Religious Ceremonies during Covid        Word on the Week            1^st August 2020.

Eid-al-Adha in Croke Park.   A celebration of Islam on the revered turf.   The age of inclusion has arrived almost without warning!    The Muslim “festival of sacrifice” was a bloodless one last Friday at least any sacrificing was done outside the park.

The festival marks the end of the Hajj season of pilgrimages.   It provides an opportunity for families and communities to come together for prayers and feasting. Goats, cows and lambs are sacrificed and the meat is shared with the poor.

Abraham’s planned sacrifice of his son is being commemorated.   God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his only son, who had been miraculously born to his elderly wife Sarah.   In his struggle to reconcile God’s demands with the promise that he would be the father of a multitude Abraham reasoned that God could bring the boy back from the dead.    What actually happened was a ram, caught by its horns in a nearby thicket, became the substitute sacrifice (Genesis Chapter 22 verses 1 – 18 and Hebrews Chapter 11 verses 17 -19).

There are a few differences with Christianity.   Muslims say Ismael Abraham’s son by his wife’s servant was offered.    But this was the son of disobedience.   The product of Abraham, taking matters into his own hands and at his wife’s instigation, committed adultery with Hagar the maid-servant (Genesis Chapter 16 verses 1 – 4).

Christians believe that Isaac, the son of promise, was the son God used to test Abraham’s faith.   He was the son of faith.  Born out of union with his wife Sarah who was 90 years old.   Born when Abraham was age 100 and Ishmael was 14 years old (Genesis Chapter 17 verses 25 – 26).

Unlike Ishmael’s birth which was natural Isaac’s birth was supernatural.    Both parents were well past childbearing age so that Isaac’s birth and his name, foretold by angelic heavenly visitors one year before Isaac’s birth, was the fulfilling of a miracle (Genesis Chapter 18 verse 10).

It was through Isaac’s line that a peasant girl of the tribe of Judah named Mary, by God’s grace, gave birth to a son.   This too was a miraculous birth.   The angel gave the name to Joseph, Mary’s engaged, of Jesus which means saviour.   He was to be given that name because he would save his people from their sins (St Matthew Chapter 1 verses 20 – 21).  

This work to provide salvation was completed on the cross where Jesus hung as the sacrifice given by the Father.   This time there was no substitute.   Jesus was there as our substitute.    He was dying in the sinner’s place.   The Shepherd becomes the Lamb.  Sacrificed for us once for all time (Isaiah Chapter 53 verses 4 -6 and Hebrews Chapter 9 verses 28 -28).

Jesus gives the invitation to you whatever your background to turn to Him and find rest for your soul – the rest of redemption (St Matthew Chapter 11 verses 28 – 30).   The offer is for you today.

The Taking of Oaths             Word on the Week                          25^th July 2020.

The Government pledged this week to replace the taking of oaths in Courts with “a statement of truth”.    We wish them well with this new effort to extract the truth from the accused, witnesses and all who take the stand.    There has always been the impression of inadequacy, rather than effectiveness, that swearing on the Bible had in extracting truth!

In the Bible we find the 3^rd commandment is allocated to truth-telling; “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus Chapter 20 verse 7). 

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus focused on the meaning behind the 3^rd commandment which was not to tell lies then attempt to make them ‘sound authentic’ by using the Lord’s name.  

Jesus commented on this in his sermon when he said “you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfil to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all… all you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one (St Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 to 37).

It is good to see Atheist Ireland on the same page as Jesus when it comes to oaths taken in the Lord’s name.   In a recent letter to the press they want rid of them!   Let’s look for a moment at the reason for oaths.   They are to put the person taking the oath under greater constraints to tell the truth.   There is a penalty available if the oath is broken by lying.   This is the crime of perjury but it is seldom invoked.

It is more common the hear oaths in the form of swear words.   These often incorporate the Lord’s name or the more basic bodily functions.    They can form part of a person’s vocabulary from their early years and expand till they become almost indispensable.

When a person comes to believe in Christ the Holy Spirit is involved in making adjustments in the areas of thought, word and actions.   One of the things that comes from the realisation that Jesus died for you is that you don’t want to let him down.    One of the easiest ways to do just that is like St Peter with oaths and curses (St Matthew Chapter 26 verse 74).   Perhaps that’s why cleaning up the new believer’s language is one of the first signs of the Holy Spirit’s work (Galatians Chapter 5 verse 22).

