VIDEO:

Tim Keller - Cultural Transformation from Newfrontiers on Vimeo.

In his final session with Newfrontiers Keller highlighted that we find relating to the culture to be an increasing problem in the West. We now have a post-Christian culture. The Anglo-saxons struggled with Christianity because it believed in forgiveness and compassion for the weak. They felt that culture couldn't survive without respect and fear. Northern European paganism was bloodthirsty and power hungry. Christianity changed the attitudes to the poor and weak. Society now says we don't need Christianity because we care for the weak, and we forgive.

They have robbed christianity of all their assets but thrown out God. The claim is that we dont need God to have a society. Lets be Christian for 2000 years then throw it out, and maybe it works. We have a new situation. Secular societies in Europe are living off the plundered capital of Christianity. But we have earned the scorn of the unbelievers.

The old problem of paganism is the idea of individual power which is creeping back in. At the street level increasingly as Christianity recedes life will be based on individual power and exploitation. Europe almost needs to get really non-Christian to get Christian again. It has many of the benefits and refinements of a Christian civilization but has lost the heart.

Have to reflect more and more about how to relate. Three wrong ways to go and one right.

1. Defensive against
- triumphalism, Marked by the Christian right. Attitude is that largely through politics we need to take back the culture by taking Christian values and making sure the law upholds them. No distinction between private and public. Get back into corridors of power. Get legislation.

2. Purity from
They say that Christians shouldn't try and purify society at all. Neo-Anabaptist - form counter cultures but don't salt society. Just win souls. Stay away.

3. Relevant To
Christians are so out of it we need to change. Make our music and message are culturally relevant. Hip. Get updated.

4. Faithful presence within
We are not trying to take over nor trying to be absent. We need to be willing and able to take our people into the financial world, the arts, the academic world, movies and TV. Be in all those places. Going to them to serve. We have to help people integrate their faith with their work. Churches tend to pull people out of their world into the church. "I want to teach you how to run a bible study and eventually become an elder". We need to help people to know what kind of roles can I accept as a Christian actor. What I am doing is important.

You are salt of the earth. This is about being a preservative, medicine and seasoning. Serve people changing people, leavening. If you are not salt you are sand. It's tough not to suck up to the culture and compromise. We must be faithful.

On Friday I shared a quote about why Piper doesn't own a TV. I can't find any evidence to suggest that the Doctor also abstained from this modern form of entertainemnt. There are multiple references to the things "we watch on televion" in his sermons. However, Martyn Lloyd-Jones had serious reservations about TV, as this quote demonstrates. I wonder if the Internet is less mind-numbing? I suspect that if you read certain parts of the Net and engage with it, on the contrary, it could even be positive for one's ability to think. I know that Piper does indeed own a computer—a Macbook, of course. If the Doctor lived today, I'd like to believe he might have spent more time in front of a computer screen than a television.

"This generation that boasts so much about its intellect does not think. If it did, it would not believe all the advertisements on television. That is just psychology, subliminal thinking, and does not bring about active, conscious thinking. People are given information by constant repetition and absorb it without knowing it. This is probably the most drugged, deluded, controlled generation the world has ever known. This is the age of propaganda and of advertising—and of the negation of thinking. Obviously, not everything that is recommended is bad. No, but whether good or bad, people will buy something if they are told sufficiently frequently to do so. We had a second world war in the twentieth century largely because people would not think; they did not want to think. They said, “Two world wars in one century are impossible—it cannot happen.” They would not face the facts, and when one man warned them, they said, “This man is a warmonger.” They dismissed him out of prejudice—they would not think. He was trying to get them to think, but they would not. Here is the great message of the Gospel—you are called upon to think.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Authentic Christianity, 1st U.S. ed., (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000), 295.

I came across this old quote from Dr. Piper about TV. I wonder what could also be said about the things reading blogs does to people today? Certainly some of these observations apply equally. Perhaps we could add to this list becoming cynical and argumentative. Having said that, if God is gracious to us, I think those of us who are bloggers do realize at some point the folly of our ways and find that as we blog more and more, the blog wars attract us less and less. Anyway, here is John Piper on the subject of television:

"I know that in my preaching I am addressing a visually oriented and TV influenced people. I know that 98% of you have televisions, and in 1971 the average adult in America watched 23 hours a week. I believe John Stott is right in his new book on preaching when he says that lengthy exposure to television tends to produce physical laziness, intellectual flabbiness, emotional exhaustion, psychological confusion, and moral disorientation. What this means for us preachers (especially me) is that we must improve our ability to communicate effectively and hold attention with no antics, no stringed orchestras, no violence, and no sex. But it does not mean that we can abandon our calling to preach the whole counsel of God. And therefore it should be expected that preaching will sometimes be the most demanding thing you hear all week. I can’t see how it would be otherwise, unless I make easy what the apostles couldn’t."

John Piper, Grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of Our Lord, June 20, 1982. (Available electronically from Logos Bible Software.)

The mp3 of Driscoll's first talk from his weekend in Minneapolis is already online. He took a pre-conference session at Northwestern College on "Christ and the Media." You can download the mp3 or listen right here. (HT Kim Ketola.) He laid out a challenge to bring the gospel into the media outlets of our current day.

I thought I would do a short series of posts looking at some of the practical implications of thinking in a multicultural way within the context of a Christian worldview. There is probably nothing more firmly embedded in our cultural identities than what we choose to eat. If you are English of a certain age, then the chances are good that next Sunday you will be eating for lunch a roast dinner of meat, roast potatoes, gravy and some vegetables. Even if you are not able to produce such a meal, I would expect that your mouth is salivating at the thought of it just like mine is as I write it!

If you are Asian, then it is far more likely that curry and rice will be on the agenda next Sunday. If you are African, then the rice is likely to be of a different variety and accompanied with chicken coated in a hot pepper sauce. Americans will often eat a "Sunday Brunch," which seems to be an adaption of our English breakfast with fruit and salad added to make one feel less guilty about pigging oneself.

One of the marks of secular multiculturalism in the UK is that we are, as a nation, possibly one of the best in the world at adopting the cusine of other countries. Our French neighbors, among others, might argue that we do this because our own food is so unpalatable. The truth is, for centuries English culture has been about being the magpies of Europe. Whenever we see something we like, we adopt it as our own! For example, Indian curry is available in more restaurants in the UK than fish and chip shops. Other favorites, such as pizza, pasta, and shepherd's pie, are also stolen from elsewhere. Often we adapt the recipes, however, and nationals from the countries of origin of our dishes would not recognize our versions as authentic. The truth is that food does give people a sense of identity. We feel more connected to people that eat similar foods to us. Sitting down and eating food is a universal way humans build community together. Agreeing to eat something that another has prepared communicates that we trust the cook!

The challenge to the Christian seeking to be biblically multicultural is to eat whatever is set before them. (see Luke 10:8). We cannot reject people's food without rejecting them. Food is clearly one of the things Paul has in mind when he said:

“I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23).

Over the years there has never been a stranger example of this than what I experienced one day in Brick Lane, right in the heart of London's Bangladeshi community. I was with a Pakistani Christian who God used to teach me about being multicultural over a period of several years. I had eaten “English curry” before, but now we were sitting in a restaurant serving more authentic cuisine. He asked me what I wanted to eat. In a moment of cultural sensitivity or naivety, depending on your perspective, I told him that since he knew the food better than I, he could choose for me! O the folly! At that moment, I think my friend decided to have some fun with me and at the same time test my commitment to this multicultural way of life.

