‘Gloves off’ has become a seminal post for me and this site. I have found out a lot about people’s opinions and perspectives, and it has polarised opinion, and people have reacted differently.

Some have praised it for its honesty and bluntness, and for saying the truth and not being afraid to face the issues.

Others have said it was too emotionally driven, that it puts people off the faith and just shows us for the divided church we are, and that I shouldn’t maybe write about problems unless I have solutions.

On reflection I personally am glad I wrote it. It was what I felt at the time, and at that moment I felt like I was tired of hiding. That stuff had been burning inside for a long time and had been long thought through and discussed in my mind with God and myself.

I thought through the argument that it might put people off, that it exposes a divided church and doesn’t display anything positive.

Well folks, I have something to tell you all. The church is divided, amongst itself. We can keep on living in denial all we like and ignoring it, we can keep trying to ‘hide’ it from all of those outside the church, but to be honest I think they can already see with their own eyes through the media how divided the church and Christians are. Its no surprise the regular church attendance numbers in the UK are the lowest they’ve been for ages.

The question isn’t if there is a problem. It’s what we do about it – and that’s not just my job, its the job of every believer.

If you’re not a believer and you’re reading this, I want to assure you of something.

The church may be divided, and Jesus’ followers may not agree on everything.

But the truth, the power and the reality of Jesus and His message – love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, justice, peace and truth – still remain. The greatness of the message still remains. The audacity of the message that Jesus preached and lived out is still as incredible, and the message still as life-changing.

The real way of Jesus – not a religion, not an institution, not a political organization, but a way of seeing the world, a way of life, filled with the qualities Jesus embodied and following the values and teachings of scripture – is still the best way to live in my opinion. Feel free to disagree, but I can’t see a better way to live than the way of Jesus – love, grace, forgiveness, peace, total justice for all, all in harmony together. At its best, that is what the Christian faith, the way of Jesus is all about.

Granted, we don’t always get it right. This isn’t a perfect world and none of us are perfect. There is a lot of pain and suffering in the world. I know that in my own life. Losing your mother at 23 isn’t exactly the happiest, most normal experience most of us have.

But that doesn’t change my belief that the way of Jesus is the best way to live. It never has. Have I been angry with God and given a piece of my mind? Have I been bitter and angry with God? Sure. Still am sometimes. But I still have faith, because I know my life doesn’t make any sense without Jesus, no matter how angry I am with Him.

The message of Jesus stands the test. Time, history, persecution and personally my own suffering. It still stands.

Just becuase the people who’ve chosen to live that way don’t always get it right, doesn’t make the message itself any less powerful or any less true.

If anything, it only highlights just how much this world is in need of Jesus and people who will live out the life He really intended for us. People more interested in building His kingdom, and not their own. People willing to serve, sacrifice, give of themselves for the values Jesus embodied.

I’d love to be able to live a life like that. You see, for me its simple. The way of Jesus – as Jesus intended it – is the best way for us to live, and it is to be done in community, tiogether, in harmony, seeking the best for others and for God’s kingdom, not ourselves.

That’s the Kingdom Jesus wants us to bring to earth. It is bigger than any religion, tradition, rules or litergy. Its much bigger, and much more perfect, and powerful.

That’s what Jesus wanted.

One question I often ponder, is whether if Jesus came back today, and didn’t tell us who He was, would I recognise Him?

If you are a follower of Jesus ask yourself that question. What would be your honest answer?

I’ve recently become very aware of the type and the number of people who read my posts, and have been very humbled by the reception I’ve got. I’m now aware that a few of the people who read my blog aren’t necessarily believers, which has been really encouraging for me and I’m humbled that what I write has had the impact that it has and sparked debate in the way it has.

Hence, my post today. I want to make an announcement.

Christians are often hypocrites.

There I said it. Granted, its not exactly the most unknown fact ever revealed, but I think as a Christian I’m tired of pretending that its not true or having to make excuses about it. The fact is that most if not all Christians are hypocrites. You see, if we weren’t, we’d be perfect and living exactly as God wanted to, without screwing up – sinning. And there’s only one person in history who’s lived a human life in the way God originally intended and planned for us. Jesus of Nazereth.

You see, to be honest, we Christians aren’t perfect. We aren’t. We screw up as much as anyone. We are just like everyone else in many ways. Christians smoke, drink, swear, shout, get annoyed and in some cases occasionally get drunk and in others shout at our football team on the tv. Many of us also like a good curry from time to time.

We are also very good at being hypocrites.

