The Storeroom

From Paul a servant of Christ Jesus, and Richard his brother.

So, as I wrote, my hope was that in the homes of the Church in Ephesus the relationships between slaves and masters would be transformed.

Also, I left Timothy in Ephesus and wrote this to him: “We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers – and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which He entrusted to me.”

Emphasis is mine. Well, actually, the whole thing is mine.

Anyway, I wanted to do what William Wilberforce did before he did it. Slavery was too much of a part of society to see it change overnight but I thought that if we (William and I) could bring the horrible trade which caused it to shame it might make people think. It might make them think about the cruelty of forcibly or deceptively removing someone from their home. It might make them about the conditions in which they are kept.

There is a trial in London as I write of people who enslaved a seven-year-old who never smiled. How might you respond to slavery as creatively today?

I was shocked a few years ago to learn something of the value of talents in the well known parable. It was worth about 20 years wages. In London, where incomes of £50,000+ are not unusual that is equivalent to £1,000,000. And that was the servant who was given the least.

This brings home how much God invests in us and entrusts us with. The potential of your time, education, contacts, experiences and strength is huge. Notice what the effective servants did: “The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.” (Matthew 25:16).

There is a right time to start using all that God has given you in order to change the world. It is now. James Carvillee said,” The best time to plant an oak tree was 25 years ago. The second best time is today. ” Whatever it is that God has given you to do - do it now.

Notice what stopped the third servant from doing anything. “So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent” (Matthew 25:16). It was fear. And maybe in some ways it was justified but what about the fear when the master came back and the talent was in the ground? Don’t let fear stop you.

I like what the master said about interest. It wouldn’t have gained so much (especially in our economy) but I think he is saying, “Do something rather than nothing. Make a phone call, enrol on a course, get some advice, but do something rather than nothing.”

Finally, I love the ‘Well done…” given to the effective slaves. It is possible to please God. He’s not waiting for you to do the wrong thing. He loves you.

In Britain it’s just been Pancake Day. I grew up not knowing about it’s religious significance. It’s when we use up all the tasty sweet things on pancakes so that we may give them up as we for Lent as we prepare for Easter.

This morning I read a great article by a church leader on all the benefits of delaying gratification. It was all true but didn’t relate the practice in any way to the cross of Christ who the leader usually preaches very effectively.

This year at Hillside Church we are meditating on the book If by Amy Carmichael. As I reflected on it this morning it struck me that ‘Calvary love’ is the lens through which any worthwhile practice becomes meaningful and possible. Whether it be the value of delayed gratification, forgiving others or viewing people with the hope that Jesus views us. It was for this ‘joy’ that Jesus endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).

Whether you are giving anything up or not, take time to look at Hillside’s tweets or blog posts on the implications of Calvary love and how it impacted the amazing Amy Carmichael.

You can follow the Hillside’s Twitter account here - http://twitter.com/HillsideSW19/

Usually we meet for lunch but on this occasion we had an early start travelling to Westminster to hear Alistair McGrath on the King James Bible. It was excellent. Then a Wycliffe Bible translator talked about his story of translating the Bible into a language spoken by 14,000.

I asked the editor what he thought about that and whether there were some languages spoken by too few people (who speak other languages) to justify the translation effort. He said that it would always be preferable for people to read it in their won tongue. I can’t imagine even having to manage with one English translation so I suppose he may be right on this occasion.

He then told me about an article about sharing the Gospel with the Klingons. For a moment I thought the early morning had messed up his brain. But it was a consideration of what our missional responsibility would be if intelligent life were discovered from beyond the earth. I suggested that it would depend on whether these creatures were made in the image of God and if there had been a Fall. Hopefully, this isn’t something we will need to consider before the Olympics.

It led me to state one of my beliefs that Jesus could not have been incarnated as one of us if we were not made in His image. The idea that God couldn’t do anything disturbed the editor, but I challenged this with the Scripture that it is impossible for God to lie. I think that on this occasion the editor might be wrong.

Finally we ate breakfast at Churchill’s which we both agreed was the late Prime Minister’s favourite fry-up. During this time I was able to show him that pencils and pens are right-handed. He was not convinced but in time he’ll come around.

