tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59336860002002426482024-03-14T02:32:44.655+11:00Talking Christianitychristian review | christian viewJoe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-83161269852428234152020-04-07T12:21:00.000+10:002020-04-07T12:21:21.700+10:00The Lord Gives and Takes Away<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/spurgeon/job's_resignation.htm" target="_blank">Job’s
Resignation</a>, </span>a sermon by </span>Charles Spurgeon, London, 1886:</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-AU">“</span><span lang="EN-AU">Naked came I out of my
mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD
has taken away…” (Job 1:21)</span></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Job was
very much troubled, and did not try to hide the outward signs of his sorrow. A
man of God is not expected to be a stoic. The grace of God takes away the heart
of stone out of his flesh, but it does not turn his heart into a stone. I want
you, however, to notice that mourning should always be sanctified with
devotion. "Ye people, pour out your hearts before Him: God is a refuge for
us." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you are bowed down beneath a heavy burden of
sorrow, then take to worshipping the Lord, and especially to that kind of
worshipping which lies in adoring God, and in making a full surrender of
yourself to the Divine will, so that you can say with Job, “Though He slay me,
yet will I trust in Him.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It will
also greatly alleviate our sorrow if we then fall into serious contemplations,
and begin to argue a little, and to bring facts to bear upon our mind.
"While I was musing," said David, "the fire burned," and it
comforted and warmed him. Job is an instance of this kind of personal
instruction; he has three or four subjects which he brings before his own mind,
and these tend to comfort him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>
The extreme brevity of life</b> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-AU">Observe what Job says, "Naked came I
out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither." We appear for
a brief moment, and then we vanish away. I often, in my own mind, compare life
to a procession. Well now, because life is so short, do you not see where the
comfort comes? Job says to himself, "I came, and I shall return; then why
should I worry myself about what I have lost? I am going to be here only a
little while, then what need have I of all those camels and sheep? If my
earthly stores vanish, well, I shall vanish too." Further, Job seems
especially to dwell with comfort upon the thought, "I shall return to the
earth, from which all the particles of my body originally came: I shall return
thither." You recollect how the tribe of Gad and the tribe of Reuben went
to Moses, and said, "If we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be
given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan."
Of course, they did not want to cross the Jordan if they could get all their
possessions on the other side. But Job had not anything this side Jordan; he
was cleaned right out, so he was willing to go. And, really, the losses that a
man has, which make him "desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is
far better," are real gains. What is the use of all that clogs us here?</span><span lang="EN-AU"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Job seems to comfort himself by noticing:</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-AU"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The tenure of earthly possessions</span></b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-AU">"Naked," says he, "came I out of my mother's womb,
and naked shall I return thither." He feels himself to be very poor,
everything is gone, he is stripped; yet he seems to say, "I am not poorer
now than I was when I was born." One said to me, the other day, "All is
gone, sir, all is gone, except health and strength." Yes, but we had not
as much as that when we were born. We had no strength, we were too weak to
perform the least though most necessary offices for our poor tender frame. Old
men sometimes arrive at a second childhood. Do not be afraid, brother, if that
is your case; you have gone through one period already that was more infantile
than your second one can be, you will not be weaker then than you were at
first. Suppose that you and I should be brought to extreme weakness and poverty,
we shall neither be weaker nor poorer than we were then. It is wonderful that,
after God has been gracious to us for fifty years, we cannot trust Him for the
rest of our lives and as for you who are sixty, seventy, or eighty years of
age, what! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-AU"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But perhaps the most blessed thing is what Job said concerning:</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-AU"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The hand of God in all things</span></b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord." I am so pleased to think that Job
recognised the hand of God everywhere giving. he said, "The Lord gave."
He did not say, "I earned it all." He did not say, "There are
all my hard-earned savings gone." What a sweet thing it is if you can feel
that all you have in this world is God's gift to you! A slender income will
give us much content if we can see that it is God's gift. Let us not only
regard our money and our goods as God's gifts; but also our wife, our children,
our friends. Alas! some of you do not know anything about God. What you have is
not counted by you as God's gift. You miss the very sweetness and joy of life by
missing this recognition of the Divine hand in giving us all good things richly
to enjoy. But then, Job equally saw God's hand in taking them away. If he had
not been a believer in Jehovah, he would have said, "Oh, those detestable
Sabeans! Somebody ought to go and cut to pieces those Chaldeans." That is
often our style, is it not, — finding fault with the secondary agents? Suppose
my dear wife should say to the servant, "Where has that picture
gone?" and the maid replied, "Oh, the master took it!" Would she
find fault? Oh, no! If it had been a servant who took it down, or a stranger
who removed it, she might have said something; but not when I took it, for it
is mine. </span></span><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Has He brought you thus far to put you to shame?
Did He bear you through that very weakest part of your life, and do you think
He will now forsake you? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then Job
adds, "However poor I may be, I am not as poor as I shall be, for naked
shall I return to mother earth. If I have but little now, I shall soon have
still less." I want you to notice, also, what I think really was in Job's
mind, that, notwithstanding that he was but dust at the beginning, and would be
dust at the end, still there was a Job who existed all the while. "I was
naked, but I was; naked shall I return thither, but I shall be there."
Some men never find themselves till they have lost their goods. They,
themselves, are hidden away, like Saul, among the stuff; their true manhood is not
to be seen, because they are dressed so finely that people seem to respect
them, when it is their clothes that are respected. They appear to be
somebodies, but they are nobodies, notwithstanding all that they possess.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And surely we will let God be Master in His own
house: where we are only the children, He shall take whatever He pleases of all
He has lent us for a while.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Job's
last comfort lay in this truth, that:</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is worthy to be blessed in all things</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let us never rob God of His praise, however dark
the day is. "Blessed be the name of the Lord."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Job means
that the Lord is to be blessed both for giving and taking. "The Lord
gave," blessed be His name. "The Lord hath taken away," blessed
be His name. Surely it has not come to this among God's people, that He must do
as we like, or else we will not praise Him. God is, however, specially to be
praised by us whenever we are moved by the devil to curse. Satan had said to
the Lord concerning Job, "Put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he
hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face"; and it seemed as if God had
hinted to His servant that this was what the devil was aiming at.
"Then," said Job, "I will bless Him."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">---</span></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-AU">By C. H. Spurgeon, London, 1886; sermon published at </span></i><a href="https://biblehub.com/">biblehub.com</a><i>, titled </i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/spurgeon/job's_resignation.htm" target="_blank">Job’s Resignation</a>.</span></span></div>
<br />Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-72832698663389808512020-02-05T17:17:00.001+11:002020-02-05T17:33:18.414+11:00Itching to Hear? Vote with your Ears<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What pricks your
attention as a Christian? What do you want to hear more about? Alternatively, is
there anything in the Bible that has made you think, “I don’t really want to
hear that,” or “I don’t <i>need</i> to hear that.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Choosing what we listen
to or hear is just one way in which we try to maintain control over ourselves. But
when we do this with God’s Word, we are not submitting to it and trusting God
as our ruler, who wants us to willingly come under the control of his Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If we’re honest, we are all
tempted as Christians in this way; to discriminate between one part of God’s
Word from another. We can be selective hearers. This could be simply by giving
more attention to parts of God’s Word that we like. Or we may tend to highlight
only what stands out to us as encouraging. And we may steer clear of parts of
God’s Word that we don’t like. And in this way, we take away from God’s Word by
ignoring or even omitting from the Scriptures what we, in effect, choose to
silence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This temptation to be led
by our own desires when coming to God’s Word relates equally to those who teach
or preach or prophecy within the Church. A simple memory verse system might focus
only on all the positive, uplifting quotes throughout the Bible. Or a preacher may
find themselves focusing in on a particularly distinct, unique emphasis that they
feel is relevant or ‘fresh’. Or they just have their preferred, choice of topics.
In this way, those who speak in the Church are tempted with the ‘sin of omission’;
in effect taking away from the message and teaching of the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Apostle Paul warns us
strongly about this. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;">“… the
time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching
ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
and will turn away from listening to the truth…” (</span><span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;">2
Timothy 4: 3-4)</span></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The surprise of this statement is that Paul lays the blame upon the
listener. They are being driven by their own desires in how they select
teachers and who they gather around them. It is because they cannot put up with
some of the teaching of the Bible that teachers spread who give them just what
they want to hear already.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why should this be of great concern to us?
Because our salvation, Christian growth and maturity are all at stake, as the
Apostle Paul warns in 1 Timothy 4:16: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<span class="text">Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this,
for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the greatest risks of selective hearing (and selective preaching)
is the ever-present danger of false teaching within the Church. False teaching
only exists because there is a market for it. If there were no pupils there
would be no teachers. You cannot teach anything unless you have someone who
will listen. And so, the Bible warns us that we need to vote with our ears.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do you know if you are listening to false teaching unless you are
listening to all of God’s Word – that is, unless you are continually allowing
the Bible to interpret itself for you by listening to it as one unified message
from God? How do you know if you are a false teacher unless you are faithfully,
carefully holding together all of God’s Word and its teaching in your ministry,
without adding to it or taking away from it? After warning Timothy about false
teaching in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-9), Paul instructs him:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-prop-change: "Joe Towns" 20200205T1212;">
<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“the sacred writings… are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God
and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good
work.” (2 Timothy 15b-17)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the reasons why the Bible says that false teachers themselves will
be judged more strictly is that, not only do they tend to selectively use the Bible
-- and in this way change and distort its overall message – they also (whether
consciously or not) misread and thereby misapply the Bible:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“There
are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and
unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” (2
Peter 3:16).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so, as well as simply adding to or taking away from what the Bible
teachers, false teachers also interpret the Bible in such a way that it contradicts
a clear and plain reading of the Bible when comprehended in its entirety.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our job as Christians is not actually to ‘interpret’ the Bible – which literally
means to explain its meaning. Rather our job is to ‘read’ it, which, by definition,
means to ‘comprehend’ its meaning within its own context. It explains itself. The
Bible stands alone as a self-authenticating, self-interpreting book with its
own vocabulary and progressive message, and this requires of us careful attention
and literacy as does all proper ‘reading’. We need to ‘hear’ it and accept it (all
of it) as God’s own word:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“when you
received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the
word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you
believers.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">False teaching in the Church
has been with us from New Testament times, and before. In fact, in the Old Testament,
Moses warns Israel against false teachers which may not only include ‘prophets’
but may also include your brother, mother, son, daughter, wife or fellowman (Deuteronomy
13:1-15; 18:20-22). And almost every New Testament book (Philemon is an
exception) contains warnings against false teachers and false prophets. Jesus warns
us that false teaching will, in fact, be a defining mark of the last days in
which we now live (Matt 24:11).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;">The issue is so serious and is of
such dire consequence that Paul can say in </span></span><span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;">Galatians
1:8:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="woj"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;">“…even
if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one
we preached to you, let him be accursed.”</span></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So,
what can each of us do, to safeguard against and resist false teaching in our
lives as Christians? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First, there are some obvious big things we can do that are
a priority for every Christian in every circumstance:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-prop-change: "Joe Towns" 20200205T1241; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">1. Make a habit of praying before
and after you read or listen to God’s Word, that you take it to heart by
responding with repentance and faith, remember that Christians are
fundamentally those who not merely listen to God’s word, but who accept and obey
it: Psalm 1; Psalm 119; Mark 4:10-20; John 5:39; John 10:1-29; </span><span class="woj" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;">1 Thessalonians 2:13; James 1:22-25.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
2. Listen
through all the Bible as regularly as possible. The 66 books of the Bible were
all written to be read aloud, and so are best understood by sitting back and
listening to them in their entirety. They also have one unifying theme and
message which progressively unfolds in the pages of salvation history itself. Once
you have ‘heard’ and ‘listened’ to the whole of a book, you will have a better grasp
of its overall message and context. From there you can slow down and dive into
the nuances with a hard copy, and grapple with (and ideally meditate on) its variegated
teaching. But make sure you read and comprehend each part within its whole – read
in context – and that is much easier if you use of the very recent blessing of
being able to listen to whole books of the Bible in audio.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
3. Don’t
buy or propagate any material containing teaching you know to be wrong or misleading
– this only supports and helps it to be more successful. We mustn’t compromise God’s
Word by supporting material that confuses or even contradicts it. The Bible
commands Christians not to support false teaching or false teachers (2 John 7-11).</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
4. Make sure you are part of
a church that makes expository preaching, based on Bible exegesis, the staple
diet of the congregation. If you can, attend a bible study group too that is progressively
going through all the Scriptures (1 Timothy 4:13; <span class="woj" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;">2 Timothy
15-17).</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
5. Speak
up with the truth in love to fellow Christians. We are to expect differences
amongst us, and this should not surprise us (1 Corinthians 11:19). Debate is good
and healthy, in order to maintain unity in the Spirit – unity does not arise
from coming together (sticking to one another) but from coming around Christ
(sticking to him); we are united in him (Ephesians 4:3-5). This means that the
loving way to edify one another is to be speaking the truth to one another (Ephesians
4:15-16) and all teaching one another (Colossians 3:16). This means we mustn’t
be afraid to confront or even rebuke a fellow Christian with the truth of the
Bible, and no one is above this (Galatians 2:11-16).</blockquote>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Secondly, there are some less obvious actions
that may apply to us given the circumstances, which may require them:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">6. Warn
other Christians if they continue to go down a road of disobeying the clear
commands of the Bible or contradicting its clear teaching (after you have ‘spoken
the truth to them in love’). In such circumstances, we are told to withdraw fellowship
from fellow believers as a warning sign to them, so that by God’s grace they
will repent – in other circumstances, we are told to do this because they may be
false Christians corrupting the church by their influence (2 Thessalonians
3:14-15; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Titus 3:10-11; 1 Corinthians 5:2, 13; Ephesians
5:5-7). Acts 5:1-11 is a monumental example of how seriously God wants us to
treat holiness among Christians, his Church. We are called to judge ourselves
as Christians (1 Corinthians 11:30-32). The pattern of Matthew 18:15-20 is
helpful here. You could take a second or a third person along after your
warning if they persist in disobedience or in false doctrine. If they continue,
you should tell the elders of your church so that they can protect the whole
flock if needed (Acts 20:28-31).</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(There is an important distinction
that the Bible makes here, however: we are commanded to judge those inside the Church
(1 Corinthians 5:12b-13), not those outside. So, while this point <i>does</i>
apply to false Christians it does <i>not</i> apply to unbelievers who make no profession
of faith. Their judgment is not our business and would be practically impossible
(1 Corinthians 5:10, 12); rather for the sake of the gospel we are told to “answer”
outsiders with wisdom, grace and a holy life - ‘salt’ in Colossians 4:5-6).</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">7. Leave
your church if you need to stop supporting false teaching and at the same time unite
with true fellowship around sound teaching: “Do not be unequally yoked with
unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what
fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what
portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple
of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said… go out
from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord” (2 Corinthians
6:14-18 - It was in the context of false teachers in Corinth influencing the
church there that Paul gave this command to leave and be separate). Join a
church where you can be united to Christians devoted to sound teaching (Acts 2:42;
Titus 1:9; 2:1).</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul’s
command, in speaking about false teaching and false teachers, is to “flee”
and instead “pursue” holiness:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“If
anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of
our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness…. flee these
things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness,
gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith…” (1 Timothy 6:3, 11-12).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-AU" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, we can fight the
good fight by voting with our ears: Hearing all of God’s Word and not listening to (or supporting) false teaching. And we can fight
the good fight by not forgetting to also vote with our tongues: Speak up for the truth and share it with one another in love. And if you need to, vote with your feet: Flee from
false teaching in the Church and from false teachers; keeping the unity of the Holy Spirit who sets us apart in truth and godliness.</span></span>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-58920841541136622892019-06-06T11:20:00.002+10:002019-07-03T15:55:37.811+10:00Keeping our focus: The gospel need<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s hard to imagine a greater need for our lives
and our worlds than the one that evangelists and their ministries are meeting. Is
there a greater need for Tasmania, for our Country, for our world than new
Christians filling new churches? This gospel need should fill our horizons.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">But one problem we encounter—I certainly
experience this every day—is that we can tend to lose our gospel ‘imaginations’
as Christians, if Christ’s coming loses our focus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stop imagining countless friends and
neighbours and strangers on that day departing on his left, to eternal
condemnation (Matthew 25:41). And we stop dreaming of countless fellows at that
moment on his right, hearing Christ say, “Come, you who are blessed by my
Father!” (Matthew 25:34) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I recognise that as finite human beings we cannot continue
to be conscious of or even sustain this type of biblical vision for much of the time. At the same time, Jesus has given us these word-pictures for a reason. To listen to him and ‘hear’
his word in his parables, his descriptions, in Matthew 25, must mean more than
mere understanding of the facts of heaven and hell. It is not an intellectual assent that
Jesus sought to stir in his disciples when he spoke thus about the realities of
his coming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">But we struggle enough not to be overwhelmed with
the many, many needs in our local and global community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s still easier to watch the nightly news
than look too long into the New Testament’s window on hell. Yet even Christ’s
lure of everlasting reward has for most of us grown fuzzy and escapes our gaze.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">It’s not surprising then if home missionaries and
evangelistic parachurches are not amongst the top organisations getting
priority on our monthly bank statement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Church planting ministries are based on more
than merely fuelling efforts to see more new churches established. Local evangelistic
and church building zeal should certainly not be some Tower of Babel—not a
vision of grandeur, some dream of building greatness here for ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">What is the point of all this effort to start more
churches? It is Jesus bringing the End and his final Judgement that is
our horizon, that is the horizon for all of creation--nothing less. It is the firm, clear and real vision that we are
all moving towards--Christ’s coming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Imagine on that Day:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Less poor sinners than we see today,
going away on Christ’s left;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">More than the number of
Christians we currently see, coming with us to eternal glory;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Countless people from across our
communities praising Christ for having saved them through our efforts;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Your joy unending in the reward
of joining with countless friends and strangers converted to Christ.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you want to see that? Can you imagine it?</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But practically, how do we do this more? How can we keep the End in our sights on a day to day basis? Most of my suggestions below amount to simply re-assigning little bits of time regularly to things that bring Christ coming into focus:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Create a habit of each night and morning briefly meditating on the Final Day (e.g. think about Heaven as you go to bed at night; remember Hell as you get up in the morning each day.)</li>
<li>Attend a parachurch evangelistic ministry regularly (e.g. a few times a year, or more!); e.g. just turn up to a local university AFES ministry, for example.</li>
<li>Listen to key sections of the Audio Bible that give word-pictures about judgement and restoration - listening passively can help these parts of the Bible sweep over us regularly (e.g. Isaiah 34-66; the Revelation) </li>
<li>Attend or start a prayer group exclusively dedicated to praying for evangelism, evangelistic ministries and conversions.</li>
<li>Try an app such as PrayerMate to give you notifications each day, and set it up to remind you of the key biblical prayers from the New Testament that you reflect on before or as you pray (e.g. the prayers that Paul prayed).</li>
</ul>
<br />
Please let me know your thoughts about how to practically keep the gospel need better in-focus in our every day lives.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Let’s get behind evangelists, missionaries and
church planters, for the gospel and for glory!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-70779332356425564112019-05-22T14:12:00.000+10:002019-06-06T11:11:34.808+10:00Shrewder about our future (Christians, let’s not jeopardise ourselves)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">We’ve just had a federal election in which this question was very live and raw: should Australia build its wealth in order to
invest it in its citizens, or the other way around?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Whatever your views about politics, Jesus tells
us that we all face a similar dilemma when it comes to thinking about our
eternal future. In the parable of the Shrewd Manager, in Luke 16:1-15, we face
this question head-on and Jesus challenges us:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">9 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for
yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal
dwellings.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Parables
can be hard to interpret and it’s </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">important
to read them carefully; they are not like manuals; every detail is not an instruction.
