eChurch Blog

Another phrase that used to be used without much thought was “meeting people where they are at”, again it is important being with people but Christ having both met them and listened, then teaches and demands they leave where they are “at” to follow him.

The Church is a “hospital for the sick” and a “school for sinners”, it is not a hospice for the dying or an institution for the ignorant. It is a place where the sick are brought to health and a school where the ignorant are taught wisdom. It is concerned with metamorphosis, transfiguration, change.

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I’ll always highlight the slender positive news relating to Christians in the Middle East where I can:

During a meeting with heads of Orthodox churches in the Middle East, King Abdullah said the Kingdom is considered a “distinguished” model for coexistence between Muslims and Christians, noting that they are all working as one family to enhance the development and achievement process.

The King underlined the significance of the church’s role in spreading the word of peace, harmony and love to serve the human community and achieve further rapprochement among followers of different faiths, according to a Royal Court statement.

For their part, the heads of the oriental Orthodox churches commended the Monarch’s efforts to enhance dialogue between Muslims and Christians and highlight their common values.

They underscored the importance of King Abdullah’s initiatives to build bridges of communication among followers of different religions and eradicate misunderstandings between them apart from closeness, intolerance and extremism.

They also valued the King’s endeavours to achieve a comprehensive and just peace in the region, in addition to his role in safeguarding the holy sites in Jerusalem.

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Adam Wagner of the UK Human Rights Blog has the details.

Finally I will point out that among the oldest Health and Safety regulations we have is this from Dt 22:8

“When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof.”

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While a defiant Moammar Gadhafi assured “martyrdom or victory” today in the battle against the “aggressors” in Libya, Christians in Tripoli met in prayer for the country and the future of Christians throughout the northern African nation.

The Open Doors country coordinator for Libya, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “Every day around noon, a part of the small Christian community gathers to encourage each other.”

Open Doors estimates the number of indigenous Libyan Christians is around 150. However, prior to the start of the revolution, the expatriate Christian community was believed to be approximately 180,000.  Large numbers of migrant workers left Libya after the revolt that started Feb. 15, but a small number of foreign Christians remain in Libya.

“Today a group of Christians from Tripoli shared with me that they are doing well and said the atmosphere is okay,” the Open Doors worker said. “Also, the church is still in good condition and undamaged despite fighting in the capital.”

About the personal safety of the Christians, the coordinator said: “Believers from African origin are not going outside the city for their own safety, but otherwise everyone is safe.”

The country coordinator added: “Getting in touch with Christians in Tripoli is not easy. Phone service is off and on or not answered, but I understand that the Internet is up in Tripoli again, so I expect communication opportunities will improve in the next few days.”

Concerning the future of the church, the Open Doors worker noted: “The situation will change, that is for sure, but will Christians gain from the change? Will there be more religious freedom under a new administration? No one knows. The government will be Islamic, but the question remains how strict it will be and how strong fundamentalist influences will be shaping the new Libya.

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The National Journal reported yesterday that even though Libya’s Transitional National Council is not fully in control of the country, a draft constitution has appeared online. The Draft Constitutional Charter for the Transitional Stage includes this provision regarding religious rights:

Article (1) …Islam is the Religion of the State and the principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence (Sharia)…. The State shall guarantee for non-Moslems the freedom of practising religious rights and shall guarantee respect for their systems of personal status.

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Most people in that part of the world [Middle East + North Africa] get their impression of Americans from American television and movies, such as Baywatch and Dallas. They think most Americans are rich, sex-obsessed alcoholics. And their impression is that American and Christian are synonymous.

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Ken Ham of the infamous Answers in Genesis outfit, has a blog post blathering on about the UK Church being in trouble and in a mess, because we’ve rejected a literal interpretation of Genesis.

Ham’s blog post was prompted by a superb article that appeared in the Christianity Magazine written by David Instone-Brewer – Baptist Minister and senior research fellow at Tyndale House, Cambridge.

As I feel in the mood to confront Ham directly – face to face – and inform him in no uncertain terms that our churches here in the UK are not in a mess, nor in trouble, I think I’ll take him up on his kind offer to attend an ‘appreciation dinner’ with him.

Unfortunately, it would appear from his website that this wondrous privilege would set me back tens of thousands of dollars and I would have to become a member of the Genesis Legacy Society.

Never fear however, I have a cunning plan. I shall simply send $1,000 to a high profile ‘faith and prosperity’ ministry, patiently await my 100-fold seed return and then stuff my face with Ham.

And Christ does not disdain so to share his lordship and kingship, because he did not disdain to lay aside even his divine glory in order to share our nature. if he had, he would not have become man in the first place and entered this necessary nexus of relationships. Christ is not a sealed eternal capsule fallen to earth ready-made from heaven. Christ is the seed of the Word planted by the Father in the womb of Mary, that fertile earth that gave nourishment and growth to the seed of the Word, that we may eventually eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Cross.

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