If you've been reading Lettie's blog, then you'll have heard how obsessed we are with Revelation. So i'm surprised its taken me this long to blog about it. Although Collette has beaten me to it, i've been thinking about Empire, and what my 'Babylon' is.
Firstly, the idea's in Revelation are not solely found there. In John 17, Jesus is telling his disciples that he wants them to be present in the world, but to also keep themselves separate from it. He talks of being seperate from the ways of the world in the same way that he was whilst on earth.
In Revelation the idea of Babylon as Empire, is hugely relevant to me in a way i'd never seen before. What is Empire? Is it America? Capitalism? Communism? War? Terrorism? Or is it simply our greed as 'rich' people in the world? So often it is assumed that Revelation is a scary book of doom, because of the imagery used, but could it be that it is simply a warning for all the generations?
In some ways, the language and visions that John uses, and has created in Revelation, are the very thing that keeps people from opening and using the book in the way that it was intended. So much of what we hear and see in relation to it is mis-interpreted and this makes people scared to read it. But then if you think about it, we've had people lecture us our whole childhoods about using foul language, and then we have this book using words like 'whore', 'whoring' and 'prostitute'! So its unsurprising that we steer clear. But, if we look back to the Old Testament, we can find similar language in Ezekiel.
But the rich pictures contained in Revelation are, for me, what makes it so fascinating. I think that John was using the art of Jewish Mysticism, to give the message to us in a new, fresh way.
But anyway, i digress.
What i wanted to talk about was the fact that empire can be anything. Materialism, is something that, as Christians, we really need to be thinking about. Do we care too much about possessions? The merchants in Revelation, who had been entwined in Empire and business, mourned over its loss. In some ways we can be like that. Moaning and whinging about whether we have certain things, or how much money we have. God continues to crush and ruin Empire...Babylonian, Roman, and on and on throughout history. Some have even suggested that the issues in the financial market at the moment are a result of God's attack on our 'Babylon'. Whether or not that is the case, our involvement in empire is something we need to consider carefully.
We need to take ou discipleship seriously, and trust in the faithfulness of God.
Revelation 18 says "Get out, my people, as fast as you can, so you don't get mixed up in her sins, so you don't get caught up in her doom..." (The Message Remix)
This is a warning, to us, and to those that have gone before. Don't get too embroiled in 'Empire', rather, be the people God desires for his kingdom. So what is my relationship with the 'whore' of 'Babylon'? At the moment, I don't know...but what I do know is that it's something I need to work on. What really matters in my life is God, ad although I wouldn't say I was necessarily materialistic, I can always try harder.
Hope that wasn't too rambly and weird!! :)
Friday, 24 April 2009
Thursday, 23 April 2009
It's not what you wear...It's what you DO!
Well, well...its April (almost May) and I haven't blogged for ages. Its taken me ages to decide to blog about this, cause I know it can be such a touchy subject. I'm going to try and get my thoughts out...but by no means is this my full opinion, it is subject to change. And no offence is meant!
I want to tell you a wee story...
My Dad is a committed Christian, who was miraculously saved a wee while before I was born. Ever since then, he has attended the Army in Inverness regularly, and is a valuable member of the Corps. When I was in Inverness over the Easter break, I overheard him talking to one of the retired officers that attends the corps and she was asking him why he hadn't been in the meeting the week before. This baffled my Dad, because, to his knowledge he had been there. Then something occured to him...he hadn't worn his uniform (it was at the dry cleaners). So he said, 'Oh I was here, I was sat right behind you, I just wasn't wearing my uniform'. And she replied 'Oh that's probably why I didn't notice you then'.
To be honest, I was horrified. I don't think, for a minute that she meant it in that way at all...but still she made it sound like the fact that he hadn't worn his uniform made him fade into the background in her eyes!
Some people seem to have the attitude that, basically if you don't wear uniform, then you are invisible. You're nothing. You don't matter and have no significance whatsoever. Well, wait a flippin minute...thats plain ridiculous! Jesus came to save the whosoever...not those who are wearing the right outfit!In the past I have had major issues surrounding uniform, mainly for that specific reason. I hate the idea of seperation, and the fact that some people will treat others differently just because of the fact that they aren't wearing uniform. Don't get me wrong, not everyone is like that, and the vast majority aren't. But more people than we would like to admit, probably pass some form of judgement on others in relation to this 'issue' of uniform. I have been guilty of it in the past, and in some ways probably still am, but on the reverse side, unintentionally.
