Shining as stars in the sky

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As a Christian there’s a lot I disagree with Stephen Fry about, but I was a bit saddened to hear he’d left Twitter. I keep an eye on what he writes not only because his words carry such weight in our world, but because he uses the English language beautifully. I often disagree with what he says, but there’s a lot to be learned from how he says it.

It was slightly surreal to see him attacked pretty mercilessly by people who hold to an almost identical worldview after his (ill-advised) BAFTA_joke.

Fry explains why he left Twitter by saying:

“let us grieve at what twitter has become. A stalking ground for the sanctimoniously self-righteous who love to second-guess, to leap to conclusions and be offended – worse, to be offended on behalf of others they do not even know.

It doesn’t matter [who] they think they’re defending.... the ghastliness is absolutely the same. It makes sensible people want to take an absolutely opposite point of view....

I’ve heard people shriek their secularism in such a way as to make me want instantly to become an evangelical Christian."

(Full post here)

Yes, Stephen Fry seems to have left Twitter because of sanctimonious, self-righteous… secularists!

The world expects Christians to be harsh, unforgiving, judgemental and self-righteous, what a witness it would be if we were steadfast and uncompromising in holding to the truth, yet also gracious, gentle, forgiving and humble. Looking to build and to bless rather than tear-down and destroy. What a witness that would be.

“In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

(1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV)

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”

 Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky."

(Philippians 2:14-15)

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Octavious Winslow on the work of the Holy Spirit

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Natural religion can never renew, sanctify, and save the soul… 

O no! Another and a diviner light must shine upon his soul; another and a more powerful hand must break the seals. That light, that hand, is God the Holy Ghost… 

O thou blessed and loving Spirit! This is thy work, and thine alone. Thine to empty, thine to fill. Thine to lay low, thine to exalt. Thine to wound, thine to heal. Thine to convince of sin, and thine to lead the soul, all sinful, guilty, and wretched as it is, to the precious blood of Jesus - “the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness.” Thou shalt have the praise, and wear the crown!

Octavious Winslow

The Inquirer Directed to the Work of the Holy Spirit (1856), 31,32

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All Glory be to Christ

I’m sure every nation has its own treasured New Year traditions. As a Scotsman I can’t imagine Hogmanay without Only an Excuse, Jackie Bird, those 2 violinists whose names I can never remember, and of course Auld Lang Syne.

The tune itself brings memories flooding back, reminding us of New Years past, and other special occasions throughout our lives (I remember singing it with our guests at the very end of our wedding celebrations.)

What better way to start a New Year than by learning a new hymn, to that old tune!

And what more fitting words to sing than these?

Should nothing of our efforts stand

No legacy survive

Unless the Lord does raise the house

In vain its builders strive

To you who boast tomorrow’s gain

Tell me what is your life?

A mist that vanishes at dawn

All glory be to Christ!

All glory be to Christ our king!

All glory be to Christ!

His rule and reign we’ll ever sing,

All glory be to Christ!

His will be done

His kingdom come

On earth as is above

Who is Himself our daily bread

Praise Him the Lord of love

Let living water satisfy

The thirsty without price

We’ll take a cup of kindness yet

All glory be to Christ!

All glory be to Christ our king!...

When on the day the great I Am

The faithful and the true

The Lamb who was for sinners slain

Is making all things new.

Behold our God shall live with us

And be our steadfast light

And we shall ere his people be

All glory be to Christ!

All glory be to Christ our king!...

From 'Joy Has Dawned'

Words by Dustin Kensrue, arrangement by Kings Kaleidoscope / © Dead Bird Theology (ASCAP), It’s All About Jesus Music (ASCAP)

HT: Justin Taylor

He that made man was made man

'Beloved Friends, we live in a world of sin and sorrow and we are sinful and sorrowful—we need one who can put away our sin and become a sharer in our sorrow. If he cannot go with us through all the rough places of our pilgrimage, how can he be our guide? If he has never travelled in the night, himself, how can he whisper consolation to us in our darkest hours? We have a fully qualified High Priest in our Lord Jesus Christ…

… A heavy atmosphere fills this Tabernacle this morning, making it difficult to speak and more difficult to hear, but yet, if some sudden news came to you, as the burning of your house, or the death of a dear child, you would shake off all lethargy and wake up from all dullness and heaviness of spirit! And, therefore, I claim your liveliest thoughts for the solemn subject which I have introduced to you. Think much of the Son of God, the Lord of Heaven and earth, who, for our salvation, loved and lived and served and suffered! He that made man was made Man! As a Suppliant, with cries and tears He pleaded with God—even He before whom the hosts of Heaven bow adoringly! He has still that tenderness to which He was trained by His suffering! He bids you come to Him now! You that love Him, approach Him, now, and read the love which is engraved on His heart! You who have not, until now, known Him, come boldly to Him and trust Him who has come so near to you. The Man is very near akin to us! Behold how He loves us! He bends down to us with eternal salvation in His hands! Believe in Him and live! God grant it!'

