Last week the General Synod of the Church of England voted to approve the appointment of women to the post of bishops. So society triumphed over Scripture; out is thrown the doctrine of Apostolic succession, (no Jane or Lucy in the Apostles). Even the secular press acknowledged that the entire tradition of the Church was being upturned. Tradition however does not warrant too much consideration in to-day’s Church.

There was considerable jubilation at Synod with people being thrilled and excited to tears, (and that was just the men). If that was what was desired then so be it, but let all be honest and admit the reason was to appease society and not pretend there was biblical authority for such as some vainly tried to twist Scripture.

There was also a tendency to jump before David Cameron, who having wiped away 2000 years of Christian tradition about marriage, followed up by dismantling Church tradition by passing a law making the Church vulnerable to the Equality Act. It was not so long ago that all manner of people were beseeching Cameron to lecture China on human rights; that seems a bit rich.

The Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches don’t have any problem with their traditions. The ethic faiths too seem immune from any interfering. I suspect David Cameron would shy away from meddling in their affairs knowing that he would not have so easy a ride.

Now a press report discloses that the Church is to give precedence to women being appointed bishops. If a man and woman of equal merit are being considered, a woman is to be selected, we are told.

Personally I am not involved; apart from regretting the fact that the Church has turned its back on Scripture, I am not now affected. I can understand that it is anomalous to see a man having selective belief in the Bible, even being able to be a Suffragan bishop, rebelling against every Church edict and drawing attention to himself, whilst a godly woman is in a subordinate position. But the issue here, if we are honest is power and status.

The most inspiring, stimulating Christian speaker I have heard for a very long time was a woman; Andrea Williams, the Chief Executive Officer of Christian Concern. I am sure she has led many men and women to Christ with her speaking. But she is not a bishop, not even ordained, but far more effective than the majority of women who are. (and men)

Similarly in America, I see numerous admirable and powerful women evangelists, Wendy Griffith, Anne Graham Lotz, Joyce Meyer to name a few who are content in their (not) ordained role.

The President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in America, Dr Albert Mohler, in a comment on the Church’s decision reminds people that once upon a time the Anglican bishops were men of conviction ready to resist the culture of the day. We had Rowan Williams upset when Synod rejected the proposal two years ago because of how society would react. When society starts to attend Church we can then consider their feelings.

The present Archbishop was said to be excited by the vote as it was the start of a great adventure. I an surprised that seeing the Church’s tradition destroyed is considered an exciting adventure.

But there was never any doubt that the measure would pass. Rules were overridden, pressure brought to bear on objectors, and hidden threats made as to what would happen if Synod did not pass. Now we wait for the next change of heart. I don’t expect the bookmakers to offer attractive odds on the move to appoint homosexuals to be bishops. Ruth Gledhill, a religious correspondent has already seen that coming.

It is significant, as Dr Mohler pointed out, of the last 69 appointments as bishops, there has not been one conservative evangelical appointment.* And yet people seriously wonder why the Church is losing members.

The Very Rev. W.R.Inge, who was Dean of St.Paul’s Cathedral many years ago once remarked, ‘whoever marries the spirit of the age will find himself a widower in the next’.
`

* – believes in the triunity of the one true God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
– believes that the Bible is the Word of God and that it is true
– believes that Mary, being a virgin, conceived of the Holy Spirit and gave birth to the Lord Jesus Christ
– believes that all mankind has sinned and that sin has separated man from God
– does not desire to continue living a lifestyle of unrepentant sin
– believes that there is nothing that can be done to earn eternal life by human effort
– believes that Jesus died on the cross to take upon Himself the just punishment for our sins
– believes that Jesus rose from the dead
– believes that Jesus offers eternal life to anyone that places personal faith in Him
– has eternal life because he has placed his faith personally in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour
– has experienced a new life as a result of that personal faith
– desires to live in obedience to God

Matthew 13 v24/44

The passage in Matthew 13 is a parable about a farmer who sows good seed in the ground but someone sows bad seed when he is not looking. The bad seed is so like the good it is only discernible when fully grown. At harvest the reapers sought the good from the bad and burn the bad.

This is not a farming discourse our Lord is giving but a warning of separation and judgement. The good seed represents those who have chosen to accept and follow Christ, the bad seed that of the evil one (devil, Satan, or call him whatever you will). Sometime a person may appear to be a good Christian when in fact he/she is not, but on the day of judgement will be sought out and separated. Conversely, a person not thought much of may be a very sincere and good person. We learn therefore not to exercise judgement.

This parable gives many preachers problems as they are unable to face the reality taught in the Bible. One Vicar said it brought out the worst in some preachers and irreverently referred to those of us who accept our Lord’s strict teaching as ‘tub thumpers’. This only goes to show there is no one as illiberal as a liberal.