Whatever the Government puts in place of religious oaths the follower of Jesus will answer to a higher power and will let his/her Yes be Yes and No be No.

Jack Charlton                         Word on the Week                          18^th July 2020.

The death of Jack Charlton at the end of last week brought back a flood of sporting memories from the glory days of Irish soccer.   Never was an Englishman so loved by an Irish sporting population which had grown up to dislike all things English.   It was a wonderful paradox!

Jack came from ‘Geordie’ stock.   He and his brother Bobby (later to play for England) were taught the elements of ball control in the lane behind their house by their Mother!   His father worked in the coal mine but showed no interest in soccer.   He had Uncles who played for well-known clubs and to some extent football was in his DNA.

Consistency marked out his career.   Most of his life as a player was spent with Leeds United.   By the time he retired he had played 773 games with them.   It was his proud boast that he was never once substituted!    

We lived in Leeds during the heady days of 1968 -71 and saw him play at their grounds at Elland Road.    His size 6 feet 3 inches made him an unmistakable figure on the pitch.   Verna Wright, Professor of Rheumatology at Leeds University was permitted to inject the team’s knees with a serum as part of its field trials.   It was reckoned jovially that the players could out-run their opponents as a result!

Jack moved into management and after successfully improving the position of a couple of clubs was invited to become manager of the Irish National team.    This was 1986.   It was to be the start of a 10-year period which saw the Irish team achieve great things.   From the start Jack put his stamp on the way things were done.   On the field his catch-phrase “put ‘em under pressure” paid dividends.   It led the team into two World Cup tournaments reaching the quarter finals in the second. 

In those days I was working in the Irish Life building and can vividly recall when, after lunch, someone ‘accidently’ switched on the loudspeaker and the theme song “Olay; olay, olay, olay – olay, olay” galvanised the many supporters in the hall!    There is no doubt that sport, played well on the international stage, has the power to lift the moral of a nation.

But Jesus didn’t die simply to lift the moral of any Nation.   His death was the gateway for many to enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14 verses 21 – 22).   Isaiah writing regarding the Israel of God, the redeemed, spoke of “everlasting joy shall be upon their heads” (Chapter 35 verses 8 – 10).

While we fondly remember Jack and the good times we will eventually forget.  The joy of salvation lasts forever.   Jesus said, Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (St John Chapter 5 verse 24).

Lockdown Blues                   Word on the Week                          11th July 2020.

As the corona virus rages globally commercial demands put pressure on the leaders of countries.   Some would argue that the damage to the work-scene has created a financial cost that makes the medicine worse (i.e. the lockdown) than the disease!     Disharmony abounds as political considerations vie with health advice.

We have people, longing for a sunny break, rising to the bait of a flight to a Spanish resort.   After a 100 days in lockdown in a house which came to feel like a prison – who could deny them a break?   Especially for the kids!     Money may well have been saved over the last three months and, if your culture is to spend not save for the rainy days ahead, the plane standing on the tarmac is tempting!

It’s easy to slip into thinking social responsibility isn’t part of our DNA.   Let the politicians safeguard the jobs!   We have shown great restraint up till now.   Can someone tell the virus to back off?

These rebel thoughts are not helped when scientists produce conflicting reports.  It’s only when the death rate per 100.000 of the population goes through the roof that countries can be persuaded to change tactics.   And even then the loss of face at being proved wrong can delay the apology and the need to changing course.

Life in this fallen world is hard that is why we need to be part of a community of love.  We were not created to live in lockdown (Genesis Chapter 2 verse 14). God has few hermits.    For those re-created in Christ the Apostle Paul explains ‘believer behaviour’ (Romans Chapter 12 verses 1 & 2).   This is summed up for us in the first lines of the hymn; Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Then he explains ‘church practice’ verses 9 & 10 “Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil: cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves”.

As the lockdown eases and we return to our place of Sunday worship there will be many opportunities for service.  This is where relationships with each other go beyond the superficial and are deepened.   St Paul uses the human body as an illustration; “…speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians Chapter 4 verses 15/16).

There is no indication that the virus will go away soon.  Some forms of defence will become part of our way of life i.e. social distancing for example.  We need the support of each other.   Let love abound (1 John Chapter 4 Verses 10/12).

