Fellow Labourers-
I am going to guess that each of us at some time in our lives has been called something we did not like. How did you respond? The story of Nicodemus has most times been preached as if the man did something wrong. But, he came by night to sort out his life. He came at a time when he could be alone to deal with his innermost questions and conflicts. He I believe must have learned what it is like to be alone with Jesus.
My prayer for us today is to learn to take criticism in stride and deal with it. Let us not react impulsively, but if we have be called Nicodemus so be it. Which would you prefer, to be called a Pharisee or Nicodemus? Nicodemus according to the Smith's Bible Dictionary means innocent of blood. But, by practice he was a Pharisee. Who are you today? Remember you are not who they say you are, and you are a work in progress.
Pax Vobiscum
Robert A. Stewart J.P.
Pastor
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Cultivators of Culture
Fellow Labourers-
We are just coming out of our annual youth camp where we experienced the hand of God in action. We got a foretaste of the revival that is about to sweep Jamaica. Within the scope of that revival was the subtle presence of a theme that seeks to challenge the prevailing culture. The presence of a number of our more mature saints was a touchstone of no minor significance.
Indeed we cannot challenge or engage the culture until we understand the culture through our spiritual prism. To ignore the culture or to be impacted by the culture in a negative way is not an option for us. This article touches my very being because of its relevance and timeliness.
Here the words of the author, "First, we exercise cultural stewardship by becoming familiar with our culture through art, music, literature and film. How does one speak into a culture without the knowledge of its language? One need not see, read, or listen to every movie, art exhibit, book, or piece of music in order to learn how to speak into culture. Rather, what are the cultural works that stir discussion in our churches, at our workplaces, or in our social settings? These might be voices to whom we listen as we engage with the language of the gospel.
Second, we exercise cultural stewardship by recovering the doctrine of the Incarnation. The Incarnation of Jesus suggests the total union of the human and divine. Wolfe notes that we apply this Incarnational balance to many of our theological concepts, holding together in union God's justice and God's mercy, God's sovereignty, and human responsibility.(2) In a similar manner, the Incarnation serves as a plumb line for our engagement with the various voices of our culture. If we simply enter into cultural engagement without spiritual discernment, we are driven here and there by every trend and twist in our culture. However, if we remove ourselves from all cultural engagement, we lose our ability to communicate and speak to the culture lacking the vocabulary of faith."
Because of the social dynamics operating around us we may not be able to prevent certain diversions. However, we cannot allow a few deviants to ruin the garden. In our attempt to seem politically correct and unified we are throwing the baby out with the bath water. It's time to call a halt to mindless change that is undermining real spirituality and godliness. Let us arise and begin to cultivate the culture. Remember the Moravian motto we saw on the wall of the chapel "Vicit Agnus Noster. Eum Sequamur - Our Lamb has conquered, him let us follow."
Pax Vobiscum
Robert A. Stewart J.P.
Pastor
We are just coming out of our annual youth camp where we experienced the hand of God in action. We got a foretaste of the revival that is about to sweep Jamaica. Within the scope of that revival was the subtle presence of a theme that seeks to challenge the prevailing culture. The presence of a number of our more mature saints was a touchstone of no minor significance.
Indeed we cannot challenge or engage the culture until we understand the culture through our spiritual prism. To ignore the culture or to be impacted by the culture in a negative way is not an option for us. This article touches my very being because of its relevance and timeliness.
Here the words of the author, "First, we exercise cultural stewardship by becoming familiar with our culture through art, music, literature and film. How does one speak into a culture without the knowledge of its language? One need not see, read, or listen to every movie, art exhibit, book, or piece of music in order to learn how to speak into culture. Rather, what are the cultural works that stir discussion in our churches, at our workplaces, or in our social settings? These might be voices to whom we listen as we engage with the language of the gospel.
Second, we exercise cultural stewardship by recovering the doctrine of the Incarnation. The Incarnation of Jesus suggests the total union of the human and divine. Wolfe notes that we apply this Incarnational balance to many of our theological concepts, holding together in union God's justice and God's mercy, God's sovereignty, and human responsibility.(2) In a similar manner, the Incarnation serves as a plumb line for our engagement with the various voices of our culture. If we simply enter into cultural engagement without spiritual discernment, we are driven here and there by every trend and twist in our culture. However, if we remove ourselves from all cultural engagement, we lose our ability to communicate and speak to the culture lacking the vocabulary of faith."
Because of the social dynamics operating around us we may not be able to prevent certain diversions. However, we cannot allow a few deviants to ruin the garden. In our attempt to seem politically correct and unified we are throwing the baby out with the bath water. It's time to call a halt to mindless change that is undermining real spirituality and godliness. Let us arise and begin to cultivate the culture. Remember the Moravian motto we saw on the wall of the chapel "Vicit Agnus Noster. Eum Sequamur - Our Lamb has conquered, him let us follow."