Jesus is here warning us of the consequences of what we face if we reject Him, at the same time showing His love and concern for us.

Jesus always made it plain that this life is a preparation for eternity, and we face a choice now. He taught there were two roads in life, a broad one on which there will be many people, and probably causing congestion, and which leads to destruction, and a narrow one where there will be far less travelling on, leading to eternal life. In other words, two destinies, heaven or hell. To suggest this to many people, including clergy, is an anathema and fewer preachers are now willing to proclaim it so.

I was told of a mural in a Church not far from my home in which is depicted a scene in which people are being driven to hell. Shortly after hearing of this I had occasion to attend a clergy meeting at that Church. The mural was pointed out to me and I said that I found it hard to distinguish what it meant, when a fellow clergyman said it had not received attention so had faded as we don’t tell people about going to hell now. I replied, ‘I do’, and he looked at me completely astonished. However I feel it should be me being astonished.

There are various view held on what finally happens to us when we die. Some believe that is all there is to life everything is finished; others believe everyone goes to heaven for a loving God would never send anyone to hell; and that is true, the point is many choose to go by their manner of living.

There is only one authoritative source, the Bible, all else is pure speculation. There we find Jesus telling, as He does in this parable, of a literal hell. In fact whenever He spoke of heaven He spoke of the alternative (hell) Read the story of Lazarus in Luke 16; or. the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25.

Some people think that Jesus was just trying to frighten us, which raises the question is there something to be frightened of?

One often finds speed warning signs along a stretch of road telling of speed camera being in operation, this is often accompanied by signs telling of the numbers of people killed. These are to remind us how we could be one of those casualties, and any sensible person will heed the warnings. This parable also contains a warning. Which road are you travelling on?

MATTHEW 13 . V 1/23
The parables are meant to be a spur towards decision and challenge people to think. Jesus gives the parable of the sower in verses 1-9 and then interprets it in verses 18/23.
Jesus we are told sat by the sea, which would be the Sea of Galilee, and sitting was the normal position for teachers.


There was a natural amphitheatre in a horseshoe shape, and when the crowd got too great He went into a boat.
Jesus used parables as a means of communicating truth in a way which could easily be understood in order to teach a moral or spiritual lesson,

In Palestine the fields were in long narrow strips and the ground between strips was a footpath used by people. In verses 4/7 Jesus tells that as the seed was scattered in all directions, and whilst the farmer walked up and down some would accidentally fall on the hard (foot)paths and the birds would eat them up. As the ground was uneven and rocky, covered only by a thin layer of soil, and would not root properly, especially when the sun would burn them up. Others would fall among thorns which choked out other plants, which could not get the nutrients to bear fruit. This meant there was an uneven yield.

When the disciples asked Jesus why He spoke in parables, He told them outsiders cannot understand what He said, ‘but you my disciples, can for you know me’. Jesus was in effect saying the truth about Christianity is that you have to be a Christian; you cannot understand the faith from the outside, you have to be inside, and for people to criticise our faith who are not Christians is pure arrogant ignorance.`

Jesus quoted Isaiah who was bewildered after he gave a message which he thought would be so clear to people yet they did not understand it. Every preacher finds himself in a similar position. Something is explained in a compelling way yet people will not accept it. Isaiah despaired and felt as if he was talking to a wall. It was part of Jewish belief that absolutely nothing happened in this world beyond the will of God. Isaiah took it therefore that failure was the ultimate purpose of God who would use things for His glory. Jesus wanted to encourage His disciples that some day they would fully understand what God was doing, and those who rejected Jesus and His message, would one day find it had been taken to a vastly bigger number in the Gentiles. This often happens in our experience when we think something was largely a waste of time when in fact what we have said takes effect in a way which we may never know.

I had a Vicar friend who was once quite demoralised after preparing a sermon diligently and found the reception disheartening. Some years later he was passing through a village some distance from his parish and went into a shop where the owner recognised the Vicar and said how much he had benefited from that sermon.

Jesus then went on to say the one who has much more will be given. In every walk of life the one who has a lot will get more. Some students will work hard at their studies and will become more knowledgeable than those who neglect their study and their grasp of their subject will weaken. A pianist who practises regularly will become more talented, but one who only plays spasmodicately will be less able. If neglect of things is bad, wilful neglect is worse such as when people deliberately turn away from listening to our Lord’s teaching

Jesus then gave an explanation of the parable. The seed represents the kingdom of God, and hearts which are hardened against it, such in Jesus case were the Pharisees, the evil one Satan enters their heart and they reject what they hear. We liken this to the many who see religion as believing in fairy tales and brashly mock it away.

The seed falling on rocky ground is like the one who hears and responds immediately and then quickly falls away. This is like those who went to a Billy Graham Crusade and responded to the altar call touched by the wonderful preaching, the singing of the massed choirs, but then went back to their parish and found the contrast too hard to accept and so fell away.

