eChurch Blog

Warning: This is one of those self-indulgent blog posts on Christian blogging that’s a little random.

Anita Mathias is one of those lovely, reflective, spiritual bloggers, that I love to read, as you get a real shot in the arm of the stuff that’s really important.

I do honestly wish that I were a little more spiritual full stop in my blogging. I know full well that I’m rough around the edges and a little aggressive combative forthright at times. But I can’t pretend to be someone I’m not. I’ve often not got my spiritual head on and this spills over into my blogging. Yes I am Worzel Gummidge.

However, I will try to acknowledge when I’ve erred. For the first time ever (as far as I can remember) I removed a post that was written about my recent experiences of training in palliative care. As a result of this blog post I received the following comment:

There are those who care for these people, those who give dignity, reality and even humour to those on their  final journey. Many just get on with it. They don’t run around patting themselves on the back; they don’t see  it as a ‘calling’ – rather it is just something they are good at and they don’t see them elves as anything special. They don’t crave the self-importance and self-magnification that the religiously minded call ‘vocation’. If such work truly is giving – whether these souls are Christian or not, it matters little because for many the spirit of their work fulfils Matt 6: 1-4.

So perhaps working in palliative care is just something to keep quiet about, lest you fall into the error of  seeking praise and admiration from others – or worse, using your clients as fodder for emotional masturbation.  Remember ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ Lk 17:10

Absolutely right. As I read the comment I felt pierced and knew this was spot on. I’d blogged it for all the wrong reasons and blundered, so I deleted it pronto. Normally I let my folly stand, but it wasn’t appropriate in this case.

Anyway – as usual – Anita has a few blog posts that have given me pause for thought.

The first was entitled: One Way To Get A Lot Done When You Are Very Busy and cited Martin Luther as saying that the busier he was, the more time he spent in prayer. I noted that I wish I were like that, to which Anita respsonded:

Me too. I am sure it works though. So much of what we do is unnecessary. Perhaps with practice, the unconscious tunes in to the mind of God, and we stumble upon clever ways to do things, things we can eliminate, and the Gordian knots which can be slashed rather than unravelled.

My confession was:

The truth is that in the parable in 1 Corinthians it says:

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

At times (most of the time) I feel that I build on wood, hay or straw.

It’s not nice but that’s how I feel.

I wonder if any other Christians ever feel this way? Thinking specifically about blogging, I wonder if it furthers the cause of the Kingdom in any way. Truthfully, I don’t think it does, but I still feel compelled to blog. It was this sort of thinking that made me change my bio from a “Christian blog” to a “Christian that happens to blog”.

Today Anita blogged: Christian Blogging: Ministering Without Preaching and I had to laugh at point number 3:

The things which are glaringly obvious to everyone else, but which we are oblivious to. Bloggers, despite themselves, make these dreadful revelations about themselves—unwittingly revealing their emotional contours, their prejudices, their fears, their secret patches of pride, shame and sensitivity. Many personal blogs can be decoded by an alert reader. Anyone who chronicles the ongoing story of their personal or spiritual lives on the web makes these unconscious revelations, and must make peace with this.

I recently blogged that psychiatrists can determine our personality traits – or more accurately flaws – based on our social media interactions. I find that you often get a feel for a blogger that you follow; it’s like you get to know them to a certain extent.

I try to be honest here, but obviously there are some things I don’t divulge; although, having said that, I can’t think of anything I’ve not revealed one way or the other. Anyway, it makes me wonder how accurate the impression I give of myself really is. And how important is this for Christian blogging?

Doesn’t going honest just put people off Jesus? I mean, revealing that we are just as weak, biased and frail as anyone else, isn’t conducive to the Gospel is it?

So another victory for the “Protest the London Stock Exchange”, the Dean of St Paul’s cathedral, Rev Graeme Knowles, has just resigned citing his position had become untenable.

My congratulations to #occupylsx for securing another fine victory in their fight against, erm, a cathedral.

Here’s some of my fav Twitter responses for your edification:

So #occupyLSX has now successfully secured re resignations of three church staff sympathetic to its cause. The City must be quaking.