Pax Vobiscum
Robert A. Stewart J.P.
Pastor
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Information Wars
Fellow Labourers-
Having gone over this article I had a smile on my face because I am personally seeing this information war being played out right before my eyes. I see a crafty use of mindset statistics being quoted as scientific statistics. What do I mean by mindset statistics? This is the kind of statistics that has no bearing on reality. Things are just said and an invisible number of respondents are quoted as agreeing with the interviewer. This seems to be a typical way of arguing in Jamaica which can be very unproductive.
Today a lot of misinformation is now masquerading as facts. We will now have to learn the art of positive deconstruction if we are going to be able to defeat the naysayers who pretend to be constructive in discourses. We must learn the art of listening if we are going to be successful in sifting through this maze of information that confronts us daily. Our reading skill will also be called upon. This war is real and the church is not exempted. Are we prepared?
Pax Vobiscum
Robert A. Stewart J.P.
Pastor
Having gone over this article I had a smile on my face because I am personally seeing this information war being played out right before my eyes. I see a crafty use of mindset statistics being quoted as scientific statistics. What do I mean by mindset statistics? This is the kind of statistics that has no bearing on reality. Things are just said and an invisible number of respondents are quoted as agreeing with the interviewer. This seems to be a typical way of arguing in Jamaica which can be very unproductive.
Today a lot of misinformation is now masquerading as facts. We will now have to learn the art of positive deconstruction if we are going to be able to defeat the naysayers who pretend to be constructive in discourses. We must learn the art of listening if we are going to be successful in sifting through this maze of information that confronts us daily. Our reading skill will also be called upon. This war is real and the church is not exempted. Are we prepared?
Pax Vobiscum
Robert A. Stewart J.P.
Pastor
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Beyond a Close Circle of Friends
Fellow Labourers-
The time to impact the world with the gospel is now. This article reminds me of our convention theme "Beyond the wall." As I am typing this e-mail the church choir is rehearsing and the song "I'll serve the Lord" rang out. But how do we serve the Lord? Do we serve him in the idyllic and bucolic places, or do we go beyond the wall?
Let's listen to the article as it speaks "So is the gospel I proclaim really about preaching the good news to the afflicted, proclaiming release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind? Does the gospel set free those who are downtrodden, and present the year of the Lord's favor to those who live under clouds of disdain? I understand that the good news is needed on the beach. Yet, I worry that at times my gospel stays safely among friends, not venturing far beyond that bucolic shoreline. Staying among those who "speak well of me," I rarely venture out to the Galilee of the Gentiles, where darkness is the great light and where good news is but a fading rumor. But it is in this world, far beyond a close circle of friends, where the good news truly is good news."
Pax Vobiscum,
Robert A. Stewart J.P.
Pastor
The time to impact the world with the gospel is now. This article reminds me of our convention theme "Beyond the wall." As I am typing this e-mail the church choir is rehearsing and the song "I'll serve the Lord" rang out. But how do we serve the Lord? Do we serve him in the idyllic and bucolic places, or do we go beyond the wall?
Let's listen to the article as it speaks "So is the gospel I proclaim really about preaching the good news to the afflicted, proclaiming release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind? Does the gospel set free those who are downtrodden, and present the year of the Lord's favor to those who live under clouds of disdain? I understand that the good news is needed on the beach. Yet, I worry that at times my gospel stays safely among friends, not venturing far beyond that bucolic shoreline. Staying among those who "speak well of me," I rarely venture out to the Galilee of the Gentiles, where darkness is the great light and where good news is but a fading rumor. But it is in this world, far beyond a close circle of friends, where the good news truly is good news."
Pax Vobiscum,
Robert A. Stewart J.P.
Pastor
Beauty in Brokenness
Fellow Labourers-
Reading this article reminded me of a number of broken moments I have experienced. Throughout all of them I discovered that attitude is so important. It is in those moments when I can recall the scriptures that I find a great closeness to God. When I recall "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Isaiah 26:3 & Psalm 119:165 NIV). Remember our trials only comes to make us strong.
Pax Vobiscum
Robert A. Stewart J.P.
Pastor
Reading this article reminded me of a number of broken moments I have experienced. Throughout all of them I discovered that attitude is so important. It is in those moments when I can recall the scriptures that I find a great closeness to God. When I recall "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Isaiah 26:3 & Psalm 119:165 NIV). Remember our trials only comes to make us strong.
Pax Vobiscum
Robert A. Stewart J.P.
Pastor
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