The text in today’s Anchor Lines is a very slightly adapted quote from James Emery White’s The Church in an Age of Crisis, in a chapter which looks at this subject very helpfully. He himself is paraphrasing John Polkinghorne’s Questions of Truth. I haven’t read the latter book – although I’ve read a short extract covering the question of science vs religion which seemed very well written.

I can’t speak for all religions, but from a Christian perspective, the following quote from Joseph H Taylor sums up my position very well:

A scientific discovery is also a religious discovery. There is no conflict between science and religion. Our knowledge of God is made larger with every discovery we make about the world.”

There is no reason to fear scientific discovery. The God of the bible is also the God who created the universe, and all the scientific laws it is governed by. You can be confident that no discovery yet to be made will ever disprove God; rather scientific advances allow us to see better the incredible scale and intricacy of creation. The more we see, the more we have cause to worship. Likewise, we are indebted to science for a host of advances in almost all areas of life – take modern dentistry or penicillin as just a couple of examples! Religious faith which flatly rejects scientific discovery as a matter of course is in many ways blind.

In the same way, science has much to benefit from religious faith. The atheist scientist’s answer to the question of why we are here – that we just are; a chance combination of cells that live and die and that’s it – is perhaps a possibility, but hardly one that satisfies. Even then, it goes no distance to answering the question of our ultimate origin – what came before the universe began? As far as I am aware there is no evidence as yet seen of a cyclical nature to the universe we inhabit – and given that over time it is running out of usable energy, it must have had a beginning at some point. And before that?

To quote Polkinghorne’s book, “We need the insights of both science and religion if we are to fully understand the rich reality we inhabit”. Both are looking for truth, and both have truth to offer. We do ourselves a disservice if we idolise one yet scorn the other.

I was struck the other day that God sees people altogether differently from how I do. While there are people I care deeply for, want to spend time with, who I remember to pray for – there are also plenty of people in my life who I just don’t love as well as I could. Whose company I perhaps find more difficult, sometimes simply because I haven’t made time to get to know them better. And all that is to say nothing of the billions of people I have never even met, and don’t spare a thought for.

I’m not saying that to get down on myself – although I would like to grow more like Jesus in this area – but to highlight how incredible God’s love for people is. Even if I had his time and resources, I’d still probably selfishly squander them, but he makes time for everyone – and he does so gladly. If you have come to think of yourself as unlovely, unlovable, unworthy, as a loser or a loner, you need to know what God thinks of you. As he said to his people in Israel, ‘I have engraved you on the palms of my hands’ (Isaiah 49:16). Just as he comforted his disciples, you are valuable to God (Matt 10:29-31) – he knows the number of hairs on your head, his eye is on your life.

In the first few verses of Ephesians, Paul explains that God had you in mind even before the foundation of the world, and the offer of adoption as a son or daughter of God – the eternal Father whose love is deeper and wider than we can begin to grasp – is open to everyone. It is open to you, if you will open your eyes to the outrageous love that God has for you. He gave his precious son so that you could be forgiven, so that a way could be made for you to return to the side of the one who made you, who gives life meaning and who promises a hope beyond even the grave. Put your faith in Jesus and come to rest in the love that will never fade or grow bored.

Jesus didn’t just pick the most popular people. He made a beeline for the sick, the downtrodden and the lonely. Whatever you have come to think of yourself, whatever others have told you about yourself, let this be the thought that rises above them all: God is the one whose opinion matters supremely, and he thinks you are worth his time.

---

This is available as a print

 

This poem is actually only the first verse of a longer piece by Stef Liston, who leads Revelation Church in London. It was given as spoken word for the final night’s talk at this year’s Newday event – an annual, week long Christian youth camping event for 12-19 year olds that takes place each Summer.