They are figurative stories, generally with a few main points and a clue or two
to help. But in this parable, Jesus specifically tells us what it means (in
verse 9).</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Talking
specifically to his disciples (<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">verse 1),
</span>Jesus says the point of this parable is that Christians should be using ‘worldly
wealth’ to do something much more worthwhile, something much less ‘wasteful’; surprisingly,
it is something we should be doing for ourselves – gaining friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I’ve
heard the Shrewd Manager in this parable likened to the story of Frank William
Abagnale Jr, in the movie, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Catch Me If You
Can</i>, in which we see that although the young Frank was a total crook, there
was much to learn from and even admire about him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">So
too this manager is dodgy – firstly for the reason, he was getting the sack;
because he had been “wasting” his master’s wealth in ways that were also “dishonest”
(verses 1 and 8). This language is the same as that used earlier when Jesus
refers to the Prodigal Son, who “squandered his Father’s wealth” with wild
living (Luke 15:13).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">It
is the manager’s response to facing the sack that draws Jesus’ attention: he
proceeds to give his master’s clients extreme discounts, slashing their bills
without the consent of the owner. And he does this so that after he gets the
sack, instead of being faced with slave labour or becoming destitute, the master’s
clients will love him and become his community of support. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He
buys these friendships at the expense of his master. But in a strange twist,
this change in the manager is a kind of repentance. To an original reader, the
manager's lifestyle of ‘waste’ with his master’s possessions would have figuratively
pictured the sinful life as a prodigal life, squandering wealth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">But
in a dramatic turn of events, this manager suddenly adopts the completely
opposite approach. He begins using his master’s wealth in a way that gives
extreme benefit to others (the master’s clients) and only indirectly to
himself! And to most of our surprise, the master indeed now commends the
manager. The reason given is that the master admires his shrewd actions (verse
8).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
manager’s shrewdness was his clever action benefiting his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">own</i> welfare – which resulted from an understanding of the
predicament he was in and how he could turn it around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">In
making his point, Jesus points out that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this
world</i> is better at this kind of clever decision-making than Christians are,
much like the genius Frank Abagnale Jn.: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">8 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“the people of this world are more shrewd in
dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I’m
not sure how clever our country always is, overall, in this respect. But the
general wisdom of the world usually goes like this: ‘invest in your people’ if
you want to truly prosper and thrive as a people, as a business, or as a country.
The reason generally given is: ‘people are your greatest asset’. So, it goes, ‘don’t
put the cart before the horse’. In other words, this line of wisdom says that the
only way to be healthy and wealthy, ultimately, is to build and invest in your
people, your community; that’s the long-term game plan for ‘building to last’ so
that you will be standing as a business or a country at the end of all the
booms and the busts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">But
in fact, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we all</i> have a lot in common
with this manager in this parable, who was in jeopardy on account of how he had
been handling the possessions at his disposal. His master was taking away his
job and he was faced with digging or begging (verse 3). He had come under judgment
for his ‘wasteful’ living (verse 1), and his sentence was the loss of his life
as he knew it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Much
like the sentence of death over all people, as humans, as managers of God’s
creation, we are all losing our jobs too. W</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">hat
we have will also not last; our days are numbered, and, in the end, we won’t be
able to take any of it with us; we are going to lose it all on account of our
sin – we have squandered God’s wealth and glory in living against him (Luke
15:13).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Just like this manager, none of us actually
owns anything at all; everything belongs to God; it’s all his stuff — he is the
Proprietor, the Owner, and the Sole Director — we are only managers of our
master’s wealth, his possessions. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wealth is, of course, broader than money and
includes all things of value and worth in this world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
question this parable asks us to think about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">as Christians</i> (now that we have become his disciples, verse 1), is to
what extent we are still literally wasting our master’s wealth (actual money
and possessions, verse 9), and to what extent are we using it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shrewdly</i>. Still, he has given it all to
us with the renewed role of using it for our good and the good of others. But
are we using it for real, true, lasting benefit and gain?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Alluding
to the ‘dishonest’ manager, in verse 10-12 we read:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">10</span></sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Whoever can be trusted with very little can
also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also
be dishonest with much. <sup>11</sup>So if you have not been trustworthy in
handling <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">worldly</i> wealth, who will
trust you with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">true</i> riches? <sup>12</sup>And
if you have not been trustworthy with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">someone
else’s</i> property, who will give you property of your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">own</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">According
to Jesus, the whole of creation is “someone else’s property”. What is at stake
with our use of it is the gift (or not) of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">true</i>
wealth in his eternal kingdom; how rich and rewarded will we be forever in the future?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The teaching of this parable is that
we can and should be investing in our futures now using the resources at our disposal
that don’t belong to us anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">But
rather than serving God by using worldly wealth <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shrewdly</i> – wisely making decisions that result in our true good – we
can end up serving this world’s riches as slaves to possessions (which is idolatry).
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Alluding
to the master of this manager, in verse 13 we read:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">13 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“No one can serve two masters. Either you will
hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise
the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
real problem for the dishonest and wasteful manager in this parable that put
him in perilous jeopardy was that his actions betrayed a hateful despise of his
master as the real Owner, Proprietor and Sole Director over the possessions he
wanted to manage his own way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And
so, Jesus’ warning to handle wealth well in this world is a warning to
Christians about jeopardising our eternal life and future through failing to
use worldly wealth to truly serve God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">In
fact, Jesus implies that it is an incredible ‘waste’ for his followers to not
be using the worldly wealth we have under our management to build our eternal
futures. Again, we read in verse 11:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">11</span></sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> So if you have not been trustworthy in
handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">But
this parable also concerns <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the way</i> that
Christians are to do this. We do this by investing in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">people</i>. Again, in verse 9 it says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">9</span></sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain
friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into
eternal dwellings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">According
to Jesus, the best way to use worldly wealth now is to use it to make “friends”.
What does this mean, exactly? The context of Luke 15 and the rest of Luke 16 is
important in carefully understanding this. In Luke 15 we have the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">parable of the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost sons (seeking
and saving the lost), but after this parable in Luke 16 we have the parable of Lazarus
and the judgement of the rich man, who neglects to show mercy to the poor (16:19).
The word </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“friends”
is vague, and probably in context, it is meant to have broad application.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
think it can and should apply to all ways to use money and possessions to
benefit the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">poor, evangelistic ministries, fellow
believers in the church, our family, our mates and friendships. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">In other words, it is there, as God’s
own wealth, for the good of people. So, we should be using it to benefit </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">people, investing it
into people. That’s what it is there for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And
this is the big point of the parable: if we’re really clever (shrewd), we will
see that this is the only thing we can do with worldly wealth that will not
jeopardise our eternal reward as Christians; but will actually, ultimately be
of benefit to ourselves in the new creation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">There
is an important nuance to notice here to really grasp the full weight of Jesus’
point here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Notice
in verse 9, it does not actually say “when it is gone, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they</i> will welcome you into eternal dwellings”. It actually says, in
an accurate translation, “<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">when it is gone, <i>you </i>will be welcomed</span>” – What this means is
that Jesus is thinking about you, and the welcome you will receive in heaven;
rather than giving a parable focused on using your wealth to bring more people to
heaven. While evangelistic ministry is a great way to invest worldly wealth in
service of God, this parable is about you, as a Christian, being shrewd and
securing for yourself a richer welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">It
is “you” who will be welcomed into eternal dwellings if you use and invest wealth
in this world for the good and the gain of people. Yes, wealth can be used so
that others will be there too, but there is no causal relationship between
evangelistic giving and conversions! ‘They’ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can</i>
be there and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">might </i>be there, but regardless,
it is what good you have done in this life for others and how that will be of
measurable significance to your life eternally that is in focus in this parable
I believe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">In
similar vein we are told elsewhere:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Be as shrewd as snakes but as harmless as
doves” Matthew 10:16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Freely you have received, freely give” Matthew
10:8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">So
let’s learn from this story about a manager who responded to judgment wisely; facing
extreme jeopardy, shrewdly changing to use his master’s credit and expense for
the good of both clients and ultimately his own welfare and welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Apostle Peter, also alluding to the effect of facing up to our mortality
through suffering in this life, describes the result that this can have on
Christians: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,
arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body
is done with sin. <sup>2</sup> As a result, they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but
rather for the will of God</i>. 1 Peter 4:1-2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Christians let’s not jeopardise ourselves. Let’s be
shrewder about our future. Let’s invest in people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Finally,
let me qualify all of this with a reminder that using our (God’s) money or
possession for our own good directly is not necessarily is sinful!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">In
the Bible we know and see that within the Creator's framework people should
seek good, both for themselves and for others. Life before and outside the
Garden is to be a human pursuit of the "it is good" element of
creation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ultimately
God as the highest good, and so should attract our greatest pursuit and love by
a long shot (Luke 14:26). While John Piper (referring to Jonathan Edwards and C
S Lewis) refers to this as Christian Hedonism, Tim Keller describes it as a
matter of the right ordering of our ‘loves’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">What
this means is that in practice sin is not so much what is ‘selfish,’ but what
is against God and others and is not good for us. It is loving and right to
ourselves and others, and therefore God, to seek our own good, because this is
what is good for God and ourselves and others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Shrewdness
and wisdom, then, involves identifying what is good for us, what are the
greatest goods, and why. It is always the ‘why’ that ultimately makes the pursuit
of something good, not the object itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">As
1 Corinthians 13 famously says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3</span></sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> If I give all I possess to the poor and give
over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I gain</i> nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">If
we give ourselves and everything for reasons other than true love and worship
of Christ, we will, in fact, lose our reward – “we” will benefit nothing from it
in the End.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">But let’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">love
our Master</i> by investing his wealth in people. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">It would be great if
Australia and its governments did this more, but as a Christian, I feel even greater
the rebuke of Jesus to be doing this much more myself, not just as a voter, but
as a citizen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6rVZsWZ1oc/XOTMik_5_DI/AAAAAAAACqA/3OutqYL0V-45gfjuWMQ--0TAmLqZdjGnACLcBGAs/s1600/Shrewder%2Babout%2Bour%2BFuture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6rVZsWZ1oc/XOTMik_5_DI/AAAAAAAACqA/3OutqYL0V-45gfjuWMQ--0TAmLqZdjGnACLcBGAs/s320/Shrewder%2Babout%2Bour%2BFuture.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-64794563880822363042016-10-18T16:41:00.003+11:002019-05-22T14:07:59.361+10:00Ways to increase financial capacity for church planting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Church Planting involves
money. It involves money before hand, during, and for some time after. This
elective explores how we can get the church finances geared up for church
planting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">From planning years in
advance, saving up cash reserves, to being prepared and able to support the new
church plant for X number of years after the church plant takes place, even
though the mother church has lost 40% of its congregation to the church plant;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">There are some obvious
well known avenues to explore here, but there are also less known avenues to
explore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Just as we want to be <i><u>visionaries</u></i> when it comes to
church planting, we also need to be visionaries in how we treat our finances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I’ve headed up a
successful business for over 5 years and gained experience in managing
money/planning ahead/developing projects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">This is a businessman's
perspective to the topic of how to grow our financial capacity for Church
Planting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I’m told that we are
often doing lowest-common-denominator / small association type bookkeeping in
our churches. There are things that might be possible if we were a bit more
proactive with our finances that we never get to, because we are just staying
afloat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">My goal is to push you
to consider things that may be beyond your current field of view.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">And a quick disclaimer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">When preparing for this
elective the organisers suggested that my pre-existing knowledge and insights
will be ok to draw on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">So this is not a highly
researched elective that considers broader perspectives comprehensively…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Rather my goal is simply
to sow a few ideas and take questions to allow discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo11; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc464567899"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">What we will cover</span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoTocHeading" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Letting the gospel fuel our finances<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Being more diligent with the details</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Putting the big rocks better in place</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Growing yourself</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reducing your expenses</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Raising more funds</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Resources and
references</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">APPENDIX: 101
of financial management</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">APPENDIX:
Summary of the Bible Theme of Finances</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc464567900"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Letting the gospel
fuel our finances</span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Firstly a few personal convictions
and values about risks in this area:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">God’s Word consistently
warns us about money and possessions from beginning to end. Because of sin the
dangers are immense, including being ruled by it, trusting in it, and loving
and serving it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
need to treat our finances – and teach our churches to treat their money and
possessions - like a powerful source of radiation; urgently understanding it
and particularly how to handle it sufficiently cautiously; only then can its
immense power be used for good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Prosperity
gospel proponents are examples of being too positive and not cautious enough
and tainting evangelicalism – but we must not overreact (and I think we often
do). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
can also fall into Finney's false revivalism – Finney believed that by the right use of “means” we can cause revival, but no effort can create the results
of the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">As
churches become more ‘business-like’ we also need to heed John Piper’s warning:
“Brothers, we are not professionals!” - The best-run church materially,
commercially, with KPI results, without out the true goods of the gospel and
godliness, is a con. The name we give a successful business or church that
doesn’t deliver its promised service or product is a “scam”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Boards
of Management exist in part to manage the conflict of interest and risk to elderships
around finances; it must be seen as ministry and valued by elders and leaders. It
is a ‘loving’ act to manage church finances diligently and do administration
well. It is actually the Bible’s command to love our people, our church, the
gospel and the glory of God that we must manage quality and compliance
exceptionally well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">But the Bible stresses
the positive as well as the negative aspects of money. Money can be a snare
depending on our motives, but it can and should be used as a blessing and can
fuel the gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We need to build a positive
and constructive culture based upon right theology; money matters and profit itself
is not evil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Money and ‘business’ all
comes from God and can be a sign of his blessing and provision; in the gospel, money
can and should be used to advance his kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
need to be preaching regularly on this topic to re-calibrate our Christian
mindset which is strongly influenced by the prevailing culture of
individualism, consumerism, and greed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">God
entrusts some believers with wealth in order to provide enormous opportunity
for doing good in this world and for the gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
can dramatically increase our financial capacity for church planting as God’s
word increasingly revolutionises how we treat our personal finances as
Christians; acknowledging that it all actually belongs to God and is only
loaned to us for serving one another and doing good; thanking him for it; devoting
it to his service; supporting gospel work with it; giving to the poor; remaining
humble; not trusting it and valuing heavenly riches more than money and
possessions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
need to regularly preach and teach on the value of ordinary work, for the sake
of the gospel; we need to esteem the gospel perspective on paid commercial
work; work is actually a moral duty - The Bible criticises those who don’t work
by choice – work has been ordained by God as a means of fulfilment and service
(balanced by rest) that brings honour to God as we become self-supporting, find
self-fulfilment and serve others; any legitimate work can be seen as God’s
calling and stewardship from God himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">And
so we need regular teaching, encouragement and modelling of righteous
stewardship as the handling of money is a crucial test of our godliness; in the
Bible, believers must use money in a God honouring way; for the support of the
family, for benefiting the poor, especially God’s people, and for the work of
God’s kingdom; believers are to be wise stewards of all of their God-given
gifts, including the wise use of their material possessions, including using it
to benefit others; developing or growing it responsibly and sharing their money
and possessions, especially amongst Christians. Christians are actually
commanded to give of their money and material possessions willingly,
cheerfully, spontaneously, regularly, and generously – in obedience, gratitude to
God and in love for others. And God actually rewards the giver appropriately;
encouraging them to be enterprising in giving, sometimes overwhelming the
giver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
gospel work of calling on faith and repentance is not a separate work to
calling on people (Christians and non-Christians) to give to the work of the
gospel; in Luke’s gospel giving is seen as a crucial way to express faith and
repentance and we need to call on all people, including non-Christians to give
away their worldly treasures in order to come to Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Since
God is the Lord of all the earth he has often used the ‘wealth of the
unbeliever’ or their possessions to further the gospel so we should be bold in
telling them "the Lord needs it" (Triumphal Entry; Matthew 21)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Our
financial capacity to plant churches is directly proportional to our capacity
to sell the gospel and our vision for reaching the world and doing good in this
world to people – because it is the gospel itself that is for sale; people need
to buy it (Jesus says "come buy food without cost...") – but the “price”
is your whole life and everything in it (which we count as worth nothing…rubbish
compared to the exchange rate, the profit we gain (!), and for the Christian godliness
continues to be the same trade and exchange (Jesus says "I counsel you to
buy from me gold refined in the fire."). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">As
in the early church in the book of Acts (remember they stopped regarding
anything they owned as their own; selling their possessions and pooling their
funds) if we are selling to people the immeasurable features and benefits of
Christ, then (with the Spirit’s enabling) money for church planting is not
going to be an issue; it will just flow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">So those are my personal
convictions and values on finances and the church that become the paradigm
within which someone CAN be proactive, hard-headed and 'entrepreneurial' in
church finance planning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">For more, there is an
APPENDIX: Summary of the Bible Theme of Finances.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc464567901"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</a></span><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Being more diligent with the details</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I’m now going to give a
few relatively basic things that churches might be missing. Bread and butter
financial stuff that churches might be failing in, doing badly in or have not
have considered…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u>Valuing work and workers</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u><br /></u></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
need to work hard at building a culture that attracts 'all' the gifts that we need
for healthy churches (1 Corinthians 12) – and that means diversity, including a
healthy population of workers and those with gifts of giving. We need to be
actively supporting workers to be diligent at work, to persevere, endure
hardship and keep thanking God for the ability to produce wealth and to be
using it to build our churches, through financial self-sacrifice. The book of
Proverbs in trying to save us from foolishness says, “Get your fields in order,
and then build your house.” That applies to building churches too, doesn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u>Valuing
finances</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
need to really value every little dollar; not only for the reasons mentioned
but also because if you count your cents, the dollars will take care of
themselves. We need to carefully count, watch, protect and steward every little
dollar because of the sweat and tears it has taken to arrive at that money
after it has been given to us; it had to be worked for and earned, and then
some of it went to compulsory superannuation and entitlements, and a massive
proportion went on tax, and then a massive proportion of it went to sustain the
worker with food and living expenses, and then only after all that it was given
to the church by faith. And so for every $1 dollar that we are given, an
employer needed to earn something like $99 and then pay the worker something
like $60... So don't waste it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u>Valuing
saving</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Wastage
is a massive problem in our world, and particularly in our culture and society.