The plate of food before me looked a bit unusual. I decided not to ask what it was. I loaded my fork (fortunately I wasn't expected to eat with my fingers in a truly authentic manner on this occasion). As the fork began what was going to be a slightly slower than normal visit to my mouth, my friend simply said, “You do realize that's brain curry you are about to eat, don't you?” In that instant my mind was full of revulsion. I have never been very keen on eating offal, or rather at least, not keen on knowing I was eating offal. We don't like to think about what goes into our sausages, but at that moment I was about to eat brain! My friend was particularly mean as he waited to the optimum moment of embarassment before telling me what I was about to eat. If it had beeen a few seconds earlier, I might never have loaded my fork. A few seconds later and I would have been eating it in blissful ignorance already!

I had a choice. Would I let my food prejudices rule, or would I become an Asian for that moment. With a gulp, I chose the latter. The taste was actually quite nice, but the texture was very strange. It was like eating a sponge. My friend never offered brain curry to me again, but I am sure that moment helped to strengthen our relationship. Are you prepared to eat anything for the sake of the gospel?

The 18th most read post here on my blog highlighted the controversy caused when the television program, American Idol, had contestants sing "My Jesus, My Saviour."

In 17th place is my interview with Al Mohler.

The audio of this message can be downloaded, or you can listen to it right here:

More posts from this conference can be found on my TOAM08 label page. You can also download the mp3s of this week's talks by subscribing to the new Newfrontiers podcast, which will be an easy way for you to get access to the mp3s for free.

Mark Driscoll began by thanking us again for having him, thanking us for the trust placed in him as someone we didn't know, but who had a reputation for being proactive, for the reception and the new friendships, and specifically once again for Terry Virgo and Tope Koleoso, and for what he has learned.

Having been gracious, he then said, “And now I will hurt you . . .” with a twinkle in his eye. He says that he wants us to go beyond our goal of 1,000 churches and grow more quickly.

Our movement leader is Jesus. He interjected about his view of the apostolic. He briefly stated that he did believe in “capital A” Apostles whose job it was to write the New Testament. He also believes in “small a” apostles whose job it is to lead movements and church planting drives. And he believes in them for today. He also believes that Terry Virgo has such a gift and is therefore a modern-day apostle. Pointing at the crowd, he said, “This is good evidence” — meaning the movement of 600 plus churches represented in this room. Feel free to read one of my previous posts about modern day apostles if this all seems a bit strange to you.

Mark explained that the church exists because of Jesus' desire to reach the ends of the earth. Paul was a leader under Jesus in this movement of Christ, and was responsible for the drive to the Gentiles. Paul completely ignored the rural areas and focused entirely on the cities. Mark strongly urged those of us in Newfrontiers to hear this if we want to grow faster.

If you plant a church in a rural area you will never reach the city. If you plant a church in the city you will also reach the rural areas. Everything hinges on the well-being of the cities. Cities are strategically important for two reasons. First, there are more people there, and second, culture emanates/flows from the city. City is upstream, and suburban and rural areas are downstream. The river flows one way. Culture does not come from the rural areas into the city. The only way to change culture is to transform the city.

Both Christian and non-Christian movements have always emanated from cities. It's not the number of people, it's the type of people. But today most cities are non-Christian and the rural areas are more Christian. So Christians become frustrated with the culture — films, music, books, art, etc. The only way to affect that is to be in the city. The key to actual change is to get upstream. We need to lead politicians, artists, musicians, etc. to Jesus. It's not about getting a lot of people to make a difference. The degree of influence is not about the number of people, but their place upstream.

Christianity starts as an urban church planting movement. He described how he would go into a city and plant a church that could reproduce and plant out into the rural areas. Mark told us to pool our best leaders and resources into the key areas. Chief on that list is London. The world passes through London. Cities like Cape Town and Sydney and other such cities also need strong churches which will reproduce and plant more churches.

Early Christianity was a city-based movement. By 300 A.D. half of the cities of the empire were Christian while 90 per cent were still pagan. Pagan probably comes from a word which meant someone living on a farm. Urban church planting in strategic areas can become a center for a movement of its own. Multiple churches, multiple networks, multiple styles, but one mission—to obey the Great Commission.

Puritans were a movement. They were also very young—teens and 20's. Methodism, the charismatic renewal—bigger than one denomination or network or one man. Young people tend to be at the center, at least early-on. By bringing in the students suggests that God was telling Terry, “I am planning more renewal.”

Spurgeon, Moody, Billy Graham, and others were all very young when called to ministry. What young people lack in wisdom they make up in zeal. If the older ones can make the transition from player to coach, they will do well.

Anglicanism isn't having mass conversions right now because they are too busy fighting over who you can have sex with.

With a renewal movement going on, new churches are planted. New ways of doing things, new music, new styles, new ways of reaching out. Church planting requires new wineskins. The goal is not to plant churches, but to have converts such that it becomes necessary to plant churches.

Most movements are unaware of the scale of their influence.

Out of the movement comes supporting organizations—new songs, new books to write, etc.

Most movements come into being because of the coming of new technology. The Reformation was only possible because of the printing press. Evangelists like Billy Graham were only able to do what they did because of the newly invented amplified speaker systems, etc. The Internet is now spawning a new movement in form. We can preach the gospel to the nations with a click of a button.

Mark wants Newfrontiers to still exist when we are all dead, and to still be loving Jesus and planting churches.

Movements start as a simple organization that sees a need and a few friends club together. They come together to meet that need. God raises up a leader who the people recognize as the visible face, the one who God has called to lead them. The organization then grows and becomes a movement. Big interest is generated. More people come. The crowds grow. There is passion, purpose, mission, expansion. It can be fast and furious. Mistakes are made. Theology needs to be clarified. It can be a messy time, some people don't fit.

During the time of growth there is pressure to become an institution. There no longer is courage, but rather a fear of failure. Founders and friends occupy all the positions of leadership. Those who have been there a long time have all the senior roles, and there is no room for the young. As soon as that happens the young guys leave to start another movement. The young guys of the past are in danger of becoming the old guys that they never used to like in the first place.

The question for every movement is — Will every seat always be filled by the founders and friends? Only this will stop it becoming an institution. Institutions guard previous change, they don't pioneer new change. They stop listening to anyone outside of the network they're in. They only read books by, sing songs by, listen to teaching by people from inside their movement. A movement needs humility and discernment to listen to people from outside the movement.

Driscoll was shocked to be here. He sees how willing Newfrontiers is to bring in people from outside of Newfrontiers, bringing a gift to us. You receive it and consider it. That is one of the key ways a movement can avoid becoming an institution.

Once you have an institution, the next step is to become a museum. The remnant that is left behind exists solely to tell the story. In one generation a movement can transition to being an institution and then a museum.

Mark then outlined seven ways a movement can get off-track. He acknowledged that most of this was taken from Larry Osbourne.

Doctrinally
An example of this is Vineyard. It started well, but then drifted and compromised on ecclesiology, introduced women elders, etc. and became too loose. A movement can also become too tight. A healthy movement does not debate doctrines such as the atonement, the Bible, heaven, hell, etc., but should be free to discuss secondary issues. The key is to define what you need agreement on in order to be in the movement and what you can safely differ on.