We are very good at saying we believe something, then doing the exact opposite, or different, and historically good at twisting our religious text or doctrine to justify things which were just plain wrong. I fully admit myself that I can be a hypocrite at times. (Anyone who has watched a football match with me will testify that I’m no saint.)

The thing is though, and the fundamental thing when it comes to living as a Christian, is that the person who really matters to the Christian faith wasn’t. The one we follow wasn’t a hypocrite. The one who began this thing and who it makes new life possible for us, and originally showed us how to live wasn’t a hyporcrite. The one who matters actually lived out what He preached.

Jesus of Nazereth – Jesus Christ – was the only actual perfect, sinless, blameless, non-hypocritical person to have ever lived in all history. He showed us the example of how to live as a human being in the way God intended.

Now before anyone starts saying ‘well it was easy, He was the Son of God’, lets get rid of some common misconceptions. Well one in particular.

First, agreed, He was the Son of God, and had a divine anointing and calling. Fair enough. But for Jesus to be fully man as well as fully God, and for His sacrifice to mean anything, meant that He would have had to enter fully into being human.

That means every temptation we face. Every type of problem we face. And having to have faith in the same way we did. You see I often think there is this misconception that the the cross was ‘easier’ for Jesus  that it would have been for us because being God He ‘knew’ what was going to happen.

Misconception. He didn’t know.

He merely trusted God that it would. If He knew then He wouldn’t have been 100% human as He was and His sacrifice would have been worth nothing. Jesus was 100% man and 100% God. We always seem to get the God part, but we don’t often get the man part. He was fully God and divine in nature, character, anointing and lifestyle.He probably could have found out what would happen, even as a man. But He chose to give that up, so He could fully share in our human experience, and to make His sacrifice worth it.

I think the most human and yet the most divine moment of Jesus life was in Gesthemene, when He was wrestling with God.

God was calling Him to His death, but part of Jesus, the human side, was weak. Jesus said it Himself. Jesus then went on to ask if it were possible that He could somehow not have to endure what He did. Jesus was suffering from severe anxiety at this moment – something that many people suffer with today. But ultimately, He said what I think many people – including me I think, faced with the same struggle – may not have said. Something our culture rarely tells us to say.

“Not what I want, but what you want”

Now this means that Jesus may have wanted to avoid the cross if He could. Not because He didn’t love us, but because the human side of Him was struggling to cope with the anguish of what was to come. This is not someone who knew what was going to happen anyway so wasn’t worried. This was someone facing a big test of obedience and faith. Who had to trust that God would take care of it and wanted to be obedient to His will.

And made the right choice.

But lets get one thing straight. He wasn’t this divine angel with blond hair and blue eyes who floated on air. The Bible tells us that’s not true, and if He entered fully into being a human then it definitely isn’t true.

Frankly, that kind of Jesus is not real. That’s not who Jesus is at all.

Jesus was the Son of God. Before He came here He had eternity with God. But He gave it up and entered fully into humanity, with all its temptations, frustrations, struggles and anxieties, and showed us how to live. And He wasn’t a hypocrite.

Because He wasn’t, He gave us freedom. He gave us hope.

He showed us that even with all the problems we face, there is hope of a better future. There is something more. He promises us He is always with us, even if we don’t know He’s there. He is always faithful to us, even if we aren’t faithful to Him.

Christians are hypocrites. But we are trying more and more to become like Jesus. We can move forward confidently, knowing that even if we screw up big time, Jesus will still love us, forgive us and be with us.

We have the security that even if the worst happens, we are never alone.

That’s not an excuse at all. If you are taking your faith seriously then arguably your life should be different. But it doesn’t mean that you won’t make the same mistakes we all make or won’t face the same problems we all face. As I said, Christians are mostly the same as everyone else. The only difference I can see is that they have a real, genuine hope through a living God who will never abandon them. A God who knows exactly what it is to be human and every emotion, temptation, and experience we have ever had and who suffered the worst form of torture and execution ever devised by man.

A God who knows the destiny that was originally planned for every single person and wants us to let Him into our lives so He can help us find that, and become who we were always designed to be and how Jesus showed us we could be.

Becoming a Christian doesn’t suddenly make you perfect, it doesn’t solve every problem instantly, and in some ways makes life more challenging.

But I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be able to deal with all the mess of life unless I had Jesus to help me through it. And I would make the same mistakes far more often if I didn’t have Jesus to help me learn from them.

My mum died 9 years ago. I still have days when I wonder why God allowed that to happen. I still have days when it makes no sense and it seems unfair.