From Paul, a servant and a apostle of Christ Jesus, and Richard his brother,

Grace and Peace.

Our brother Richard has reported that in the 21st century some are accusing me of supporting the practice of slavery. It did take me some time in Arabia to realise that the Gospel of our Lord would impact this practice. It is also true that my main emphasis is to preach Christ knowing that His presence in you will bring about reform in every area of society.

However, I must implore you to examine my writings more closely to see my three pronged attack on this abomination.

First, you will see that my letter to the church at Ephesus and elsewhere I have commanded slaves and masters to treat each other differently because of our Lord Jesus Christ. If this command were viewed apart from my other writings then I can understand the above assumption. However, this first step is very important. By expecting Christian slaves to work as if they were working for our heavenly master they will grow in self respect. Their increased efforts will alter the manner in which fair minded masters treat them. More importantly, my reminder to the masters that there is really only one master who treats us all equally will, upon reflection, begin to transform people’s thinking. These words will have been read in the mixed company of the church. The concept that God has no partiality and that slaves and masters are equal are completely revolutionary, as is the whole Gospel. The transformation will begin from small home church communities.

Through these writings and others that I will refer to in my next e-pistle you will understand my opposition to slavery and my determination to bring the ownership of human beings to an end.

How sad that many who criticise me do so little to end trafficking in their own generation, even eating foods produced by slaves.

I will send Richard to you soon.

Grace to all those who love the Lord Jesus with a love incorruptible.

Paul

I am the proud father of two teenage boys and one tweenage boy. They always do their homework, never fight, don’t answer back and I can’t stop them doing chores around the house! Some of you aren’t so lucky so to join with you in what might feel like a daily FAIL I’m inventing imaginary children. These children are entirely fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, in my house, is purely coincidental.

My eldest daughter is Jemima. She is nearly 17, blonde and beautiful like her mother and loves boys. She recently passed nine GCSEs with four A*s, three A’s, one B and one C which is far better than we imagined. Every weekend she argues with Susanna about what she wears, from the length of the skirt to whether the colours match. We monitor her Facebook and are deeply shocked by the explicit things her friends say. While she doesn’t say them she says that’s normal and that we’ve got no idea. We’re soooooo old.

Two of her close friends got caught up with the London riots. They stole ‘loads’ of clothes and one has been arrested but wasn’t charged. I suggested that she should report the other one but she said that’s not what friends do. I wondered what I should do, particularly when you see the size of the sentences they’re giving out. When her old best friend was dropped (if that’s the current term) by her looting boyfriend, she reported him to the police. He lost his management training career and was given six months in jail. Thank God we were on holiday.

I really love imaginary Jemima but she’s growing up so fast. She’s not just daddy’s little girl anymore and often doesn’t want to talk at all.

And then there’s Isaiah…

He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
- Matthew 13: 52

I enjoy sharing the message of God’s love for humans from the Bible and the massive implications that has for all of life.

As a result, I will beg borrow and steal to stock a storeroom of stories, quotes, anecdotes and pictures. They are old and new, funny and sad, mundane and extraordinary.

This is the place to sample my store and put some things in. Then I won’t have to steal!

Here’s my first entry…

How to bluff at being a deep Bible Teacher - part 1?
Many of you teach the Bible in churches, house groups, Sunday School and so on. You will know that if you want to make a real impact it’s really hard. As well as studying the text and the experts you have to study presentation techniques, voice, body language, PowerPoint, and think deeply about your audience.

Sometimes that’s too hard when there is something good on the television. So here are some ideas for pretending to be really deep, learned and profound in the absence of a message that impacts people’s lives.

Never, ever, admit to reading a book

The exception to this vital rule is if the book has only just been published. Then you have to say that you are reading, for example, John Piper’s new book. The word ‘new’ is very important.

Now you might be wondering how you can impress people with your reference to CS Lewis or Calvin. That’s why I am here.

Always, always, say that you were rereading it. This is what you say. Recently, I was rereading The Screwtape Letters, Augustine’s Confessions or John Wesley’s journal. Then when your audience have no idea what you’re talking about or how your points fit together they will think that it’s their fault. If the preacher has read and reread all the great and good of Christian history, then they are obviously too shallow to understand and your reputation improves.

You can watch The Simpsons and be deep.