The seed falling among thorns is like the one who is attracted by the Word of God but is tempted by the lure of the world’s values and finds them hard to resist. The good seed is likened to those who are ready to hear and respond to the gospel which enriches life.

This is a parable of encouragement with the lesson being that the harvest is sure. Every farmer expects some failure and we must in seeking souls expect the same, but like the farmer we must not stop sewing for we can be sure also that we will bear some fruit, however much less than we would like.

May God bless you in all your endeavours for His glory.

I refer back to my previous post in which I spoke of the oppression placed on free speech (and action) in this country since David Cameron became Prime Minister.

We know of course the hypocrisy and double speak of this duplicitous man, and this was further displayed in Parliament yesterday.

Cameron was asked at Prime Minister’s Questions by Democratic Unionist MP Gregory Campbell if he believed the legal action against the bakery in Northern Ireland, which refused to decorate a cake with the words’ support gay marriage’, because of religious conviction, was ‘an oppressive threat to religious freedom’. Mr Campbell suggested that ‘such freedoms should be protected by the introduction of a conscience clause.’

The Prime Minister dismissed the idea following the decision by the state equality watchdog to sue the firm. Cameron brushed aside calls for a ‘conscience clause’ to protect Christians who are persecuted for their beliefs. “I think that a commitment to equality—whether we are talking about racial equality, equality between those of different sexes, equality in terms of people who have disabilities, or, indeed, tolerance of and equality for people with different sexualities—is a very important part of being British.”

The cake, ordered by a gay rights group, would have been decorated with a slogan saying ‘support gay marriage’ and two characters from Sesame Street. However the Belfast-based bakery, which is now being taken to court by the Equality Commission in Northern Ireland, did not refuse to serve its customer, activist Gareth Lee, on the grounds that he was gay, but they properly declined to use the words support gay marriage, which based on their beliefs, and those of many others, would be offensive.

Only three months ago, Cameron was flaunting His (alleged) Christian commitment, (just before an election), when he called for more support in Britain for Christianity and the moral code that goes with it.

The bare two faced nature of the man is shameless, just as it would be for anyone to vote Conservative when this man is leader of the Party. (and I speak as a life long Conservative)

There are many people who claim the national anthem for England should be ‘Land of hope and glory’. Our sports people especially I would imagine, would welcome that being so when they hear ‘The Star Spangled Banner’, Marsellaise, Das Deutschlandlied or even Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, (Land of my Fathers’), being played at winning ceremonies, and then ‘God save the Queen’ is our offering for their achievements.

However, when one reads the words of ‘land of hope and glory’ it now seems inappropriate.
Land of hope and glory, mother of the free.
Free in David Cameron’s Britain?

Almost daily we hear of the Police arresting someone for saying something which is alleged to have offended some anonymous person; or some interfering public office supporting what looked to be an entrapment exercise.

An activist for ‘Queer Space’ went to a bakery in Northern Ireland and ordered a cake for a gay marriage campaign, a bakery known to be owned by devout Christian people. He wanted a cake to be baked with the words ‘support gay marriage’ decorated on. When the owners refused on the basis of their religious beliefs, they were told by the Equality Commission(?) for Northern Ireland they would be sued unless they complied. Same sex marriage is not even legal in Northern Ireland.

A preacher in Northern Ireland was challenged because of a sermon he preached in his Church.

A street preacher quoting one of Britain’s greatest Prime Ministers, Winston Churchill, was arrested for hate crime. I heard this story being received with incredulity on American television.

Street preachers in Liverpool, Perth, Glasgow Edinburgh, London, Cumbria, have all been arrested for just quoting Scripture. In all cases the Crown Prosecution Service has declined to prosecute citing in most cases lack of evidence. Is it not time someone sued the police?

Muslims preachers have been preaching freely and often attacking Christianity. I cannot tell you of any arrests as there does not appear to have been any; nor any supporters of same sex marriages.

Cameron forced such legislation through without any mandate, and indeed against strong opposition, which he now in private recognises but does not have the integrity or grace to publicly acknowledge. Despite being warned of the dangers and complications which would arise, he ‘passionately’ pursued this course. And anyone who speaks against it is criticised.

Some of us are old enough to remember when Britain was a country where one had freedom for religious belief and speech.

PS How can the Equality(?)Commission take action against the bakery when same sex marriage is illegal.? It would be quite wrong for someone to advocate a practice which is against the law. Another instance of these so called Equality zealots acting without using their intelligence

MATTHEW 11 V.28/30

I wonder if there is anyone in this congregation can stand up and say, ‘I have no worries in my life?’ If there is, would you like to stand up so we can all admire you?
There must be very few Christians or non- Christians who have not experienced some worry, some anxiety.