I used to hate it when people said 'Its whats on the inside that counts...' but really if we applied that to our Corps, they'd probably be happier places to be on the whole. By no means am I saying that we would be a perfect church if we stopped caring about uniform, but you know what I mean.
I think uniform in itself has a place. It makes us, as the Salvation Army, clearly visible when in a public place. It makes us stand out from the crowd...gives us unity etc...But on the other hand there is also unity in diversity.
As Christians we need to reconcile the idea's of discipleship found in the bible, with the ideas that some people have about wearing uniform etc...
We are called to be people of God, to praise and worship him. Its not ALL about membership. Although I have to admit, I like the idea of making promises to God, and endeavouring to live your life in that way. Its just that...wearing a certain outfit doesn't make you a better person, it can just change the outward appearance.
The thing is, on the whole I am not against uniform in anyway (surprising after the massive rant i know..) I just don't want it to be something we abuse, or use to gain power or to put someone else down. Or a way of controlling people, or trying to change people's personalities. We don't have to 'fit in' with the 'norm' to be the people of God. He want us to maintain our individuality and use that diverse aspect of ourselves as his people to spread the gospel, and invite others to share in the joy of being one of his followers. I think making a committment to senior soldiership is important, and can be an amazing decision for an individual...we just need to be careful about how we say and do certain things.
The Salvation Army's uniform could and CAN be a powerful tool...if we would only use it in the right way.
So there we go...rant over. Feel free to disagree (I probably will at some point...I'm always adapting my ideas) and let me know what you think!
I want to tell you a wee story...
My Dad is a committed Christian, who was miraculously saved a wee while before I was born. Ever since then, he has attended the Army in Inverness regularly, and is a valuable member of the Corps. When I was in Inverness over the Easter break, I overheard him talking to one of the retired officers that attends the corps and she was asking him why he hadn't been in the meeting the week before. This baffled my Dad, because, to his knowledge he had been there. Then something occured to him...he hadn't worn his uniform (it was at the dry cleaners). So he said, 'Oh I was here, I was sat right behind you, I just wasn't wearing my uniform'. And she replied 'Oh that's probably why I didn't notice you then'.
To be honest, I was horrified. I don't think, for a minute that she meant it in that way at all...but still she made it sound like the fact that he hadn't worn his uniform made him fade into the background in her eyes!
Some people seem to have the attitude that, basically if you don't wear uniform, then you are invisible. You're nothing. You don't matter and have no significance whatsoever. Well, wait a flippin minute...thats plain ridiculous! Jesus came to save the whosoever...not those who are wearing the right outfit!In the past I have had major issues surrounding uniform, mainly for that specific reason. I hate the idea of seperation, and the fact that some people will treat others differently just because of the fact that they aren't wearing uniform. Don't get me wrong, not everyone is like that, and the vast majority aren't. But more people than we would like to admit, probably pass some form of judgement on others in relation to this 'issue' of uniform. I have been guilty of it in the past, and in some ways probably still am, but on the reverse side, unintentionally.
I used to hate it when people said 'Its whats on the inside that counts...' but really if we applied that to our Corps, they'd probably be happier places to be on the whole. By no means am I saying that we would be a perfect church if we stopped caring about uniform, but you know what I mean.
I think uniform in itself has a place. It makes us, as the Salvation Army, clearly visible when in a public place. It makes us stand out from the crowd...gives us unity etc...But on the other hand there is also unity in diversity.
As Christians we need to reconcile the idea's of discipleship found in the bible, with the ideas that some people have about wearing uniform etc...
We are called to be people of God, to praise and worship him. Its not ALL about membership. Although I have to admit, I like the idea of making promises to God, and endeavouring to live your life in that way. Its just that...wearing a certain outfit doesn't make you a better person, it can just change the outward appearance.
The thing is, on the whole I am not against uniform in anyway (surprising after the massive rant i know..) I just don't want it to be something we abuse, or use to gain power or to put someone else down. Or a way of controlling people, or trying to change people's personalities. We don't have to 'fit in' with the 'norm' to be the people of God. He want us to maintain our individuality and use that diverse aspect of ourselves as his people to spread the gospel, and invite others to share in the joy of being one of his followers. I think making a committment to senior soldiership is important, and can be an amazing decision for an individual...we just need to be careful about how we say and do certain things.
The Salvation Army's uniform could and CAN be a powerful tool...if we would only use it in the right way.
So there we go...rant over. Feel free to disagree (I probably will at some point...I'm always adapting my ideas) and let me know what you think!
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