Hope #occupylsx are very happy with themselves after the Dean’s resignation. Seems all they’re achieving is resignation of church staff, WD

Seems #OccupyLSX can’t stop themselves scalping robed faux-socialists. Now Dean of St Pauls quits.

It’s a tragedy that #occupylsx has led to this. Banks etc must be euphoric.

So, #OccupyLSX, that’s two resignations from St. Paul’s, and how many from the Big Bad Evil Banks? #fail

What are the aims of the #occupylsx’s war on the church?

Well done #occupylsx that’s another capitalist bastard gone! Target BoE NOT THE CHURCH!

I was just under the (mistaken?) impression #occupyLSX was a protest about the City rather than the CoE, is all…

Imagine a world in which #occupylsx were as good at harassing the banks as it is at bothering the Church of England.

Rejoice! at the slaying of another beardy Sky Fairy Worshipper. This is sticking it to the banks #OccupyLSX

So #occupylsx has been successful in destabilising St Paul’s. Is there any other discernable impact?

Think it might be time for #occupyLSX to rename as Real British Humanist Association.

#occupylsx Go home failed protest! If people didnt keep resigning from St Paul’s you would be old news by now.

Would be nice if #occupylsx was as successful in getting City scalps as it is with St Paul’s cathedral’s

So, the Dean of St Paul’s has resigned. Hell, if we don’t smash capitalism we might at least have a shot with Christianity. #OccupyLSX

Our war against the evil Bank of St Paul’s has claimed another scalp – Rejoice!! #OccupyLSX

The #occupylsx protest has lost its purpose. No longer a protest against banks, it’s a protest against a Christian church. End it, please

If #OccupyLSX was about creating a debate around the church’s position on capitalism I’d say it had done a good job – but it isn’t is it?

Another top StPauls cleric has resigned, I thought the whole idea was to bring down the banks and state, not the church #confused #occupylsx

As a protest against the bankers #occupylsx is doing a fine job of pruning the CofE of staff

This protest has nothing to do with the church. Authorities have made it their problem now the Dean resigns -hardly fair #stpauls #occupylsx

remember when #OccupyLSX was supposed to be a protest against the Cityof London, not St Pauls Cathedral?

So, the Dean of St. Paul’s has resigned. That’ll show The City. #occupylsx

#occupyLSX seem to be having more success attacking Creed than greed…

Loving the opportunism of #occupylsx crowd, most of whom would usually happily protest everything the church stands for

Another member of the clergy has resigned from St Paul’s. Is #occupylsx about getting rid of the bankers & capitalism rather than vicars??

Quite an attack on the Church of England #occupylsx is turning out to be

Who’s resigning at the Stock Exchange? That’s right. NO-ONE. Something a bit wrong here? #occupylsx

I bet Satan’s leaning back in his plush leather swivel chair, staring at his bank of screens and having a right laugh at all this #occupylsx

What is wrong with #occupylsx why not target the people your protesting against and stop ruining the lives of people at St Pauls #getajob

So what have the #OccupyLSX protesters achieved? Lost revenue for St. Paul’s and a couple of resignations from the clergy.

Ironic that protest focus shifts from capitalist institutions toward one (church) historically supporting poor & most vulnerable #OccupyLSX

Tell me, how is your war with the Church going? And, whatever happened to your war with the London Stock Exchange? #occupylsx

Ironic that a protest against greedy bankers and selfish capitalists has claimed the scalps of two sympathetic Christian socialists. #olsx

Having pissed off a hell of a lot of Christians do #occupylsx still claim to represent 99% or are they just a bunch twats with some tents?

#occupylsx have once again missed the point. The Church does not need to negotiate or justify it’s request. They want you gone, SO GO.

Dean of St Paul’s, Graeme Knowles resigns and Zombie Bankers walk the streets of the city of London. Endtimes? #occupylsx

#OccupyLSX bringing down capitalism one clergyman at a time.

I’m beginning to wonder whether #occupylsx was in fact orchestrated by Richard Dawkins in a fiendish attempt to smash organised religion.

Way to go #occupyLSX you really kicked Capitalism’s Arse by making two Vicars resign! Barclays & McDonalds must be shitting themselves!