We need hardly ask whether worry harms,it causes us to lose sleep takes the joy out of living causes our hair to fall out or turn grey, even leads to an early grave.

There are so many fears in modern life. Young people facing life away from home for the first time. The man in his 40s fearing redundancy. Young managers worried at having to achieve ridiculously high targets. The business man working such hours he hardly has little time to see his family. The fear of marriage breakdown, Of serious illness. Fear of losing someone dear. These are all perils faced by people every single day.

As Christians we need to ask, ‘what is life all about’? So many people, especially the young, have no meaningful purpose. They have a hard outlook of, ‘live life to excess, get what you can out of it by any means whatever’.

What is the answer for the growing number of older people frightened to venture out of their homes? The one parent abandoned by their husband /wife. Wherever you look you find sadness and heartache and despair.

The Bible says the answer is that life has no meaning apart from God. But for many God is unreal. You can’t however come to God except through Jesus Christ. Not by Mohammed, Buddha, or anyone else.

Christ came to seek and to save the lost, the fearful and the lonely, the worried and the broken hearted. God is willing to pour His grace upon you.

The Bible says that God is separated from us by sin. Sin is not just immorality, it is an attitude of rebellion and independence, saying ‘I go my own way’. The Prodigal Son went his own way to be free and independent, but failed to find any true purpose in life, and found he was cut off from the only person who really loved him.

To all who are worried, afraid or anxious, Jesus says, ‘Come to me and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light’

It is said that these are the most wonderful words spoken by our Lord., the very heart of Christianity. They speak of the failure of men and women to solve the problems of the world.

So who can come? All those who are weary and heavy laden with care. This is a selective invitation. You have to recognise a need and be prepared to admit it. Your problem may not be despair, it may be something quite different. All who are weighed down by sin or guilt. To all Jesus speaks.

The Bible says, ‘there is no distinction since all have fallen short of the glory of God’. It doesn’t matter what the past has been, if you repent and turn to Christ, God is ready to blot out your sins and give you a clean sheet.

What happens if you come? Jesus said, ‘I will give you rest’. These are words spoken by someone who fulfils His promises. So many people make promises they either cannot, or have no intention, of fulfilling. Jesus is ready to be faithful to His Word. He says, ‘I am here waiting for you. I’ve got help if you will only come’.

You can change your job or house, find new friends, but if there is no inner peace, all the changes in the world will make no difference. On the other hand, if heart and mind are at rest, that is a priceless feeling. It is constant peace that Jesus is offering. He says, ‘I can set you free for I am the Way, the truth, and the life.

How do I come? Just as you are. We rely on what He has done for us, and at His invitation in a spirit of simple trust.

The Bible tells of men who went to Him. Jesus released them from restlessness enabling them to face the future.
Jesus said, ‘take my yoke upon you and learn from me’. A yoke was a wooden frame placed on a persons shoulder in order to make a load easier to carry. So Jesus is saying ‘let me help you carry your burden. Instead of going your own way turn around and come with me’.

But it is not just mouthing words. It is truly believing Jesus died on that Cross for your personal sins, and because of that alone, you can be forgiven totally by God and earn your place in heaven.

It means putting Him as a priority. If we give preference to some other activity we are putting God in second place, and in the Commandments He tells us He is a jealous God and will not be relegated.

Jesus will welcome you, pardon any failures, cleanse your heart and relieve your anxieties and cares, because of the promise He made in John’s gospel, that whoever comes to Him will never be turned away.

You see it is not just being religious or even coming to Church that brings peace and rest, or indeed makes you a full Christian. A person can be baptised, confirmed and be regular at Church and not be a true Christian. Many Church people are really unpleasant, arrogant and very un-Christian. Coming to Church should be a delight like sons and daughters coming to meet their (heavenly)Father in complete harmony, as children go their earthly parents home In far too many Churches there are dominant personalities who, instead of looking for the good, want to put their own interpretation on matters, such interpretation not always being favourable. In such cases it is because their own personal life is unhappy, disturbed or there is something lacking.

It may be someone’s life is in a me. It may be God seems far away. It may be after long time searching you are still reluctant to commit.It makes no difference,, if we are humble enough to admit our need

In one famous promise Jesus said ‘behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sup with Him’. As He stands outside the door of your life, He longs to come in to make His presence and friendship real. But the door handle is on the inside. All you need do is turn it in faith.

Jesus was brought up in the East, and there the greatest act of friendship is to dine with someone. Jesus is offering to dine with anyone who invites Him.

At the end of every one of his Crusades, Billy Graham asks people to make a commitment to Christ and to demonstrate that commitment to go forward to the front of the stadium. At the same time, the choirs sing the hymn, ‘Just as I am…I come to Thee’

Believe His promise, take Jesus at His word, come just as you are.