You can listen to the full piece here, starting around the 10 minute mark, and it’s absolutely worth your time:

He Was and Is and Is to Come

While obviously not quoting chapter and verse, it’s solidly grounded in the Bible, and just a beautiful, wide view of the power and glory, love and mercy, wisdom, beauty and sovereignty of our God. Here is the one who made us, who exists eternally, whose reign is perfect and unending, and who loves with an everlasting love. Here is the spotless, righteous judge, who gave himself to save us while we were still his enemies. Here is the God who is incomparable in strength and glory, yet who delights to pour out compassion and forgiveness on the weak and the needy. Before time began, he was. Throughout history, in every circumstance of life, he is; and on into eternity – he is to come.

Matthew 7:12 “in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you”

Whatever your faith, it’s impossible to see the images and videos of the current refugee crisis and not be moved by it. Not all are coming from identical situations, but when we see some measure of the things these people are fleeing from – persecution, oppression, loss of property, dignity and fear of death – it stirs something in our hearts. Most of us in the UK are immeasurably better off by comparison to those seeking asylum from warzones, oppressive regimes and religious extremism.

Home for Good put out an excellent video recently giving some suggestions for how we can respond to what’s going on. It’s aimed at Christians in particular, but there are points of action that anyone can take up:

 

Refugee crisis : an urgent call to action from Home for Good on Vimeo.

In all of this remember that, there but for the grace of God go we. You never know where life will take you. One day you may find yourself seeking asylum in a new land. Let’s demonstrate the kind of love that we would hope to be shown if we were in their shoes.

These verses have been and remain a comfort to countless people. It comes in the context of the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi – in part an encouragement to continue to mature as Christians, marked out by continuing to show selfless love to God and one another.

What is so helpful about these verses is that they are so honest. They don’t promise you’ll always be rich, or loved by others, or that life will be easy. They do however promise that we can find contentment – peace and reassurance – whatever life throws at us. In any and every situation, God is with you. He is ready and willing to give you the strength to endure and press on.

Please note – I’m not saying Christians should always be smiling – of course there are times for joy and times for mourning (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). There are things that grieve our hearts and knock us down – but Paul would encourage us that whatever the situation, God will provide you with all that you need to get through it – and always with the bright light at the end of the tunnel that what we are pressing on toward is going to put a smile on your face that nothing can take away.

---

This is available as a print

 

This comic is adapted from some illustrations I put together for a recent preach on the book of Esther – the last in a short three part Summer series our church has been doing. The first looked at the overall story of the book along with God’s providence, even when he is working behind the scenes – or perhaps seeming to be doing nothing at all. The second looked at the character of Esther and Mordecai, two of the central characters in the book, and the preach I did looked at how God turns the tables.  In particular, how do we respond when things seem to be going against us, and God has apparently not yet intervened.

If you would like to listen to any of the talks, you can find them on the website for King’s Community Church.

Also, I read an excellent book on Esther while preparing – Esther – by Charles Swindoll. Insightful commentary on the story of Esther, and some great application for a modern audience – thought provoking and challenging in a number of areas, it’s well worth your time.

John Newton (1725 – 1807) was an interesting guy. He is most famous today for having written Amazing Grace – one of the best known hymns of all time – but he couldn’t have written such a profound and moving song of praise and thanksgiving had he not first experienced the outrageous grace of God firsthand in his own life.

I recently read the aptly titled John Newton – from Disgrace to Amazing Grace – by Jonathan Aitken, on my wife Ali’s recommendation. It’s a well researched account of the man’s life, and well worth a read. It’s the story of a man who, though raised a Christian, rebelled wholeheartedly against the faith, determining to make himself a stench to God and anyone in authority. A man who came to work enthusiastically in the slave trade, treating captive humans as inhumanely as many others did – and who later found himself in the bonds of slavery. More importantly, it is the story of a man who came to see that he was desparately, hopelessly guilty before God – and yet ultimately forgiven through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

It is striking that a man with such a dark past should not only come to serve as a devoted and well loved church leader for over 40 years, but should pen one of the timeless anthems of our faith. But perhaps it should not surprise us – it is always those who most clearly perceive the true depths of their own sin, who most vividly understand the enormity of God’s gift of grace.