The only hope I have in those moments is the faith I have that Jesus is true. That He is who is said He was and is alive, and has not abandoned me and never will.

In my everyday life, I’m often a hypocrite. But I hope that the longer I know Jesus the less of a hypocrite I will become.

And the more sure of my identity and my future I will be.

Yesterday I wrote a note, ‘Gloves off’ where I really laid into the church, and got a lot of frustration off my chest. I made no bones about how I was feeling at the time, and I do think there is some truth in some of the things I said.

However, it may not have been the most constructive thing I have ever done.

I do feel a big sense of frustration at what is wrong with the church, and feel restricted in what I can do to change this.I also can sometimes feel frustrated at not having the authority or licence to change anything or make a real difference.

I admit, I’m not the best at living out my faith. I don’t think I ever claimed to be perfect, but I do find it hard to live out my faith sometimes, and use my gifts in the way I feel they were meant to, and I guess that all came out in one post. I have realised on reflection in the last day or so, that instead of moaning about what is wrong all the time, instead of criticizing and creating divisions and negative vibes, that I need to respond to the issues more positively – indeed, we all do.

Posts like my previous one just create division and cause problems, and that is not what the church needs, so I apologize for what I wrote and the offence it may have caused.

What I do not apologize for is facing up to these issues however.

These are issues we need to look at and questions we need to answer.But answer in a positive, constructive way, in love and with real ideas and actions.

Not in the way I did.

However, I’m not going to delete the post. I leave it there as a testament and reminder of my own imperfections, as a marker to humble me and remind me how far I have to come, and also as a challenge to myself and to others.

I hope that I and others learn the lessons of this post – but in a constructive, positive, loving and constructive way. Not a negative and destructive way.

I’ve often written on this blog about what church can be, could be and should be. Rarely have I written about the possible problems or dangers inherent in planting or running a church in the way Jesus intended.

Before I begin I want to say that what I have to say may be controversial. But its intended to be. There are serious questions to be tackled.

However I also want to make clear that in all I am writing, I have no one in particular in mind.

I’m not attacking any church or individual.

I am merely reflecting on a potential problem that I believe many 21st century churches may face, posing some challenging questions and suggesting what we need to do.

If that makes anyone feel uncomfortable, then they need to look at themselves. I have no personal gripe with anyone and it shouldn’t be taken that way.

I guess in this post the gloves are off though.

How often in history have bad things begun with the best of intentions? The Communist revolution in Russia was done with the best of intentions. Sending troops into Afganistan or Iraq was done with the intention – on some people’s part anyway – to bring peace and justice to the region.

In the church, the reformation which birthed the Church of England started out with the best of intentions and ideals, but the Church of England, despite some superb exceptions, seems to be fast becoming a parody of itself in the public. And its sad to see. I have lost a lot of faith in the church of England, and i sad becuase I want to believe in it so badly. Its only a few good churches I know of that give me any hope.

We need to worry when people leave good churches becuase they don’t feel welcome.

We need to worry when what were good churches change beyond recognition.

We need to worry when churches start to – or even appear to – become a little more protective of their brand or projecting the right image than they are in building the Kingdom of God no matter how it looks to the outside world.

We need to worry when new people don’t feel as welcome as they used to, and less visitors stay in our churches. When our own church jargon starts to get used so much that newcomers feel alienated by it.

When the leadership start to become more and more closed off from people in the church and their pastoral role and link to the church community almost disappears we need to worry.

Don’t misunderstand me.

I am not making any accusations against any churches or pastors in particular.

That is not my intention.

I have no one in mind when writing this piece, as I said.

I understand that in today’s culture communicating the right message is important. I understand to be a pastor requires a certain level of detachment and that as churches change over time that certain elements are bound to change.

But I have been a Christian long enough and seen enough good and bad churches to be able to see these issues coming, and to have experienced what happens when they start to take over a church.

No matter how good our church is we need to be aware of potential landmines, we need to be wary of complacency and taking our eyes off the ball.

No church is perfect and no church will ever get it right. But we need to keep our eyes on Jesus. We need to be constantly seeking His will and glory. We need to be obedient to that whatever the cost and however it looks. We cannot be afraid to take steps of faith. We need to keep being open and welcoming to newcomers, whatever their background. We need to keep being inclusive, not exclusive.

The moment we think we’ve nailed it, either as churches or Christians, we should go back to the cross and humble ourselves. Its then that we need to re-focus ourselves and get back to what got us there in the first place.

The cross.

