Stuff Michael Meeks is doing

NCC in the morning - some fixing up of computers / playdo softening action. Babies still very tired, slept for much of the afternoon.
Gordon sermon on Prov 14:34 - "Righteousness Exalts a Nation"
- Mini-series from Proverbs; pertaining to interesting topics, not systematic. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Applies to anyone - not geographical power, wealth - but honoured by God.
- Preachers addressing political topics - preachers perhaps some degree of expertise in exegesis; but few ministers background in political science. Some diffidence in this area; at best intimate some possible applications: minute step outside region of competance: even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent - eg. Pat Robertson - who has blessed millions with his teaching about Christ, stepped out of his subject.
- The danger of mis-quoting, or worse - quoting correctly when we don't know what we're talking about. However: Prov 31 speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of those who are destitute
- Media - assume all religions are the same; if a Mullah speaks - he represents his followers; if the Pope speaks - he speaks with authority wrt. the Roman Catholic church. Protestants in general are convinced of the priesthood of all believers - hence a pastor speaks for himself, if that.
- Very diverse backgrounds at Park Street, seems: the voter's passion is inversely proportional to our ability to influence the outcome. The academic maxim: the fights are so bitter because the stakes are so low. Can't avoid making comments that demean and distort each other's opinion. Oponents 'wing-nuts' or 'moon-bats', 'homophobes' 'right wing extremists', 'tree huggers', 'bleeding heart liberals' - Jesus: sermon on the mount - anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement.
- A real problem when politics is brought in - should not have a code of silence; society desparately needs example of considerate, civil loving dialog - as a model that might be more helpful for others; welcome the opportunity to talk over the issues - to show the mutual respect, civility & love - the hallmark of God's people.
- Dangers of excessive alignment with any political party. Democrats - backed off issue of abortion, Jesse Jackson - 1970's - most don't think of him as a right-wing extremist - wrote passionately on the sanctity of life. Same for Republicans of course, same pressures: not to ruffle the feathers of others - to retain access to power - in present climate - to silence / mute discussion of the environmetn, the ethics of preemtive war, respect for international law. As Christians - cannot be squeezed into any 1 of these moulds.
- Love your neighbour as yourself; why Christians do & should speak up politically - if not motivated by love: don't speak up. Joseph Goebbles: let the churches serve God, we'll serve the people, terrible danger in not saying anything. Better to say something with humility and caution, than to say nothing: Martin Luther - if I profess with the loudest voice & the clearest exposition, every portion of the word of God, except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, to be steady on all other fronts, is mere flight & disgrace if he flinches at that point.
- If no-one is questioning the morality of theft - for you to be loudly proclaiming the importance of honesty is almost meaningless. Daniel - advising the pagan king Nebucadnezzer - Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed - not enough just to defeat his enemies: not a popular message. Not popular when John the Baptist condemned Herod's illicit marriage to his brother's wife Herodias, his head ended up on plate. The worst side is the neutral side.
- Our responsibilities - obviously paying taxes, respecting leaders, etc. but more - taking part in politics; most politics is local politics. In a participatory democracy, we're all the King - better be living out our morality in the discharge of that responsibility. The church though history - transformation of the culture.
- eg. the removal of infanticide in the Roman culture, Christians would visit the public buildings & cess-pools where the babies were thrown - wash them off & adopt them. The 1st Christian Roman Emperor - outlawed infanticide. A popular stance in the early years ? of course not.
- Christian's response wrt. the glorification of violence - the gladiatorial games, again eventually won the culture over - by refusing to attend games where people were maimed & killed for the crowd.
- Or the end of slavery in Roman society: not a popular topic when 1/3rd of the population is enslaved supporting the lifestyle of the rest. Chrysostome eg. preached on 1 Cor. There is no slave, so buy them, after you've taught them some skill by which they can maintain themselves: set them free - until we can change the law: lets subvert it - by the power of our own example. St Malonia - emancipated 8000 slaves; bought & set them free, St Ovidius of Gaul - 5000 slaves, Chromatius - 1400 slaves, on & on until at last the empire repudiated slavery altogether. Then tragically revived by the British empire in 17C. Again Christians rushed in to address it 18thC methodists - Wesely, condemning this practice - a difficult message to a society so advantaged by slavery. Wilberforce, relentlessly speaking against it for 20 years etc.
- Of course we do this - recognising, unlike our puritan forebears, that the state is not a theocracy. Amazing theoological wisdom, and example of lives, but - when founded massachusets - didn't do justice to the special status of the nation of Israel - and their calling.
- The result: a society - not safe for atheism; but we need a society where it is safe. Puritans didn't recognise the difference between sin & crime. ie. condemns Coveteousness, but doesn't prosecute it. Puritans - outlawed gossip, drunkenness, idleness etc. failing to note the good example of the OT - that does not criminalize all sinful behavior.
- 3rd problem, regulative law - even when the civil law addressed a matter - it didn't necessarily approve it; ie. it's law was much more liberal than it's moral law. Jesus said - wrt. divorce: Moses permitted you to divorce your wives Deut 24 - because your hearts were hard, but it was not this way from the beginning. Jesus then shows that morally divorce was condemned everywhere - except for infidelity/abandonment. Even in Israel's theocracy - the law was more liberal than the moral law.
- Modern Tax law - similar; if stolen / embezzled anything - whatever you steal, you must report as taxable income: regulative law - to mitigate some of it's harmful consequences - without necessarily approving the practice.
- Laws regulating the practice of prostitution - your income must not come into the temple - Solomon's - maternity suit: 2 prostitutes stood before the King. Neither do I condemn you - go and sin no more.
- This then allows politics (the art of compromise) to happen. Allows conversation rather than shouting matches, around this goal: Righteousness exalts a nation. A nations political health depends on the morality of it's people.
- Applies as believers living in a pagan society; do our best to act as light & salt, do the best loving our neighbour, trying to persuade them.
- Interesting web-site wrt. Christian social action: Sojourners - cf. interesting excerpt in the review of God's politics: Why the right gets it wrong, and the left doesn't get it.
Rather challenged.

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Stuff Michael Meeks is doing

2005-09-04: Sunday