If we want to increase our capacity financially we need to remove wastage. We
need to adopt what has been coined “lean” models and systems of working. If
you’re interested visit </span><a href="http://www.lean.org.au/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">www.lean.org.au</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">. There was something very good and
right and productive about a culture of being thrifty, industrious, and dare I
say it frugality. But our generation today has lost a lot of that. This isn’t
about cutting corners so much as trimming fat. If you understand this, then you
will change the way you work, plan and spend money: Saving $25,000 is exactly
equivalent to receiving $25,000.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u>Valuing
governance and management</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">You
need to learn how to read, use, manage, and oversee a Budget, Profit & Loss
Statement, a Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, and a Treasurer. We need regular training
for our whole board and elders, and treasurers, in financial management. I’ve
prepared an APPENDIX: 101 of Financial Management if this is a particular need
for you, your board members and/or your elders. I recommend that boards adopt a
set of ‘standards’ for your church (and I would recommend CMA’s Essential
Standards; if you’re interested visit </span><a href="http://www.cma.net.au/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">www.cma.net.au</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">). It is partly because we leave the
thinking about the money to our treasurers that we have less financial capacity
than we could have; because financial management is not only about careful bookkeeping, it is also about leadership and decision-making, such as your
philosophy of finances, investment decisions regarding accounts and interest,
term deposits, purchases and other expenses. As a leader of a church or church
plant, how can you grow your financial capacity if you’re not leading your
board of management with well advised and informed and strategic decision
making? We also need to ask, seek and knock for accountants, financial and
business people who will strengthen our boards and leadership in this area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u>Valuing
planning</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
need to get better at planning, valuing planning and focusing on it as a core
activity of the leadership and the board of management. A budget is a plan. If
all you do is put this year’s expenses into next year’s budget and show the
church that it all balances, then your plan is no change, no growth. That is a
hopeless plan. What are your goals? 1 year, 3 year, 5 year and 10-year goals.
What strategies will you use to achieve them? How can you realistically
estimate the costs and therefore saving that will be needed to be able to plan
to implement those strategies? You need to get your strategic plan done and
then you need to gear up your budget to incorporate your strategic plans and
demonstrate how in stages based on realistically achievable assumptions, you
will be able to change and grow. That will invariably mean you will need to
spend more on those strategic measures. And for that, you’re going to need to
receive more funds and/or save more funds and/or reduce other expenses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Jesus says in Luke 14:28, <i>“Suppose one of you
wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see
if he has enough money to complete it?”</i> Pretty good advice for church
planting too! We refer to this teaching as being about the cost of becoming a
disciple, but couldn’t it also be about the cost of building the church – the
cost of completing what the apostles and disciples are called to do?</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc464567902"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Putting the big rocks
better in place</span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">So now I’m going to give
some bigger picture things; proactive things and some more ‘outside the box'
things to help you think big and gear up for the scale of what could be possible
in church planting.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Growing yourself</span></h3>
</div>
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</h2>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> Some
guru somewhere says the top 3 things that attract finances are vision,
leadership and networking. And the relationship between the three is crucial to
understand: (Vision + Leadership) multiplied by Networking = Financial Capacity.
So work on these top three (3) things – particularly networking, as it is the multiplier.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">So
firstly, you need to be able to give your givers something to invest in; it
needs to be compelling enough to ‘earn’ their ‘buy-in’ to it, literally; so you
need to get the <i>vision</i> right. Vision
fuels finances. People give to vision, not to need. If you cast a compelling
vision that captures the hearts of people, you will have an army of people that
will want to follow you and throw their lives as well as their money into it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Develop
your <i>leadership</i> abilities.
Leadership accelerates finances.
Financial supporters have to “buy you” before they fund you. Most
supporters invest in the planter over the plan. So don’t think it is all about
your polished strategic plan and budget; it is actually all about you (as
‘wrong’ as that sounds) (your vision, your leadership, and then lastly, your
networking)…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><i>Networking</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> exponentially increases your funding
capacity. It’s not what you know, and
it’s not who you know; but it’s <i>who knows
you</i> – what counts is that people hear your vision and trust your
leadership, and lots and lots of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">So it is the
combination of the strength of your vision plus leadership ability that is
together multiplied by your
networking that will determine your financial capacity for church planting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">To
grow yourself it is also key (as I’ve already suggested) to get serious about
becoming ‘money’ and ‘business’ wise; get a book on ‘financial management for
dummies. Befriend accountants and auditors and financial planners (if you meet
one – jump on them): take them to lunch and ask them for advice; ask them to
run a session for you and your leadership or for your workers and business
owners. You need to do the same with befriending business owners; sign up to non-for-profit
community and financial fundraising newsletters and read them (if you’re interested,
visit </span><a href="http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">www.ourcommunity.com.au</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> and other resources listed below under “Resources”). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">There
is also a place for contextualisation: if you want to find not only the lost
but also financial supporters then being ‘all things to all men’ can include
learning to ‘use’ professionalism and a culture of excellence in order to
attract the business minded Christian community. So, you need to learn about
marketing and advertising, events management, human resource management, and
all things corporate and business development. Planting a church is many
things, but it includes running an organisation in the 21<sup>st</sup> Century
– so learn how our culture runs organisations successfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Now other than growing
yourself, there are two main ways to increase your financial capacity: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">1. Reduce your expenses
- without losing any income; and (or) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">2. Increase your income
- without increasing your expenses!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It’s not rocket science.
So let’s look at each one in turn:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Reducing your expenses</span></h3>
</div>
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</h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u><br /></u></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u>Alternatives
to spending</u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo13; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The first thing to realise with expenses is that you don’t need to have money to
have assets, currency or capacity. If you need a car, or if you need printing
then that is what you need; not necessarily the money to buy it. Donations,
contra sponsorship and shared services are all important to promote and
facilitate. Jesus taught that we should be asking for local sponsorship of evangelism
(i.e. Jesus said, ‘take nothing for the journey; whenever you enter a town or
house and are welcomed, stay there and eat whatever is offered you…’ Mark 6 /
Luke 10).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">There
is an enormous amount of reinventing the wheel that can and could be avoided
through more partnership and collaboration between churches and individuals,
other organisations and other churches. Examples of this being done in small
measure currently include Vision 100 IT; Care Consultancy’s at-cost printing
for non-for-profit organisations (for more information visit </span><a href="http://www.careconsultancy.com.au/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">www.careconsultancy.com.au</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">). We should also be sharing services
for areas such as legal advice, financial planning and investment and
accounting; we should be getting alongside and getting on-side well-resourced
individuals and local businesses of both non-Christian and Christian owners and
creating local strategic alliances that enable opportunities for contra
sponsorship, co-location, and at-cost purchasing or shared services; a company
may not be able to gift you money but you can leverage their buying power or
other resources.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u>Selective
spending</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Spending
selectively is an important way to reduce your expenses and avoid wastage. Strategic spending is crucial, but why spend
money if it is avoidable? If you want to increase your financial capacity you
can make sure that all of your money is spent on achieving your mission if you
have a policy of eliminating all avoidable spending. For example, new chairs
that look more professional – careful consideration needs to be given for
alternative funding such as crowdsourcing before you would sacrifice your
future goals for the sake of an up-to-date look and feel in your furniture. But
spending money on a CRM database may be the opposite – the technology may
enable you to effectively network, follow up, communicate and build your
stakeholder commitment. Another example includes getting into a 5-year contract
with a digital printing company where 95% of your money goes on the lease and
only 5% on printing – we need to be very careful and savvy to ensure that we’re
selecting value for money purchases that will actually make a difference to our
mission. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u>Reducing
your biggest expense</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo13; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The biggest difference is always made by focusing a spotlight on your biggest
expenses – which for churches is the salary cost of staffing. This means that
even a small improvement in this area can radically increase your financial
capacity just by doing anything that eases this burden; the most obvious
example is supplementing your income with some self-funding – i.e. tent
ministry of which the Apostle Paul is the example. The fact is; no one is only
a church planter. Everyone has other skills. Do some relief teaching. Build
websites. Raise some money with your other skills. The pattern of Jesus and
Paul is that evangelism and church planting should not depend on funding –
therefore ‘tent ministry’ always needs to be considered and is always an option.
Ed Stetzer agrees with Paul when he says you can plant a church without any money
through self-funded evangelists or off the back of so-called ‘lay’ ministry.
Now if that is the case, why shouldn’t we think about at least supplementing
full-time paid Christian work with some self-funding? Paul said that he avoiding
dependency by working and paying his way was a model to follow of self-sufficiency
and self-support! (2 Thessalonians 3).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo13; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">By
the way this also means that we need to be very, very careful not to ‘burn’ any
ground we make in our church financial capacity by smaller, ad hoc and less
strategic employment decisions of assistant or evangelistic support staff.
There are no rules around this of course, but it needs to be said that all the
good work of years of building financial capacity for church planting could be
undone by one simple employment decision. We need to be very deliberate and
cautious about employing church staff off the back of <i><u>savings</u></i> because this is our biggest expense. One wrong move
in this department is more damaging than hundreds of little areas of wastage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Now as well as reducing
your expenses - without losing any income… the other way to increase your
financial capacity is: Increase your income - without increasing your expenses!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">And ideally, you do them
both!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Raising more funds</span></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u>Increasing
regular giving / Raising up regular givers</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Deliberately
raise-up givers and build the gift of giving onto your list of key identified
needs areas that we target and recruit for – like you would any gift! Why would
we be head hunting only the word gifts and hospitality and musicians, for
example: We need to build around the church planter a team of “gospel patrons”
- the name given to people whose
profound generosity has enabled the great movements and revivals down through
history (for more visit </span><a href="http://www.gospelpatrons.org/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">www.gospelpatrons.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">). These people need close partnership
and relationship because their commitment to giving is directly tied to their
belief in you, your vision and your progress. If you have needs, they want to
know about it and expect an honest and frank phone call or catch up about it –
they want to be there for you to enable you to do the work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Build
your plan and core team on the mall concept. Malls secure their anchor stores
before they begin construction, and then fill in with smaller stores. Work diligently to secure the right ‘anchor partners’
for your new church. Partners bring prospective partners. Potential financial
partners want to know who else is committed to this plant financially.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Elevate
giving as a whole church to the vital role it really has, a key part of our
worship and love and faith response, like singing or the Lord’s Supper. One way
to do this is set targets as a whole church and share progress regularly – such
as a pie chart with the proportion of the churches giving and where it goes,
and how much we are aiming for as a church to be giving to third parties. It
will grow our financial capacity if we learn to give as a holistic community,
rather than individualistically – and the way to do that is enabling people to
give to a third party via the church and tag their offering with that donation;
then the whole church can benefit from seeing the whole picture of where the
congregation’s money is going (how much we are achieving together!). If we want
to be able to plant a church, then we need to grow the percentage of the churches
offering that gets on-directed to other church plants! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u>Attracting
more or bigger donations</u></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Ed
Stetzer on <i>Rethinking Church Plant
Funding </i>gives a heap of good advice, including you need to understand the
two levels of financial support: individual and organisations, including
denominations. There are also two types of giving: regular giving by members
and one-off donations by individuals (e.g. visitors) or organisations (e.g.