Love. Justice. Mercy. Grace. Forgiveness.

Never forget.

Now maybe this article makes a few generalisations, but I guess its a summation of how I often feel about the church in general, and the frustration I often feel.

It is a bit of a rant, but I, like many others, want to see God’s Kingdom come on earth and don’t want it compromised with our culture. I want a radical, revolutionary, life changing faith which re-defines our cutlure. I want a church that isn’t afraid to be radical, which isn’t afraid to say no to our culture if its not acting justly or in line with the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus loved and accepted all as they are and welcomed all. He died for all. He defied the religous and governmental figures and establishments of His day by preaching the Kingdom of God, instead of the Kingdom of Ceasar.

He paid for it with His life, which He gave up willingly for us all. Now He asks us to carry our cross and live that revolutionary life, whatever the cost.

The question I adk myself daily, and which we should all be asking, is ‘What are we willing to do for Jesus?’

And the other question is what kingdom are we building? The Kingdom of God, or our own little kingdom disguised as church?

We need to ask ourselves those questions, and ask God to show us what the answers are, and what kind of church He really wants, and what we need to change to make that possible.

It’s difficult. Its challenging. But Jesus never said being a Christian was easy, did He?

I just got back from a week away in the wet at Shepton Mallet, at the New Wine festival. It was very very wet, but God was really moving powerfully and challenged me in ways I’ve not been challenged, and refreshed me and re-ignited my passion for worship, all of which has been excellent. People were healed, people came to faith, lives were changed and I think all who attended were really blessed.

Personally there were several challenges. Mike Breen was doing the morning Bible reflections and his talks really challenged me. One in particular spoke about Joseph and his journey from arrogant teenager showing off, to someone trying to do God’s will but trying to force it and then finally into becoming a man of total submission and obedience….all in one talk!

One thing that stuck out was how even when Joseph was seeking God’s will, He was trying to force it along. He still claimed the gift as his own “Interpreting dreams is God’s business…tell me what you saw” (Gen 40: v8) Then when he interpreted the cupbearers dreams in prison about the cupbearer being released, he says to him “But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindnesss, mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison” (Genesis 40:15).

Essentially, Mike Breen said, he is trying to control the situation. He is trusting in the cupbearer, not God, and not being submissive to God, and of course the cupbearer forgets…until God essentially reminds him later on. Until God’s timing.

He learns his lesson. When asked to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams he says instead “It is beyond my power to do this…but God will tell you want it means and set you at ease”.

Finally he is submissive to God, acknowledging his gift from God and giving the glory to God. He is trusting in God to give him the interpretation, rather than his own strength.

The message Mike Breen brought, and what God said to me, was that I had been doing the exact same with my calling and gifts. I had forgotten they belong to God.

My vision and dream for church isn’t mine. It’s God’s.

My gift of writing isn’t mine. It’s God’s.

My passion for church isn’t mine. It’s God’s.

All the gifts and talents I have aren’t mine. They come from and belong to God, and are to be used not to further my own career or status, but to serve Him and His kingdom in any way He chooses, and I must submit them to Him and trust in Him. I suddenly became aware of the fact that all the talents, visions, dreams and passions I have aren’t something to tossed about, abused or to be reckless with. They are gifts given to me by God and are to be stewarded and used responsibly and for His glory and honour, and that of His kingdom. They aren’t mine to do with as I see fit, and God has the power to take them away if I abuse them, and to humble me completely.

I suddenly felt very responsible for my gifts and ensuring that I am as well prepared as possible when I get a chance to use them, and that I always put the focus back on Him. And it felt liberating in a way, knowing that God is faithful and will come through, and that if I trust in Him and make Him my motivation and focus, and submit to His will, then He will take care of things.

The same is true for us all. I want to encourage you all, submit your gifts, passions and talents to the will and purpose of God. Recognise that under your own strength there is only so much you can do, and realize that if you do submit them to God you will do more and greater things than you ever could have imagined, and because God loves you immeasurably and is faithful He will take care of the rest.

Ultimately its all about Him and its all for Him. Don’t make the mistake of thinking its all about you.

I read an article in The Times today. (link below) The headline in the paper? ‘Gays have split the church in two, Archbishop admits’.

Rowan Willams essentially saying that the Anglican church is irreviocably divided over the issue of homosexuality, and even more, actually calling for a two-tier Anglicanism, or “two styles of being Anglican”.

Was I surprised? No.

Was I angered? Yes.

