The Self Help Gospel

Fr. Stephen DelSignore, of St. Andrew's Traditional Anglican Church of Middleborough, MA wrote a great article on his face book page last Friday. He wrote; "To preach the Bible as "the handbook for life," or as the answer to every question, rather than than as the revelation of Christ, is to turn the Bible into an entirely different book." He is right; the main point of the Bible is to tell the story of Redemption. What I mean by the story of Redemption is that the Bible tells a four-part story:

1 – Creation
2 – Fall of man
3 – Redemption of man
4 – Future, eternal and complete reconciliation of man to God

The primary Person in the story of Redemption is Jesus Christ (the Gospel). Christ created all things and all things are held together by Him.

All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. (John 1:3)

Christ left heaven to come to earth in order to redeem man from his fall.

Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

He accomplished our salvation by destroying what Satan had accomplished in the Garden of Eden by offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sin.

…but when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law. (Galatians 4:4)

…he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

Redemption is the message. We can’t “self-help” ourselves into heaven or a relationship with the creator. The main point of the Bible; the “Gospel” message of Christ’s redemption and salvation has been marginalized by too many Christians. Instead of seeing the Bible as a worship book, they have bought into the notion that it is a “self-help book.” A new Gospel has emerged leaving the saving grace of Christ’s redemption for all mankind as secondary to our own inner power to effect change. Some of these new Christians would have us believe that the Bible has some good philosophy for life but its message is no longer life changing.

This whole self-help phenomenon has been gaining popularity for the past 50 years and has not only infiltrated the church but it has changed the message of man’s inability to save himself to the popular notion that “God helps those who help themselves.”

As a result, what is now being preached from many pulpits is this notion that the Gospel is for our salvation, but not for our sanctification. Historically, the Gospel has always been the means to salvation AND the means to sanctification. From where I sit and from what I have seen, the psychological community seems to have embarrassed mainline Christianity into this new notion of sanctification by implying that the message of the Gospel is too foolish for thinking people to actually believe. The Gospel as presented biblically is more for the weak minded and uneducated.

Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumbling block, and unto Gentiles foolishness; (1 Corinthians 1:22-23)

Most academics will tell you that the Gospel is not sophisticated enough for a “self-help” world or a “self-help” church. Look at what the world offers the “self -help” Christian. To them the Gospel seems foolish when put up beside some of our culture’s heavyweights like The Road Less Travelled, Your Erroneous Zones. Good heavens, how can the Gospel compete with that kind of brilliance? And not to be outdone, the liberal church provided us with the The Power of Positive Thinking, In Search of Significance, and Your Best Life Now. How much of this drivel have you seen promoted for the past 25 years of the Oprah Winfrey show?

So the conservative church is left holding this “foolish” Gospel bag. I would point out that seeing the drift the self-help market was carrying the church into, the conservative church entered the fray with some outstanding works, “An Outline of an Anglican Life”, Louis Tarsitano, and “The Call” by Os Guinness, just to name two.
Then comes the modernist, contemporary, evangelical community with books from the Rick Warrens and the Joel Osteens of the world who decided our salvation by grace was not the main point of the Bible. Their books have helped to further bury the church into self-help-ology.

It is even worse because at this point in the game the liberal church offerings and the conservative church offerings have become so integrated that it is hard for the average church member to discern more clearly between conservative and liberal and why the difference matters. And trust me, it matters.

This “Christianized” self-help mania movement has turned the Bible into just another “positive life force” book. With a few out of context verses in hand, our psychologized church, trained by our culture’s self-help gurus, have created what they believe is the world’s best self-help book. The Bible used to be a book about Him, but now it is a book about me and for me. Worship used to be centered on Christ and His redemptive sacrifice. Now it’s a rock concert complete with a speech about how you can be a more complete person. Just follow the twelve step program booklet available for purchase in the lobby.

Christians do not need another self-help book. Christians need Christ. Marriages need Christ. Families need Christ. Churches need Christ. Worship needs Christ. Any book that does not root the change process of salvation by Grace in the Gospel should be passed over. The notion that God helps those who help themselves is a lie. God helps those who ask. He can save; He can forgive; He can renew.

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (Galatians 2:21)

Now is the time for the church to get back to its roots: The main story of the Bible is Christ! He is the only one who can change us.

Be changed by Christ,

Bishop Ian

Blessed Are The Meek

Remember this? “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” I had an interesting conversation with someone recently who has been accused of being too bold in their approach to most things in life - marriage, relationships etc. But when I used the term “meek” he scrunched up his face like that was somehow unmanly. Now the Bible lists many benefits of meekness.

“The meek shall be satisfied.” “The meek He will guide and teach.” “The meek will become wise.” “The meek will be filled with fresh joy.”

There are lots of other references, but we in the modern church misunderstand this term. None of us really know what meekness is. In fact we often confuse it with another term that sounds like it. Meek sounds like weak right. And nobody wants to be weak, so nobody wants to be meek.

But the truth is meekness and weakness is at the exact opposite ends of the spectrum. The cool thing here is that the Greek word for meekness literally means “strength under control.” Like when a wild horse is tamed and taught to be ridden, the horse still has all the strength it had when it was wild but now it is strength under control for the master’s use.

Look, God doesn’t want you to be weak but He does want you to be meek, having strength under control. If I were to give you a simple definition of the word “meek” I would give you this phrase: let go and let God. That is the essence of meekness. It is surrendering, submitting, agreeing to what God wants to do in your life. It’s letting God be God in your life. Let go and let God.

Easier said than done? OK, look at it this way. Every morning you and I get up and we have a decision to make; whose going to be in charge of my life? Who’s the Boss? Who’s going to be the manager of my life, me or God? Who’s going to be in control, me or God? Who’s going to call the shots, me or God? Who’s going to be the one who directs and leads, me or God? Every day, moment by moment you are making that decision. When you choose to make yourself the manager of your own life it causes conflict, it causes confusion, it causes stress. You must let go and let Christ be the manager of your life.

"Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will comes to you. (Job 22:21)

How many of you would like to have peace at last and have things go well? Everybody this verse tells us: stop, let go and let God.

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

Basically Jesus is telling his disciples, you’re not in the driver’s seat. I am.”