Relationships
Mark has some concern for us here. People can love their circles of friendship so much that they are unwilling to break up their circles of leadership to make more room. It's like Peter saying, “Let's build tents.” Mission can become their friendship and not the Great Commission. It's not that you shouldn't have friends. But you tend to gravitate towards your friends. This affinity and love can exclude those who are new. This can be especially true in working teams. It might suddenly be time to break up a team for the mission. Again, Mark expressed a bit of concern for us over this.

There is a bit of relational resistance, and we should really be planting at least 70-100 churches a year from a base of 200 churches like Newfrontiers has in the UK. (Ed. There are another 400 or so worldwide.)

Organizationally
This is another concern Mark has for Newfrontiers. Everything is done initially through relationships and verbally. As time goes on, things must be written down, articulated, and defined. They move from the spoken to the written. If you are unwilling to make those adjustments you can become an institution. If the reason you don't want policies, etc. is that you don't want to become an institution, what you will become is a very poorly organized institution.

Organizational Pride
Some movements will not sing songs unless they have been written by them; they won't read books that have not been written by them; nor will they listen to those from outside. Mark stated that he has no concern whatsoever about Newfrontiers on this front. There are times that every movement outgrows the counsel of their leadership and need wisdom from outside. He commends Newfrontiers for being so open to outsiders teaching them.

Chasing Potential Rather Than Calling
Movements can chase too many things at once. For example, Vineyard started as a church-planting movement and then became a renewal movement. They were involved in so many other groups that they didn't really plant churches any more. Focus on the primary calling of the movement. Mark said that so far he hears that our primary goal is church planting, but 10 to12 churches a year is too few for a movement our size if we are truly pursuing this with all of our heart. He wondered what other things we were pursuing that were diverting our energies.

Movements Stagnate Because of Lack of Publishing
There is a need to do much, much more publishing. What is your doctrine of the Holy Spirit? What is your doctrine of church planting? What is your ecclesiology? Some of these things still need to be cleaned up. Actually he feels Newfrontiers is doing better than Acts 29 on some of these points. Websites, blogging, vodcasting, etc. More statements to safeguard the movement.

Mark warned us that the next point would be his most painful point, and he wasn't wrong. By the time he had finished with us, I don't think there was a dry eye in the hall.

Movements Get Off-Course Because They Fail to Simultaneously Honor the Founder and the Future
Some movements so honor the founder that they shipwreck the future. Some so honor the future that they shipwreck their founder. This is the defining issue for our movement. It will determine whether our movement a one-generation movement or many. At this moment do you believe that as a movement you would tend to honor your future or your founder? Which way do you feel Newfrontiers is heading?

For the first time in the history of a Newfrontiers conference, Mark proposed a vote. We don't vote, but went along with it just this once. Of those who were bold enough to raise a hand, 80 percent said that they felt our tendency as a movement would be towards honoring our founding leader rather than running after the future.

Driscoll agreed with those who responded that we tend to honor our founder, and we should do so! We love Terry Virgo and we should honor him. Mark said that he was only just getting to know Terry, but that he also loves him. He is a great man. He truly loves Jesus, the Scriptures, his family,and Newfrontiers. And we love him. The question is, How can we best honor him? We can do that by making sure that Newfrontiers remains a movement with a future and builds on Terry's life work.

Mark then explained that he felt that God had given him a prophetic word for us as a movement, and for Terry in particular. This was remarkable in a way because he had said repeatedly during the week that this was an area in which he was learning from us. In his own church he had said that although he believes in gifts, they don't use them. For someone who said he had no real models of gifts, he was about to share one that packed a heavy punch.

Looking down at Terry, who was sitting on the front row watching, he said that God had said that Newfrontiers is like a daughter to you, Terry. You have birthed it, held it, guarded it, cared for it, tended to it, prayed for it, loved it. You have been an amazing father to them.

He felt God said that, while not in the immediate future, there will come a day when you will need to walk her down the aisle and marry her to a great man so she will have children.

Driscoll urged us to pray for Terry as he is to make that transition at some point in the future. God will tell him. Be ready for it when it comes. Regularly pray for him. He asked us to commit to pray daily about this point. He said we should ask that Terry would have absolute certainty when it is time to walk it down the aisle, certainty about which man or men he should entrust her to. He looked at the crowd and declared, "You think of it a lot, but speak of it very little, because you love Terry. And you don't want to dishonor him."

Driscoll also warned us that we must not swing towards being all about the future. But it is the epicenter of whether we will continue to be healthy or begin to die. Pray for Terry Virgo. Pray for him every day that God will reveal to him when and how and who so that this will remain a movement. London is full of museums. We don't need another one. We don't need some of you to be just telling the stories in thirty years' time. We want the praises of Jesus to still be sung.

Rick Warren once spoke on movements. He said there are six phases of renewal:

It begins and ends with personal renewal.
You keep meeting with Jesus. He is alive! Be filled with the Spirit, meeting him in the Scriptures, be overwhelmed with the grace of God. Be scandalized with the gospel. Personal renewal, enthusiasm, joy.

Next there is relational renewal
Love of God in your heart is shared. Concern for the well-being of others. Captures something of your heart. Improves marriages, children. Circle of influence. Life of Jesus by the Spirit flowing through you to extend the grace of God to others. People show up early and stay late, and they are talking. They love to sing together because they are a people. This is what happens in Newfrontiers. Personal, which leads to relational, and shows up when we sing. Again Driscoll spoke of being impressed by our worship.

Missional renewal is the next phase
As we are connected to Jesus and love one another, our heart expands. We want new churches to get planted right now. We are people of God. The Word of God and the Spirit of God sustains us and we have to get that out.

Leads to cultural renewal
Be passionate about living as a city within the city. Cultural change in our churches will then spill out to the community. Infiltrates the culture of the cities. Culture here in Newfrontiers, according to Mark, is beautiful, but it needs to multiply.

Structural renewal then needed
The way we do things is going to need to change. More systems, more policies. 70-100 plants a year at least. The measure of life in this room should squeeze out many more than ten children a year!

Institutional renewal is the ultimate goal
Changing Christian organizations that are dead. Do not give up on churches, networks, museums, colleges, even Anglicanism. We could be a source of renewal. Pour life into a dead seminary, a dead church, etc. How refreshing it is to be around renewed people! This could be a gift to the whole body of Christ. In joy, giving them hope that change is possible. He said that for the entire time he has been with us, he has been happy, which is very unusual for him. He feels his spirit has been renewed through being here. We should pray for the dead and dying places where the light of the gospel is dimming or has been snuffed out altogether. Bring hope where there is hopelessness. In Acts 29, their church planters are from many different movements and denominations. It begins with Jesus and ends with everything. Young men, you need to step up. If he asks, Who are the young leaders here? don't point to men years older than Driscoll.

One prayer is for a bunch of 20 year old guys with hope who will plant churches and preach the gospel with hope. Be looking at all times for men in their 20's. They will be arrogant, foolish, impetuous, critical, disorganized, and they will be perfect for the task God has for them!

At the end of this talk, we did something that in my memory we have never done in the 30 years I have been attending Newfrontiers conferences — we all stood as one man in a standing ovation to this fatherly yet direct, loving yet firm, respectful yet critical, emotive yet rational, talk.

Terry Virgo then stood at the microphone and said that there have been times in our movement that were historic moments. He spoke about the way Kreingsak changed us in the past, and when Simon Petit spoke on the poor that also changed us. He said that he knew God told him to invite Mark Driscoll, but that when he did, he had no idea he would feel “taken apart” by him.