Independence Day USA                  Word on the Week               4^th July 2020.

The concluding words of President Lincoln’s Gettysburg address have lost none of their impact… “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”    It has become the cornerstone of democracy.    Along with the Statue of Liberty at the entrance of New York harbour its pledge of freedom has been gratefully received by many.

Lincoln used Biblical language.   He realised that nothing short of a new birth could destroy the grip of slavery.    There had to be 180 degree change in the way of regarding people of colour.    I am not sure that President Trump sees it that way.  He is reputed to see himself as the true successor to Lincoln but it is too soon to be thinking of his epitaph!    He has an election to win first.

It must give rise to some wishful thinking when Trump reflects on the election-free status of his contemporaries.   Xi Jinping who heads the communist party in China has life-long tenure of the job.   Vladimir Putin the Russian President has this week ensured he remains in office till his 83 birthday.   Both gentlemen are 67 years old whereas Donald Trump is 74.   The temptation to have the 4-year presidential term limitation (subject to a maximum of two terms) removed must be hard to resist.   However, he requires to be re-elected first!

It is the strong point of democracy that governments have to offer themselves for re-election at predetermined intervals.    Indeed, they may be removed from Office should they lose their majority.    They are answerable to the people who in turn must submit themselves to live under the law (Romans Chapter 13 verses 1 to 7).

It is a sobering thought to realise these words of scripture were faithfully recorded during a time of vicious persecution.   They were written primarily to the church in Rome when persecution of Christians was at its height.    The knowledge that the authorities were established by God must have been hard to accept.   The only exceptions were when obedience to the government meant disobeying God (Daniel chapter 3 verses 12 to 18 and Acts Chapter 5 verse 29).

Christians have an unchanging Bible.   The luxury of criticising leaders is given to secular journalists amongst others.    The role of the believer is to pray for their leaders – “prayers be made for … those in authority … This is good and pleases God our Saviour who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy Chapter 2 verses 1 – 4).     We have a different agenda!

May this Independence Day celebrate the ideals of the founding Fathers of the USA.

Government at last              Word on the Week                          27^th June 2020.

Sometimes democratic elections can produce unwelcome results!    In the case of Ireland, the three main parties came close to tying for the most votes.   The people had spoken but their vote required 140 days and hundreds of thousands of words of political negotiating until a triparty government was agreed this week.

The outcome is something of a miracle as the chief contending parties were on opposing sides in the civil war (1922 -1923) – and in Ireland we have long memories!  In order to obtain a majority in the Dáil the relatively new Green Party had to be wooed and won.    Global warming creating the current climate change had to be given a higher profile in the programme for government and the Green Party reckon we humans can do something about it.

Written in to the programme is the requirement to reduce carbon emissions by 7% annually during the lifetime of this government.    Our previous efforts to reduce these emissions have been counterproductive.    The level of emissions has risen slightly!     It will require many more to emulate Eamon Ryan, the cycling Green Party leader, to get on their bike to improve our carbon footprint.

One good thing that has come out of the coronavirus pandemic has been the lowering of vehicle emissions.    Road traffic has been greatly reduced and now with the gradual lifting of the restrictions it may not return to its former manic levels.   This can be achieved by people continuing to work, at least part of the week, from home.   All this has given us a boost towards the 7% emission reduction.

Another advantage has been the use of the ‘Zoom’ program on computers.   This along with improved website designs has removed distance from being a negative factor between people and made technology a positive experience.     Instead of meeting physically in conference the ‘webinar’ has become popular.   It enabled me to attend part of a conference in London this week along with approx. 600 others!

But it is the words that are said which is the important thing.   The medium through which they are delivered is relatively unimportant (Numbers Chapter 22 verses 28 to 38).   Jesus said it is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life (St John Chapter 6 verse 63).

Through the Prophet Isaiah the Lord said “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Chapter 55 verse 11).

The word of God, believed, always achieves its purposes.   Unbelief is the product of hard hearts; “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (St John Chapter 5 verse 40).    May God soften our hearts to trust him.  

Father’s Day                         Word on the Week                          20^th June 2020.

As the culture continues to slip away from the bedrock of Biblical Marriage the role of Father increasingly is seen by some to be redundant.    We had better cherish what remains of it and celebrate this imported day from the United States of America.