Spurgeon preaching on Hebrews 5:7-10 'Our Sympathizing High Priest'

CS Lewis in Defence of Dogma

‎"The god of whom no dogmas are believed is a mere shadow. He will not produce that fear of the Lord in which wisdom begins and therefore will not produce that love in which it is consummated. There is in the minimal religion nothing that can convince, convert, or console; nothing therefore which can restore vitality to our civilization. It is not costly enough." 

C.S Lewis

(From the essay 'Religion Without  Dogma?' God in the Dock)

John Ross on MLJ, revival, and the Church in our time

"Dr Lloyd-Jones died on Sunday 1st March, 1981. I well remember announcing his passing to an emotional evening congregation. Two decades later came the end of the twentieth century; a century unique in the history of Britain as the only one since the Reformation without national revival...

...Perchance the Church is still too fond of attempting to find solutions to its own problems and has not yet come to an end of itself. As Britain slips inexorably towards its likely dénouement as a disunited group of atheistic republics, and as its national Churches stand in jeopardy of having their candlesticks removed, we dare not lose sight of Martyn Lloyd-Jones' confidence in God's intervention, in answer to prayer, as the true remedy for spiritual decline. If his message had currency in the 1960s and 70s, how much more relevant is it today."

Dr John Ross, 

"Aspects of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Legacy: Some Personal Observations" 

A Sure and Steadfast Hope

 (from the church newsletter 2 March 2014)

We find ourselves in a season of sorrow.

Funerals are sorrowful services, yet they are also contexts in which we remember the strength of the hope we have in Christ, and how thankful we ought to be that we know Him as Lord and Saviour.

Whilst singing the old hymn ‘Will your Anchor Hold’ earlier today my mind went to the passage which inspired it (Hebrews 6:18-20):

18 These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when he makes a promise, and he cannot lie when he makes an oath. These things encourage us who came to God for safety. They give us strength to hold on to the hope we have been given. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and strong. It enters behind the curtain in the Most Holy Place in heaven, 20 where Jesus has gone ahead of us and for us. He has become the high priest forever, a priest like Melchizedek.

In the ancient world there would be a big heavy immovable stone found in every harbour called an ‘anchoria’.

Large ships had their own anchors. Small boats had no anchor, they tied themselves to the anchoria instead.

Sailing was a dangerous way to earn a living in those days and even sailing close to the shore was hazardous. Often a ship wouldn’t be able to get safely into harbour by itself. In this instance, they would send a ‘forerunner’ out. A sailor in a small boat would row to shore with a rope from the ship. He would tie the rope to the anchoria and it would lead them safely home.

Imagine after a long, draining and dangerous voyage, you saw your forerunner successfully venture through the stormy water to the harbour, and tie the rope to the anchoria. What a relief, what joy! You’re nearly home, safely secured to the anchoria, and the harbour.

This is the imagery used at the end of Hebrews 6. The author says:

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, (more literally ‘where Jesus, our forerunner’) has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

The hope we have in Christ, is an anchor for the soul- Christ has already gone home to the great harbour of heaven, through the curtain, into the most Holy place.

The anchor is sure and certain.

We who are believers in Jesus, are on our way home to be with Him.

His promise is sure, we’re nearly there, though the last leg of the journey may be rough, our destination is certain and will be well worth the wait.

Death is never a friend, yet it has lost its sting, and its power to drown out our victory song. We grieve our loss but we rejoice in our brother and sister’s gain.

They have been led home to that heavenly harbour, and in that, we rejoice.

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
    when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
    When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
    will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
        

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
        steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
        fastened to the rock which cannot move,
        grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!

Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,
    when the breakers roar and the reef is near?
    While the surges rage, and the wild winds blow,
    shall the angry waves then your bark o’erflow?
        . .

Will your anchor hold in the floods of death,
    when the waters cold chill your latest breath?
    On the rising tide you can never fail,
    while your anchor holds within the veil.
        

Will your eyes behold through the morning light,
    the city of gold and the harbour bright?
    Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,
    when life’s storms are past for evermore?
        

Yours in His Service

Ross