Terry then closed with a simple prayer in which he thanked God for his care for us as a movement. He also thanked God for Mark Driscoll, who he called one of God's most remarkable servants. He thanked God for the high privilege of having Mark Driscoll on this platform, and spoke of how we really are a FAMILY on a journey, with a God who is continualy expressing his love for us.

In an interview in London:

"I have met so many gay partnered clergy here and it is so troubling to hear them tell me that their bishop comes to their house for dinner, knows fully about their relationship, is wonderfully supportive, but has also said if this ever becomes public, then I’m your worst enemy . . .

It’s a terrible way to live your life and I think it’s a terrible way to be a church. I think integrity is so important. What does it mean for a clergy person to be in a pulpit calling the parishioners to a life of integrity when they can’t even live a life of integrity with their own bishop and their own church?"

Read more . . .

Earlier this week, I posted on Gordon Brown's antagonism towards pro-lifers. I thought I would remind us of the opportunity that exists for us to do something about the forthcoming law if we live in the UK. There have been 6.7 million abortions since 1967 in the UK.


Here are some things you can do if you live in the UK.

1. PRAY, that God will work a miracle in the House. Emotions run high at the moment in Westminster so anything is possible. Well, actually even our non-British readers can do this for us!

2. FIND OUT MORE about the issues. The following websites are worth visiting

• Alive and Kicking 
  
• Christian Medical Fellowship
• SPUC
• Passion for Life
• Parliamentary Pro-Life Group
• BBC on Abortion Debate.
• Netdoctor page on Abortion in the UK.

I also preached on the subject of murder and how abortion is simply that a few weeks back.  I also speak of the forgiveness that is available for any who have actually had an abortion themselves.

3. LOOK UP YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT'S VOTING RECORD.

4. WRITE TO YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT I attach the letter I wrote to my MP. If I get a reply I will share it here. Please do not simply copy and paste my letter, but feel free to use it as a basis to adapt.

Dear MP,

May I begin by thanking your for what I understand has been your voting record in the matter of abortion. As a medical doctor I have been in lectures where it has been openly stated that "every pregnancy is bad for a mothers health" and so therefore they see it is ok to offer social abortions "on demand". I do not believe that was the intention of the original abortion law. I would therefore ask you that with regard to the forthcoming Embryo bill, you would consider

Voting against the creation of animal/human hybrid embryos. Such a move is not medically necessary as adult stem cell research is productive and it is already possible to create cells that express single human proteins.

Voting against offering permission for IVF doctors to create "saviour siblings" chosen specifically to provide donor tissue to their sick older brother or sister. This devalues the lives of the embryos discarded.

Voting against the removal of the requirement for IVF clinics to consider the need for a father figure when deciding whether to offer treatment. Insufficient work has been done on the psychological impact of being raised without a father figure at least peripherally present in a child's life. We should not be further undermining the family in this way.

Voting against the removal of the requirement that doctors sign a form stating that an abortion is in the interest of a woman’s health. This requirement should instead by enforced and specific criteria to limit abortion to its original intent should be enacted. In the absence of a total ban on abortion I am in favor of any effort to remedy the current situation where it is available to anyone irrespective of their circumstances.

Voting in favor of the reduction to the term limit for abortion from 24 weeks to 20, saving 2,948 of the 193,000 lives taken by abortion each year in the UK.

I would be happy to speak with you further about any of these issues, and wish you success in your efforts to represent this area.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Adrian Warnock
http://adrianwarnock.com

5. WRITE TO THE PRIME MINISTER Here is what I wrote, but again please adapt this letter to make it personal.

Dear Mr Brown,

I am writing to express my anger and disappointment that you would overturn the tradition that matters of morality are not appropriate for the use of the Whip. I know you have allowed your MPs a free vote on certain amendments of the forthcoming Embryo legislation. I urge you to stop your vocal support of the whole law which is I believe immoral and allow your party the freedom to vote with their conscience. I also urge you to allow more time for the important debates on this matter.

Yours

Adrian Warnock
http://adrianwarnock.com

6.  Sign a petition at the Alive and Kicking website or at Number 10 where the following are open

• Childs right to a father
  
• End Abortion.

Here are notes from a sermon I preached on the 27^th April at Jubilee Church. The mp3 is available to download here or listen to using the following embedded player-

“You shall not murder.” (Ex 20:13)

Ok, right at the outset, do we have any murderers here? No? Anyone planning on committing a murder? No? Good, so then we can all go home, yes? We got it straight, since we live in a Christian country means its Chicken for dinner tonight rather than human. Lets go get some coffee.

Actually there is some more to this commandment than first meets the eye.

No careless killing ESV footnote "also causing human death through carelessness or negligence" so see for example Ex 21:28-29 “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.”

Deuteronomy 22:8: “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring blood-guilt on your house if anyone falls from it.”

Risk assessment is biblical! “[The Jew] was to do everything humanly possible not to cause the death of another person” -The Master's Seminary, Master's Seminary Journal Volume 11, 11:206 (Master's Seminary, 2000; 2003).

- Therefore, human life is precious we should take good care of it. Every human is made in Gods image and therefore worth looking after. It is the Christian faith that teaches us we are not just the outcome of millions of years of chance reactions. We don't kill because life itself is a gift of God. We should also support initiatives that reduce the risk of death or serious injury.

eg car and road safety - 1 in 200 risk of dying on the roads! So driving at no more than 30 mph in built up areas is a good idea due to the dramatic risk of death if hit faster. 95% live if hit at 20mph, 90% die at 40mph. Also wear seat belts, pay for proper maintenance, and buy the safest car you can afford.

-also health measures, smoking in public bans is good as it will lead to less premature death. Form of Russian Roulette – 50% will die prematurely loosing ave of 16 years of precious God-given life. In country after country smoking bans have led to dramatic drops in the rates of heart attacks – 17% in Scotland for example in one year. Christians should support the provision of good health care and also simple social changes that can make massive impact by saving lives. Especially in developing world eg lack of clean water.

However, although this commandment applies to careless killing, there were clear distinctions made in the punishment depending on the intent “(1) the weapon used, (2) the enmity of the killer toward his victim, and (3) premeditation” (Numbers 35. 16–24) -The Master's Seminary, Master's Seminary Journal Volume 11, 11:205 (Master's Seminary, 2000; 2003).

Similar rules are still used today.

What other things that might be called murder?

-We have seen that negligence such as careless fighting or driving, is surely potential murder by the broader hebraic definition. But what of some areas that may be less clear to some. Lets be very clear here -

-Euthanasia or so-called “mercy killing”- so far even the unbelievers cannot bring themselves to legalize this in the UK. How could we know someone really understood what they were asking for and weren't coerced or depressed? Bible simply says "no killing". This surely even applies to some of the grey areas being discussed such as removing food and drink via tubes from brain damaged.

-Assisting Suicide remains illegal, but what about neglecting to prevent it?. Psychiatric services should be used appropriately... sadly the quality of our services vary. But people have a right to be treated against their will when they pose a danger to themselves and are not in their right minds.

-Abortion? We all agree that life exists after birth. We believe it is wrong to murder a newborn baby. So surely life exists just before. When then does it start? There is no logic to our current term limits for abortion- loosely based on when a child might survive "independently" outside the womb. But when technology improves will that mean the date changes? And, since a baby is not truly "independent" are they less fully human?