But the sad thing was I wasn’t even that angry, and not becuase it doesn’t upset me, becuase it does. But because it seemed all so inevitable. The church is dividing up yet again over a single issue which while important is not fundamental to the Christian faith.

Yet again the image of a church divided amongst itself and more concerned with appearing to do the right thing, the politically correct thing, is reaffirmed.

Yet again the idea living rightly, living the way of Jesus practically, is pushed down the agenda. The revolutuionary, radical, liberating, loving way of Jesus and the things that unite us are pushed down the agenda, and division is what the church is known for.

The more time goes on, the less faith I have in established church and the more convinced I that the only way to truly live the way of Jesus is outside or at least on the fringes of the established church.

The church needs to evolve. It needs revolution. It needs a radical overhaul.

Sadly, I fear a lot of people with power vested in the established order will be resistant to this. More and more, the ‘estanlishment’ and the established church in the UK appear more and more like the Pharisees of Jesus day.

And we all know what Jesus thought of them.

What should that tell us?

The evolution, revoultion of the church is going to involve drastic, radical action. And no prizes for guessing where God is going to start.

You and me. We are the church. We are the body of Christ. We don’t need an institution or a label to tell us we are church, we need a room with a community of Christians together seeking to serve God and build His kingdom.

That’s church. Not a political, establishment, tradition or organisation. A community of followers of Jesus, who will be obedient whatever the cost and whatever the calling.

Are you ready for that challenge? Am I?

God is calling us all. Are we willing?

Read the article, and as you do pray about what you can do, what God is calling you to and where God is calling you. Pray for the church. Pray for the establsihed church and its leaders.

And pray for the willingness to be obedient, and finally pray that the church and followers of Jesus will reclaim their true heritage, and the world will see what the church of Jesus really is and what it stands for.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6729180.ece

Change must come. And we, with the power and leadership of God, are the instruments of that change.

Its truly amazing how God works. Two days ago I had an epileptic fit, which I am still recovering from. This meant that for the last two days I have been confined near enough to my own house, mostly sleeping.

But in the short times I wasn’t sleeping or resting, I felt compelled to write a blog about the experience and what God said to me in that time, which I didn’t post on this site, but on Facebook. The response I got was incredible. Indeed, I got more comments than ever on a blog – one which frankly I thought was a bit vague and self-indulgent whilst writing it. It was called ‘Where do our hearts desires come from?’ and there is a link below in the links under my name.

I was expecting no response, to be honest. It seemed to be a quite self-indulgent and more about me than anything else. I wrote it becuase I felt I should share my experiences, in the hope that God would use it. I didn’t expect much of a reaction.

However, the response was very different. Lots of comments. Lots of positive feedback.

The response was so good that somebody asked me if they could post this blog on their own organisations’ website, which was staggering considering I didn’t rate this blog amongst my best and becuase in some ways it appeared to me to be less about God and more about my own experiences.

But it appears that God spoke through those words to a lot of people and can do things with words I have no ability to do. Ultimately I want to use the gifts I have to serve God and bless His people, and if the post did that, then that’s me done.

I won’t be posting that piece on here, but if you click on the link below ‘Where do our hearts desires come from?’ then you’ll be able to see it. I hope it blesses you as much as it seems to have blessed so many others.

And always remember, what sometimes seems mundane and ordinary can sometimes turn out to be the most extraordinary. You never know with God.

I was recently sent word of a new initiative by Tearfund, very much linked in with the theme of this site. Its called ‘Thick of it’ (www.tearfund.org/thickofit) and in essence is about reclaiming the power of local church and using to rebuild communities, and have it be a key issue in local development. They have their own website, which I will link to below.

But I just wanted to write a little bit about the the importance of local church, and how important it is. Its kind of a promotional blog, but I think the cause is a very just and worthy one, and fits exactly with the vision for evolving church.

Tearfund, the charity behind ‘Thick of it’, have set themselves a goal of seeing 50 million people released through poverty through 100,000 churches. They are all about local church, and local church being the heart of social change in this world and are working towards this goal.

This is what Jesus was all about. Jesus wasn’t about religion, rules, legalism – He was about community. He challenged His followers to do greater things than He had been doing, and to do this with community. Jesus’ intention was that we live in community, supporting, loving and forgiving each other. Providing for each other, giving to those who had need. This is what the early church did and at its best its what followers of Jesus do. Not on their own, but together. Working, giving, serving, praying, doing what we can and loving our neighbour.

Jesus called us all not to be bystanders in this world, but to get into the thick of it.