So #OccupyLSX score so far: Evil Capitalist Bankers Defeated – Nil, Wishy Washy Anglicans Resigned 2.

#occupylsx Why don’t you just leave? 2 Clergy resignations, nothing else achieved. Comedy value is waning and you are useless on all fronts

Kindly sent in by Tim and follows on nicely from my blog post: Millitant atheists are coming out; except of course Dawkins, who’s staying in and hiding behind the sofa.

By the way, one of my fav bloggers David – Anglican Samizdat – is referenced in the Vid, how cool is that?

OK, I know I’m blathering on quite a bit about the St Paul’s protests and am getting a little obsessive, so you’ll have to forgive my foibles on this one.

I want to draw attention to two excellent blog posts on this matter.

The first is written by Richard Littledale and looks at the dangers of co-opting Jesus to your cause, as well as asking how a critique of capitalism has now turned into a debate about the church.

The second is by Edward Green and looks at the issue of ‘transference’.

Both are well worth a read.

I’ve seen some crap on the #occupylsx Twitter stream, but this one takes the biscuit:

I’ve also seen today Christians ‘despairing’ that the CofE won’t support the protests; the question I’d like to ask them is what about the superb work the church does for the poor and oppressed, day in, day out, all year round? Does this count for nothing?

For years I’ve been using the expression “Here, here” on blogs and forums and Twitter etc, but little did I know that this an expression of my own devise.

Wifey just pointed out to my shame that it should properly be “Hear, hear”.

For the love of God why didn’t someone tell me?

I blame you.

I’m a plonker at times.

These are the details we have so far, which I’ve lifted from Richard’s blog:

In brief, a Catholic mental health nurse has lost her job because, in a professional discussion with a colleague, she made available a booklet providing case histories of the mental health consequences of abortion. The booklet was deemed to be religious’ and she was dismissed for distributing materials which some might find offensive.

The nurse’s case is being supported at an Employment Tribunal by the Thomas More Legal Centre, of which I am the Chairman; it will be heard on 15th November. We also intend to bring a case in the County Court arguing a breach of her right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

It’s worth hopping over to Richard’s blog as he gives details of how to support the Thomas More Legal Centre.

OK, that was slight exaggeration; Westboro Baptist Church are not picketing Gordon himself, but the offices he works in.

Yep, the Westboro mob of “God hates fags” fame are gracing Edinburgh with their presence and are picketing the Church of Scotland Ecumenical Autumn Conference.

Here’s Gordon’s account of events:

So I arrived at work this morning to find police guarding the door. Westboro Baptist Church were in town picketing a conference going on in our offices. Later we had crash barriers outside,  but all I saw were three counter protesters with a dog and a handful of journalists. Apparently three protesters did turn up, but were greeted with apathy. The Westboro people seem to feed off counter demonstrations, but being dour Edinburghers we can’t really be bothered with that sort of thing. The Starbucks across the road was busier than the demonstration and nobody over there had even noticed it was taking place.

I badgered Gordon into taking a piccie, which you can view here, and it does look like a rather sad and pathetic affair, which is good news.

My Twitter conversation with Gordon was picked up by the infamous Margie Phelps and she Tweeted:

Nice.

So there you go. Getting Tweeted by a Phelps is my newest claim to fame and sits alongside my one other claim to fame, which involved bumping into a cast member of  Eastenders in a pub.

What an exciting life I lead……

On the basis of the last few days’ news, he’d [Jesus] campaign against capitalism while drinking Coca-Cola and Starbuck’s. Make sure he got his pension lined up nicely, get the Guard to throw himself out of the Temple, accept a nice donation from the money-changers and then resign in protest at his own behaviour.

SOURCE

Mehdi Hasan, senior political editor of the New Statesman, has written a polemic little piece in the Guardian in which he attacks – amongst others – Barnabas Aid’s International Director, Dr Patrick Sookhdeo.

I’m sure I’m not alone in appreciating the work of Barnabas Fund in highlighting the plight of Christians in Islamic lands.

Anyway, the Guardian have published an edited version of Dr Patrick Sookhdeo’s rebuttal, but I wanted to highlight his full response, which can be found here, and is well worth a read.