I have a confession to make. I am a closet backseat driver. As long as I am in the driver’s seat, as long as I am in control. Everything is fine. As soon as I let Robin drive, I am nervous wreck. I find myself holding on to the door handle, and nearly putting my foot through the floor trying to apply a brake that isn’t there. And it’s not that Robin is a bad driver. She is an excellent driver. It’s just that I’m not in control. I’m not in the driver’s seat.

It’s exactly the same in our spiritual life. When we become Christians we say, “Ok, Jesus, You take over the driver’s seat.” We then promptly hop into the passenger seat and then do back seat driving. Jesus is in the driver’s seat of my life but I’m looking over His shoulder saying, “No, turn this way! Stop. Wait. Faster! I want to go that way. Or slow down. You’re going too fast. Don’t get so close. Wait that’s not the road I want to go down!” And Jesus says, “Am I the driver or not?”

Here’s the bottom line, if you don’t have an authority in your life you’re going to listen to all different kinds of conflicting opinions. One day you’ll decide this and another day you’ll decide that and then one day you can’t decide and indecision causes stress. But if you decide that God's Word is going to be the authority of your life it simplifies decision making. By knowing what the book says personal opinion now gives way to godly admonition and instruction.

The Bible is filled of all kinds of rules and commands. God says do this, don’t do that, make sure you do this. Why does He do that? Because He is a loving God and everything that’s in this book is not there to make your life miserable. It’s there to protect you. It’s there for your own health. It’s there for your own good. A loving God who knows more than you is saying, “Here are the rules for life. If you ignore them you only get hurt.”

Like it or not you’re going to have to serve somebody. And right now you’re controlled by something. It may be popular culture. It may be the opinions of others, or the approval of your parents. You may be controlled by your husband or your wife. You may be controlled by your own desires, appetites and drives. You may be controlled by an addiction or a habit. You may be controlled by a memory. You may even be controlled by your own ego. But everybody is controlled by something.

You are going to have to trust someone. Whether you trust yourself, or another it will fail unless you learn to be meek and until you trust enough to commit your whole life and will to God, you are going to be constantly looping on the white knuckle roller coaster known as self.

Still there is that one thing that will keep some of you from taking that step, a lack of trust. It takes trust to take a step. So let me ask you why wouldn’t you trust God? Why wouldn’t you trust the creator who made you, who loved you and sent His Son to die for you? Why would you not trust God? Did He let you down somehow? Didn’t take the turn you thought He should, tuned left and you wanted to go right? Didn’t drive your life the way you wanted? How’s the view from back there?

If you’ve consciously chosen to commit your life and will to Christ’s care and control, it is not enough to do it just one time in your life. You’ve got to do it every single day of your life. On a moment by moment basis if you need to. It’s a constant decision: Meekness, learning to let go and let God. If you haven’t made that commitment yet… Buckle up!

Be meek in spirit,

Bishop Ian

Following the Good Shepherd

John 10: 11-16

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Everybody knows that sheep are not-so-bright, right? I mean we have all heard the phrase "to fleece." Basically it means that this person is so clueless that you could steal them blind before they realize they were getting ripped off. Was Jesus insulting us by calling us sheep?

Before we go looking for a more politically correct analogy, perhaps we should take a closer look at the reputation of sheep. Are they really as dumb as we’ve been led to believe? Could it be that they’ve just gotten bad press?

If you have ever seen any classic westerns sheep have had their reputations smeared by cattle ranchers. Every TV show and western movie I have ever seen shows that cattle ranchers hate sheep and sheep herders with a passion. Cattle ranchers decided that sheep are dumb because well…sheep don't act like cows. Every cattle dive I have ever seen on TV shows when you herd cattle, cowboys drive them from behind by whooping and hollering and cracking whips. If you try this with sheep, they’ll just sort of run all over the place. It seems you can't drive sheep; you have to lead them. Sheep won't go anywhere unless they know that there is someone out in front making sure that everything is okay. So who’s dumb here?

In Scripture, shepherds are pretty prominent. Jacob, Moses, and David were all shepherds, and according to Luke, shepherds were the first people to receive the message of Jesus' birth. In John 10 we find a series of statements from the lips of Jesus, in which he describes himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). There is a good reason why they were all shepherds, and why sheep figure so prominently in scripture. Sheep were, after all, the primary form of livestock in Palestine at the time and that the people of Israel didn't consider them to be stupid. They knew what sheep were capable of so they didn’t take offense at being called sheep.

In the Gospel appointed for the second Sunday after Easter, Jesus talks about a specific attribute of “His” sheep; they recognize the voice of their shepherd. Not only that, but they will only follow the voice of that one shepherd. The reason sheep will only respond to the voice or call of their own shepherd is because they know that they can count on their shepherd to keep them safe. When danger comes, they won't run off like the hireling. Therefore, sheep get very attached to their shepherds.

I remember a while ago a documentary on the Discovery Channel about the Middle East. They followed different groups of nomadic Bedouins. They were all sheep herders and often they all would meet with their sheep at the same time at the local oasis. Different flocks also gathered at the same watering hole and the shepherds didn’t try to keep them apart. What was interesting is when the shepherd was ready to leave, he or she gave off a distinctive call or whistle and the flock gathered to that shepherd. They knew who they belong to; they knew their shepherd's voice, and it is the only one they will follow. Seems to me that sheep aren't all that dumb after all; they know who they can trust and who not to trust, and they respond only to that one voice. So I ask the question; if we are part of Jesus’ flock, will we recognize his voice and follow him? There are a lot of voices in the world that are calling out to us. The question is which one will we follow? This Good Shepherd analogy is the reminder that through an act of grace, God seeks us out. if we’re willing to tune ourselves in to the Shepherd’s voice, then we can have confidence when we walk through the dark valleys of life, whether it’s sickness, loss of a job, or a disaster; we can have confidence because we know that in Jesus, God has already gone before us and knows the path we need to follow. If we stick close to him, we will make it through safely. That doesn't mean that the wolves won't nip at our heels, but the Lord is with us, to lead us safely through the danger.

Be Listening,

Bishop Ian

Finding Hope in Easter

Lent is a time for reflection and “looking forward to the joy of Easter.” Certainly it seems there is much to reflect on at this time. Some of it personal, some of it bigger picture reflections about where we are in our society and the wider world.