To immerse ourselves in living according to a different reality, the reality of God. The values and lifestyle Jesus embodied and lived out while He was here, and which He believes we are capable of following and living out ourselves.

Jesus calls us to live this out locally, nationally and internationally. We are all brothers and sisters in His eyes, we should all be taking up this challenge and immersing ourselves both in our local church commuinity, and taking action to pray and support programmes like ‘ Thick of it’, because this is one of the most significant ways that we as a community of believers can unite behind a common cause.

In supporting this we can show the world that Christianity and church isn’t what people perceive it to be, but is so much more. People can see that followers of Jesus are about more than that. That they stand for love, for justice, peace and grace. And not only that but that true followers of Jesus do care about the issues that matter and are willing to take action in order to demonstrate this. We can show that our words aren’t just words, but that they are followed up by action.

In supporting this, we not only are serving God, and serving our brothers and sisters in need, we are not only working towards solving a major problem, we are reclaiming the heart of our faith. We are showing the world publicly what following Jesus, being a Christian and ‘doing church’ really is, and can move away from all the things that divide us.

People keep asking what church is, and I always answer that its about community. Communities of Christians together working towards a common goal with the values of Jesus at their heart, not getting divided by religion, rules, legalism or tradition. Not letting politics of church get in he way of actually being church, which in my opinion, happens way too much right now. Sometimes the established church appear just like the phrisees of Jesus’ day, and they’ve departed from what Jesus was really about.

The church surely was orginially intended to be God’s major agent of change in the world, especially social and cultural change. Wilberforce – a Christian. All the basic morals our society was founded on – Christian. The heart of church, the heart of Jesus, is one of the foundation stones behind most significant social change. Culturally, secularism has gained more power – but the truth is that the  more we see of secularism, the more the need for the values and love of Jesus, and church to reclaim its heart, has become evident to bring about change, to solve the problems it creates.

Jesus always made a beeline for those in need. For those who needed His love, grace, mercy, forgivness and whatever He had to give. He made Himself available to people, He served, He loved. He made the ultimate sacrifice despite being rejected by everyone.

This need is urgent. Its now. Its real. Jesus wouldn’t want the poor to stay in poverty while we sit on our riches in the West. He wouldn’t want the community of believers to sit on their hands and do nothing.

To re-define the public concept of Christianity and church, and reclaim it to what Jesus intended, He is calling us to get into the ‘Thick of it’ and follow Him, in whatever way He calls us.

Its not comfortable. Its not easy. No one ever said it was. But we are called to pick up our cross – not just once, but daily.  As followers of Jesus we simply can’t ignore what  is going on. We have to respond. We have to pray, and to ask God what He wants us to do. We need to support campaigns like this and get involved in the debate and make our contribution.

Bill Hybels once said that he believes “the local church is the hope of the world”.

How right he is. And this is a chance to put that into practice.

He went on to say in fact, that “its future lays in the hands of its leaders”. Who was he talking about? Pastors? Worship leaders?

No. He was talking about us all. We can all take a lead. Jesus calls us all to take a lead and take action, whatever that might be. Go to the website www.tearfund.org/thickofit and find out more about this project.

To paraphrase someone famous 40 years ago, its one small step. But its also a giant leap forward. We can all be part of this, we can all make a difference, we can all change the world. We are a community of believers and followers of Jesus, and we need to take a look at this site, pray, reflect, listen to God and then take whatever action He is leading us to.

And no matter what, God will be with us – as we will be living in His will, seeking to serve Him and be obedient to His call and His word.

The challenge is, how in the ‘thick of it’ are you? And how in the ‘thick of it’ are you willing to go?

Watch this film. Be inspired. Be challenged.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4vzG348dWQ]

Now, what are you going to do? What is church going to do? How must the church respond?

This is it. This is the real deal. This is where church should come into its own. So what are we – the church – going to do?

You may have noticed there haven’t been many posts on my blog recently.

You need not fear, the blog has not died a death. Indeed, its very much alive and well.

However I had got to a point where I was doing it, writing a blog, for its own sake and for others. Out of obligation rather than vision and passion.

I have some great ideas for sermons/blog posts and am eager to continue writing and envisioning on this site, and the vision I have is as strong as ever.

But I have realised that the blog is only one part of that vision and making it a reality. I need to read more. I need to develop my others skills – leadership, teaching/public speaking for example – and also need to spend more time in the Bible itself, and reflecting on what God is saying and doing in my own life.

These things are equally part of Evolving Church as the blog and my writing.