We get plenty of news of bad fathers.   Sadly, this abhorrent behaviour gets much media attention.   As we come out of Covid-19 lockdown, cases of domestic abuse surface.   These show fathers’ in the worst possible light.   The home which should be a place of safety and love becomes a very dark place.   

In response society can only lock up the perpetuator in a damage limitation exercise.   There are few remedies for those traumatised outside the Christian Gospel where through faith in Jesus the person becomes a new creation and the old life is replaced by the new (2 Corinthians Chapter 5 verse 17).

Jesus paints a different picture of the heavenly Father.    In the parable of the prodigal son the father’s love is unwavering irrespective of the scurrilous treatment meted out to him by his son.   Relationships must be maintained irrespective of the horrendous behaviour.    Hurts are absorbed by God’s grace and forgiveness flows (St Luke Chapter 15 verses 11 to 32).

There are few men in the Bible that model godly manhood better than Boaz.   His care for Ruth the Moabitess both when she was an immigrant and later when they married was exemplary (Ruth Chapters 2 to 4).  

The Apostle Paul values marriage as highly as Christ’s relationship with His church.   Just as Christ died for the church so the husband is to love his wife as much as his own life and be prepared to sacrifice it for her welfare (Ephesians Chapter 5 verses 28 to 31).

In scripture there are many names for God.   Each brings out a characteristic of his being.   When Jesus was teaching prayer he introduced the ultimate relationship name of ‘Abba’ which translates as Father.    St Mark tells us that Jesus used ‘Abba’ in his Gethsemane prayer as he prepared himself for the cross where he was to bear the sin of the redeemed (St Mark Chapter 14 verse 36 and Titus 2 verses 11 to 14).

We are told that if we are Christ’s and by the Spirit we root out sin we are sons and daughters of God and can genuinely call him Abba (Romans Chapter 8 verses 13 to 17).     If we who are earthly fathers can call our heavenly Father, Abba we should strive to reflect something of his qualities in all our family relationships.   

Happy and holy Father’s Day!

For the Birds and Us                        Word on the Week              13^th June 2020.

Through the struggles and strains of lockdown one of the things we have become more aware of has been the ‘Dawn Chorus’.    The birdsong which contributes to this does not need an alarm clock – the brightening sky to the North-East wakens them up and they find their voices.

The soothing effect, even at 4.30 am, is most relaxing.   The recent rain, after the almost 3 month’s drought, has increased the volume of birdsong throughout the day.   Successful nesting (predators have been absent!) and even the magpie family which reared 3 chicks in the Scots Pine at our front door behaved themselves!  

A family of Blue Tits found a safe place to feed their fledglings in an old cage.   They, being small, could reach the bird-food whereas their rivals had to rely on the bird feeders in more exposed places.    While the parent birds busy themselves collecting food, as soon as their wings will carry them, the young birds put in an appearance right outside the kitchen window.    They have no fear at this stage.  One chick which rested on the windowsill was being examined by Tess our Pugaleer whose nose was 1 inch from it.    Needless to say I put a stop to Tess’s investigation!

Where access to such treats is not possible the TV has produced some excellent nature programmes which lift the spirits    The sheer beauty of the birds in their mating plumage, the intricate web of materials that comprise their nest and the rich colour to their eggs remind us of God’s hand in all creation.

This year during lockdown we have had time to reflect on ‘natural selection’.  There may be a scientific explanation but I would be curious as to where the corona virus evolved from in such a short time.    There have been other plagues in times past.    They seem to arise when a virus crosses from the animal world to mankind.    Perhaps it should be called ‘unnatural selection’!

Habakkuk had no difficulty in attributing the plagues of Egypt to the Lord’s hand when surveying the history of Israel in his day (Chapter 3 verse 5 and Exodus Chapters 7 to 14).    When time has filtered out what is and what isn’t important about current events it will become more apparent what God is saying to us in these days (Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verse 11).

Now is the time to encourage each other with the words of Hebrews Chapter 10 where the writer proclaims the completeness of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross and his entering into a covenant relationship with his believing people.    He then tells them (and us) to maintain fellowship with each other (even if it is on Zoom) as you see the Day approaching (verses 8 to 25).   

Human Fault Lines               Word on the Week                          6^th June 2020.

My earliest memory of a fault line was not human at all.   It was a fissure in the rock which bounded the coast line.   The North Sea swept into it twice a day with each high tide.   It lay across our path to an inlet where the fishing was good.   The temptation to jump across the divide and save a longer walk was irresistible!

