Think outside the box

For many people thinking outside the box is a very difficult thing to do. Given a task, and a blank sheet of paper, they almost inevitably come up with something they have seen or done before. And that is also true in the church.

As we continue our Sunday series in Luke's gospel, Jesus' challenge this week to the Pharisees is 'Think outside the box' (Luke 5:27-39). That's the point of the two parables at the end - the new thing won't fit into the old way of doing things, they are incompatible. Therefore to do the new things you need a totally new way of thinking and doing and being.

But because they find it so hard to put aside the way they've always thought and done things, they can't get their heads round the fact that Jesus could be God (5:21), or that eating with a tax-collector might not make you ceremonially unclean (5:30), or that not fasting might not be a sign that you're not serious about your faith (5:33), or that doing good on the Sabbath is better than doing nothing (6:9)...

2000 years later and in a very different society it is very easy to pass judgement on these Pharisees. But are we any better at the new kind of thinking that Jesus requires? Where do I need to start thinking outside of the box?

Visible Faith

At both our services today we are looking at how faith needs to be visible. In Luke 5:20 Jesus responds to the faith that he sees in the individuals who went to great lengths to bring their friend to Jesus. In James 2:26 we read that faith without deeds is dead. So how visible is my faith?

The world would have us believe that faith is personal and therefore private. It is fine to have a faith, as long as you leave it at home. As long as it does not impact on your everyday life. But that kind of faith is not really a faith at all - at least not the kind of faith that we find in the Bible. But faith has to make a difference. People should be able to see our faith in action. So maybe we'll stand out in the work place because we are compassionate, kind, forgiving, generous...because we don't entertain gossip, we give people the benefit of the doubt, because we take a genuine interest in people's lives, because we pray for people when they are going through a tough time...

Count the Cost

A disciple is a learner, a follower, someone who is committed to being just like their teacher. This is the first century context into which Jesus begins to call his disciples in Luke 5. And one of Luke's themes on discipleship is the need to count the cost - if you are committed to following Jesus, to starting a lifelong journey in which you will become more like Jesus along the way, then there will be a cost.

In Luke 5:1-11 we see Jesus call Simon Peter to be a disciple. What are some of the marks of a disciple of Jesus?

1) Obedience
In verse 5 Simon Peter basically says to Jesus, this is a totally mad idea, it's going to be a waste of time...but because you say so I will do it. Often when Jesus asks us to do something our response is 'that's never going to work', 'how can I possibly do that', 'isn't there someone else you could send'... But for the disciple however we may start that sentence, the ending always has to be, 'but because you say so, I will do it'.

2) Repentance
In the first century only the best students got to be called as disciples of the Rabbis. But not so for Jesus. The only requirement to start this journey is a humble heart that recognises our rebellion against God, that we are not worthy; and an acknowledgement that Jesus is Lord - from now on he calls the shots.

3) Leave everything and follow
There is a cost to following Jesus. For Simon Peter it was to leave his job, his boat, his family, and a huge pile of fish. Being a disciple will cost. Sometimes it will be our reputation that takes a hit as we deliberately associate with those who everyone else at work shuns; there will be a time commitment as we seek to spend time in prayer, Bible study and fellowship with other Christians; there will be a financial cost as we give to the work of God in the local church, and throughout the wider world; there will be a cost as we get involved in service, using the gifts and the abilities that God has given to us.

Luke wants us to count the cost before committing to this journey, but we can be assured that for those who seek to follow Jesus, the benefits will far outweigh the sacrifices we make along the way.

There's probably no God...

For those of you who haven't seen this 'advert' in real life, and who can't read what is written on the side of this London bus it says, 'There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life'.

This publicity campaign started at the beginning of the year and will run for a number of weeks, but I have been reading articles about it for a lot longer.

The posters are the work of the British Humanist Association, funded by Richard Dawkins and lots of contributions from others. What might be a surprise to some is that a few of those contributors where Christian groups such as the think-tank Theos.

It has been interesting to read the reactions of Christians to seeing these buses, for example those who say these buses should be boycotted by Christians. But aren't these buses a great opportunity to talk about our faith? God is back on the agenda in our high streets - and He is being put back on the agenda by those who want to remove Him from the agenda!

But what is the slogan actually saying? Lots could be said about the 'probably' - but I won't. I wonder how many people actually worry about whether there is a God or not. Yes you do if there is a crisis of life and death in your family, but most people are probably worried a lot more about their finances, job security, pensions etc at the moment. How does the 'assurance' that there is nothing bigger than me, there is no one in control, there is no hope for the future help me deal with that worry?

And for all those who are struggling what encouragement do the humanists give? There is not even the hope that someone may be looking out for me. For their response to the existence or otherwise of God is self-centred - now I can enjoy myself. So who is going to look out for the poor, the voiceless, the homeless, the oppressed, the weak, the prisoner ...?

The good news is that there is a God and therefore I can experience life to the full.