Actually I’ve been in London today enjoying my Christmas present, a day at Leith’s School of Cookery. Went on the train, and had the usual experience when we pulled out of Kings Cross – everyone went for [...]]]> Feed the birds – tu’pence a bag. It’s a very long time since Londoners feed the birds.

Actually I’ve been in London today enjoying my Christmas present, a day at Leith’s School of Cookery. Went on the train, and had the usual experience when we pulled out of Kings Cross – everyone went for their mobile phones to say “I’m on the train, I’ll be home at this time”.

Which got me thinking about how in touch we all want to be these days. There’s rarely a moment when others aren’t aware of where we are and what we are doing. In Woody Allen’s 1971 film Play it Again, Sam, Dick Christie (Tony Roberts) continuously calls his office to forward the number of his current location, at times relaying three phone numbers in advance. 35 years later and we don’t need to ring in advance – we are just found by our mobiles. We are always available.

Is that a good thing? What happens if the train is delayed. Wont people unnecessarily worry. What if I haven’t had an immediate response to a text. Is the recipient ok, or just too busy to reply? Where are the moments of inaccessibility? Of times to re-align with God.

Maybe that’s what the Bible means when it says: Do not worry, saying “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we eat?” or What shall we wear?” …. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself”.

Koinonia, now that’s a 1970′s charismatic word which seems to have fallen out of use, save in the realm of retreat centres. It’s often translated as “fellowship” or “partnership”, yet no single English word is adequate to express its depth and richness. It’s used 51 times in the [...]]]> Talk to someone new at church …

Koinonia, now that’s a 1970′s charismatic word which seems to have fallen out of use, save in the realm of retreat centres. It’s often translated as “fellowship” or “partnership”, yet no single English word is adequate to express its depth and richness. It’s used 51 times in the NT.

Koinonia embraces a strong commitment to Kalos k’agathos meaning “good and good” – an inner goodness toward virtue, and an outer goodness toward social relationships. When the NT refers to koinonia, it means the joint participation in something in a community. There is always an implication of action included in its meaning.

It can mean the generous sharing with others of possessions held in common. When koinonia is present, the spirit of sharing and giving becomes tangible. Sharing Expands, Hoarding Contracts. It can also mean “to have a share in a thing,” as when two or more people hold a common world world – such as their faith. What is shared, received or given becomes the common ground through which koinonia becomes real.

In the NT, James, John, and Simon are called “partners” (koinonia) in their shared fishing business. To create the bond of koinonia, people are recognised, share their joy and pains together, and are united because of their common experiences, interests and goals. Fellowship creates a mutual bond which overrides each individual’s pride, vanity, and individualism, fulfilling the human yearning for fraternity, belonging, and companionship. Unsurprisingly, marriage is the “koinonia of life”; to live together a life in which everything is shared.

The early Christian community expressed koinonia within the church and through the Holy Spirit. In particular, the New Testament applied the Greek word of koinonia to describe the fellowship and communion that existed at the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion [koinonia] of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”1 Corinthians 10:16. It explains also why there was an ease by which sharing and generosity flowed. Christians have fellowship God, sharing the common experience of joys, fears, tears, and divine glory. Those who share in koinonia know their true wealth lays not in what they have, but in what they give to others. Fellowship is never passive, it is always linked to action; not only being together, but also doing together.

One wonder within when parts of the church try to discover something of genuine expressions of relationship, it picks the word koinonia. It’s is at the heart of the Baptist expression of “gathered church”. In a country where a sense of community is becoming existent yet longed for by many, koinonia takes a mission imperative and opportunity.

Talking to someone new in church is an vital first step – but the journey needs to be towards something much deeper.

The great Reformer, Martin Luther, said that [...]]]> Today’s Live Life Love Lent action is to Leave a £1 coin in the shopping trolley or where someone will find it. I’m going to try this at the supermarket this afternoon! It goes against the grain so I need a good dose of this to remind me:

The great Reformer, Martin Luther, said that “there are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the heart, the conversion of the mind, and the conversion of the purse.” Charles Spurgeon writes, “With some [Christians] the last part of their nature that ever gets sanctified is their pockets.”

Not all kinds of giving are equally commendable. As Calvin writes, “liberality is estimated by God, not so much from the sum, as from the disposition.”

If the right way to give is to give eagerly (2 Corinthians 9.6-15), the wrong way to give is to give sparingly. To Spare no effort means to hold back no effort. When the Bible says that, “God did not spare his only Son”, it means that God did not hold Him back. God didn’t keep his Son in heaven for himself, but he shared him.

So then, as John Piper puts it, to give sparingly is to give from a heart that, deep inside, wants to hold back. Instead of assessing how much we can possibly give, we often begin our thinking with how much we can keep, how much we can hold back.

And we are encouraged to give cheerfully. This is what Paul writes, “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly, or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

I suspect that God delights in a cheerful giver because, in such a Christian, he sees the work of his Spirit. For our God is not a Taker, but a Giver. Not only is God a Giver, but he is the most generous Giver in the universe. God has not held back the most valuable thing in the universe. God did not hold back his Son, but gave him to us and we benefit from his righteousness. God did not hold back His Spirit, but he has given his Spirit to every believer.

And when God gives, he does not give reluctantly, or under compulsion. No, God is a cheerful Giver. He is the most cheerful Giver in the universe.

God is not a Taker, but a Giver. If God did not first give to us, we would be unable to give. Giving, not taking, is a sign of the work of the Spirit.

So I’m off to Tesco with a £1 and a spring in my step – I hope.

Take a second to cast your vote in the Evening Standard on-line poll to determine public opinion about whether a Mega mosque should be build for the Olympics. The vote so far is 61% in favour. It looks like the Muslim [...]]]> Take a look at this, said someone in an email to me recently:

Apart from the obvious misunderstanding that this proposal is not an official part of the Olympic buildings, this round robin email is typical of the reaction of many well meaning Christians who believe that Islamic growth in the UK can be stemmed by using planning law. It’s a tricky issue as the Telegraph reports: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/09/25/do2502.xml

Muslims will not come to faith in Christ by banning them – telling them they are wrong – denying them basic human rights like the right to worship. That’s what they perceive the Christian faith exemplified and led by George W [who many call the President of the Christians] is all about. Muslims come to faith when Christians live along side them, respect their faith, and demonstrate to them the love of Jesus.

Christians in some (but by no means all) Muslim countries are also denied the right to open church buildings. Often not through government policy but local hostile opinion. We would want to stand alongside them in their campaigning to have the right to open their church building which, usually, will not just be for worship but education, development, community and outreach. Sound familiar?

Baptists, Congregationalists, Catholics, Jews and Muslims spent much of the time up until the early 20th century being counted as second class citizens. In the early 1900′s in Minchinhampton, my predecessor as minister went to prison each year for refusing the church tithe (a local poll tax which then still levied by the Church of England on everyone in the Parish). Early Baptists in Gloucestershire literally worshipped in the woods to fear of being caught. In arguing for their own freedom to own buildings and worship without licence, they also defended the rights of others to do so. Try this link about Yorkshire baptists in the 19th century standing up for the rights of Jews: http://www.victorianweb.org/religion/larsen2.html

But the most telling part of the Telegraph report is this sentence: The first mosque was opened in Britain more than 80 years ago and there are now well over 1,000 – many converted from Anglican churches. I think that says it all.