Our question should simply be is this a human? Does he or she have the image of God? If so we must protect, not kill. John the Baptist leapt for joy in his mothers womb whom when he met Jesus (Luke 1:44) and Psalm 139 makes plain God saw us and knew us there as he knit us together.

-Contraception? Pre conception fine, anything that definitely acts post conception is clearly not. Some methods are controversial as to their mode of action (eg oral contraceptive pill, coil etc). Christians should examine the evidence for themselves, pray, seek advice if needed then make the decision their conscience is happy with.

-IVF? Christians undergoing this procedure may wish to speak with their doctors about the fate of so-called "spare" embryos. Although they are routinely discarded, this need not be the case.

-War? The police? Romans 13.1-4 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.”

In the end this boils down to a simple question. If you were holding an armed gun, and had a chance to kill someone who was definitely about to kill another, would you be wrong to pull that trigger? The balance of the bible strongly suggests that you would not be wrong to do that.

So far, though, for the vast majority of us, none of this will have touched us. Perhaps there are some in the room who have had an abortion, if so, please bear with me as there is forgiveness for you as we will explain later.

But for the rest of us there is a danger that we will feel morally superior and proud of ourselves. So we haven't murdered... Big deal! If we think that makes us worthy of praise by God we are deluded!

Jesus punctures that bubble by saying “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5.21-24

Words can kill!

“Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” 1 Jn 3:15

“It is not only the act, but also the sentiment underlying the act, which is evil” - Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, Map on lining papers., 2044 (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1988).

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning” Jn 8:44

Actual murder is just the extension of anger and bitterness. Billy Grahams wife was once asked if she had ever considered divorce during their long marriage her answer- "divorce, NO! Murder, YES!"

If murder is sometimes the ultimate punishment for some imagined harm done by its victim, forgiveness is the opposite. Far from merely not murdering our enemies, God calls us to love them and forgive them.

We are told to forgive as we have been forgiven and warned that he will not forgive us if we do not forgive others.

Christians should be recognized as those who practice the reverse of murder. If murder is treating someone as sub-human and a less valuable object then the opposite is surely thinking of others as more important than you and selflessly loving them expecting nothing in return.

You can't murder someone you love. Jesus said love fulfills the law - love God covers the first few commandments, love your neighbor covers the rest.

God is the ultimate forgiver. We see this in the sad story of King David. We see the king who is described as the man after Gods own heart that the smallest sin can grow to become a major one. Most murders happen as a result of an argument between for example husband and wife. It is even possible that by causing us to stop and realize how dangerous anger is that this sermon might prevent a future murder.

Owen once said “be killing sin or it will be killing you.”

In Davids case, laziness led to a roaming eye. In our day he'd have visited certain websites or the top shelf at the news-agent. Then, he went on the roof to catch a glance at a woman bathing. That led to adultery. That led to deception and trickery. That led to murder.

Sin is sin. We stand before God bankrupt. When you are bankrupt it doesn't really matter if you owe a few thousands or a few million. You simply can never pay. An eternity in hell facing the wrath of God wont wipe away our sins.

The scandal of the cross is that on it, a man was murdered. Without removing the moral responsibility for that act, and the fact that we are all guilty of killing the son of God....ultimately there was something else going on.

The cross was a judicial killing. God the Almighty poured out his righteous wrath and punishment on his son. Jesus paid our debt. Not only did he cancel our debts, he credited our account with his righteousness. If you are a christian this morning he is as pleased with you not just as if you never sinned but just as if you were always righteous or put another way he is as thrilled with you as he is with Jesus!

Murderers are Invited to become Christians. Why? Because God can even forgive murderers, So he can forgive you.

In his book, The Future of Justification, John Piper addresses the issue of legalism and the first century Jew. Piper responds to some of the notions of the New Perspectives people who claim that first century Jews had not drifted from the grace message of the Old Testament into legalism. He explains . . .

“In regard to the second objection to the general view that “the Jew keeps the law out of gratitude, as the proper response to grace,” it is important to see that, from Jesus’ standpoint, relational exclusivism (ethnic or otherwise) is rooted in self-righteousness, which means that ethnocentrism and legalism have the same root. This connection between self-righteousness and exclusivism is one of the points of Jesus’ parable that begins, “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous [dikaioi], and treated others with contempt” (Luke 18:9). A deep root of “treating others with contempt” (whether the others are ethnically similar publicans or ethnically different Gentiles) is: “[They] trusted in themselves that they were righteous. . . . In other words, the exclusivistic treatment of others is one manifestation of the self-righteousness that trusts in its own law-keeping. Legalism and ethnocentrism have the same root. They are not separate conditions of the soul. Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector also shows that the branches of this root of exclusivistic self-righteousness can, amazingly, make protests and prayers to the effect that all is of grace. Thus, the Pharisee prays, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector” (Luke 18:11).

Is this not a clear warning to us that finding grace dependent statements in Second-Temple Judaism does not demonstrate that the hearts of those who made those statements were not at root self-righteous (pp. 156-157).

It is interesting to note this idea that legalism and racism are closely entwined. At their core they are both rooted in pride and a superior view of ourselves and our cultural groups.

Over at Pure Church there is a good article about how we should talk to children about race. It is well worth a read. I have included the headlines here:

1. Talk with your children about ethnicity (the nations) rather than "race."
   
   
2. Talk about ethnicity in a way that magnifies the power and wisdom of God. We should be amazed more often than we are (excuse me for projecting my dullness onto you!) at the sheer power and wisdom of God who can create "difference" and "same" in His creation ...
   
   
3. Talk about the need of all men for the Savior. Not only are we alike in our humanity, but we are therefore alike in our sin, guilt, shame, and need for divine rescue. We are far more alike than we are different ...
   
   
4. Talk about the Gospel and the Church as the plan of God to demonstrate unity across such diversity and to display His wisdom.

Living in the UK as a Christian in 2006 is a strange experience sometimes. Some fellow believers point to a number of events that seem to suggest that we are entering days of hostility to Christians. Events that have come to my attention in the last few months include:

• The growing hostility to the use of the word "Christmas" or Christian images - bizarrely this has led to a statement from something called the Christian-Muslim Forum reminding the politically correct brigade that Muslims (and presumably those of other faiths, too!) are NOT in fact offended by us celebrating Christmas!


• The national airline fighting to prevent flight attendants from wearing crosses - which led to the Prime Minister urging BA to get on the right side of common sense on that matter.


• The arrest of a Christian for giving out leaflets at a gay march.


• The potrayal of a fictional "Christian terrorist" atrocity being planned with the full knowledge of an Anglican bishop in the popular BBC programme, Spooks.


• The increasing religious discrimination on University campuses.



• An active campaign to prevent the selection to stand as a conservative MP of a woman whose only crimes consist of going to a church and being married to a pastor.


• The blatant attempts to link all religion with extremism and terrorism by even respectable newspapers.


• Attempts to pass legislation that many fear will limit religious freedom.

According to some we are not far from entering a police state, and real persecution is not far away. There is, however, as always, two sides to the story. The increasing resurgence in Bible-believing Christianity is throwing our society into clear contrast and leading to some interesting developments. In London in particular, the last few years have seen the emergence for the first time of megachurches, and there are many church plants beginning up and down the country. There is much to be grateful for.

One of these developments is the sudden realisation by the film industry that Christians watch films, too. So, this Christmas, not only is there a terror-ridden film called "Black Christmas" being shown in cinemas, alongside it will be The Nativity Story, which wouldn't be at all out of place being shown in a Sunday School class.