Newton’s epitaph, written by the man himself ahead of time, is a humble and inspiring synopsis to a remarkable life. Whatever you have done – whatever you are guilty of, however great or small – there is nothing that cannot be covered and forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus. Ask him into your life, put your trust in him, and discover his amazing grace.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

 

This comic is adapted from a tract I came across at Evidence Ministries, written as a modern day parable about how a person can have forgiveness of sins. I’ve slightly shortened it in this version for the sake of space, but the full version can be read at the link above, and is well worth a look.

The parable it is intended in particular to help people from the Mormon faith understand that, according to what the Bible teaches, salvation comes through grace alone without having to be earned – although the message is relevant to a still wider audience. I was rather moved by it and wanted to have a crack at illustrating it for Anchor Lines. I hope it helps underline that, just because the gift of eternal life is free, it is by no means cheap. It cost an unthinkably high price to purchase for us.

Following Jesus may end up costing us a great deal in worldly terms. Jesus warned that we shouldn’t think anything more important than following where he leads – family, friendships, money, even life itself. But the cost to us is negligible in light of the eternal life he has bought for us, spent in joy and peace in the presence of our God. We are spurred on to obey him, whatever the cost, by the momentous knowledge that right from the outset – the moment we take those first steps to follow him – we are forgiven, and we are saved.

There is no entrance test to Christianity. No minimum standard, no moral high bar. Some of the earliest Christians include a former murderer, prostitute, and convicted thief. Nothing you have done – no dirty secret, hidden shame or lifelong guilt – could prevent you from taking hold of the forgiveness and salvation that God offers you. Following Jesus is simple, at its heart – believe in Jesus.

Believe that the Bible is telling the truth when it speaks of God becoming man; when it describes his sinless life, his death on the cross, his resurrection from the grave and his return to Heaven.

Believe that he loves you enough to die in your place – to take the punishment you were due, and offer forgiveness you could not earn.

Believe that there is no way to Heaven except through him

And believe that he is coming back

Belief in Jesus is a powerful thing. It leads to an understanding of who we are, and why we are here. It leads to a recognition of our failings before a perfect God, and yet that he loves us and has given himself to pay the price for us. It leads us to repentance, turning our back on our sinful desires and choosing to make him lord. It offers hope, peace, joy, and eternal life with the one who loves you without limitation or reserve.

Ask God if he is real, and let him lead you to the truth: believe in Jesus.

Jesus’ teaching, and that of the apostles in the New Testament, stands in stark contrast to the prevailing culture in many parts of the world. My intention in posting this comic is not to judge those who are living outside of the Biblical standards for sex and marriage, but rather to show the wisdom of the boundaries God has placed around sex.

A few short verses encapsulate a great deal of Jesus’ teaching on sex and marriage. In particular, Matthew 19: 4-9, and Matthew 5: 27-32. In the first of these he answers a question on divorce, and in doing so points back to the origins of marriage in God’s created world, affirming it as a lifelong union between one man and one woman.

In the second, Jesus speaks on adultery, recasting it as any kind of sexual activity outside of marriage – even to the inclusion of fantasising about anyone other than your own husband or wife. If you want to be a follower of Jesus, this is the standard he sets. For me as a Christian, my own failure to fully live up to this high bar is a constant reminder of how much I need his help and forgiveness.

If you think God doesn’t highly esteem sex, take a through Song of Solomon – the Message version might provide a helpful paraphrase of the language used. God invented sex, and designed it to be a good thing. At first glance his standards can look outdated, unnecessary and intolerant – yet undeniable damage results when we ignore his ways. He understands sex better than we could ever claim to, and in wisdom and love has set boundaries around it for our protection and blessing.

If you would like to read further on this subject, you might like to try the excellent The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller, or Sex and the Supremacy of Christ by John Piper and others.

——————–

Matthew 19: 4-9 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.  I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

Matthew 5: 27 – 32  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

---

 

This is available as a print