These are not easy times in our nation. The much debated and talked about recession has not gone away and some projected economic forecasts are far from healthy. It is likely that more people will lose their homes and jobs. In short, there’s not a huge amount of hope going around this Easter.

Yet, hope is a key theme in the New Testament. When Paul reflected on the resurrection of Jesus he concluded that, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all people.” (1 Cor. 15:19.) In other words, because of the transforming power of God in raising Jesus from death, hope is born not just for this life but for all eternity.

The loss of hope is indeed a loss. We are paralyzed without hope. To be without any hope is effectively to be disempowered, to see no way out. Despite the promise of Jesus that He would rise from the dead, those around the Cross on that first Good Friday experienced the hopelessness of it all. They wondered whether the past three years they had spent with Jesus had just come to an unfortunate end.

The resurrection brought hope then and it can bring us hope today. This event, Paul would have argued, is primary evidence that the promises of God will be fulfilled. Without it, the hope that faith in God can bring would be unavailable to us. It would be in doubt.

The resurrection means that God can take the most impossible and hopeless situations and transform them; that His power to change things has been ultimately vindicated in Christ.

Do we believe that things can change in our lives, in our churches, in God’s world? If you’re not sure how to answer that question then you have not grasped the power of the Resurrection hope and we will never know that “joy of Easter”.

To rediscover hope is to be changed and to believe that, however awful the circumstances, things can change in our life, in our culture and in our world. Jesus teaches that with God all things are possible, not least of which is his rising from the dead.

My prayer for all my readers this Holy Week is that we rediscover the “joy of Easter” and reconnect our lives to the things above.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Be Joyful,

Bishop Ian

Lent: What's New, What's Normal?

I was listening to several of the talking heads lapping up the Kool-aid and saying this recession is the barometer for the “new depression,” and rising gas and food prices were the “new normal.” My parents grew up in the depression of the 1930’s. So did my wife, Robin’s, parents. The depression stamped them for life and yes, there is reason to be concerned about today’s recession, but there’s also a reason to be hopeful. I’ve been remembering my first Lent as a young teenager; it was a time that I felt that pull of the Anglican faith and practice that shaped my life.

By requiring fasting and abstinence, the observance of Lent somehow helped me cope with the multitude of early teen angst many of us had to grapple with.

This was also the time that I attended confirmation class. We were asked to give something up. I gave up eating candy. The main point for me was just to get through those 40 days. I remember being told that this was the same number of days a famished Jesus spent in the desert and the number of years the Hebrews wandered in the wilderness. “God’s will” was the name we gave to suffering, and God’s grace was the promise that it would end ... eventually.

Lent is one of the most important seasons in the calendar, but now self-denial seems more a suggestion than a requirement. Maybe it’s this notion of the “new normal.” We are inundated with the statistics of unemployment and poverty on the rise. Who needs Lent to give something up? We have all sacrificed, so I suppose Lenten self-denial could be forgiven this year.

There are plenty of difficulties in everyday life without choosing to add new ones. Job loss is hell enough. I mean this is America; yet it seems this whole economic mess came out of nowhere and revealed that we weren’t as secure as we thought we were.

Yet, I would argue that traditional Lenten observances offer one particular contrast to today’s “new normal.” Lent begins with the word remember; spoken when a cross of ashes are smudged on the forehead…remembering what we are and where we came from; ashes to ashes, dust to dust; we are the created.

This year it struck me that the millions of people who started Lent in the same way simply go through the motions and deny the scriptures as they say, “Remember thou man we are dust, and all things are passing,” This is a hard cold fact . This “new normal” put a sharp focus for many on material worries, and should instead remind us of what matters most in life.

Lent will end and sacrifices will go on. There is nothing wrong with job security, and yet, it seems there is nothing right with suffering. That is exactly what our Lord came to do. To suffer for us, so we don’t have to. It seems insecurity is normal again and that’s okay, because if Lent teaches us anything, it teaches us to get used to it. "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." Luke 9:22 .

We are all part of the human situation. This recession is new but it certainly isn’t normal. We will suffer from time to time. This Lent remember we may be dust, but because he suffered and was raised. We are redeemed dust.

Be Remembering,

Bishop Ian

The Vending Machine Jesus

I was watching TV last weekend and came across the “Christianity King of Prosperity” right at the very moment when he told the congregation that the reason Christians are suffering in this economic downturn is because we didn’t have faith enough to give. If we don’t give, especially in bad economic times, then we don’t receive. I felt a little sick hearing that statement.

We are in a hard core recession. Countless faithful Christians are unemployed and going to bed worrying if there will be food on the table for the family. Countless Christians are anxious about their finances. You can see it on their faces and you can hear it in their voices. The problem that must be explained by proponents of the prosperity gospel is that the faithful still get laid off, lose homes, and struggle to make ends meet.

Basically, Pastor Prosperity wants you to sort of look at God as “The Vending Machine Jesus” - put in your faith and out pops blessings, money, homes, cars, beautiful spouses, perfect kids, good neighbors, big churches, and plush vacations. For the prosperity gospel, humans are “The Happiness People” – they receive the blessings, rely on the promises, act on the commandments, and they can put on a big happy face. Every day, from the moment you get up to the time you go to bed, Pastor Prosperity and others of his ilk want you to believe that life is like Disney’s Magic Kingdom - steep admission included.

This individual’s gospel proclaims that the bible teaches us and promises us material, spiritual, and physical prosperity. To become prosperous, all you have to do is believe and receive. The prosperity gospel isn’t even a half truth, its blasphemy.

So let’s get real here. The Bible and the Church have never taught the prosperity gospel. Abraham waited and waited for the son of promise. Joseph experienced being sold into slavery by his God-elected brothers. Moses led Israel into years of testing. Israel only crossed the Jordan River after 40 years in the wilderness (and Moses never crossed the Jordan). David, a man after God’s own heart, suffered years of waiting, family struggles, and a son who fell away from faithfulness. Jeremiah spent most of his days in tears. Daniel was a devoted Israelite who had anything but a cushy life. And don’t even get me started on Job. His faithfulness seemed to have gotten him into the crosshairs of the Satan himself. Have you ever read Foxe’s, Book of Martyrs?