denominations or local businesses). Individuals will give because they love
you; churches, denominations and larger organizations will give because they
trust your leadership and plan. Focus the majority of your fundraising time on
organisations over individuals. Individuals tend to give dollars while
organizations give thousands of dollars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Work
on attracting <i>donations</i> / get better
(or start!) fundraising for donations from those who are not members of your
church (why do only parachurches do this?): Church leaders need to see
themselves as fundraisers. Learn about marketing and advertising; networking; the
power of the proposal, the letter etc; hone your communication skills in order
to express the opportunities and your needs to the people God brings your way, selling
techniques etc. Why shouldn’t a church planter put directly targeted proposals to
organisations? (Some give a percentage of their profits or income prior to taking
a dividend).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Learn
to broaden the net of fundraising. After every appointment, ask the question,
“Do you know anyone else who may be interested in this church plant or has a
heart for this work?” You need to see every person as a door to a whole group
of other potential partners in your work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">All
of the money you need is sitting in the bank accounts of people, and that’s a
good thing! Therefore Christians saving money is to be encouraged. Saving money
is an antidote to spending money in a culture of extremely high waste. You can
only give what you have and you will only have if you have saved. Paul
encouraged Christians to save in order to give (2 Corinthians), "saving it
up so that when I come..." The way you save is to spend less than you earn –
and in a consumer culture, this needs to be encouraged. As Christians build
their wealth within a gospel framework God will use them to provide for your
church plant and its gospel work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
need to be bolder, in asking for and calling on people to ‘invest in the
gospel’; boldly and regularly – why don’t we ask for more?! (“Ask and it will
be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the
door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8))</span>. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
should be making more of the offering talk (not just tacking it onto the end of
a sermon) (the worker is worth his wages).</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We should be asking visitors to give and contribute –
e.g. credit card slips for visitors. We should be asking non-Christians to
give. We should be asking local businesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
need to be praying for more; asking God for connections and strong
relationships with business leaders, the business community and wealthy
Christians that will provide what is needed to grow our church planting
capacity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><u>Increasing
(or starting!) other standard fundraising activities</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Lastly,
you need to start and create a culture of fundraising within your church; like
any club, school, community organisation or political party – we as a community
could be doing so many standard activities that regularly and effectively build
a reliable and sustainable supplementary income stream into the budget (why is
it that only ‘parachurch’ groups actually do conventional fundraising?) What
school or community group doesn’t do regular barbeques? (We should be the first
and best at this, not the last and worst!) (I remember when I was growing up,
our church, which had bought its own building off the back of fundraising
efforts – every year went through a series of fun and community engaging
fundraising activities – such as the annual ‘slave’ auction). Megachurches
have learned how to do this well (maybe that is why they get so big?). They
will give out copies of the sermon but always ask for a gold coin donation;
they will produce their training material in booklet form and always sell
copies for $5 or $10 or $20 a copy – you have gone to all that effort; so let’s
not waste the opportunity. There are many, many more common fundraising ideas
online if you’re interested. You could even consider “seed funding” an
initiative - using money to create money, which is often needed anyway to get
set up for effective fundraising efforts. And remember, every one of these
activities can be furthering your work in more ways than just fueling the
finances – they engage your community, further your name and are a perfect
way to promote your meetings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">And
finally, identify, be aware and take advantage of opportunities that arise to
seek bigger funding opportunities from organisations specifically in that
business; e.g. The Tasmanian Community Fund grant submission rounds (for more
visit <a href="http://www.tascomfund.org/">www.tascomfund.org</a>) ; the
Genesis Charitable Foundation (visit <a href="http://www.genesisfoundation.org.au/">www.genesisfoundation.org.au</a>) ;
known Christian business owners or investors who are always open to a letter or
a proposal. This is where you need to learn how to write a letter and learn the
power of the letter or the written proposal. It comes down to the clarity and
compulsion of your vision, strategy and implementation plan, including your own
leadership. But you need to get that all together anyway for your church plant
to succeed. So if you’ve got it, sell it. There is nothing to stop you writing,
calling, meeting with and sitting down to convince the largest sponsors and
business owners in this country of your church plant plan, why the world needs
it and will benefit from it and why it will succeed. It all comes down to your
(vision + leadership) x networking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc464571580"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">References</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></h1>
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><i style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The Hodder Dictionary of Bible Themes</span></i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Ed
Stetzer, Rethinking Church Plant Funding : <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2015/january/rethinking-church-plant-funding.html">http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2015/january/rethinking-church-plant-funding.html</a></span></li>
</ul>
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<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></h1>
<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc464571581"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Resources</span></a></h1>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l14 level1 lfo19; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Care
Consultancy - </span><a href="http://www.careconsultancy.com.au/" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">www.careconsultancy.com.au</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">. See Corporate Services tab.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Christian
Ministry Australia - </span><a href="http://www.cma.net.au/" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">www.cma.net.au</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">. See the ‘Governance’ tab.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Gospel
Patrons - </span><a href="http://www.gospelpatrons.org/" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">www.gospelpatrons.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">. Generosity leaders partnering for the gospel. Go to the
‘books’ tab.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Lean
Thinking & Practice: </span><a href="http://www.lean.org.au/" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">www.lean.org.au</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Our
Community - </span><a href="http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">www.ourcommunity.com.au</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">. Where non-for-profits go for help.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Tasmanian
Community Fund: <a href="http://www.tascomfund.org/">www.tascomfund.org</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Genesis
Charitable Foundation: <a href="http://www.genesisfoundation.org.au/">www.genesisfoundation.org.au</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Small
Business FOR DUMMIES (4TH EDITION)<b> </b>By
Eric Tyson and Jim Schel - Chapter 14 Managing Profitability and Cash: Go to </span><a href="http://www.dummies.com/" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">www.dummies.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">
and buy yourself a copy or read online for free at </span><a href="http://www.freebook11.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Small-Business-For-Dummies-4th-Edition.pdf" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">http://www.freebook11.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Small-Business-For-Dummies-4th-Edition.pdf</span></a></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><o:p style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </o:p><br />
<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc464567908"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">APPENDIX: 101 of
financial management</span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Some
myths about finances<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It’s
impossible to understand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It’s
precise<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I’m
a ‘people’ manager so I don’t need to understand it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It’s
all about budgeting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
three most important financial statements<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
balance sheet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The income/profit or loss statement<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
cash flow statement<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The balance sheet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">A
balance sheet shows you the financial position or worth of an organisation on
any particular day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It
shows you the:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Value
of our assets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Value
of our liabilities<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">What’s
leftover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It
<u>does not</u> measure income or expenditure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The income statement<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
income statement (often called a profit and loss statement) shows you how much
income you earned and how much expenditure you incurred over a period of time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It
<u>does not</u> measure the value of our assets or liabilities<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It
<u>does not</u> measure how much cash came into or left the organisation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The cash flow statement<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
cash flow statement measures how much cash flowed into and out of the
organisation over a period of time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It
<u>does not</u> measure the value of the income earned or expenditure incurred<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It
<u>does not</u> measure the value of assets and liabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">How
to assess your church’s financial health<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Liquidity ratio<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Gives
an indication of the solvency position of the organisation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Measured
by dividing current assets by current liabilities<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Result
should be at least 1.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Daily cost of running
the organisation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Gives
an indication of how efficiently the organisation is operating<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Measured
by dividing the total annual expenditure by 365<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Days cash on hand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Measures
how many days the organisation could continue to meet expenditure if all income
stopped immediately<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Measured
by dividing the current assets by daily operating cost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
result should be at least 90 days<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">For
more help with this area visit: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.freebook11.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Small-Business-For-Dummies-4th-Edition.pdf"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">http://www.freebook11.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Small-Business-For-Dummies-4th-Edition.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Small
Business FOR DUMMIES (4TH EDITION)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">By Eric Tyson and Jim
Schel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Chapter 14 Managing
Profitability and Cash<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">In This Chapter <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo18; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Figuring
out what cash flow is</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Reading
and interpreting profit and loss statements and balance sheets</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Reviewing
the key ratios and percentages of profitability</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Overseeing
your inventory and accounts receivable</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Controlling
your costs and improving your profits</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Or go to <u><a href="http://www.dummies.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.dummies.com</span></a>
</u>and buy yourself a copy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span></b>
<br />
<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc464567909"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">APPENDIX: Summary of
the Bible Theme of Finances</span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Summarised from: <i>The Hodder Dictionary of Bible Themes<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc464567910"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Gospel Warnings</span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Because
of sin, the dangers of money include being ruled by, loving or trusting money,
and boasting in it; Jesus warned of the danger that the rich were in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Love
of riches is a root to many evils<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Riches
may lead to divided loyalty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
may hinder people’s response to the gospel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Examples
of those led astray by money include Balaam, Achan, Nabal, Gehazi, the rich
young ruler, and Judas Iscariot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Character
and most other gifts are better than possessing money (such as wisdom).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Buying
and selling requires honesty and fairness; without dishonesty, greed,
exploitation, oppression, extravagance or worldliness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Riches
do not satisfy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Riches
are insecure and uncertain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Riches
are for this life only<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
may lead to false security<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
may make people proud<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
can cause unbelief and anxiety<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
may lead people to forget God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Workaholicism
can lead to poor physical and spiritual health<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Enjoying
money may lead to self-indulgence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Misusing
money can lead to oppression and injustice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Ungodly
use of riches are a sign of unbelief<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
ungodly grow rich<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
ungodly misuse riches<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level3 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
often obtain their riches unjustly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level3 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
accumulate and hoard their riches<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level3 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
trust in their riches<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
ungodly suffer difficulties because of their riches<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc464567911"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Gospel Encouragements</span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Money<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">But
from the beginning money is a good gift from God; It is sin itself that
corrupts the use of money, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Believers
understand the true nature of riches; in the gospel, money can be used to
advance the kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">All
riches belong to God the creator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">God
is the giver of all wealth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">God
is the giver of the ability to produce wealth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Riches
may be a sign of God’s blessing; believers may be blessed with riches – God
entrusts some of his people with material wealth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Riches
provide a great opportunity for doing good <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
godly attitude towards and use of wealth brings glory to God:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
acknowledge their riches come from God and thank him for it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
are generous <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
devote their riches to God’s service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
support gospel work and workers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
give to the poor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
remain humble<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
don’t trust in their riches<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
don’t love or set their heart on riches<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">They
value heavenly riches more than their wealth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Examples
of godly people who used their money well are numerous throughout scripture
(Abraham, Solomon, Hezekiah, Job, Joseph of Arimathea); those who were wealthy
but godly, and those who had little but gave much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Stewardship<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
righteous stewardship and handling of money is a crucial test of godliness;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Stewardship
is the careful, responsible use, control and management of wealth and
possessions by Christians <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Jesus
used parables to emphasise accountability and each individual’s responsibility
– and the apostles continued that emphasis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">To
be a good steward is an honourable thing;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Money
must be obtained honestly; by work, trade, investment, inheritance or gift; not
by theft, fraud, usury, at the expense of justice, by extortion, by oppression,
at the expense of health, or of witness or of spiritual wellbeing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Money
must be cared for diligently, including personal money and money held on trust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Money
must be used in a God honouring way; for the support of the family, for
benefiting the poor, especially God’s people, and for the work of God’s
kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Believers
are to be wise stewards of all of their God-given gifts, including the wise use
of their material possessions, including:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level3 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Using
it to benefit others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level3 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Developing
or growing it responsibly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level3 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Sharing
their money and possessions, especially amongst Christians<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Work<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Work
was actually ordained by God as a means of fulfilment and service (balanced by
rest) and can bring honour to God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">God
has ordained work so that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">People
can be self-supporting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Find
self-fulfilment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Serve
others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level2 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "courier new"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Glorify
God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Work
is a moral duty; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Any
legitimate work can be seen as God’s calling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Work is a stewardship from God himself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
bible criticises those who don’t work by choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Generosity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Believers
mimic God’s own generosity by material giving, support of God’s work, acts of
mercy, giving presents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Christians
are commanded to give of their money and material possessions willingly,
cheerfully, unostentatiously, regularly, generously – in obedience, gratitude
to God and in love for others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">God
measures his peoples giving with regard to their capacity to give<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">God
rewards the giver appropriately; encouraging them to be enterprising in giving,
often overwhelming the giver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Reference: <i>The Hodder Dictionary of Bible Themes</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Notes from Tasmanian Church Planting Conference elective, <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Joe Towns, 19 October 2016 on "</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Ways to increase </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">financial capacity</span><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">for church planting"</span></i></div>
</div>
Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-57686908280006383442015-03-02T22:19:00.000+11:002015-03-05T21:57:11.582+11:00Why Children are not in the New Covenant (Because neither are their Christian Parents!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
Christian kids are not in the Covenant, because neither are we; neither are any of us!<br />
<br />
In my previous article, <i><a href="http://talkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/why-dont-presbyterians-baptise-all.html" target="_blank">Why don't Presbyterians baptise all their kids (automatically and universally)?</a></i>, I concluded that:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Either the "promise" of Acts 2:39 universally applies to any person who is under a Christian's ownership and physical authority (i.e. any permanent resident of his household), regardless of age or faith -- meaning that the common practice of infant or covenant baptism is inconsistent with itself;</li>
<li>Or "the promise" of the Abrahamic covenant, which applied to his direct descendants, applied quite differently to Israelites/Jews as does the promise of Acts 2:39 to Gentile believers under Christ's <i>fulfilled </i>Abrahamic covenant - meaning that the sign of that old covenant, circumcision, was quite a different practice with as many differences in applicability to the new sign, baptism, as the New Covenant in Christ is different to that old way, which has now passed away.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
In this article I want to explain this last option (in the second dot point above), and how it is the only possibility (the only option that is not inconsistent in practice or with the Scriptures themselves).<br />
<br />