We were told horrific tales of the young girl who tried to jump the 5-foot gap but her long dress caught on the rock and she plunged some 40 feet to her death.   Her name was Mary Reid and the Cove bears her name to this day.

Fault lines present both a challenge and danger.    An early one in Scripture in language.   Everyone in the beginning spoke God’s language.   His words were easily understood.   Language is one of his amazing gifts to us that is often overlooked.     From the start God made himself known by words.  The trouble is that by sinning they can be used deceitfully.    Their meaning can be twisted as the Serpent demonstrated (Genesis Chapter 3 verses 1 to 5).

This led to the first major fault line when the ‘one language and common speech’ had to be scrambled in order to curb the people’s desire to live as they pleased without God.   What they feared happened and their language was completely confused and they were scattered ‘all over the face of the earth’ (Genesis Chapter 11 verses 1 to 8).

Another fault line is found in race.    Skin colour sadly promotes division.   When mixed with injustice it can lead to riots and killing.    This week we have seen peaceful force in conflict with State forces in the USA.   During the reporting there was a moment when the TV cameras picked out members of the National Guard kneeling alongside protesters united in prayer.   Christianity heals divisions by creating new people (Galatians Chapter 3 verse 28).

In Jesus this unity can become permanent as each comes to the cross to leave their sins there and embrace the other.  The death of Christ has made many rebels one as thy become part of the family of God (1 Peter Chapter 2 verse 9).

The hymn-writer puts it well when he says Jesus is omnipotent (having unlimited power) to save – trust in Him.

1 The Saviour died, but rose again
triumphant from the grave;
and pleads our cause at God’s right hand,
omnipotent to save.

2 Who then can e’er divide us more
from Jesus and his love,
or break the sacred chain that binds
the earth to heaven above?

3 Let troubles rise, and terrors frown,
and days of darkness fall;
through him all dangers we’ll defy,
and more than conquer all.

4 Nor death nor life, nor earth nor hell,
nor time’s destroying sway,
can e’er efface us from his heart,
or make his love decay.

5 Each future period that will bless,
as it has blessed the past;
he loved us from the first of time,
he loves us to the last.

Race and Riots                       Word on the Week                          30^th May 2020.

On Monday this week in Minneapolis the Police arrested George Floyd.     He died by suffocation when handcuffed he lay on the ground with a policeman’s knee on his neck.    This position lasted for some 5 minutes while three other policemen stood around.     We are not told what his crime was.

The incident would have gone largely unnoticed were it not for a bystander capturing the action on his camera.     Two factors to note; George was of African-American stock and there appeared to be an absence of mercy by the policemen.

The detained man can he heard groaning on the video, and repeatedly saying “I can’t breathe”, before he stops speaking.      His last words have been taken up by the rioters as their slogan as they wreaked havoc on the city over the last few nights. 

When there is the perception that justice is lacking it becomes difficult to do anything meaningful without being accused of bias.    In this case George was a black man and the policeman was white.   George had no power and the policeman was powerful.    It is only in God’s sight that they are equal “When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.   Male and female he created them and he blessed them” (Genesis Chapter 5 verses 1 – 2).

 The French philosopher named Muretus 1526-1585 was well educated but also very poor. He became sick, and was taken to the place where the destitute were kept. The people who cared for him did not know that he was a scholar and that he understood the scholar’s Latin. One day the doctors were discussing his case in Latin and they were saying that he was a poor creature of value to no one and that it was hopeless and unnecessary to expend care and money on attention to such a worthless human. Muretus looked up from his bed of rags and answered in their own Latin, “Call no man worthless for whom Christ died.”

Every human is made in the image of God and however marred the image may be it is never obliterated.   In fact, it there is always the potential of redemption and a re-imaging for the person who comes to faith in Christ.    In Christ there is no such thing as an excluded race.    God’s mercy knows no limit (Titus Chapter 3 verses 1-8).

Some years ago we had Alfred, Maria and family from Serra Leone worshipping with us.   They were musical and one of the songs they composed had the powerful lines that Christians should be colour-blind.   By God’s grace this has become second nature to us and may point to a remedy for churches to adopt instead of permitting segregated worship.  

May the cross of Christ make us all colour-blind (Galatians Chapter 3 verses 26 – 29).