I was thrilled to be invited to watch a preview of this film a few days before it goes into general release. It seemed so strange to me - despite the success of The Passion - to be seeing a film like this on the silver screen. It is a sight we are going to need to get used to. I predict that this film will be far more successful than many might think.

For the truth is that everyone, believer or not, is fascinated by the story of Christmas. And, as Christians, this is a film that I believe we can endorse with confidence, and take our non-Christian friends along to. It is not purely a children's film, but it is suitable in my view for all but the youngest and most sensitive of children. There are a few brief episodes of violence, but nothing that I wouldn't allow my children to see.

There is a long tradition of artistic works being inspired by the story of Christ. Modern filmmakers may believe that they have discovered a new genre and new ways of marketing these kind of films. But is this so very different from the church nativity play - which often takes poetic license - or indeed the traveling plays of centuries ago which taught the Bible to illiterate masses?

These days our society is returning to having a functionally illiterate mass of people and a more literate elite who at least know how to use a Google search to return almost any useful piece of information they require! It should be no wonder that some are turning to the screen to retell the greatest story ever told, and I, for one, believe that the church as a whole should get right behind it - if we all attend this film, it will be another encouragement to filmmakers to produce wholesome material. It would be an amazing vindication of the power of market forces if eventually Hollywood realised that making blatantly immoral material was no longer profitable.

What is interesting is that the filmmakers are already increasingly convinced that producing a film that the Christians will like will mean making a significant profit. Why else would this film choose to be premiered in the Vatican - the first time that the world premiere of any film has taken place there?

This film is no Catholic propoganda, however. Mary (played by Kisha Castle-Hughes, who played the Queen of Naboo in Star Wars III - The Revenge of the Sith) is portrayed as a normal young woman with doubts and fears rather than a sinless saint. The way Castle-Hughes exudes both youthfulness and emerging womanhood is masterful. The story attempts to get inside her mind and the mind of Joseph, and in so doing gives the age-old story a new lease on life. It certainly seemed to work for me.

Director Catherine Hardwicke said, "I had seen the Nativity Story just as we all do - a few simple passages with minimal detail and almost no insight into who Mary or Joseph were as people. But in Mike's script, I saw this opportunity to really get inside the heads, hearts, and souls of this young couple. This story means so much to people all over the world. I thought by humanizing them, audiences could relate to the film on a personal level and find some inspiration to get through their own challenges and difficulties."

Hardwicke goes on to say, "We were looking for epic intimacy. The story is grand and sweeping, stretching across breathtakingly beautiful terrain, yet we want to feel deeply what this couple felt - each of their physical and emotional obstacles - in a very personal visceral way."

There are a number of the makers of this film who profess a Christian faith and claim that they had a sense of calling to produce the film. The writer speaks of being on his church's prayer list throughout production.

The film really does have an authentic middle-eastern feel - with actors who look and sound like I imagine the biblical characters really would have. The truly multicultural cast included actors from Trinidad, Iran, Guatemala, Cameroon, and Jordan - this is no European Jesus story. There is no mistaking one of the points of the film - Jesus really was a Jew born into a cruel Roman-occupied world. The film was shot in the same area of Italy used in The Passion.

A number of plausible, but fictional, events are introduced to the film that cleverly foreshadow significant events of Jesus' adult life - these include the temple cleansing, washing of the disciples' feet, and even the crucifixion. These are subtly done, and you might miss them if you aren't watching for them.

I saw the movie with a room full of "cynical hacks," and yet the film seemed to be affecting them emotionally. At one of the most impactful moments of the film, there was a sudden brief cackle of laughter as a line hit home. To be confronted with what was, to our ears, a humorous line suddenly made you realise afresh just what announcing that she had conceived a child "by the Holy Spirit" must have been like for Mary. The young girl tries to persuade her parents of the truth of her claims to have "broken no vows" by telling them that her cousin, Elizabeth, had a child in her old age. Their retort was simply "But Elizabeth has a husband!" In a matter of seconds, however, it doesn't seem funny any more as you see the villagers preparing to stone her.

The irony is that the sinless one was born into a situation that looked to the outsider very much like it was a most sinful one. To be pregnant before consummation of your marriage might not be a great issue today, but back then it could cost you your life.

When Joseph refuses to accuse her, and stands by her, the attitudes of the villagers are wonderfully portrayed. Suddenly, you realise that Mary would have probably been glad to leave Nazareth for Bethlehem with her new husband.

The film is very much about journeys - the pain and difficulties of traveling in those days before roads and planes are brought home. But more than that, we see the journey of Mary from being a child who is frightened of marriage to a man she barely knows to a woman who falls in love with the protective Joseph and gives birth to a child who Joseph wonders if he will ever be able to teach anything to.

There really are some great artistic touches along the way, and mine were not the only eyes in the house that needed wiping by the end. It remains to be seen how touched the old hacks really were - or how much their editors allow them to be - but this blogger found himself reliving the story as though I had heard it for the first time. The emotional impact was certainly very significant for me, and I will definitely be taking my whole family (with children ranging from 3 to 9) with great anticipation of the joy they will get from the film and what they will learn.

Just in case your children ask you, here are a couple of final facts for you - firstly American Humane made sure that no animals were harmed during the filming, and secondly there are now sufficiently more trees in Tensas National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana to counteract the films "climate change footprint." For some reason, those two statements intrigued me, so I thought I would share them here!

Other Links about the Film

As I reported last week, Albert Mohler gives The Nativity Story, the thumbs up - he says it is "In season and on message."

Allthings2all on The Nativity Story reports being undone, but points out some minor deviations from the biblical account such as the Magi and shepherds arriving on the same day, but these are easily classified under artistic license.

The Nativity Story Blog also has regular updates on the film.

There is already a Wikki page on The_Nativity_Story which looks like it could do with some expansion.

The Nativity Story, UK and The Nativity Story, US official sites are well designed and there is a generous encouragement of the use of images for church materials

I will leave you with two interviews from a site of video clips about the film that you can embed in your blog if you want to.

Albert Mohler gives The Nativity Story, to be released in the US and UK on 8th of December, the thumbs up - he says it is "In Season and On Message." I have only seen this trailer, and some other video clips, but I have seen enough, together with Mohler's praise (he has seen the whole thing) to strongly recommend that my readers take their kids to see it this Christmas. There is both a The Nativity Story, UK and The Nativity Story, US official sites for more information. I think the least we can do is spread the word among the blogs.

Josh Harris: says ". . . The other day I read a short interview with Tom Hanks about the movie. When asked about the controversy he made a statement emphasizing the fact that it was utter fiction. Of course this is obvious. But it also seems obvious to me that Mr. Hanks would probably never touch a movie based on a fictional story that so misrepresented and essentially slandered any other person or group. Would he star in a film that distorted history and facts to tell the story of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. or a well-known homosexual? Could he get away excusing it all as fiction?"

Josh makes no bones about the fact that he is a bit fed up of it, but closes his post by asking for comments - I thought I'd ask you all to join in either here or over at Josh's place!

"Has this book and movie given you opportunities to share the Gospel with anyone? And do you know anyone who has been unsettled by or convinced by the ideas in the Davinci Code? Also do you plan to see the movie yourself? Please feel free to comment. "

I thought I would browse for some news about the death of  the actor who plays Leo, when shock of shocks I discovered that my American cousins are axing my favorite series .  There will only be one more series for me to sit glued in front of time after time!  How can it be!  Why do they always get rid of the best TV series?  What will I find to watch?  I guess theres always Doctor Who.....