And again I want to say that I love by infant and covenant baptist family. As I said in the previous article, I'm a happy member of a Presbyterian church and most of my 'ministry' friends are paedobaptists. I'm not wanting to be divisive; I'm talking about this because we <i>all agree</i> that working out and trying to get at the truth by speaking about it to one another is the only way to true gospel unity. But I want to do that with gentleness and respect. So please know that I do respect all my Presbyterian and Reformed and Anglican friends. Many of my friends have already come to an infant baptist position on this issue, which is like me based on a sincere conviction that the Bible is the authority - they have simply arrived (so far) at a different position based on careful study and reflection. But we also all agree, that none of us has 'arrived'. We need to continually guard against becoming closed to the possibility of changing our minds on a difficult and debated subject like this, no matter how 'far down' the track we are.<br />
<br />
So having said this, I want to lovingly ask, have Presbyterians thought enough about the possibility that the New Covenant is so different to the Old Covenant, that circumcision doesn't parallel directly with baptism; just like we don't think of our ministers as the new 'priests', just like we don't think of our church buildings as the new 'temple', and we don't think of our countries as the new 'land'; so too we mustn't think of <i>Christian </i>baptism as the new 'circumcision' (because Christians are <i>not </i>the New Offspring/Seed).<br />
<br />
Our biblical theology has trained us to recognise not only the unity but the discontinuity between the old and new covenants, so that we realise that in Jesus the Old Testament does not apply directly to Christians; it applies directly to Jesus. <br />
<br />
Covenant theology compares the new covenant to the old covenant and recognises incredible unity between them; but there are some very significant differences that it does not recognise - and one of these differences in enormous. It is a massive difference related to the fact that Israel failed to be an able member of the covenant. That old covenant failed because God's people (Israel) broke the covenant - and in fact <i>could not keep</i> the covenant; so the covenant Law would only bring down God's judgement on them, and they could not obtain God's blessing under it. But actually it didn't fail, because they didn't <i>all</i> fail - actually <i>One</i> did keep it; and when he kept it, he fulfilled it by obtaining the blessing of the Law and the Abrahamic Covenant, while at the same time made a brand New Covenant with the LORD himself, which didn't carry over the same weakness that existed with the first covenant (because the New Covenant was only between the LORD and this One New Man himself, who would live forever in perfect obedience).<br />
<br />
So I've already given it away, but in case you're skimming and even missed the title of this article: have you realised that the significant difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is that your <i>kids </i>are not in it, because not even <i>we </i>are in it: Parents of children are not in the New Covenant, so our children are not either.<br />
<br />
I'll now slow down and try to explain this, first by taking a step back to think about circumcision a bit more; in particular, how different it is as far as signs go to baptism, even to what infant baptists practice when they baptise a child.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
That circumcision was very different to baptism is seen in the way in which God allowed a newly bought slave to eat the Passover meal as soon as he had been circumcised - without consideration to <i>his faith</i> in the LORD! Would Presbyterians immediately baptise their newly adopted children of primary school age, and them automatically and immediately allow them to partake in the Lord's Supper, regardless of their faith? Would Christians in the early 1800s have intermediately baptised a newly bought slave and then automatically allow them to partake of the Lord's supper without consideration to their faith?</div>
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Using circumcision as an analogy in order to determine how to practice baptism is like trying to understand how to drive a car by studying horse riding. It is Reformed Evangelicals who warn against allegorical reading of the Old Testament, but the method of arriving at infant baptism is just as bad - it is an analogical reading of the Old Testament.</div>
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That circumcision was only given to <i>males (</i>can only given to males!) should tell us something very different was going on. Circumcision, as an operation on male children, was God cutting a covenant renewal in the flesh and with the blood of each generation of Israelites, making a mark in the flesh of each boy that would grow to be a man, so that each time he became a <i>parent </i>- each time he passed on his <i>seed </i>into a woman - the sign of circumcision in that union would testify to God's promise to Abraham (and David) that from the offspring of his flesh, the seed of his body, would come a Second Adam (cf. Genesis 3:15), who would like Adam be the Son of God: and that the LORD himself would be His God (This is why God calls Israel 'my Son', as he did Adam and David/Solomon and Jesus) (See e.g. Luke 3:38; Hosea 11:1; 2 Samuel 7:14).</div>
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Under the Old Testament, each generation that <em>received</em> circumcision did not necessarily grow up knowing the LORD - only the first and second generations under Moses and Joshua who saw all that the LORD did for them so that they might know him, had <em>directly</em> heard God's word and been saved by him:<br />
<span lang=""></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="">Judges 2:10 "After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel."</span></blockquote>
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So circumcision was <em>not</em> directly related to their faith in the LORD. </span><br />
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</span>And yet, the covenant of circumcision was God's promise that <i>everyone </i>in that line of election, every physical descendent <i>elected </i>in that line between Abraham and Christ, would be to God <em>his people</em>; he would treat them as his <em>sons</em>, and he would be their God.<br />
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In the end this spelt disaster for Israel (Deuteronomy 32), because they were not able to keep the covenant, and in breaking its terms they brought down upon themselves the promised curse from a holy God who was faithful to his word of judgment:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="">Joshua 24:19: Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you."</span></blockquote>
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But the promise of blessing in return for obedience still applied and, after Israel's end in judgment, the promise of blessing was fulfilled in a new, faithful and obedient Israel: Jesus, the Seed of Abraham, the Son of David, the Son of God. He is the Physical Descendant - who lives forever - and physical descent stops with him. He is the Circumcision; it was his flesh that was cut off, his body that was marked with death, his blood that was shed to make a New Covenant, which fulfilled permanently and completely all the requirements of obedience and faithfulness to the LORD under the Old Covenant, thus bringing the blessing of Abraham's covenant and forever satisfying and finishing the curse of it. Circumcision stops with him.<br />
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And as he rose from the dead when the LORD God exulted him to his own right hand, he became the Lord and Head of a new line of humanity, seeded not by physical descent (Jesus has no biological children!), but by his own Spirit, the promised Spirit of God whom Christ gives to make Gentiles into <i>children; </i>children born not of natural descent (John 1:12), but "born again" to become children and sons of God (John 3:3).<br />
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Only <i>in Christ </i>(through faith) we are descendants (i.e. children and sons and heirs), since we have <i>his</i> Spirit. Only in him we are circumcised, since by faith in him we have <i>union</i> to one who died <i>our</i> death, joining us to that act which cut off the word-made-flesh (John 1:14), so that our body of sin was crucified in him, and died and was buried. Only in Christ are we baptised, when the risen Lord pours out on us the Holy Spirit to washed (baptised) us so that we can be forgiven by God and credited with righteousness (like Abraham; cf. Romans 4), just as if we always were faithful to God's covenant law ourselves (justified).<br />
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This is exactly what Peter was getting at in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:39): What is the promise in Acts 2:39 that infant baptists point to; what does Peter say is promised to "you and your children and all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God (i.e. Jesus) will call"? Acts 2:38 says that the promise is "forgiveness of sins" and "the gift of the Holy Spirit".<br />
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This is how the blessing given to Abraham - to which circumcision pointed - came to us:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Galatians 3:14: He [Christ] <i>redeemed us</i> in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles <i>through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive</i> the promise of the Spirit.</blockquote>
Unlike the Abrahamic covenant, which included physical descendants of Abraham (and so circumcision was given to them all), the New Covenant includes only <i>one </i>physical descendent: Jesus the son of David, the son of Abraham, the son of God. <i>No other physical descendants are included.</i> It was a covenant cut in his blood and his flesh alone. This is why the New Covenant is not broken when we sin; because we're not in it; it is not a covenant between God and Jesus and Us. It is between God and Jesus Alone! And that means that the blessings of it can be offered <i>unconditionally </i>to us through faith; because they are not conditional on our obedience, they are conditional only upon Jesus' perfect obedience and perfect sacrifice. And this is why the Abrahamic covenant, which is an <u>unconditional </u><i>promise </i>that has a <i>blessing </i>which is <u>conditional </u>upon the obedience of Abraham and his descendants after him forever, is now perfectly fulfilled (i.e. promise is obtained) so that the blessing is eternally secure: because Jesus, whose perfect obedience brought the blessing, now <i>lives</i> forever.<br />
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In other words, there will always be standing before God the One Jew, Jesus, living as a man, physically descendant from Abraham, born under the law, both circumcised and faithful, who suffered the same punishment of death that we deserved under the curse of the God's law, but who <i>through faith</i> in him has redeemed us forever and given us his blessing of <i>sonship </i>with God and eternal <i>life </i>with him.<br />
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As it is written:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Romans 4:16: Therefore, <b>the promise </b>comes <b>by faith</b>, so that it may be <b>by grace</b> and may be <b>guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring</b>—not only to those who are of the law but also to <b>those who have the faith of Abraham </b>[i.e. Christians].</blockquote>
Notice, the promise comes by faith. This is "the promise" of Acts 2:39 for all who repent and are baptised "in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38). It is not a promise for the physical descendants of Christians. It is a promise for all those called by the Lord who is alone the physical descendant of Abraham that has become the heir of his blessing - and those he calls are all those who share the faith of Abraham in him, his Promised One, his Seed and Offspring, Christ Jesus.<br />
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Now I realise that to most of my dear Presbyterian and Reformed and Anglican friends and mates and extended family, much of this truth is known and cherished when it comes to the actual repentance and faith of those who believe in the gospel within these denominations. But this makes the practice of infant baptism all the more surprising because it appears to be inconsistent and illogical.<br />
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Actually, not a few Christians I've spoken to who baptise their infants based upon passages such as Acts 2:28-29 and 1 Corinthians 7:14 agree that these verses themselves don't support the practice directly or indirectly. The entire weight of argument for the practice lies on the comparison or parallelism between baptism and circumcision in view of the relative silence of the New Testament on the practice of infant baptism.<br />
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For any plain reading of Acts 2:28-29 will yield that "the promise" spoken of can only refer in the same way to "your children" as it does to "you" and to "all who are far off" - Peter is saying that the promise of forgiveness and the Spirit through repentance and baptism is for you and those near (i.e. Jewish children) and far off (i.e. Gentiles) - that is, <i>everyone </i>who the Lord calls.<br />
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And any plain reading of 1 Corinthians 7:14 yields that no special promise of salvation for the children of Christians can be in view, otherwise the unbelieving spouse of a Christian would also be saved. The language of 'sanctified' and made 'holy' with reference to the faith of the Christian is common language for Paul in the New Testament when using Old Testament terminology to describe the way in which Christ has made acceptable in the Christian household many things previously forbidden under the Law - including welcoming in the neighbours (i.e. Gentiles), allowing onto the table certain foods (e.g. food sacrificed to idols), and parenting the children of an unbelieving spouse (i.e. through union with a non Christian). Paul's further teaching in his second letter to the Corinthians makes the relevance of his message here very crucial to his audience. In 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 he will say "do not be yoked with unbelievers," and "touch no unclean thing and I will receive you." It would have been clear enough to the Corinthians, when Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 7 that the "brother [who] has a wife who is not a believer" must not automatically divorce her, that he was not implying some special promise about his children's faith when he said, "they are holy". Rather, like other previously "unclean" practices, now even the marriage union (let alone the children) is sanctified by the faith of the Christian, who knows that in Christ the word of God and prayer consecrate these things to God as good and acceptable ways to service and worship to him within this creation.<br />
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As it is written:</div>
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1 Timothy 4:4-5: For <i>everything</i> God <i>created </i>is good, and <i>nothing is to be rejected</i> if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.</blockquote>
Children are good; parenting is good - as are all things for Christians that God has first <i>created</i> since the beginning, if we receive them and do them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
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But the <i>new </i>creation, the <i>second </i>birth, comes through faith in Christ alone. It is special. It is a new beginning. It is not tied to the first creation; it is not passed on by physical birth or descent; it is not received by parenting, no matter how good our parenting is. When Jesus was raised from the dead, he commanded that faith and repentance be preached in his name to all nations, and that "disciples" should baptised them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18); that is, the mark of the new creation to which the water of baptism speaks, and the work of the new creation to which the water of baptism seals, is the <i>relationship to the Name himself, </i>the new relationship that those baptised have with God the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit in us.<br />
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That is why in the New Testament (from what we read in Acts) and in <a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2015/02/24/faq-on-baptism-in-the-early-church/" target="_blank">the evidence</a> from before the second part of the second century, see don't see baptism, the sign of new creation in Christ, being given to infants. Because unlike circumcision, baptism is the sign and seal of a covenant that is not in our flesh, a covenant that is not between us or our offspring; it is a covenant between God the Father and his New Creation <i>alone</i>: the man Christ Jesus, the first-born over all Creation. Jesus is the New Creation; and only "in him" can we be part of it. Therefore, it is only by being "born again" (including kids of Christian parents!) that through the Son we gain access by faith to the promised Spirit and all the blessings of forgiveness and life in his Name that belong to him. Only the offspring of his Spirit have the right to be called children of God; therefore only those who believe in his name have the right to be baptised in his name, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
John 1:12-13; 3: 6-8: </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"...To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
...Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” </blockquote>
So this is why in the New Testament we don't see the infant children of Christians being baptised but we do see people being commanded to do it in an informed act of faith and repentance; because unlike circumcision, baptism is the sign and seal of being <i>in Christ</i>, not being <i>in the Covenant. </i>Only Christ is in the Covenant; he is the only descendant left of Abraham who remains under the Old Covenant and in whose physical body was cut the New Covenant.<br />
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But through <i>baptism </i>we are adopted in Christ through his Spirit by new birth to become children of God the Father; it is our faith that is seen in baptism that is the sign and seal of our sonship, and it is the mark of the Spirit in us that sets us apart as his people. And that's why baptism, unlike circumcision, is a sign of faith to be given to those who have repented and turned to the Lord (Acts 2:38).<br />
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It seems to me that practice of infant baptism is one of those teachings that people don't arrive at from reading and understanding and comprehending the teaching of the Bible itself. I don't mean to sound harsh; please hear me only trying to speak the truth in love. People arrive at this belief from reading Calvin or from going to an Anglican Bible College or from talking to paedobaptists or from studying the denominational codes or the historical debates and positions of our denominations in the past and present, etc. I realise that all beliefs we arrive at are significantly influenced by our culture and context - but it is a worthwhile 'thought experiment' to do: Imagine that <i>it was </i>possible to arrive at a belief only from reading the Bible: now think about whether you can see that anyone would arrive at the infant baptist position only from reading the Bible, in that artificial world. I don't believe anyone would. It's a good test. Infant baptism is just one of many church practices that has evolved out of church history after the Apostles time, and if things happened differently, it may never have emerged. This should be enough to show us that there is a problem with the practice of infant baptism, and a serious one.<br />
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That people don't arrive at the infant baptist position from studying the New Testament in light of the Old, or from studying the Old Testament in light of the New - should warn infant baptists that they may have fallen the same trap they know about from watching Pentecostals and others take on particular doctrines and practices, which have been informed by historical developments and can be explained only by considering the influences of developing church culture and our religious context: the practice of infant baptism is no different, <a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2015/02/24/faq-on-baptism-in-the-early-church/" target="_blank">as Justin Taylor has shown</a>.<br />
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The Westminster Confession of Faith is of course not infallible; far from it - it is a human, man-made denominational creed that, though without doubt it <i>has </i>brought much blessing and unity to the Presbyterian church for hundreds of years now, has also caused great confusion and inconsistency over one of the most central New Testament gospel practices: baptism!<br />
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That the Confession states "it is a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance" (Chapter 28, article 5) has probably put the fear of God into many sincere Presbyterian Christians down through the last few centuries when it comes to this practice. But if we really fear God, we will not fear man; actually, we will obey God rather than man. And that is what we must do when it comes to baptism. After all, it is the Apostle's gospel of the New Testament that says to us "Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ...!"<br />
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<b>See also:</b><br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><i><a href="http://talkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/why-dont-presbyterians-baptise-all.html" target="_blank">Why don't Presbyterians baptise all their kids (automatically and universally)?</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="http://talkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/answers-on-some-frequently-asked-infant.html" target="_blank">Answers to Some Frequently Asked Infant Baptism Questions</a></i>.</li>
</ul>
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</div>
Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-60046643786668951652015-03-01T04:12:00.001+11:002015-03-04T21:33:00.131+11:00Why don't Presbyterians baptise all their kids (automatically and universally)?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Why do Presbyterians only baptise their <i>infant </i>children; why not <i>all </i>their children, such as their older kids? Though a few probably do, it's not common in my circles that when Christians become fully won over to infant baptism that they <i>automatically</i> go ahead and baptise their teen or adult children. It's a bit of a puzzle, because the Bible passages used to support the practice talk about <i>children </i>of believers, without restriction to age <i>and</i> without regard to faith.<br />
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Now please don't be offend by my question; that's not my intention! I ask it only because I believe it leads to the root of an issue with the paedobaptist position, which I want infant baptists to consider seriously. But in talking about a topic as potentially divisive as baptism, please know that I completely respect my brothers and sisters in Christ who are infant baptists. Most of my 'ministry' friends are infant baptists and I love them all so dearly. Anyone who knows me will know that I deeply love my Presbyterian family, as with my Anglican and Reformed comrades. So when you read this article image me with a big smile on my face and a gentle tone, even though I'm communicating perplexity in my words. After all, I also need to struggle not to take offence and get defensive with the infant baptist position; the Creeds say some pretty heavy things (e.g. "it is a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance!"). When I read John Calvin or the Westminster Confession of Faith on this particular topic, it is hard not not get edgy myself as I deal with not only the substance of what they're saying, but also the tone of <em>their</em> talk.<br />
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But back to my question: I guess we're so used to the practice of <i>infant </i>baptism that it's easy to overlook the fact that the passages that paedobaptists point to don't actually narrow in on infants or restrict our application to babies only. In fact the opposite is the case: the Scriptural basis for the practice focuses on <i>all children</i> (without qualification to age or faith), and in fact includes applicability to all household members belonging to a believer, regardless of age or belief. <br />
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I've been a happy member of a Presbyterian church in Hobart for 10 years now, and before that my wife and I were part of Sydney Anglicanism. In all that time I don't recall anyone asking this question at all, though I feel that it's a glaring issue with the traditional practice (based upon its own logic).<br />
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I most notice the inconsistency with the common practice when parents in a Presbyterian (or Reformed or Anglican) church who start a family and end up with kids of a range of ages, all before making up their minds about the teaching and practice of '<i>paedo-</i>baptism' (Greek <i>pais</i> = child); then, since they've already got primary school aged kids, they <em>automatically</em> baptise their babies and really young kids only. I see it when parents converted into Presbyterianism, or Christians newly convinced by the reformed teaching on the practice of paedobaptism <em>don't</em> automatically baptise all their <i>children, </i>but only their <i>infants.</i><br />