Hence, I will still be writing my blog – both Evolving Church and my blog on Facebook. These are both going to continue as both are part of the Evolving Church vision and my own journey.

However I have made decisions. I will spending more regular, planned time studying and reading. I will devoting daily time to studying and reading the Bible. I have also been asked to write regular book reviews for a website (will provide link when the site is up and running) so I will be spending more time writing those reviews, and obviously doing more reading.

I also have decided to devote more time to preparing talks and practicing them. One thing that I have realised is that a lot of the ideas I had for blog posts are actually the genesis of teachings which I need to learn how to prepare for and to actually do.

I may post edited versions of those sermons as blog posts at the right time, so keep an eye out for those.

My blog on Facebook will really be focussing more on how Jesus is a part of my everyday life, the things that God says to me day to day and more cutlurally relevant posts, which again I will post on Evolving Church as well when they are relevant for that vision.

I’m beginning to see that Evolving Church is more than just about church on Sundays, but how we live as Christians in the community God has put us in, and how we redefine that culture to the values of Jesus.

Its about living the Christian life (cheesy but true) as Jesus originally envisioned it, being the kind of people and culture Jesus intended, being community as Jesus intended.

Its an exciting journey I’m on right now, and its a journey all of us are on. I look forward to what lies ahead.

This is the clean version of Lily Allen’s song ‘The Fear’. Take a listen, and as you do, really listen to the lyrics, in particular the chorus.  Not all of you may be fans, but the rest of the post will only make sense once you’ve heard it. So go ahead and listen, then I’ll continue.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD-c6cx98ls]

The whole song is worthy of a post in itself, becuase of its sheer insight into our cutlure. I will do that at some point.

But its one line which stands out for me, and speak volumes for our cutlure, and about church today…even more than you might think.

“When you think it will all become clear? Cos I’ve been taken over by the fear”

This sums up the cutlure we live in. Its a cutlure based on fear. Think about it. Advertisers live off people’s fear.

Fear of death.

Fear of illness.

Fear of lonliness.

Fear of global warming.

Fear of losing their job.

Fear of losing money.

Essentially people today are often sold things on the basis of what they prevent, what they cover you for, what they add to us. People are sold the consumer dream, and buy into it, and are sold things on the basis that they will help them realise that and have a happy, healthy life - and on the fear that if we don’t buy or do these products or lifestyles then we will be missing out on something, that our life won’t be as good, or we won’t be as safe, or we won’t live as long.

This way of seeing things is so ingrained into us that we don’t even realise its affecting us, its buried into our subconcious almost from birth, and our brains no little different, and they don’t even realise that they are a slave to fear.

Fear is the god of our culture. Consumerism, captialism, secularism all feed off fear. Fear has dominated our culture for centuries.

And it came about through the invention of our alphabet and of the printing press. The idea of linear thinking – x+y=z – which came about through the printing press and the invention of our alphabet has hugely influenced this ‘fear’ culture. In fact its almost been turned in on itself, essentially if you don’t do x then there will be another equation which will equal something bad happening. Or they tell you that if you do x then y+z won’t happen but something else will instead.

So when you take it back that far, then its clear this goes far deeper than just a secular cutlure outside religion, its right slap bang in the middle or organized religion.

I wonder how many of us became Christians based on the idea of a transaction, on this linear idea that if you believe in Jesus and ask forgiveness for your sins, then you are  Christian and you are saved?

A lot of people I would guess. And some would even say that they became Christians becuase they were told if they didn’t believe in Jesus then they wouldn’t get this stuff.

Essentially, through fear.

So even the church has been growing and spreading out of fear.  If you do this then this won’t happen and that will instead, and if you don’t this then this will happen.

This is inherent in our subconcious, not just in the West but all over the world. There is this way of thinking which feeds off fear.

And we wonder why so many of us struggle with fear and doubt. Its becuase its ingrained into us from birth.

Even in this article I am writing in a linear way, trying to argue my case by describing a problem, saying if we don’t do something about it then there is a danger of something bad happening.

Fear is everywhere we go.  There’s no way of avoiding it, is there right in front of us everywhere we go.

However, this doesn’t seem quite as bad as you think. Becuase there’s a difference between healthy, liberating fear which you submit to, and unhealthy worldly fear which essentially controls you.

Healthy fear is reverence, respect, awe, wonder, submission, which we are told to use to talk about God, and which Solomon says is ‘the beginning of wisdom’. That kind of fear is a positive thing. That kind of fear isn’t about being afraid, its about knowing who God is, how powerful, strong, mighty and awesome He is, how limitless His love and grace are and how much we need Him in our lives.