Who we are as Christians is not the Bible version of the Brady Bunch. Our humanity is tied to the Cross. Jesus told his followers to take up the cross every day and that meant to be ready to suffer as well. (Luke 9:23). Jesus was crucified for us and we are called to die with Him – to be the person who has died with Christ, died to self, died to everything the world counted as worthy, and died to the flesh. We are called not to seek our own happiness, money, power, personal glory, but to seek the glory of God by giving ourselves to God for His glory.

The problem with the prosperity gospel is that it focuses on getting earthly wants, and then blaming it on a lack of personal faith when we don’t get what we want - when the vending machine savior does not pay out. As Pastor Prosperity spoke to the people sitting in his massive stadium church, I about fell out of my chair as he quoted John 11:22, “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." And all you had to do to unlock that promise was buy this guy’s latest book!

The cross gospel focuses on the giving of our selves. Love of God means to live for God. Don’t get me wrong - yes, God is indeed with us. We are commanded to give all we are to Him. The bottom line is that some days are good and we thank God for his blessings. Some days are difficult and we are summoned by God to trust, (look at Paul) to be faithful, not to lose heart, and to hang on in the hope that God will do what he promised when He returns.

Be Faithful,

Bishop Ian

Jesus Just Wants to Give You a Hug

I have Sirius XM radio in my car. I like to listen to all kinds of music so I surf a lot. I was surfing the channels recently and I came upon the Christian Contemporary channel so I listened a bit. After several tunes I came to the conclusion that most of what I was hearing was basically grown men, whining like love sick teenagers with lyrics like, "Nothing else can take your place, or feel the warmth of your embrace." The band was called “Big Daddy Weave,” but I have to ask the question here; who are they singing to? The One who holds the universe together by the power of His word, or some long lost girlfriend? The women were no better, they sang with such throaty breathiness, I wondered if they were singing to brad Pitt or The Savior of the Universe. What kind of theology is there in “Jesus just wants to give you a hug” lyrics?

Yes, I am a bit prejudiced when it comes to the theology of the lyrics most of these Christian rock bands use to describe the king of all creation. So for fun I have looked a few up. Yup, you can actually look up the lyrics online.

Take a look at the verses from these six contemporary songs. Can you pick which phrases belong to secular songs and which to the supposedly Christian ones?

1. All I need to do is just be me, being in love with you.
2. My world stops spinning round without you.
3. I never want to leave; I want to stay in your warm embrace.
4. I'm lost in love.
5. Now and forever, together and all that I feel, here's my love for you.
6. You say you love me just as I am.

The first three are from that same band I was listening to earlier, “Big Daddy Weave,” the second half are from Air Supply. Why Air Supply? Well, they were on the smooth 80’s channel when I tuned in looking for comparisons.

Song after song on the Christian music channel kept hammering on one note: Jesus loves you soooooo much. He is your buddy; He is your pal. Now, do I doubt for a second that Jesus loves His children? Nope, but it depends on what your definition of "love" is.

God "agape" loves His children. Agape love is not based on the warm and fuzzy kind of love. I looked up the translation of agape and discovered that William Tyndale was the first translator to use the word "love" for agape. My commentary also said that prior to the 16th century; the word charity best described agape. Seemed a good topic for debate, but putting that aside, a modern day use of the word love ranges from a love for an object to physical love/sex (eros love). I love that new car. I love that girl. I love that God. That God loves me.

Not only do the lyrics use love in romantic ways to sing about God, there were other romantic phrases in the songs I heard and latter researched like: hold me, embrace me, feel you, need you. In music that’s called “amatory phrasing.”

My research on hymnody revealed John Wesley considered an "amatory phrase" to be language that was more feelings based love than self-sacrificing agape love. John Wesley deleted "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" from one of his brother, Charles' collections because it was too romantic sounding.

Not only are today’s Christian music writers guilty of writing amatory phrases, but they are singing with amatory phrasing. Christian men and women sing with such romantic longing and neediness as to be completely embarrassing.

In my opinion there are two consequences to this "Jesus is my boyfriend/girlfriend" music. Needy, emotional women continue to need more counseling, self help books and conferences where they can spread their wings and soar. Men will continue to not show up for church because they simply can't stand the mood manipulating worship tunes designed to help them, "feel the Lord's big bear hug embrace."

Without theology in music, we are offering fluff that will not comfort when life takes a turn. Songwriters could provide true hope if they would write about the sovereignty of God rather than crying about "how safe I feel when Jesus is hugging me."

Is there anything wrong with being reminded that our God is our help from ages past? Of course not, the Psalms are loaded with promises of God's comfort. But unlike the Psalms (and theology based hymns), contemporary music is void of the reason why we should not worry. We shouldn’t not worry because someone croons that Jesus’ warm embrace keeps us safe so we shouldn't fret, but because God is our shelter in the stormy blast and our eternal home. Our comfort comes from knowledge, not in a lyric about a teddy bear Jesus.

Be Listening,

Bishop Ian

A Healthy Fear of God

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

(Philippians 2:12)

Martin Luther made an important distinction concerning the fear of God. He distinguished between servile fear and filial fear. He described servile fear as that kind of fear a prisoner has of his jailer. Filial fear is the fear of a son who loves his father and does not want to offend him or let him down. It is a fear born of respect. When the Bible calls us to fear God, it is issuing a call to a fear born of reverence, awe, and adoration. It is a respect of the highest magnitude.

To truly fear God means to be in awe of God’s being and character as well as in awe of what He has done for us in Christ. When you put these two ideas together, you have an absolutely sovereign Creator of the universe who punishes those who resist Him, and yet loves us and sends His Son to die in our place. Surely that’s good reason to fear or reverence Him.

So how could a Christian walk with no fear when the Bible says that we should, “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.”

I know - it seems confusing. It seems like maybe our salvation may not be a sure thing, which would certainly invoke fear and trembling in me. Yet, the Bible promises that if we confess the Lord Jesus with our mouths and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, then we are saved. So the question is this: If we’re saved, why do we have to serve God with “fear and trembling”?

Paul, in his admonition to the Philippians, never meant that we should quake in our boots as Christians. He simply meant that Christians should never want to offend God with their actions and deeds. Working out our salvation with fear and trembling means we should approach everything in our lives with a heightened sense of reverence for God. We are supposed to be living our lives in a way that brings glory to God.

