 18th century language... ]

This year, SCCCA English is helping to organise the ACCOE conference in Melbourne, on 30 June to 4th July 2008.

What is ACCOE? Well, if CCCOWE is the international body, and if SCCCA English is the Sydney body, then ACCOE is the regional gathering for the Australia / New Zealand region.

This year, there will be a separate English and Chinese track at the conference. Mike Raiter will be the English keynote speaker on the theme of "renewal", and there will be other talks and workshops on Chinese church ministry.

Who should attend? This will be a great opportunity for pastors of ABC congregations, theologs and apprentices, and lay leaders to come together and catch a vision of what God can do amongst the Chinese in our region, and network with one another and learn from each other.

We also hope that this will be a great opportunity to share the model of ministry apprenticeships with other church leaders. There is a great need for raising up the next generation of gospel workers in Chinese churches - and ministry apprenticeships (such as MAP and MTS) are a great way to equip future workers of the kingdom. And so we particularly hope that those who are currently going through apprenticeships, and those who have gone through apprenticeships, will come and share their experiences with others!

[ PS: rego information on ACCOE 2008 to come soon... ]

Ever thought that it was wrong you don't remember every sermon you've ever heard? Ever thought that it reflects negatively on your own concentration ability, or the communication skills of the preacher that not every sermon sticks in your head?

People sometimes admit that they don't remember every detail from a Bible study group, or the Sunday service - and they feel bad about it.

What I want to point out here is that the sermons you hear are just like the meals that you eat. Sure, some sermons will remain with you for the rest of your life - just as some dinners are just so memorable you can remember every detail years later. But you won't remember every meal you've ever had - in fact, it's likely that you will only remember very few of them! However each of those meals was important in keeping you going for that day, that week.

What did you have for dinner exactly a year ago from today? You probably can't remember. How about that whole month, can you remember any of those dinners in January 2007? Well it doesn't necessarily follow that it was a complete waste of time eating those dinners. You may not remember them, but each of those dinners contributed to your ongoing health and vitality back then. If you skipped all those meals, you can be sure that it would have had a devastating impact on your life!

What about the sermons you heard in January 2007? If you can't remember any of them, I wouldn't necessarily be worried. Yes it could be something wrong with the preacher, or something wrong with yourself (see the previous series here, here and here). But if those things are alright, then it's probably the normal way of things.

The job of the sermon is to keep us going by reminding us week in and week out, of the things we already know. To sustain us by refreshing our forgetful minds of the riches we have in Christ, and the hope we have awaiting us when he returns.

Be aware, however, of the danger of wanting every sermon to be memorable. If you fall into that trap, you will be burdening yourself (and the preacher, or your Bible study leader) with an unrealistic expectation every Sunday morning. The logical outcome is that one we've heard all there is to hear, there's no longer any point coming to church!

Taking up the analogy of meals again, that would be like eating a meal of chicken, then one of beef, then a pork, then lamb and then fish - and having eaten each of those once, thinking that we no longer have to eat again! After all, why keep on eating something you've eaten once before?

But that's not the point of eating - and nor is it the point of sermons (or Bible studies). Their job is to keep us going - just like eating regular meals.

[ PS: more on sermons to come... ]

"It's only a small thing. We should worry about other things instead."
"It doesn't hurt anybody."

This is the minimsation trick - comforting ourselves that really, it's not such a big sin.

 

However James tells us that the tongue the last part of our body we can keep in check (James 3:2). If you think your tongue is easy to manage, you need to think twice!

 

Moreover, it's not a small thing - the misuse of our tongue can actually endanger our very souls! James says that it can corrupt the whole person (James 3:6). And as such, we can't afford to let it slide.

 

James actually has quite a lot to say about the tongue and godly speech, and will repay careful study.

"Everyone else does it."

This is the democratisation trick - everyone else is doing it, so it must be ok. However as with the other ones we've looked at in previous posts, our standard for right conduct is not others around us, but God's own holiness (1 John 3:3).

"If I don't also share information, people will think I'm not interesting."

"I'll lose friends if I don't tell."

 

This similar to the one above, but has an added edge to it that really cuts. We all want to be seen as popular, we all want to be regarded well by our friends. And we instinctively know that one way to be regarded well is to seem to know a lot of stuff on what's going on - to be an authority (as it were) on the goings on at church.

 

So when people come to us and say "did you know about xyz?" we can respond to them "yes I already know, but even worse was that abc!" And so we rise in esteem in their eyes - moreso than if all we had to say was "I see." The edge is that we end up being socially inferior if we don't participate. Once we put it that way, you can see that it may really cost you, to pursue holy living. And so you need to decide whether you want to pursue the approval of your friends (which is much more immediate and palpable) - or the approval of God (which may not seem immediately apparent, but is eternal).

 

Another thing this raises is the character of relationships we have with our friends at church. Are our relationships with others so hollow that we need to maintain them with gossip and the one-upmanship of inside knowledge? If so, then you must raise this serious matter with your 'friends', and reform the whole nature and basis of your relationship.

 

"But the things I shared are true."

Right - and this is the difference between gossip (which is true information) and slander (which is untrue). However the Bible still speaks strongly against gossiping. In Romans 1 for instance, gossiping is listed together with a whole range of things including those who murder and those who hate God! By confusing gossip and slander in our minds, we can delude ourselves to think that gossiping is OK, since the information we share is true. It's not!

"They really should hear about this, so that they can pray for the situation."

This is the whole thing of using time to share prayer points as a big gossip session - and is the trick of using virtue as a cover-up for evil. How terrible that something that ought to be a time of holy dependence ends up being a time of unabashed sin!

 

It's great that people would pray for others at church. In a situation where one brother has sinned against another, however, the way to help isn't to spread the news - it's actually to encourage them to get together for forgiveness and reconciliation, without getting other people involved. In fact Jesus himself tells us not to get other people involved (Mat 18:15)! It's only in later stages, and as part of the actual process, that others should hear about it (Mat 18:16-17).

Got a 2008 diary yet? Now's the time to start setting aside all those important dates in your diary, before your diary gets crowded out.

And, hot from a meeting today, is a series of SCCCA English dates you'll want to be putting into your diary! Here they are...


In addition, SCCCA English is continuing to refine and develop the regional training centres in the South, South-West, North-West, North and Central districts. These meet monthly and are an ongoing opportunity for training, networking and support for your ministry. More info about these from the SCCCA website, or at the PILOT day.

SCCCA English isn't about sapping you and your fellow leaders, or stealing leaders for our own ministries. We're on about supporting local churches and local ministries everywhere! So come along and get as much as you can out of these things!

[ PS: hope to see you at some of these events! ]