I have just one thing to say to conservative christians who criticise the Narnia film for teaching an alternative theory of the atonement -

ITS A STORY, NOT A SEMINARY CLASS

We have watched it, and I didnt think about the nuances of the atonement once! The story is a great fantasy story which happens to reflect some aspects of the story of Jesus. One of my children (I think it was Charis) said it was the best film she had ever seen. We all loved the film and were enraptured by it.

I have to confess I was crying in one of the first few scenes when the children were leaving london.

Lewis was a master story teller, and his tales work as well for 21st century kids as they did for 20th. We should be grateful that Disney is making a film like this which openly reflects Christian values. I am praying that watching it may prompt a few people to think again about Jesus.

One of our friends kids said "This film is passion of the Christ for kids" and I guess he's about right.

Aslan Is On the Move on Film says Al:

Like many admirers of Lewis' work, I harbored deep suspicions that the movie would not be faithful to the book. After all, the movie world has robbed and pillaged many of history's greatest works of literature. Furthermore, given the unmistakable Christian allusions in Lewis' work, The Chronicles of Narnia would be particularly susceptible to cinematic subversion.

Those fears were unfounded. The film is a tour de force, combining faithfulness to Lewis' story with a wonderful cast. Watching the film is an exciting and fulfilling movie experience. I am not an expert in cinematography, nor would I pose as an expert on film technique. Still, from the vantage point of a film lover who had reservations about this adaptation, this movie has been worth the wait.

HT Justin Taylor for this fantastic nine minute preview of the film that many of us have been waiting for all year.

Challies Dot Com is complaining about marketing again, but this time its about the new Narnia movie. All I can say is that I wish some marketeer would approach me and our church about sneak previews and other such "evil" things connected to what should turn out to be the film of the year! I am already SO excited about the movie its unreal. Any Narnia marketeers out there, this blog is yours to do with as you choose if you just feed me some cool stuff. But then, over here even the Passion didnt seem to be promoted to churches quite as vigorously. Mind you with 42,000 blog posts and counting, perhaps they feel they dont need to be promoting any more than they already are! We would love to have a strong sense of what this film will be like so that we could recommend it to our readers on more than my hunch which tells me- "it'll be awesome, go for it!"

Marketing Playbook: has a quote from the Toby on the West Wing that I was just watching on my sickbed,

"Was watching a re-run of West Wing and was struck by some stuff that my favorite character, Toby Ziegler said about oratory. He called it the Science of Listener Attention.
'You want the benefits of free trade? Food is cheaper. Food is cheaper, clothes are cheaper, steel is cheaper, cars are cheaper, phone service is cheaper. You feel me building a rhythm here? Thats cause Im a speechwriter and I know how to make a point. It lowers prices, it raises income. You see what I did with lowers and raises there? Its called the science of listener attention. We did repetition, we did floating opposites and now you end with the one thats not like the others. Ready? Free trade stops wars. And thats it. Free trade stops wars! And we figure out a way to fix the rest! One world, one peace. I?m sure I?ve seen that on a sign somewhere.'
Sounds like the art of persuation or marketing to me. Repetition sounds like what we call the Rule of Three (keep your benefits/claims to just three - awesome, awesome, not screwed up). Floating opposites sounds like what we call the Rule of Pardox (e.g. Tastes Great, Less Filling). "

I so love the West Wing. Heard a great quote in one of the most recent ones I watched. CJ is rowing about why she didnt support a colleagues proposal and said "you get my support the same way I get yours when I agree with what you are saying or when I dont care about what you are saying". I think that statement is very interesting, and one to consider the ramifications of in the work environment. Some people call for blind loyalty. CJ here seems to call for such loyalty but only when one is indifferent about the matter- thus if one passionately beleives ones colleague is wrong then loyalty at that point means pointing out the error of his ways. For a Christian the next question is how do we do that and still love the person?

Why is it that I somehow thought that seeing the Passion would answer my questions about it and I would come down either on the side of adulation or hatred for the film?

I guess that things just don't seem that simple for me.

On the positive, it was artistic, reasonably accurate, emotive, and most of all a successful film about Jesus. I mean, I was rejoicing to see bible texts on display in my local cinema. Was it anti-semitic- no not really- Jesus states he is giving HIMSELF up to death in the film. Was it grusome? Well yes and no- it was probably fairly accurate. Yes I cried, and yes I left feeling grateful for what Jesus had done for me- but I was a Christian before I went in.

But, I didnt embrace the film in its entirety. The very concept bothers me a little. The very portrayal of the violence of the crucifixion continues to bother me somewhat. Did the bible refrain from describing crucifixion because it didnt have to (ie its readers at the time knew all about it) or because it didnt need to. Does seeing the violence serve any purpose. I am not sure that a film alone without someone to explain it will save anyone. The word must be preached (or at least gossiped) to you for you to believe. People need to understand that it is not the physical but the spirtual suffering of Jesus in experiencing the full wrath of God against sin that was the most severe thing Christ went through.

This sunday I will be preaching on 'A Passion for Preaching' and restating my committment to this ancient art as the primary means of us encountering Gods grace.

Also, some of the imagery I found disturbing. I was puzzled by some of the demonic images. I found some of the emphasis on Mary uncomfortable (is that because I tend to downplay her roll too much?). There was a hint of a love for the actual blood of Jesus which slightly bothered me also.

But all in all I am glad I went to see it, and glad it was made, and glad so many are seeing it.

I just hope that the people who leave wondering what on earth it was all about will find someone helpful to explain it all to them.

LAughing Giraffe believes: "The Passion of the Christ is not anti-semitic. It is a film about personal choice, forgiveness, the moral triumph of compassion in the face of extreme brutality; another interpretation of an age old story. Given Gibson's graphic portrayal of Jesus' last hours even I, a non-Christian, can see why the woman sat to my right walked out and the man in front was crying between prayers!"

I finally get to see it on Thursday- it has been sold out several times at my local cinema!

Iconoblog reports : "One film critic described it as �the film that refuses to go away, about a Saviour who refuses to stay dead. You may not like what it says, but you can�t avoid the Jesus it portrays�.

Friends have seen it, and said almost everyone was crying and the cinema was silent as people filed out afterwards.

In a sermon entitled Mother's pain, world's gain based on Luke 2:22-35, I discuss the death of Jesus, and the Mel Gibson Film. Have a listen if you like......

Sarah's Stuff!reports: "My cousin went and saw the passion and cried her eyes out- afterwards, she went to church and devoted her life to Jesus Christ. That sounds like a changed life if you ask me."

Of course, not to be too picky, but I guess we would all like to know what kind of Christian did she devote herself to being?

Is this one of those films that we all bring our prejudices to? Does an atheist leave more convinced of the fallacy of Christianity? Does a catholic see Mary's role even more clearly? Does a pentecostal see spiritual warfare?

I am hanging between a part of me that says 'This is SO cool that so many people are getting to see the cross in a realistic portrayal' and the other part that says 'The bible doesnt give details of the crucifixion, and this might not simply be because everyone in the 1st century knew what it was'. Do we need to be brought back to the 1st century understanding of the cross? Do we need to be shocked out of our complacency about it? Perhaps the answer is yes.

I so wish I could see this film and come to my own conclusions, but being in the UK I have to wait.

MArk Roberts has given me more reason to regret that I cannot yet make my own mind up about this film!