Listen, don’t get me wrong, a little fear is healthy. For example, a child’s healthy fear of a parent will often produce the right behavior. All my mom had to say was, “Wait until your Father gets home,” to strike fear in the hearts of her children when we misbehaved. We knew he would follow through on her threat if we didn’t straighten up. I had a healthy fear of my Father but I still loved him even when I received disciplined.

When I ride my bike I have a healthy fear of oncoming traffic so I am more aware of my surroundings when I ride. The same is true for God; to have a healthy respect and to be in awe of God is what is being referred to by Paul in the above passage. Think about whom it is we serve here. Then think about those who choose not to . Pretty scary.

Look at the Book of Proverbs. It provides great instruction about the fear of the Lord.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

Until we understand who God is and develop a reverential filial fear of Him, we cannot have true wisdom. True wisdom comes only from understanding who God is and that He is holy, just, and righteous. Fearing God means having such a reverence for Him that it has a great impact on the way we live our lives. To be in fear of God is to respect Him, to obey Him, to submit to His discipline, and to worship Him in awe.

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.”

Evil by its very nature sets itself against the Lord. It is the exact opposite of what God is, so to take any attitude toward it but hatred is to dishonor the Lord.

Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the Lord prolongs days.”

Righteousness, which comes about through a reverent fear of the Lord, always has a tendency to lengthen life, for it leads to the practice of healthy principles. Sin, on the other hand, because it is the practice of things often detrimental to health as well as to holiness, tends to shorten life; some have called it hard living.

The truth is if we don’t have a healthy fear of the Lord, we cannot please God. The prophet Isaiah said it this way, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you will build me? And where is the place of my rest? For all those things my hand has made, and all those things exist,’ says the Lord. ‘But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word’.” (Isaiah 66:1-2)

The Bible is clear about what a fear of the Lord can bring to our lives. Without it, we close ourselves to the treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge; we will flirt with evil and are corrupted by it; our lives are likely to be shorter; and we will never come to know the love of God that gives us the assurance and confidence in our own salvation.

We really should walk in fear of the Lord, but we shouldn’t be afraid of Him. He is a life-long companion, an ever-present help in a time of trouble. Respect His ways, observe His truths, and walk in His light.

Be in awe…

Bishop Ian

Why Should We Obey Our Parents?

"Honor your father and mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12).

Why should we obey our parents? Notice at the end of this Commandment it says, "… so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12)

So not only live long, but it also says, "In the land your God is giving you." He is not only talking about individuals; He is talking about society because when the family unit breaks down, the society breaks down too.

Take a look around you. Respect for parents and family is certainly something we have lost sight of in our culture. I'm going to be incredibly un-PC right now and say that many of the Baby Boomers that became parents created a generation of spoiled children. It’s been my observation that as a result of this spoiling, many of today’s parents spend more time trying to negotiate with their children than establishing who is in charge in the first place.

The best they can come up with after the negotiations fail is more idle threats, ridiculous bribes, or the ever popular, “time out." Heck, just the sound of my dad's footsteps coming down the hallway used to shut us kids right up. I understood as a child that my Dad was in charge, so was my Mom. Let’s face it, in many ways they still are. But, it wasn’t just fear of punishment that kept me on the straight and narrow, I was learning to respect their authority, and that began developing in my earliest years.

The truth of the matter is the breakdown of family values in this country is one of the greatest battles we face as a nation. The sad fact is that five out of every six births are to unwed mothers. We have become a nation of wounded souls giving birth to wounded souls. Is it any wonder that so many kids today can barely read, pass a test, or say no to drugs and alcohol? Did you know that the majority of violent criminals are teenagers?

It has been rightly observed throughout history that the family is the backbone of society. It always has been the first building block to a successful society. Our very existence as a safe and loving community is dependent upon the success of the family.

Nobody cares more for our personal well being, outside of our parents, than God. Healthy families produce healthy people, and a healthy nation. I also want to point out that scriptures say nothing about an “age of maturity,” a time when you suddenly are free from respecting and honoring your parents. Growing from childhood to adulthood is not a time of moving spiritually away from your family. Your family is eternal, and honoring them has eternal as well as earthly consequences.

A healthy family is the place we learn about life. We learn things about living together as a family and as a society. Family life is the path to a great deal of life’s lessons. You want to know about conflict resolution, financial management, love, acceptance, failure, success, communication – you name it – your family should be the place to go.

Sadly, the world today looks at families in a different light. For many, the family just isn’t important and too often God isn’t important either. Yet we are all born with this primal need to know who we are. Our very nature craves being loved by the two people called mom and dad. If we lose that connection, our identities blur and it weakens not only ourselves but our nation – and yes, our connection to God.

Yes, there are some very imperfect parents – abusive, absent, and substance addicted, but the commandment has no “clauses” that excuse our responsibility to honor them. Even though their actions may have brought us pain, they have after all, brought us into this world.

"Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." (Colossians 3:20).

Do you want to know how to please God? Read his commandments to us. Obey them – not just a few – but all of them. Obeying and honoring your parents pleases the Lord. As I mentioned, even if they aren’t particularly lovable, the commandment has no exception clauses, and no expiration date as to our responsibility to it.

Honoring your father and mother is never more apparent than when you have children of your own. Suddenly you understand what you owe your parents. And then you take all the good they have given to you and pass it on.

Be Honorable,

Bishop Ian

What is Truth?

I have been having an email conversation with an individual regarding Christianity and my opinions regarding my belief in the scriptures; The Word of God as truth. So then came the question, "What is truth?"

It’s a very simple question. Of course, answering it isn't so simple. We can offer definitions like, "Truth is that which conforms to reality, fact, or actuality." But this definition is not complete because its definition is open to interpretation and can be used in a wide variety of ways. What is reality? What is fact? What is actuality? How does perception affect truth? We can spend all day asking one question after the other which leads to another and we end up getting half an answer. It’s like throwing a ball against a wall. It must get half way there, and then half way of the remaining distance, and then half of that distance, and so on. But, an infinite number of halves in this scenario never make a whole.

The ball-against-the-wall scenario simply illustrates that defining and redefining things as we try to approach a goal and actually prevents us from getting to that goal. This is what philosophy does sometimes as it seeks to examine truth. It sometimes clouds issues so much, that nothing can be known for sure.