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I've been using the phrase "<i>automatically </i>baptise" to imply "independent of the child's <i>faith</i>". Some paedo (or 'covernant') baptists won't necessarily see any inconsistency with newcomers to the infant baptist view also baptising their older kids, because they don't take issue with older children being baptised under an 'covenant' baptist understanding, which is the basis for infant baptism. But not many would do it <i>automatically</i>. If their older child or teenager had confessed defiant unbelief or if this had been expressed through godless behaviour, they would almost appear to <i>become </i>believer/credo-baptists ('credo' = belief) at this point (in practice; apart from a difference in theological basis for our understanding of the new covenant and baptism). <br />
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This is a different form of the same inconsistency, since the basis for the infant or covenant baptist practice is passages in both the New Testament and the Old Testament that speak categorically or unconditionally about children and the promise: E.g. all Israelites were circumcised or faced the death penalty according to the Law; it was not dependent on their faith; Acts 2:39 under the infant baptist interpretation says that "the promise" is for "your children"--a promise that would by this logic apply to <i>all</i> Christian kids irrespective of whether they <em>yet</em> have faith (regardless of age), including infants or in later years.<br />
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So in principle, paedobaptists may not find it controversial to think about older and even adult children receiving baptism if their believing parents come to a covenant position on this; but in practice they would no longer do it <em>automatically</em> as they do for their infant children: they would instead assume that their children have 'opted out of the covenant' through unbelief, or are confirmed as 'remaining in' the covenant because of their active faith - and so only baptise their older children<em> based upon their faith</em>. But that's not how circumcision worked; that's not how the Old Testament (Abrahamic) covenant worked; and that's not how paedo/covenant baptism would be applied if we take the Scriptural basis and logic of the position literally, to it's end point. If we take it where it ultimately leads, the logical conclusion of the infant baptist <i>basis</i> is that <em>all</em> children of believers should be <i>automatically and unconditionally</i> baptised, <i>just as</i> all the children of Israel were circumcised regardless of age or faith.<br />
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In my view, this common inconsistency in practice is very significant, because it calls into question the <i>basis </i>that paedobaptists give for their practice (which are passages that talk about <i>all children </i>of believers even while in practice they restrict the tradition to <i>infant </i>baptism). In other words, when you look at <i>how </i>infant baptists arrive at this belief, their own justification of the practice leads much further than what they actually do; you would expect them to conclude that <i>all children of believers should be baptised</i>. So why don't they follow the <i>theology </i>itself to its actual conclusion?<br />
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The quick and easy answer is that Presbyterians base their practice on their denomination's creedal tradition, which relies on the Westminster Confession of Faith:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/index.html?body=/documents/wcf_with_proofs/ch_XXVIII.html" target="_blank">Article 4 of Chapter 28 of the Westminster Confession</a> states that:</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized,"</blockquote>
This Confession of Faith (which had an enormously significant influence on the development of Presbyterianism) was itself influenced by the historical development of the emergence and acceptance of infant baptism as the cultural norm, which was apparently established by the fifth and sixth centuries after Christ (See: <a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2015/02/24/faq-on-baptism-in-the-early-church/" target="_blank">Justin Tyler: Frequently Asked Questions on Baptism in the Early Church</a>). The Westminster Confession of Faith, drawn up in 1646, restricts the practice to infants because that was the long established and normative practice already.<br />
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But my question here is not with the implications of this influence of culture and historical context on Presbyterianism; my question is with the theological basis used by the Westminster Confession of Faith, which is also shared by other paedobaptists within reformed traditions.<br />
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So to pin down the question a bit more precisely, how does the Westminster Confession of Faith justify <i>from the Scriptures</i> its prescribed baptism for "the infants of one, or both, believing parents" (<a href="http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/index.html?body=/documents/wcf_with_proofs/ch_XXVIII.html" target="_blank">Chapter 28, article 4</a>); how does it avoid implicating <i>all </i>children into the practice - why doesn't it instruct that all kids of believers, regardless of age, are to be automatically baptised?<br />
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In support of article 4, the Confession provides the following proof texts: Genesis 17:7; Galatians 3:9; Colossians 2:11; Acts 2:38; Romans 4:11; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Mark 10:13 and Luke 18:15.<br />
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And all of these texts make reference to <i>children </i>and/or don't come with any condition dependent on age or faith; that is, each of the passages that the Westminster Confession gives in support of this article either speak unqualified and categorically about children or they talk about the practice of circumcision that applied not only to babies but to <i>all </i>permanent household members, including adults (e.g. slaves), and it was a law that applied automatically:<br />
<ul>
<li>Genesis 17:7, God's covenant with Abraham was not made between God and him <em>alone</em> but <em>also</em> with his Seed (offspring) from each generation after him (i.e. it is an everlasting covenant); it was God's promise to be not only his God but also the God of his Seed after him. And so they, as well as he, received the sign of circumcision as a testimony to this promise. </li>
<li>Galatians 3:9, this blessing of Abraham comes through Christ to us Gentiles too, an entails us receiving the <i>promise </i>of the Holy Spirit <i>through faith</i>. </li>
<li>Colossians 2:11-12, provides the all Christian are <i>circumcised </i>in/by Christ who cut off the self ruled by the flesh when we were <i>baptised </i>into his death and raised with him <i>through faith</i>.</li>
<li>Acts 2:38, Peter commands everyone to repent and be baptised for the forgiveness of sin and in order to receive the <i>promise </i>of the Holy Spirit; and states that this promise is for not only his listeners but also for their children (not just infants), as well as all those far off (whom the Lord will call).</li>
<li>Romans 4:11, Abraham had faith before he was circumcised, so is the father both of those who believe and have not been circumcised (i.e. Christian Gentiles) as well as those who have been circumcised but who also have the faith of Abraham (i.e. Christian Jews); we have already noted that for Jews the practice of circumcision applied to <i>all</i> males in the household, not only newly born babies, but adults as well (e.g. newly bought slaves; cf. Exodus 12:44). </li>
<li>1 Corinthians 7:14, teaches that the <i>unbelieving </i>spouse of a Christian is <i>sanctified </i>through their <i>faith </i>(i.e. sanctified/holy cannot = saved), and that their <i>children </i>(not only infants), are holy (i.e. to be received/acceptable - as in 1 Timothy 4:4-5 - Paul is taking care that they don't conclude from the seemingly 'unholy' union, aka 2 Corinthians 6:14, that the children must be rejected, cf. especially in view of the context of 2 Corinthians 6:17)</li>
<li>Mark 10:13 and Luke 18:15; the only verses in this list actually mentioning babies/infants are the gospel narratives describing people bringing babies to Jesus, who blesses them, which doesn't of course directly relate to baptism, much less provide an age restriction for baptising children. </li>
</ul>
When Presbyterians work through this list of texts used to support the practice of infant baptism, do they notice that if anything these passages would lead to the practice of automatically baptising <i>all children</i> of believers, not just infants? In fact, they would lead even further still, because these texts don't <em>only</em> include children of believers, but also adult children of believers (as well will see shortly).<br />
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This is not just an issue for Presbyterians to do with this particular article in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the particular supporting texts that it provides; <i>all </i>of the arguments that Presbyterians and Reformed and Anglican theologians put forward for the practice of infant baptism should also apply to all children of believers. For example, J. Ligon Duncan, in <a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/publications/entry/baptism-and-the-lords-supper" target="_blank">Baptism and the Lord's Supper</a>, explains the paedobaptist position:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Paedobaptists ... believe that Christian believers and <i>their children</i> should be baptized. If we had to reduce our biblical argument for paedobaptism to one (albeit complex!) sentence, it would be something like this: God made promises to believers and <i>their children</i> in both the Old and Testaments, attached signs to those promises in both the Old and New Testaments, explicitly required the sign of initiation into his family (circumcision) to be applied to believers and <i>their children</i> in the Old Testament, and implicitly appointed the new-covenant sign of initiation (baptism) to be given to believers and <i>their children</i> in the New Testament."</blockquote>
Here, Duncan has provided the basis for the practice of baptising not only <i>infants</i>, but <i>all </i>children of all believers - even if they are young adults in the household: they should all get an infant-like baptism (a universal, indiscriminate one)!<br />
<br />
If Presbyterians compare baptism to circumcision, do they realise that circumcision was not just for infants? Although children were circumcised as infants (on the eighth day = ASAP), adult slaves bought were also to be circumcised ASAP when they joined the Israel household; any child or slave who didn't get circumcised ASAP contrary to this requirement had to be circumcised later <em>regardless of age and without consideration to their faith</em>, or risk being cut off from God's people by sentence of death under the Law. See:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The example of Moses child born in Exodus 2:22 and notice the "long period" of Exodus 2:23 between the birth of the child in 2:22 and his circumcision in 4:25; and </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The example of the circumcision of the entire second generation of adult Israelites under Joshua after the death of Moses, Joshua 5:1-8: "<span lang="">And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed</span>" (verse 8). </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Exodus 12:44-45: Any slave you have bought may eat [the Passover meal] after you have circumcised him, but a temporary resident or a hired worker may not eat it. </blockquote>
Did Presbyterians <em>automatically</em> baptise their adult slaves before the abolition of the slave trade in England by William Wilberforce, without first their conversion to faith? If not, why not? They also believed that baptism under the New Covenant is like circumcision under the Old.<br />
<br />
If Presbyterians use Israel's covenant practice of circumcising babies as an analogy of what they see in the New Testament as similar but new covenant promises to Christian parents about their children, why stop with baptism of the infants of one or more believing parents, as the <a href="http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/index.html?body=/documents/wcf_with_proofs/ch_XXVIII.html" target="_blank">Westminster Confession (Chapter 28)</a> does?<br />
<br />
The parallel between Old Testament circumcision of Jewish babies and baptism of infants under the New Testament is based on verses such as Acts 2:38-39, which they see as containing similar promises as the Old to God's New people about their children:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you <b>and your children</b> and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”</blockquote>
We have already made the point that if used consistently this would apply to all children; but doesn't Acts 2:38 also state that the promise is "for all who are far off" too?<br />
<br />
If the practice of circumcision is analogous or 'instructive' to our practice of baptism (i.e. can be used to work out the applicability of baptism for children), and if Peter's command to "repent and be baptised every one of you" can be applied to children because the promise is not only "for you" but also "for your children and for all who are far off" - then surely, this would mean that Christians must do more than just baptise their <i>infants; </i>they must also:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Baptise a grandchild for whom they are the guardian, despite the unbelief of the grandchild's parent; that is, their own unbelieving son or daughter (See <a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-i-changed-my-mind-about-baptism" target="_blank">this article by Gavin Orlund</a>)</li>
<li>Baptise an adult slave of their own household irrespective of their conversion (as per Exodus 12:44) (e.g. in the days prior to the abolition of the trade); and</li>
<li>Baptise an adopted child regardless of how old they are when they receive custody, since unlike a fostered child, an adopted child is not akin to the "temporary" resident restriction on circumcision and the passover meal (See Exodus 12:45). </li>
<li>Baptise all their older children, despite their age and faith, even if they are adults (and didn't get baptised as babies, for whatever reason).</li>
</ol>
<div>
Just as every male in the household was circumcised, Presbyterians would baptise all of their household, not just their children, as did Abraham:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Genesis 17:27: ...<em><strong>Every</strong> </em>male in Abraham’s <em>household</em>, including those <em>born</em> in his household or <em>bought from a foreigner</em>, <strong>was circumcised with him</strong>.</blockquote>
<div>
So therefore:</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Either the "promise" of Acts 2:39 universally applies to any person who is under a Christian's ownership and physical authority (i.e. any permanent resident of his household), regardless of age or faith -- meaning that the common practice of infant or covenant baptism is inconsistent with itself;</li>
<li>Or "the promise" of the Abrahamic covenant, which applied to his direct descendants, applied quite differently to them as does the promise of Acts 2:39 to Gentile believers under Christ's <i>fulfilled </i>Abrahamic covernant - meaning that the sign of that old covenant, circumcision, was quite a different practice with as many differences in applicability to the new sign, baptism, as the New Covenant in Christ is different to that old way which has now passed away.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br />
Can I suggest that this last option (in the second dot point above) is the only possibility (the only option that is not inconsistent in practice with its basis or with the other Scriptures themselves).<br />
<br />
This option is the subject of my next article, <i><a href="http://talkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/why-kids-are-not-in-new-covenant.html" target="_blank">Why Kids are not in the New Covenant (Because neither are We!).</a></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i></i><br />
<i>---</i><br />
<br />
See also:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><i><a href="http://talkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/why-kids-are-not-in-new-covenant.html" target="_blank">Why Kids are not in the New Covenant (Because neither are We!)</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="http://talkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/answers-on-some-frequently-asked-infant.html" target="_blank">Answers to Some Frequently Asked Infant Baptism Questions</a></i>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-23873077873760289572015-02-26T20:39:00.000+11:002015-03-02T22:23:06.954+11:00Answers to some Frequently Asked Infant Baptism Questions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2015/02/24/faq-on-baptism-in-the-early-church/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #1155cc;">Justin Taylor</span></b></a> has posted this great article, "<a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2015/02/24/faq-on-baptism-in-the-early-church/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><strong>FAQ on Baptism in the Early Church</strong></span></a>" on the <a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/">The Gospel Coalition</a> blog, giving some of the conclusions from Everett Ferguson’s book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0802827489/?tag=bettwowor0e-20" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #1155cc;">Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries</span></i></a> (Eerdmans, 2009):<br />
<b></b><br />
<b>"Is there evidence for infant baptism exist before the second part of the second century?</b><br />
<br />
“There is general agreement that there is no firm evidence for infant baptism before the latter part of the second century.” (p. 856)<br />
<b></b><br />
<b>Does this mean that infant baptism didn’t exist?</b><br />
<br />
“This fact does not mean that it did not occur, but it does mean that supporters of the practice have a considerable chronological gap to account for. Many replace the historical silence by appeal to theological or sociological considerations.” (p. 856)<br />
<b></b><br />
<b>Why did infant baptism emerge?</b><br />
<br />
“The most plausible explanation for the origin of infant baptism is found in the emergency baptism of sick children expected to die soon so that they would be assured of entrance into the kingdom of heaven.” (p. 856)<br />
<b></b><br />
<b>When did it catch on and become the dominant understanding of baptism?</b><br />
“There was a slow extension of baptizing babies as a precautionary measure. It was generally accepted, but questions continued to be raised about its propriety into the fifth century. It became the usual practice in the fifth and sixth centuries.” (p. 857)<br />
<b></b><br />
<b>What was the mode of baptism in the early church?</b><br />
<br />
“The comprehensive survey of the evidence compiled in this study give a basis for a fresh look at this subject and seeks to give coherence to that evidence while addressing seeming anomalies. The Christian literary sources, backed by secular word usage and Jewish religious immersions, give an overwhelming support for full immersion as the normal action. Exceptions in cases of a lack of water and especially of sickbed baptism were made. Submersion was undoubtedly the case for the fourth and fifth centuries in the Greek East and only slightly less certain for the Latin West.” (p. 857)<br />
<b></b><br />
<b>Was this a change from an earlier practice, a selection out of options previously available, or a continuation of the practice of the first three centuries?</b><br />
<br />
“It is the contention of this study that the last interpretation best accords with the available facts. Unless one has preconceived ideas about how an immersion would be performed, the literary, art, and archaeological evidence supports this conclusion.” (p. 857)"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>See also:</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><a href="http://talkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/why-kids-are-not-in-new-covenant.html" target="_blank">Why Kids are not in the New Covenant (Because neither are We!)</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="http://talkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/why-dont-presbyterians-baptise-all.html" target="_blank">Why don't Presbyterians Baptise All their Kids (Automatically and Universally)?</a></i></li>
</ul>
</div>
Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-75555796803436405012014-03-29T08:59:00.001+11:002015-03-02T19:44:25.873+11:00How to decide on matters that are secondary (or less!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://genevapush.com/resources/when_the_bible_is_silent">What to do when the bible is silent</a>, by Don Carson: M</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">an o man, what a sermon! I had heard a summary previously but had never listened through it. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Thanks very much Mikey for pointing me to it as I keep thinking through NT baptism and and the practice of infant baptism!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It got talked about a lot for its</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> references to 'centre bounded unity'. But there's lots more in here we need to hear, I reckon.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> I listened to it twice through and almost wanted to go again.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I’d like to thoroughly recommend, to everyone, to listen or re-listen (!) to this sermon.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">One warning - it's over an hour long: Bring the pot of coffee!</span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<br /></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I was really helped by the following points:</span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<br /></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<br /></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“…</span><ul style="direction: ltr;">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We first need to ask, whenever the bible is ‘relatively’ silent on a matter: What is the theology which the bible <i>itself </i>attaches to that subject?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nothing exempts you from your obligation to do the exegesis yourself - When discerning what is theologically attached to a subject to which the bible is relatively silent; the first thing we need to do is study scripture for ourselves, not read the debates, the arguments and our favourite authors (Obvious, but not always done)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The pragmatics of ministry require decisions and the chances of what side you will come down on with debatable issues will inevitably be affected in large part by what Biblical College you studied at.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Eventually all graduates will need to make up their minds but on some doctrines it is ok to agree with ‘varying’ or ‘differing’ degrees of tenacity.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Most decisions in these disputable areas have both good and bad defences; not all those defences on the same side of the matter as you will be without embarrassment</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Most decisions have entailments down the road – part of thinking things through is to project into the future what will be the implications for your future, the church’s future, successive generations, by making this decision on this matter?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Most decisions are grounded in reading a variety of biblical texts a certain way and part of humility is to recognise there are other ways – and your ways are rarely without dispute. (Most decision turn in part on where we lay the maximum emphasis, or on our own personalities, or where we see the priorities for us and our context in the present; so our decisions are not infallible and we need to have humility)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Some decisions turn on competing values and that means being forced to hierarchicalise those values. E.g. if our priority is evangelistic outreach we may be more flexible on some ecclesiological ideals. Some of our disputes turn on competing and complementary values from scripture.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Be very suspicious of guru solutions. Nobody has all the truth. If you latch on to one school of thought, you rob the church of other complementary truths. Deal with principle, deal with text, deal with theological reflection, but be careful of accepting/following the school of ‘calvin’ or ‘Reformed theology’ or ‘Piper’ or ‘Driscol’ – this is worldly wisdom.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Try to think strategically in thinking through unforeseen consequences – what is likely to be the implication of this decision? The danger of unforseen consequences is huge. You are never dealing with today alone. Whatever you do today will get magnified in your subsequent generations. Somewhere along the line your congregation will be accepting the social structure you’ve introduced but have forgotten the reasons why, and eventually after them, your children’s children will deny the basis for which you introduced it, but still uphold the practice!! You need to keep working out how you can keep the main thing the main thing.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Centre bounded unity is the way to go (Versus boundary bounded unity). We need to define ourselves at the centre, not at the boundaries. You make sure all your leaders are on board with the strong and well defined centre, and you discipline in relation to agreement with the centre. Otherwise you drift around with rules and legalism about the boundaries and there is always pressure to include more and more by extending the boundary out further and further. We need to maintain the centre and define ourselves by the theology that is tight and based on genuine exposition.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ask God for wisdom; Christ himself offers it to us and God loves to give it - Sometimes it’s better to slow down and ask God to spare us from our own follies so that we might be wise as well as bold in the proclamation of the truth.…” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To listen click here:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://genevapush.com/resources/when_the_bible_is_silent">http://genevapush.com/resources/when_the_bible_is_silent</a></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-37683273269814111242013-05-13T19:48:00.001+10:002013-05-13T19:48:25.129+10:00Have you written to the Upper House yet?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If not, your as bad as me, and we'd better get on to it before we forget or miss our chance!<br />