Its this kind of fear which allows us to make responsible decisions – taking insurance for example. We want to ensure that if something happens to us, that our families aren’t burdened by financial debts, so we take out insurance to cover for it. That’s not bowing down to the god of fear, that is healthy fear based a desire to take care of the ones we love and taking responsibility for our lives and our families.

Its about recognising reality, and taking action to make sure that if the worst does happen that you’ve been responsible and made provision for the people you love. A realisation that there are potential consequences for actions, and making sure that if those conseuqnces do happen that things are taken care of.

This fear isn’t fear as culture talks about it. In fact it sets us free. It makes us aware of the realities of the cross  and how it has set us free, and shows us a better way to live, the way we were always intended to live. It makes us aware that our lives, our choices have consequences, and asks us – rather than compels us – to choose how we live, every day. It liberates us and gives us the freedom to choose how we live, but reminds us that there are consequences to our actions, and that there is a bigger story going on, a bigger reality – the reality of God.

This kind of fear is liberating, life-giving and makes us whole. It gives us a proper perspective on reality.

But there is unhealthy fear, where we buy every kind of insurance we can find anywhere, and go for the easiest cheapest latest deal even if we’re being ripped off.

Worldly fear.

That’s when you’re getting ruled by fear. When panic and fear is controlling your actions – on a concious or subconcious level, rather than a sense of responsibility and awareness of reality. Rather than taking time to find the best deal, and weighing up the options and discussing it, we are panicked into getting the latest deal out of fear.

God doesn’t want us to follow Him out of fear of what will happen if we don’t. God doesn’t want His church to grow out of fear of what will happen if it doesn’t. He doesn’t want us to be afraid.

Instead, He wants us to trust Him, and fear Him in a healthy sense.

Fear has a place  in church – but healthy, good fear. Fear of the Lord. A recognition not only of the truth of who God is, who Jesus is and what He has done for us, not only of our need for Him but also that there are consequences if we choose not to live how God has chosen us to live.

Healthy fear is an awareness of reality, and awareness of our own responsibilities in that reality. Awareness of the reality of God and the consuquences if we continue to live outside how He wants us to live.

This kind of fear is liberating. It shows us what its reality and what isn’t, and allows us to be free from worldly and uncessary fear, and shows us the freedom we have, and asks us – rather than compels us – to make a decision.

Its not a threat. We shouldn’t teach it as a threat.

Its merely a loving God making us aware of the reality of life, of our freedom, of the responsibilities of that freedom, showing us the consequences of our choices and offering us the freedom to choose based on the knowledge of that reality.

God doesn’t want to scare people into following Him, but He wants us to be aware of the realties of life. He also tells us that there are many things that we fear that we have no need to fear.

You see, often we fear things we don’t need to in an unhealthy way, and have no healthy fear of the things we should have fear of.

Make sure your fear is of the right thing, not the wrong things. A very wise man wrote once that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fear of anything else is just pointless, and letting those fears subconciously run your life is even worse.

But what does this have to do with church?

Well, the kind of church, the kind of faith, the kind of life I think Jesus would want is not one which scares people into becoming Christians, or near enough compels people to get involved and serve out of guilt or unhealthy, worldly fear of consequences.

Not one which uses fear to get people to give, to serve  or to be involved in any way.

Not one which compels people to follow Jesus or become Christians out of fear of what things will happen if they don’t.

That’s not the kind of fear God is about, that’s not at all what Jesus talks about.

That’s worldly fear being applied to God.

The type of church, of faith Jesus talks about casts out that worldly fear. It speaks of the love, grace and mercy of God and shows that through its actions. It accepts people as they are and allows space for God to speak to them about their lives.  It stops people being afraid of things we don’t need to be afriad of, and speaks instead about the truth and reality of the God we follow, and makes us aware of our responsibilities as disciples of Jesus in a healthy way, which allows people to make their own decisions, and take responsibility.

It disarms worldly fear, and replaces it with a healthy, positive fear of God .

It stops people being afraid, instead giving people hope, showing people the true reality of God and supporting them as they journey on a road of discipleship.

Lets not get taken over by worldly fear and allow that to control us, control our faith and control the church. Instead lets replace that with love, grace,  mercy, acceptance and a healthy fear of the Lord – an awareness of the reality of God and of our responsibilities as His followers.

Then we will be free from the fear that Lily Allen talks about which controls our cutlure, and instead we can focus on a new, better reality. The reality of God.