"I don't think any movie has ever inspired more emotionally charged and widely varied responses. In this sense at least, The Passion of the Christ is very much like Jesus himself.
Almost nobody who has seen this movie responds to it in a detached manner. Though the responses to The Passion of the Christ have been all over the map, they share one ironic quality: profound passion.
The diversity of responses has been seen, most obviously, in the divide between some prominent Jewish leaders and some prominent Christian leaders. As I'm sure you know by now, notable Jewish leaders have blasted the film for its unhistorical anti-Semitism. While many Christian leaders have denied this charge while praising the film's historical accuracy and spiritual profundity.
But this only begins to scratch the surface of the distinct responses to The Passion of the Christ.
If you look carefully at Jewish responses, for example, you'll see that there's no party line here. While the loudest Jewish voices have condemned the film, many others have praised it and warned Jews against over-reacting to it, for fear of inspiring anti-Semitism through their own over-reactions. And in one of the most stunning responses to the movie, The Orthodox Union of American Jews warned their followers that The Passion of the Christ is a threat to their own Jewish faith. They fear that the powerful portrayal of Jesus in this movie might actually cause Jews to doubt their Judaism and to be drawn to Jesus. (Talk about a backhanded compliment to Mel Gibson!)
We've seen a similar breadth of response among Christians. Of course most Christians have been deeply moved by the film and have praised its cinematic and spiritual power. But some Christians have publicly criticized The Passion of the Christ for being too gory, or too Catholic, or too commercial. Some have even alleged that it violates the Second Commandment by making a "graven image" if Jesus.

Though a few secular movie critics have commended the film, the most prominent have blasted it with language that feels almost as violent as the violence in the movie they so abhor. I'm speaking here of reviewers from Newsweek, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and most of all, The New Republic, where one reviewer wrote:

"The notion that there is something spiritually exalting about the viewing of it is quite horrifying. The viewing of The Passion of the Christ is a profoundly brutalizing experience. . . . It is a repulsive masochistic fantasy, a sacred snuff film . . . . Gibson's faith is finally pre-theological, the kind of conviction that abhors thought, superstitiously fascinated by Satan and 'the other realm,' a manic variety of Christian folk religion."

Notice that this reviewer is criticizing, not on the movie, but the faith of Mel Gibson, which, as it turns out, is shared by the vast majority of Christians in America today, including me.

This review, like so many, responds not only to The Passion of the Christ, but to the Christ it portrays. Like I said, Jesus Christ inspires the most diverse and impassioned responses of any figure in history. "

blogs4God is listing all the differing Passion reviews (it has been sold-out). I love the paradox that Christians are promoting a film that in the UK will be an 18! I am a bit sad that I cannot really wade into these discussions as in the UK we still await our opportunity to view it. But view it I will, and once all my blogging friends are bored of it I will no doubt decide which side of the fence I am on!

Passion Review by Mark Roberts who has been lucky enough to see the film- joining the pope and Billy Graham on my list of people I am envious of for having seen this. Don't they want a UK blogger to review it???

Having allowed my whole family to watch the new Lord of the Rings film I asked Henry, What did you learn from the Lord of the rings?

Henry's answer- 'Not to go out on my own'

Well, I guess thats one function of letting kids see depictions of evil! Of course the other is to instill in them the age old story of the fight of good versus evil.

Many seem to learn more expicitly Christian messages from the film, such as for example Nick: "Does Lord of the Rings reflect Christian values? I think so. I see the One Ring reflecting our sin, and Frodo's role as the Ring-Bearer one that each of us have to endure."

I think we can go down this road too much however, and interestingly Rick quotes Tolkein himself about what he meant by the story "'The prime motive was the desire of a tale-teller to try his hand at a really long story that would hold the attention of readers, amuse them, delight them, and at times maybe excite them or deeply move them . . . . As for any inner meaning or �message�, it has in the intention of the author none. It is neither allegorical nor topical.'"

Of course, today the very concept of evil itself is being undermined, and when Bush spoke of an axis of evil he was ridiculed by many. If evil is an exclusively Christian concept then the Lord of the Rings clearly illustrates it. That is not to say that the story doesnt excelently illustrate many christian values, but lets not make it too much like a Christian parable, because it clearly wasn't intended to be that.

Stories do shape us however, and I for one am much happier about the way the Lord of the Rings with its clear demarcation between good and evil will shape me and my family than I am say Harry Potter which from what I understand tends to blur the boudaries somewhat.

'Mel Gibson's Passion is faithful to scripture, and that's why critics are angry,' says Bible scholar Darrell Bock. He goes on to say 'This film is extraordinary. I've never seen a film quite like it.'

Can't find much comment about this, although the reviews seem mixed. I might even have to go and see it. It seems this is about an attempt to Sue the almighty for damages for an 'act of God' which the insurance company wouldn't pay out for! According to the BBC, The Man Who Sued God is a hard film to categorise. It's also a hard film not to like, since its so-absurd-it-could-be-true story about a man who decides to sue Him Upstairs for damages is nicely played by all concerned. In his first comedy role on film, aging Scottish madman Billy Connolly plays Steve Myers"

The Jewish Journal Of Greater Los Angeles: "'There are only two parties to what occurred � the Jews, of whom Jesus was one of them, and the Romans,' Hier said. 'Now since the Romans are not here anymore, if you�re upset with how Jesus died, there�s only people left to blame � and that�s the Jews.'"

The heat that is being generated by this Gibson film is quite something. Of course the Jews were to blame for killing Jesus, but so were the Romans, so were the other nationalities who were no doubt in Jerusalem at the time, and so were all of mankind. In a nice touch I understand Gibson underlines his personal guilt in the death of Jesus by using his hands in the scene of Jesus' hands being nailed to the cross.

Mel Gibson seems to have exceeded all expectations with his new film The Pasion. I defy you to watch the trailer at hollywood Jesus without a tear in your eye. This bloody portrayal of Jesus death will shake us out of our complacent overfamiliarity with this story and make us sit up and listen.

Empire Online | The Film Website | News To begin with, Gibson attended Mass every morning whilst shooting The Passion just so that he was 'squeaky clean' while working on the film. And then there's the matter of his muse. Most directors pick a pretty lady as their inspiration, but Gibson went one better, finding an altogether more spiritual guide. 'I'm not a preacher, and I'm not a pastor,' he says. 'But I really feel my career was leading me to make this. The Holy Ghost was working through me on this film, and I was just directing traffic. I hope the film has the power to evangelise.
'Everyone who worked on this movie was changed. There were agnostics and Muslims on set converting to Christianity.'

A while ago, I watched this film and as a result of hearing about the first black master diver in the US navy who also kept on diving after an amputation I initially thought 'No way!' But in fact the US navy tell Carl Brashear's true story and in this picture we see the real man meeting his hollywood counterpart. What struck me most though in reading all this is that this very strong man who might have been expected to be very independent and a true American Hero had the following quote on his diving locker.

There�s no one of us smarter than all of us.

I am a great believer in team work, in community. What the world needs is not individual heroes but people who like other people and can work with them. Even today when churches are closing all over the place Colin Baron beleives �Anyone can pioneer a church provided they like people�

The trouble is that we live in a society that is trying to destroy itself. All the old ties of community and responsibility are being worn down. Single parenthood is becoming almost the norm. We must of course be careful not to be too hard on the single parent though- the single parent is the one who stayed!

We need to return again to a society once more of tolerance and interdependance where we all have a part to play.