But, even though it is true that an infinite number of halves do not equal a whole, we can "prove" that it does by simply throwing a ball at a wall and watching it bounce off. Trust me I checked out my theory with a college math professor I have coffee with once in a while, and he claims the ½ exercise it is a mathematical truth. The problem with my inquisitive friend is that the answers aren’t always lock step with just the “truth” per se, but in its application. The problem applied to asking the ultimate question, “So what is Truth,” becomes an exercise in verbal gymnastics.

"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ," (Col 2:8 ).

In order for truth to be defined properly, it would have to be a factual and logical. Simply put, it would have to be true. So let me do a little twisting of your noodle by addressing what truth is not. Truth is not error. Truth is not self-contradictory. Truth is not deception. Yes, I know, I am way ahead of you, it could be true that someone is being deceptive, but the deception itself isn't truth.

My friend looks at things as relative to the next, all points of view are equally valid and all truth is relative to the individual. If it works for you then it must be “truth.” If this were true, then it would seem that this is the only truth relativism would have to offer. But, the problem with this kind of thinking, as it is in reality, relativism isn't true for the following basic reason. If what is true for me is that relativism is false, then is it true that relativism is false? 1) If you say no, then what is true for me is not true and relativism is false. 2) If you say yes, then relativism is false. Relativism seems to defy the very nature of truth; namely, that truth is not self-contradictory.

So here’s the deal. If there is such a thing as truth, then we should be able to find it. If truth cannot be known, then it probably doesn't exist. But, it does exist. For example, we know it is a true statement that you are reading my blog.

Is there such a thing as something that is always true all the time? Yes absolutely. For example, I wrote about Stephen Hawking who claimed that gravity not God started the universe. Basically, I wrote that the “universe cannot bring itself into existence." This is an absolutely true statement. In order for something to bring itself into existence, it would have to exist in order to be able to perform an action. But if it already existed, then it isn't possible to bring itself into existence since it already exists. Likewise, if it does not exist then it has no ability to perform any creative action since it didn't exist in the first place. Therefore, "Something cannot bring itself into existence," is an absolute truth.

This is a truth found in logic, but there are truths that are not logical by nature. It is true that I love my wife... a lot. This isn't logically provable via gravitational influences and formulas and logic paradigms, but it is true. So I can say that truth conforms and affirms reality and/or logic.

Is this what relativism does? Does relativism confirm to reality and logic? Actually, yes - relatively speaking. Is there an absolute right or wrong way regarding which side of your head you should part your hair, if you part it at all? So to answer my friend, there are relative "truths" that are different for different people. But, these are relativistic by nature. As an example; people drive on the right side of the street in America and on the left in England. I like to watch science fiction and not musicals. Some may say snow is better than rain, etc. These things are relative to culture, individuals, preferences…not God.

It boils down to this, if there is such a thing as truth apart from cultural and personal preferences, we must acknowledge that we by nature are looking for something greater than ourselves, something that transcends culture and individual inclinations. To do this is to look beyond ourselves and outside of ourselves. In essence, it means we are looking for God. God would be truth, the absolute and true essence of being and reality who is the author of all truth. If you are interested in truth beyond yourself, then you must look to God.

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." (John 4:23)

For the Christian, the ultimate expression of truth is found in the Bible, in Jesus who said,

"I am the way, the truth, and the life..." (John 14:16)

Of course, most philosophers and skeptics will dismiss His claim, but for the Christian, He is the mainstay of hope, security, and guidance. Jesus, who walked on water, claimed to be divine, rose from the dead, and said that He was the truth and the originator of truth. If Jesus is wrong, then we should ignore Him. But, if He is right, then it is true that we should listen to Him.

The eyewitnesses wrote what they saw. They were with Him. They watched Him perform many miracles, heal the sick, calm a storm with a command, and even rise from the dead. Either you believe or dismiss these claims. If you dismiss them, that is your prerogative. But, if you accept them, then you are faced with decisions to make about Jesus. What will you believe about Him? What will you decide about Him? Is He true? Is what He said true?

Truth always conforms to reality. The truth is, Jesus performed many miracles and rose from the dead. So my friend is asking the wrong queston. The truth isn't about "what", it's about "who."

Be grounded in reality,

Bishop Ian

Resistance Training

As Christians we often act surprised when the good things we try to do don’t go according to plan. Big or small, it’s annoying to say the least and devastating to some depending on the situation.

“He shall wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, crying out or pain, for the former world has passed away. (Rev 21:1-5).”

OK, this is the end of the story. John is speaking of a new heaven and earth where God reigns unopposed. The problem is that we’re still in the story, living in the old heaven and earth where there is yet plenty of opposition to Christians and the Lordship of Jesus.

Remember the story of Paul in Lystra? He has just been “raked over the coals,” yet in an effort to strengthen the souls of the disciples following him, he encourages them to continue in the faith.

“...and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14: 22)

Look at what Paul had just come up against.

"But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead." (Acts 14:19)

Paul can speak from experience, having been stoned nearly to death, beaten with rods, jailed, shipwrecked, and bitten by a poisonous snake. When he and his companions came into Macedonia, he says;

“...our bodies had no rest but we were afflicted at every turn – fighting without and fear within.” (2 Cor 7:6).

Following Christ is not a cake walk folks. God provides, but he does not necessarily provide comfort and convenience. Simply put if we never experienced resistance, we’d never grow. I ride a bike as many of you know. I am an endurance rider. It’s about going the distance at a steady pace. There are training exercises I do to expose my already sore muscles to a greater resistance in an effort to increase strength. I push against the pedals in a high gear until my muscles burn to the point of failure. I do sprints in the short training runs so I have the strength to go the distance on the long rides. No pain, no gain.

“...count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:2)

Like I said, endurance riding is about distance at a steady pace. James is telling us that spiritually, God doubles as our personal trainer by increasing resistance from time to time. Resistance may come from inside our own churches as well as outside. So how do we deal with fellow Christians who being difficult? The Lord gives us a commandment; to love one another as he has loved us. (John 13: 34) Remember, Jesus had just washed the disciples’ feet, and Judas had responded to this act of love by slipping out into the darkness to betray his master.

So metaphorically are we to wash the feet even of those who annoy us, or worse, betray us? This does not mean always agreeing with them or acquiescing to their wishes. But we are to love them, and lay our lives down for them. Granted, this is not a natural response. It is natural for us to love those who love us, agree with us, and think like us. We resist loving those who we dislike. And that’s the point. We are no longer limited to what comes naturally, we must strive to love when it’s difficult as well.

The death and resurrection of Christ has spread God’s supernatural love upon the earth. We have become “sharers in the divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4), and we know from John that the nature of God is love (1 John 4:8).

It is a very painful experience to love those who don’t like us or may even wish us harm and we resist, yes there’s that word again. Yet, scriptures tell us we are to love one another so that our joy might be full. But that’s not the main reason. The world needs to know that Jesus is different from the many false prophets and phony religions that constantly come and go.

So how will the world know that Jesus is God the Son?

"I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me." (John 17:23)

Good stuff! But what does the world see when it looks upon those who call themselves his disciples? They see division, bitterness, and hypocrisy that eats away at the fabric of faith. Soon all that is left to present to the world as evidence of Jesus’ love are nothing more than filthy rags.

If we are to make a difference, if we are to present the Gospel and be disciples, then we are going to be tested, and we are going to have trials. We are going to have resistance added to our daily lives to increase our strength and our faith. Sometimes it is going to leave us spiritually sore.

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1: 6-7)

Be Strong,

Bishop Ian

How Original

How original; scientists claiming that creation is the product of random acts of gravitational forces, and well… compressed gas. According to Stephen Hawking, the laws of physics, not the will of God, provide the real explanation as to how life on Earth came into being. The Big Bang, he argues, was the inevitable consequence of these laws, “because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing.”

Unfortunately, while Hawking's argument is being hailed as controversial and ground-breaking, this is old news folks. For years other scientists have made similar claims, maintaining that the awesome, sophisticated creativity of the world around us can be explained by simple physical laws such as gravity. But then Stephen Hawking said it so it must be true. But then where did gravity come from?

For me, as a Christian the laws of physics and science only reinforce my faith in an intelligent, divine creator. The more I understand science, the more I believe in God because of my wonder at the depth and sophistication of creation. The very reason science flourished so vigorously in the 16th and 17th centuries was precisely because of the belief that the laws of nature, which were then being discovered and defined, reflect and point to the influence of a divine law-giver. Here, in the 21st century, almost every scientist in the world will be the first to tell you that they don’t need God to explain the universe. That’s a problem because it’s two different sides of the same coin.

The basic difference between science and religion is this. Science is about explanation. Religion is about interpretation. Science takes things apart to see how they work. Religion puts things together for us to see what they mean. They are different pursuits for the same purpose.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things,and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4.11

God consistently throughout Scripture wants to be known and acknowledged as the Creator of all things. Isaac Newton said that, "He is want to be called Lord God, Universal Ruler."

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2

I am always skeptical when a guy like Hawking shows up with a controversial opinion about the existence of God or the lack thereof. It’s the old Science vs. Religion debate that has gone on for centuries and is always a media crowd pleaser. As a guy with a background in media, I know it is a fundamental law of PR that anything as controversial as the God-science debate is a sure fire source of publicity. That kind of PR is always welcome when one has a book to sell.

What would we do for entertainment without scientists telling us, with breathless excitement that, “God did not create the Universe,” as if they were the first to tell the world about it? Stephen Hawking is the latest, but certainly not the first.

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. Isaiah 45:18

Be in awe,

Bishop Ian

Santa Claus is Suing the Pope

Have you seen this? No kidding, a guy named Thomas O’Connor, a 63-year-old Lake Tahoe man, who legally changed his name to Santa Claus (no middle initial) in 2005, is suing the Pope. The article reveals that he was recently elevated to the title of missionary bishop in the Apostles' Anglican Church, an ecumenical Christian denomination based in Ohio and Michigan. On behalf of the many children sexually abused by priests, his mission is to, “explore and utilize a variety of legal means,” the statement read in part, "to hold the Roman Catholic Church, especially the Pope and the Vatican, accountable for the suffering of many thousands of vulnerable children at the hands of clergy, straight and gay, young and old, celibate or not."

I know, it sounds like an episode of “Boston Legal.” The jolly old elf shows up at Denny Crane's office with a naughty and nice list with the Pope at the top, and a big bag of coal for all the Roman Catholics in the world. Fuming mad, Denny Crane takes the case and strikes a blow against the church and saves the suffering children.

Don’t get me wrong, like many of you I am appalled at what happened to these children at the hands of those clergy and it was an abomination. Every child deserves to be nurtured, protected and loved. We are called to condemn these actions and every Christian including Roman Catholics have. But here’s the problem. The article says ‘his mission’ is "to hold the Roman Catholic Church, especially the Pope and the Vatican, accountable..."

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

The Bible tells us that God wants us to be wise when we deal with people in the name of Christ. Folks, Santa suing the Pope is perhaps the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. Instead of calling for prayer for the victims of these crimes he calls for litigation.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should." (Colossians 4:2-4 )

What did the Apostle Paul do to make sure that he would be wise to those outside the family of God? He devoted himself to prayer, and he asked others to devote themselves in prayer for him. In other words, Paul understood that it was absolutely vital to first go to God about the people before he went to the people about God.

A wise person once said, "Almost every man wastes part of his life in attempts to display qualities which he does not possess." This is a man who is trying to be someone he isn’t and doing it in the name of Christ, as an Anglican bishop. It’s dumb… It’s moronic… It brings no glory to God and makes all of us “Anglicans” appear foolish.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses it saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." (Matthew 5:13)

On the next episode of Boston Legal, The Easter Bunny sues the major candy companies for making children fat.

Be wise, be salty…

Bishop Ian

Is Jesus God?

Is Jesus God? It’s a valid question and one that separates “Christians” from – well, everyone else.

As an apologist, one of the first things I do when examining other religions is to look at what the leadership teaches and believes about Jesus. The answer to this question is key. When examining any religion, everything taught and believed depends on this answer.

I blogged last week about my visit to the good people of St. Andrews Protestant Episcopal Church in Middleborough, MA. While there, I was asked to address the vestry regarding the direction and future of our denomination and I shared some of my vision. (Many of the folks on the vestry are former members of TEC - The Episcopal Church.) After the meeting they asked me if I could provide some sort of document that illustrates the differences in belief and practice between the TEC and the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Upon returning home I prepared, as promised, a short list basically outlining the major tenants of Christianity (things every Christian denomination believes), and juxtaposed The Episcopal Church's response to those issues. Those responses came mainly from interviews and publications of their presiding Bishop, Katherine Schori-Jefferts. It was by no means exhaustive but it did provide a clear understanding that under the current leadership, The Episcopal Church denies that Jesus Christ is God. They teach that "all paths lead to God," even though our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ clearly taught, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

In all of my blogging I have never said anything directly derogatory regarding the TEC as I really don’t have much to say. We may have a common past, but their departure in the last three decades from scriptural and moral absolutes clearly has sent them down a path that does not represent my understanding of who Jesus is. Nor do they represent my understanding of the Anglican faith and its practice anymore than non-believers do.

Let me shed a little more light on the subject of who Jesus is…

1) Jesus is the Lord of Creation.

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:16-17)

Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He holds all things together, everything seen and unseen, He has power over all. He also has power over our lives and the life of His church. My bible is pretty clear about who He is and who He claims to be.

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2-3)

I love these verses because they give a picture of a treasure chest filled to the top with something of great value, the wisdom and knowledge of Christ. So, we are to seek His wisdom and cry out for His knowledge when it comes to the direction of our life. He has all that we need.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6).

If we believe Jesus Christ is telling the truth then all the other paths are dead ends in the most literal sense - they lead to eternal death itself.

2) Jesus is the Lord of the Church.

"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:18-20)

Jesus is not only the Lord of creation; he is also the Lord of the church. He is the one who gave His life for the church, and He is the one who is the boss of His church. Original Anglicans want to see Him honored and glorified.

Remember, Jesus is the one who brought us into a peace relationship with God the Father, and He did it through the shedding of His blood. To Original Anglicans, Jesus is the Lord of creation and the Lord of His church. He has always been the second person of the Trinity; He is God the Son who was punished for us that we might be reconciled to the Father. He is God!

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7)

Be Discerning,

Bishop Ian

He Is Risen!

God in His mercy sent Jesus, God the Son, to once and for all pay the price for sin for all time and eternity. Yet, I am just amazed, given the overwhelming evidence of Jesus as Messiah, that he is not recognized as Savior by the majority of the world. We are blessed in that we can see and celebrate the completed work of Salvation.

The Old Testament prophets recognized him.

The prophet Micah reveals that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah, about 700 hundred years before he was born there. Or, how about the prophet Isaiah; he reveals that the Messiah would be born of a Virgin, that he would minister in Galilee, that he would be tortured and killed as a “guilt offering” for the sins of mankind. The Prophet Isaiah also wrote that the Messiah would not remain in the grave but that he would rise again, and “prolong his days.”

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
(Isaiah 53:5- 10)

The disciples on the road to Emmaus didn't recognize the risen Jesus, as he walked along with them and explained to them all of the things that happened in Jerusalem those previous days.

Mary Magdalene didn't recognize him when he was standing right in front of her until he spoke her name.

Cleophas and the other disciple (who I like to think was Mrs. Cleophas) didn't recognize him until they invited him into their home and he sat down with them at table, took bread, broke it, and gave it to them. They recognized him, says St. Luke, in the "breaking of the bread." (Luke 24:35).

That anti-Christian persecutor, Saul, didn't recognize the risen Lord either - until he was knocked off his high horse. "Who are you Lord?" ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting’” (Acts 9:5). It was the presence of the risen Lord appearing to Saul that transforming and converting him, that made him St. Paul.

So how do we recognize Him? We encounter the risen Lord, the Messiah, in many ways. He is with us in our midst. Recognize him in the Eucharist, in the breaking of the bread. Recognize him in his word in the Sacred Scriptures as he speaks to you. And recognize him in one another in your community of believers because here he dwells in the midst of his Church. This is what we celebrate. This is what makes us an Easter People, we recognize Jesus, and we fall on our face and worship him.

“And he said to them, do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen; He is not here." (Mark 16:6)

Today, Easter Sunday is so much more than a commemoration of a past event. It is a celebration of an event that is happening in our midst now. Look around you and see. The Lord is truly risen. He is risen indeed. He is with us all days until the end of the world!

Be Blessed,

Bishop Ian

Adding Reality To the Vision

One of the best things about being a follower of Christ is that we have an opportunity to make the ordinary extraordinary. One of my firm beliefs is that many people profess Christianity but lose their impact on the people around them because they hide God's greatness. Are those around you becoming stronger, faithful people because of your influence? Are people growing spiritually because of your impact?

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25 )

The goal of The Missionary Diocese of the Resurrection is to add reality to vision. I wrote in my blog last week, ‘We live in a fallen world; no vision or goal is self perpetuating. It must be nourished in God’s Word, sustained by his Grace, and fanned into flame again and again by the Holy Spirit operating in our lives. God’s glory can be seen in everything we do. That’s Original Anglicanism, that’s what being an Easter People means.’

We are to be in the business of building up and blessing others. The benefit of being Original Anglicans is that people can be refreshed because of our influence.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

This is one of my favorite passages of scripture as it is a perfect example of my vision for the local as well as the national church. We have to challenge ourselves daily, fanning the flames to keep the fire hot and the coals bright red.

The Protestant Episcopal Church, both locally and nationally, is here to fill an important gap. Original Anglicanism is a church dedicated to the Gospel and the challenges of remaining faithful to that Gospel. That is the value of our denomination. Adding a reality to our vision is also recognizing the need for solid leadership. Communities and denominations whose leadership builds a church on a message of what they are against is not a church that will stand the test of time. Original Anglicanism has always been about building on the message of what we are for, because that is what moves the kingdom forward.

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:29-31)

My vision, and it’s a big one, is to start a capital campaign for a pro-cathedral, complete with a pre-school; eventually leading into K through 8 lower school programs. I want to accomplish this in five years. I firmly believe that a solid Christian school within every church we build is the key to securing the future of this denomination. I’m aggressively seeking out those displaced Protestant churchmen who represent a true reformed expression of the faith. Towards this goal, I have a generous $250,000 pledge for 4th quarter of 2011. I want to triple that amount in the same time period. Like I said, it’s a big goal – but one that we believe will further the Kingdom in a powerful way.

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6 NIV)

Be a visionary,

Bishop Ian