<br />
As I'm sure you've heard, Health Minister Michelle O’Byrne’s amended Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill passed the lower house 13 votes to 11.<br />
<br />
It's likely to be debated in the upper house sometime after June this year.<br />
<br />
Now somehow I've stumbled across the <a href="http://www.makeastand.org.au/" target="_blank">Make a Stand</a> website and it's going to really help me out. Have you heard of it?<br />
<br />
It has an email feature that will help you write to your MP or representative in the Legislative Council.<br />
<br />
I'm planning to use it to <a href="http://www.makeastand.org.au/campaign/index.php?campaign_id=49#polliemail" target="_blank">send a short email</a> to upper house members indicating my views about the Late-term Abortion bill.<br />
<br />
The site <a href="http://www.makeastand.org.au/campaign/index.php?campaign_id=49" target="_blank">lists</a> the following reasons why we should be opposed to this Bill and all write to Upper House representatives saying so, while we have the chance!<br />
<br />
• Under the bill abortion at any time can be justified for socio-economic reasons.<br />
<br />
• There is no legitimate mandate for such a move – first trimester abortions (which encompass 95% of abortions) are currently available and accessible in the state – there are no waiting lists or referrals, and there have been no prosecutions.<br />
<br />
• Doctors will now not be fined but will still be compelled to refer a woman to an abortion provider, or face professional sanctions. It inserts a new power for police to demand that people they “reasonably believe are protesting” state their name and address, and if they don’t they may be arrested without warrant. People involved in protests, including silent, prayerful protests within 150 m of an abortion facility (eg on the steps of a nearby church) can be fined up to $32,500 and/or face one year in jail.<br />
<br />
• Despite a very short consultation period, over 2000 submissions were received with 87% of respondents being opposed to abortion. Clearly these submissions have not been reviewed and hence the public are not adequately being listened to.<br />
<br />
Also, helpfully, Make a Stand asks us to consider the following points and to put them in our own words as we speak up to our Legislative Council:<br />
<br />
1. There needs to be some legal protection for unborn children against adults who may wish to take their lives. <br />
<br />
2. The law should protect the unborn given their vulnerable state, in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. <br />
<br />
3. Open slather abortion should not be legalised in Tasmania. The government should work to see a reduction in abortion, not contribute to its increase. <br />
<br />
4. It's important that politicians are not misled by activists who want them to think abortion for any reason is popular and risk-free. <br />
<br />
5. Mums (and dads) should be supported in pregnancy, not told that abortion is the option of first resort. <br />
<br />
6. Forcing medical practitioners and counselors who conscientiously objection to abortion to refer is a breach of freedom of conscience.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Visit the </span><a href="http://www.makeastand.org.au/campaign/index.php?campaign_id=49" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);" target="_blank">Alive and Kicking</a><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> page at </span><a href="http://www.makeastand.org.au/" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);" target="_blank">Make a stand</a><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> for more.</span><br />
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And in case you hadn't realised yet (like most of us), June is little more than 2 weeks away!<br />
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Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-49756210722107155032013-04-27T12:42:00.000+10:002013-04-28T15:00:17.134+10:00Another Protest, another Petition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I almost attended my first protest the other day. It was the morning of the day the Reproductive Health [Access to Terminations] Bill was debated in our Parliment's Lower House in Tasmania. A silent (anti-abortion) protest was organised for Parliment lawns for around midday. It was a Tuesday (16 April) and I was in my office at work just thinking about if and how I might attend, but I had a feeling of tension that I wrestled with. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I wanted to attend; after all I care so much about this issue. I had already signed two petitions, had written to every Member of Parliment and sent a submission to Public Health, trying to encourage opposition and a vote againt this Bill. I had missed the first protest, and now there was a second. But in dilemma, I didn't really want to attend this protest - or to be more accurate, there was something else I really wanted to attend to, that I felt was even more crucial: another <em>form</em> of protest. It's also another form of petition. At that moment, feeling like most of us were - impelled to do whatever I can to try change the outcome of this day in Parliment - what I really wanted to do was rally all-together to send up a protest to... God!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Prayer is the Christian form of protest and petition. It is of course the Church's protest to God; when we pray, our petitions go before him. In the end, what I decided to do, with no other option that day that I believed would be more effective, was go on my usual mid-afternoon walk and present my prayers to God (albeit privately).</span></span></div>
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I'm not saying there is anything wrong with, or not good about, Christians getting behind appropriate protests and petition efforts. But what I did feel that day of debate in Parliement is what I think is so easy for us to forget in all forms of activism: there is something better, profoundly better, that we can all be doing to change the outcome of any day.<br />
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In all that we do as Christians, we need to ensure our actions are motivated by faith in him not faith in human effort, organisation and influence. And in all we do, we need to focus on responding in love for the world, not judgement of the world. And this will change the way we protest and petition publicly.</div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Firstly, of course, we need to be praying in the first place, before we do anything else. Prayer is the Christian's work as we respond to him in faith, and prayer works because he responds to our faith in him with his work! But if we really believe this, not only will we be changing the world by praying privately, we'll be praying publicly as well. As Christians we are always praying privately, but we pray publically often too. Our public meetings are examples of public prayer. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">And when we do pray publically, we are in fact protesting and petitioning in a whole new way, in a distinctly Christian way. And therefore in a more effective way.</span></div>
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Prayer is more effective as a form of public protest and a form of petition, firstly of course because it is guaranteed to be heard by the law giver and highest authority himself. But not only that, it's more effective in an 'earthly' sense as well as a means of speaking to the world, albeit indirectly.</div>
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And that's because by praying publicly -- not to be 'seen by men' (cf Matthew 6) as a show of righteousness but certainly to be 'heard' by them as they listen in to our appeal to God -- we can sound a clear and intelligible note to the public that sends a better message to them and to the members of Parliament and the media than a 'silent protest'.</div>
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They need to be able to easily hear in our careful and thoughtful prayers both a compassion for the world and a respect for government; we are not against the government or against the world - we are for God and godliness and good and healthy society. </div>
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But by praying rather than protesting, and audibly rather than silently, we can hold together both these things without separating truth from love, criticism from good works. </div>
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For when we pray we are expressing both faith in God and works for men. We can protest God with a petition not just to change the law and the government, but also to change us ourselves and then from that, our society. We can stand not just publicly but spiritually too, standing not just before Parliament but primarily before God for him to change us all from the inward out, from our hearts to our minds to our works to our society.<br />
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I'll be the first to admit, I've got a pretty poor track record as far attending prayer meetings goes. Almost as bad as my track record for attending protests (not quite!) I think I need to lift my game, definitely, and these reflections have helped me to identify that. And also, they've helped me to clarify which form of activism I will be focusing my efforts on. I need to get with the destinctively Christian program of petition to the God whose agenda it is to hear our protests.</div>
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Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-24821192584615708622013-04-18T21:52:00.000+10:002013-04-27T20:00:17.254+10:00Reasons why Jacquie Petrusma MP voted against the Abortion Bill. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Tuesday 16 April 2013</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH (ACCESS TO TERMINATIONS) BILL 2013 (No. 24)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Second Reading Speech – Jacquie Petrusma MP – Liberal Member for Franklin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">[11.21 p.m.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Ms PETRUSMA </b>(Franklin) - Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to speak on the Reproductive Health (Access to Termination) Bill 2013. I will not be supporting this bill, primarily because as a health professional I am appalled at the conscientious objection clauses that I will discuss in more detail later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Despite what other members have inferred in their speeches tonight, abortion is already legal in Tasmania. A woman can obtain an abortion now if a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology and another doctor both agree that the continuation of the pregnancy would involve greater risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman than if the pregnancy was terminated. This also applies to any stage of pregnancy up to birth. Furthermore, there is at present also no minimum age requirement for a woman undergoing an abortion and in the case of minors no requirement for parental consent or notification. Therefore at present a teenage girl can undergo a late term abortion in Tasmania without her parent's knowledge, and what also concerns me about this legislation tonight is that minors especially may see abortion as just some quick-fix medical procedure when it is so much more. Abortion is not just any ordinary medical procedure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We have been told that decriminalising abortion will provide greater certainty to mothers and doctors, however since 2001 there have been zero prosecutions of doctors and/or mothers under the current law. As a bioethicist wrote to me tonight:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The existing legal framework does not criminalise women and doctors who terminate a pregnancy or impede access to abortion. It simply requires a basic level of medical consultation and counselling around a major life decision. As well, the current requirement for terminations to be legally justified protects the lives of at least some unborn human beings. Retaining these laws in the Criminal Code also serves as an important educative function within the community, reminding us that at every termination of pregnancy it involves the ending of a human life, an outcome which, while grave in itself, can also have serious implications for the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am a mother of four children and during my training as a registered nurse I witnessed a number of babies being born, as well as being present at the birth of my two grandchildren. To me the birth of a newborn baby is truly amazing. I found it empowering to have children myself, as well as an honour to have the privilege of witnessing other babies being born, as giving birth is an experience unique to women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What concerns me, though, in this abortion debate tonight is that it is shrouded in dehumanising medical terminology by using the words 'uterine contents', 'product of conception' or 'foetus' instead of the word 'baby', and it is vigilantly protected by the mantra of choice. We are told that abortion is about choice, but to me how can it be about choice when the baby does not have a choice? A baby is not in the womb saying, 'Yes, mum, please abort me', and nowhere in this bill are the rights of the unborn child mentioned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">However, the Convention on the Rights of the Child Committee General Comment no. 5 2003, paragraph 10, states:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Article 6 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child affirms the child's inherent right to life and states parties' obligation to ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child. The committee expects states to interpret development in its broader sense as a holistic concept embracing the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral, psychological and social development. Implementation measures should be aimed at achieving the optimal development for all children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a presentation to the National Human Rights Consultation Committee at the Great Hall, Parliament House, Canberra, on 1 July 2009, Rita Joseph stated:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">At present, Australia is not meeting its obligation to uphold and protect, in its legislation, the right to life of children at risk of abortion. Abortion constitutes arbitrary deprivation of life in breach of the International Human Rights law, as established by the Nuremburg principles and judgments and their codification in the International Bill of Rights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In 1959, the United Nations General Assembly formally declared that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognised that the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, is entitled to special safeguards and care including appropriate legal protection before as well as after birth. This means that the right to life protected under article 3 of the Universal Declaration is recognised as equally valid for the child before birth as for the child after birth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This bill does nothing to protect the rights of the unborn child. In fact, it looks like the womb may well be the unsafest place for a child to be as it only from birth that the child is protected. The question must therefore be asked, is the embryo in the mother's womb a human being or not. I submit that there can only be one answer. Yes, the embryo is a human being. In fact, as science advances it becomes more and more obvious that the embryo is an individual human being. The physical parts and attributes of the embryo become clear at a very early stage so that specific, individual traits are already present. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">An abortion is not the termination of just one life. For example, if my mother had an abortion with me then I would not have been born, my four children would not have been born and my two grandchildren would not have been born either. That is seven lives already that would not be here today from just one abortion. It is not just one life we are talking about here. The ongoing ramifications from just one abortion can be many lives as there are generations of children who would never be born. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When I was pregnant with my first child I could have had an abortion, as I was young, not married, and still completing my training as a registered nurse and I had, as people said to me, my whole life ahead of me. Yes, I ended up being a single mother for nine years so I know from personal experience how tough it can be, financially, to live on Centrelink and bring up a child on your own. But my daughter motivated me to get out to do my best for her so that we would not have to spend the rest of our days on Centrelink. Not only was I a registered nurse but I went on to university and studied a Bachelor of Commerce and an education degree while my daughter was at kinder and primary school. From there I was employed in the medical sales industry and went on to become one of the youngest and first female national sales managers in that industry, helping to break the glass ceiling that was very obvious in that industry at that time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today I am a member of parliament. I disagree with the argument that having a baby will stop a woman from having a career or set her back financially. I know from my own personal experience that having a child and being a single mum can be one of the most rewarding life experiences that you can ever have. My oldest child and I shared a wonderful journey together that I am all the more richer for and I am now a much better, more rounded person for going through the highs and lows of those years. It is those times as a single mum that was part of the motivation for me to run for parliament, to be an example to other single mums by encouraging them to dream big dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My daughter was a young, single mum too. Yes, she too could have had an abortion, but she chose not to and every time my grandsons run up to me and throw their arms around my neck and call me Nanny, I am so thankful that they are here today. Even though I would not have judged or condemned my daughter for having an abortion, as I do not condemn or judge any woman who has had an abortion, inside I would have grieved for their loss. My daughter has gone on to get two masters degrees as single mum. Financially she too struggled along on Centrelink, but now she has a great job and two gorgeous sons to travel on their own journey together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Age is another reason given as to why a woman may choose to end the pregnancy. I had my first child when I was young and I had my last child when I was old. Apart from it being a lot easier physically when I was young, both pregnancies were an empowering experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Something that greatly disturbs me is the finding of a 2005 study by Selena Ewing that the majority of women and girls who have abortions do so because of the lack of support from parents, partners and friends. Seventy per cent of women said that finding themselves in this situation they felt they had no alternative but to abort their babies. Therefore surely we need to actively increase supportive options to mothers during pregnancy so that the mother would be less likely to abort and would then really have a genuine choice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As one GP who wrote to me stated the bill is simplistic in its premise that women alone make their own decisions about a pregnancy. In reality this is almost never the case. There is often strong external pressure on women from partners, parents or from the woman's own perceived expectations of employers or educational institutions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In my experience the request for termination is often because women feel coerced or that they have no other option so surely the best way for Tasmanians to show due regard and care for women is to see them through whatever the difficulties are so that women know that there are alternatives to abortion. Abortion is always a symptom of something much greater. There is always a reason and most of those reasons do not even involve the baby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If a woman seeks an abortion because of limited financial means we need to address her financial issues. If a woman seeks an abortion because of the fear of physical violence or desertion from a partner then we need to assist her. If a woman seeks an abortion because she fears the effect on her work or study options then those are the issues we need to help her with. The government should not instead want to push last resort legislation and should work to address the circumstances that leave women feeling so unsupported that the taking of their baby's life is seen as their only option. We need to build a culture of life, not death, in Tasmania. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What I know from having been a single mum is that we need to have more options available for women who find themselves pregnant so that women do not feel that they have no other choice. I note too that in the AMA submission that the federal council of the AMA also supports interventions to reduce Australia's abortion rate, such as provision of greater financial support to those raising children, such as federal government funding of 14 weeks paid maternity leave and an increase in the availability and affordability of childcare. For example, we should allow child care costs to be claimed as a tax deducible expense and allow employers to offer childcare as an FBT exempt salary sacrifice. Further, there should be maintenance of awareness of family planning issues, including fertility and contraception for older women and/or women who already have children including permanent forms of contraception; investment in return-to-school support programs for teenage mothers; and elimination of pregnancy discrimination related to employment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I also find it hard to accept with this legislation that as shadow minister for disabilities I am supposed to fight for people living with a disability rights once they are born but not while they are in the womb. I would be in effect saying that you do not have any value or a life worth living if you are diagnosed with a disability in the womb and should be aborted. This is a very sad and distressing message to send to parents of a baby in the womb that has been diagnosed as having a disability that their child is not of equal value or equally deserving of protection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Every human individual, including those with a disability, is equal to every other individual in respect to the right not to be directly or intentionally killed. The question also has to be asked how perfect do we want our children to be. I have two children diagnosed with dyslexia. Should I have chosen to abort them? One had low muscle tone and needed daily physiotherapy - should I have chosen to terminate them too? When pregnant with my third child I was informed that the baby had Down syndrome and was a boy. We were all prepared for the birth of a baby with Down syndrome and I even had packed baby boy clothes for the hospital. Imagine our surprise when the baby we had already been calling Joe popped out a healthy girl. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Throughout my nursing career I have also seen plenty of examples of misdiagnosis of babies who the parents were told would not have any quality of life. Against the odds they not only survived but thrived. This is why I am also concerned that if abortion is dressed up as a quick fix medical procedure healthy babies that have been misdiagnosed as having some type of disability may be aborted when in fact they would have been fine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As Dr David Strong, the paediatrician at the Launceston General Hospital states, the legislation makes no requirement that the response to a request for late foeticide include the advice of a neo natologist or paediatrician so women with perceived risk of a foetal anomaly might be expected to make life versus death decisions without accurate, up-to-date information. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am also very concerned that the 16 weeks will allow for sex selection to happen. At week 13 doctors are able to tell the sex of a baby by ultrasound with almost 100 per cent accuracy. In regard to sex selection, as a woman, what concerns me the most is that it is usually the females who are terminated. In 2011, it was estimated that 160 million fewer women are in the world because of sex selection. In the rush to be seen as pro-choice, it concerns me that my own sex is being terminated or exterminated, all in the name of female empowerment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The lack of consultation on this bill is also of major concern. Like all the other members in this House, I have received thousands of emails. I believe that if Tasmanian citizens take the trouble to write a submission, send an email or sign petitions, they should be fairly heard and their views given the respect they deserve. However, the minister was so keen to rush this bill through that whilst submissions closed on Friday 5 April, the bill was tabled less than a week later on 11 April. While I acknowledge that a couple of changes were made to the bill, as the minister states in her press release:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Of the individual submissions received during the consultation period, around 87 per cent were critical of pregnancy terminations in general.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If the community consultation shows clearly that most people are not wanting this legislation, why is the government still proceeding with this bill? Why bother to have a consultation period if the majority of the views are to be ignored? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tasmanians are quite rightly now concerned that the speed with which the legislation has been rushed into parliament suggests their submission has been inadequately reviewed or just dismissed. As one email I received today stated:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The public are not being adequately heard. One can only assume that private agendas are being enacted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also, <i>The</i> <i>Examiner</i> on 9 April 2013 reported that 900 submissions were received on the last day that submissions were due - that is, Friday 5 April. This means there were less than four working days to review these last 900 submissions prior to tabling the amended bill last Thursday, 11 April. If these 900 submissions were thoroughly and properly reviewed, how many staff were involved in doing this task in those four days? Were the staff working all day and all night to review all these submissions that were received on the last day? If numerous staff were not used, it would be a physical impossibility for all these submissions to be given the scrutiny and consideration they deserved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It also appears the number of Tasmanian citizens who signed petitions against this bill are to be ignored as well. There were five petitions tabled against this legislation today, of which 8 197 Tasmanian citizens supported the petitions, 3 260 of which supported one petition over the last four days. There was also one petition tabled today in support of this legislation with only 921 citizens in support of the legislation. In other words, only 10 per cent of petitions were for the legislation versus 90 per cent against, or a ratio of 9:1 against, but it appears their views are to be dismissed, just as all the petitions were and just like the hundreds and hundreds of people who have attended pro‑life rallies in Launceston and Hobart today and over the last few weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mr McKim brought up the issue of reputable polling. Polling was conducted in February this year by reputable company Galaxy, which showed that Tasmanians are opposed to abortion for various reasons. For example, 73 per cent of Tasmanians say they oppose late-term abortions; 59 per cent oppose the abortion of a child with a mild disability; 92 per cent oppose sex-selection abortion; 66 per cent oppose abortion for financial hardship; 79 per cent oppose abortion for career reasons; and 79 pr cent also oppose abortion when the parents feel they have had enough children. This bill prevents none of these reasons from happening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This bill is apparently based on the Victorian legislation but goes so much further than that legislation by effectively shutting down pro-life counselling to pregnant women. This bill provides that if a woman seeks pregnancy options advice from a counsellor, including a volunteer, if that person holds a conscientious objection to abortion the counsellor cannot simply advise about financial, accommodation, adoption services, et cetera. The counsellor must instead refer the woman to a counsellor who does not hold a conscientious objection to abortion. As one counsellor said to me:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have witnessed first-hand the suffering of women after abortion during my time as a counsellor for the past 25 years, and I can honestly say that I have never seen or heard anyone saying that they were glad that they had their abortion. In fact it was exactly the opposite. The women spoke of regret and a wish to be able to turn the clock back, and some of these were 40 years since their abortion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As a health professional myself I am appalled at the conscientious objection clauses in this bill. The bill, for example, also disallows the conscientious objection right of doctors to not refer patients for a procedure if they have a conscientious objection to abortion. Currently under the AMA code of ethics a doctor's conscientious objection is allowed with the proviso that the woman is informed early on of the objection and is allowed to seek an opinion elsewhere. There is no compulsion to refer as occurs with this legislation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This bill is also contrary to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Guidelines. Many doctors have written to me stating that this will fundamentally change the way medicine is practised and that they do not want to practise under these constraints. As well, a doctor in Victoria has already been found guilty this year because he wanted to exercise his conscience. One doctor stated that they:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">… oppose the increased pressure that will be placed on doctors to prove that the woman's current and future physical, psychological, economic and social circumstances will not suffer as a result of the pregnancy and birth. Just what kind of assessment tools or crystal ball will I be provided with to ensure this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In the AMA's media release yesterday Dr John Davis, president of AMA Tasmania, stated:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Politicians will be given a conscience vote on abortion legislation. However, this legislation denies this same consideration of conscientious objection to doctors as well as other workers who are at the coalface. This provision is totally unacceptable and must be removed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dr Davis also said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Clearly no person should be subject to intimidation or harassment as they go about their legitimate business. However, the exclusion zones proposed around abortion clinics are an unnecessary and heavy-handed response to a problem that is non-existent in Tasmania.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This bill also heavily penalises with criminal and financial penalties anyone who counsels a pregnant woman and does not refer to services that include abortion. This is a fundamental shift in the way care is able to be delivered in our society. It makes conscientious objection, a basic human right, illegal. The increased sanctions against those providing counselling, including voluntary workers, will further reduce those prepared to work in this vital area. As one concerned service wrote to me today:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Thousands of women will be disadvantaged if the voluntary services were forced to withdraw because of this proposed law. It is ironic that those purporting to be supporting women's health outcomes would by this bill deprive them of support to many issues not connected to abortion. All members in this service must sign undertakings that all dealings will be non-judgmental and that they will not use manipulative methods or shock tactics. They do not give advice but do give information when needed. They do not take a position with regard to political, religious, or family planning issues and do not discriminate on race, colour, national origin or marital status. However, they do not advise, provide or refer directly or indirectly for abortions or abortifacients. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If this clause were to be implemented in Tasmania our local agency would not be able to perform the tremendous work it has done since 1975 and our national<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://13/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="13" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">24/7</a> helpline would not be able to take calls from Tasmania. This would deprive hundreds of women of support when no one else is available and the concerns may have nothing to do with abortion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As another counsellor wrote to me:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Counselling conducted by abortion providers where the provider pays the salary of the counsellor and conducted on the same premises should be the subject of greater concern. Also targeting incorporated bodies, currently accredited as charities with excessive penalties of $32 500, would simply cause these services to disappear. This would be to the detriment of the client base which these organisations service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In regard to nurses, while in 1970 South Australia was the first state to legalise abortion, including up to 28 weeks if doctors considered it warranted, in 1988 nurses in public hospitals said they would no longer assist in abortions after 12 weeks as it was too traumatic. This was because nurses, who could be helping to save the life of a premature baby born at 24 weeks, could later be required to destroy a healthy unborn baby of the same age. It was for these nurses a devastating experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Many concerned citizens who have written to me are quite rightly asking when is the right week to terminate. Do we say that it is at week five when the heart, circulation, spine and brain are forming? Or should it be at week six to seven when the cerebral hemispheres of the brain, pain perception, the kidneys, stomach, eyes, nose, cranial nerves are also developing? Or week eight when the arms, legs, ovaries or testes, sense of smell are developing? Or week nine, with the hair follicles forming, hands and feet visible and limb movements detectable on ultrasound, as well, if the baby is a girl, the uterus is visible? Is it week 12 where the fingers and toes are formed, all organs and the blood vessel supply established and where the unborn child can suck his or her thumb and their tongue is visible, their teeth are starting to develop, respiratory efforts have been observed and in regard to pain, most of the nerves and cerebral areas are developed? Or is at week 16 when the baby is now 15 centimetres long with bones and muscles developing further, with calcification within bones noticeable and the unborn child is able to smell, taste and breathe? Or is it week 19 when the baby is now 20 centimetres long? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am also concerned that no legislation in Tasmania addresses the pain that would be experienced by the baby in the womb during an abortion. Important neurobiological developments occur in a baby at seven weeks in regard to nerve and pain development, at 18 weeks, in regard to neuromediators and pain pathways, and at 26 weeks, in the thalamus, which is one of the brain processing areas of pain. As the adult thalamus works to lessen the perception of pain, it is highly likely that any tissue damage to the baby in the womb occurring after 18 or even at seven weeks, would cause more pain than a full-term baby. The unborn child is particularly vulnerable to any pain stimuli before 26 weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As Dr David Strong, the paediatrician at the Launceston General Hospital states:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This legislation cruelly ignores the issue of foetal pain which remains important because much evidence points towards the belief that foetuses suffer severe pain in the process ofmid and late foeticide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I note too the concerns of many medical practitioners who have contacted me. One stated that the central tenet of medical practice and the first thing taught to our medical students is <i>primum non nocere</i> - first do no harm. It is hard to escape the reality that termination of pregnancy extinguishes a human life no matter what legal status an unborn child may have in any jurisdiction. The issue becomes increasingly fraught with practical and ethical difficulty as intrauterine development proceeds. Late term abortions are especially problematic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This bill allows for termination of pregnancy until birth on the demand of the pregnant mother. Termination of pregnancy as a medical procedure is not without risk, especially when performed later in the pregnancy. There are also long-term psychological consequences of the abortion on the woman. Also, there is an increased risk of premature labour in future pregnancies for those who have had an abortion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Abortion is not a quick medical fix. There are complications and health risks to the mother including bleeding, pain, infection, uterine perforation, damage to the cervix and anaesthetic complications such as aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs, anaphylaxis to drugs, vomiting and death from cardiac arrhythmias caused by the drugs, et cetera. With a medical abortion done after 12 weeks that tends to be done for later terminations, the mini labour may also take several days for completion. This form of abortion is likely to cause the woman considerable distress. Longer-term complications of termination are infertility due to infection, cervical trauma and uterine perforation. If a woman becomes pregnant after a termination she is also more likely to have a pre-term birth with the next pregnancy and pre-term births are associated with more infant mortality according to 2013 United Kingdom data.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">New 2013 figures from Christchurch have also shown a moderate increase in anxiety, alcohol misuse, illicit drug misuse and suicidal misbehaviour in those women having an abortion. The United Kingdom guidelines also mention the affects on long-term mental health as a complication of abortion and recommend that women be warned of this. In fact, Coleman in 2011 found that the overall risk of having a mental health problem was significantly increased in women who had an abortion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Time expired</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-86994531363246995012012-05-05T13:14:00.000+10:002012-05-05T13:16:38.589+10:00The religion you wouldn't come up with<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A friend of mine attended a conference this week on the topic, "Muslims and the message." It was about how Christians can bridge the gap with Islamic friends. He was kind enough to send me his notes. In one of his favourite sessions, the speaker made this point:<br />
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Islam is the kind of religion we might come up with if we had to come up with one. It has a neat idea of God - He is one, he is holy and powerful. It asserts human responsibility - we must be pure to obtain God's pardon. It has a view of scripture that is neat - it was delivered directly from God, in a sense bypassing humans. And it has a rigorous set of religious rituals to follow.<br />
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Christianity on the other hand has a perplexing concept of God (trinity), a shameful idea of God's glory (revealed in the death of God's Son), a humiliating picture of human responsibility (we're hopeless and depend solely on grace), a messy view of scripture (inspired by God but mediated by humans living in culture and time) and a surprising way of presenting the religious life (love, not rules).</blockquote>
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The point made also goes without saying: "The important thing about a belief system is not whether it is simple or not, but whether it is true." The question, surprisingly, not often asked by Muslims is 'what reasonable grounds do I have for holding to my beliefs'?<br />
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My friend's notes read: "Christianity... has good reason to believe that we can't stand before God by our own merits, that grace is more powerful than law, that the Bible is reliable..."</div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-41532157785801102262012-04-22T21:41:00.000+10:002012-04-22T21:41:50.290+10:00My friend, the atheist believer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My everyday atheist friend says, "I don't believe in God because I don't see any evidence for his existence... If you claim God exists, the burden of proof lies with you, because from the moment I came into this world, I've believed whatever I've seen or been shown."<br />
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What do I say to this? My friend is not going to even show the slightest interest himself in the subject of God before I first show him real and convincing proof of God's existence.<br />
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In <em>The Reason for God</em> Tim Keller shows us that actually, our atheist friends here show their own unbelievable inconsistency. Turning their very question around he asks them to "look for a type of faith hidden within their reasoning." Keller shows that "all doubts, however sceptical and cynical they may seem, are really a set of alternate beliefs."<br />
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Some [say], 'My doubts are not based on a leap of faith. I have no beliefs about God one way of another. I simply feel no need for God and I am not interested in thinking about it.' But hidden behind this feeling is the very modern belief that the existence of God is a matter of indifference unless it intersects with my emotional needs. The speaker is betting his or her life that no God exists who would hold you accountable for your beliefs and behaviour if you didn't feel the need for him. That may be true or it may not be true, but, again, it is quite a leap of faith.<br />
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The only way to doubt Christianity rightly and fairly is to discern the alternative belief under each of your doubts and then to ask yourself what reasons you have for believing it. How do you know your belief is true? It would be inconsistent to require more justification for Christian belief than you do for your own, but that is frequently what happens. In fairness you must doubt your doubts. My thesis is that if you come to recognise the beliefs on which your doubts about Christianity are based, and if you seek as much proof for those beliefs as you seek from Christians for theirs -- you will discover that your doubts are not as solid as they first appear.<br />
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<a href="http://reasonforgod.com/" target="_blank">Tim Keller, <em>The Reason for God</em> 2008, p. xviii.</a></blockquote>
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My friend, indifferent about God because he doesn't see him, is making quite a leap of faith; it's a faith-position as big as my own as a believer in God. Does the burden of proof remain with me? How can one belief about God require proof if another does not?<br />
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My friend believes that God does not exist because <em>he believes </em>that he has never experienced him via his physical senses. He has faith but in a different doctrine; he believes that reality is the sum total of what can be measured, witnessed or perceived immediately, and that nothing else does or can exist.<br />
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It's quite a claim; quite a belief-system. The question is, "How does he know that this belief is true?" It is inconsistent to require more justification for Christian belief than he does for his own. So I ask this question:<br />
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What proof do atheists have that nothing exists except than what can be measured, witnessed or perceived immediately?</blockquote>
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Keller's challenge is out there: "I urge skeptics to wrestle with the unexamined 'blind faith' on which scepticism is based, and to see how hard it is to justify those beliefs to those who do not share them."</div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-76161706846115957992012-04-19T21:06:00.000+10:002012-04-21T19:04:41.138+10:00The Trouble with Christianity: Why It's So Hard to Believe It<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Tim Keller is anything but defensive. He respects the real doubts that people bring to Christianity. Although described as a Christian apologist, what makes Tim Keller so palatable is his winsome while sincere approach, his genuine interest in reason and respect for people's skepticism. And he's thoroughly intelligent.<br />
<br />
His book <em>The Reason for God -- </em>in which he discussed whether of not belief can exist in the age of reason, an age of scepticism -- was born out of literally thousands of conversations with young people since the early 90s.<br />
<br />
In 1989 Tim Keller planted a church by going throughout New York City, talking to young professionals about why they wouldn't believe in God. Most of the people he spoke to had one or more of about half a dozen troubles with Christianity: common objections that made Christianity too hard to believe. <br />
<br />
<em>The Reason for God </em>is a trip through reasoning. Keller shows that all of the common problems people today have with Christianity are in fact based in beliefs - alternative beliefs about God and the nature of reality. <br />
<br />
And here's the punch line but it won't spoil it for you: To really have integrity skeptics need to apply the same tests to their beliefs as what they are demanding that Christians apply to theirs.<br />
<br />
I recommend the book, but perhaps what I've found <em>even</em> more helpful initially, is listening through a series of MP3 audios in which Keller speaks to Christians on most of the subjects he addresses in the first part of his book:<br />
<br />
These are excellent, absolutely fantastic presentations: really polite, respectful, palatable, engaging, informative, relevant, thought out and enlightening.<br />
<br />
Why not listen to one or all of the following <em>Reason for God</em> audios (I dare you):<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://download.redeemer.com/sermons/Exclusivity_How_can_there_be.mp3" target="_blank">Exclusivity</a>: How Can There Be Just One True Religion?</li><li><a href="http://download.redeemer.com/sermons/Suffering_If_God_is_good_why.mp3" target="_blank">Suffering</a>: If God Is Good, Why Is There So Much Evil in the World?</li><li><a href="http://download.redeemer.com/sermons/Absolutism_Dont_we_all_have_to.mp3" target="_blank">Absolutism</a>: Don't We All Have to Find Truth for Ourselves?</li><li><a href="http://download.redeemer.com/sermons/Injustice_Hasnt_Christianity_been.mp3" target="_blank">Injustice</a>: Hasn't Christianity Been an Instrument for Oppression?</li><li><a href="http://download.redeemer.com/sermons/Hell_Isnt_the_God_of_Christianity.mp3" target="_blank">Hell</a>: Isn't the God of Christianity an Angry Judge?</li><li><a href="http://download.redeemer.com/sermons/Literalism_%20Isnt_the_Bible_historic_AM.mp3" target="_blank">Literalism</a>: Isn't the Bible Historically Unreliable and Regressive?</li><li><a href="http://download.redeemer.com/sermons/Doubt_What_should_I_do_AM.mp3" target="_blank">Doubt</a>: What Should I Do with My Doubts? (David Bisgrove)</li></ul><br />
And by the way, if you did want to read the book too, here it is: <a href="http://reasonforgod.com/">ReasonforGod.com</a><br />
<div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/8919672?autoplay=1" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe></div></div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-23288168338240560002012-03-30T22:49:00.000+11:002012-03-30T22:49:05.220+11:00Come to God vs Evil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/39384655?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/39384655">God vs Evil Promotional Video</a> from <a href="http://ufcutas.org">UFC-Utas</a>.<br />
<br />
A week of public events at UTAS Hobart addressing the issue: 'Where is God in a world of evil and suffering?'<br />
<br />
31st July - 7 August 2012.<br />
<br />
6 topics, 5 speakers, <br />
6 events, 3 locations<br />
1 week, 1 subject<br />
<br />
Details at <a href="http://godvsevil.org/">godvsevil.org</a> <br />
<br />
</div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-80046654342236805642012-03-29T22:22:00.001+11:002012-03-30T21:42:26.009+11:00God's Will vs Ours<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">On the problem of the relationship of God's will and ours, D. Broughton Knox quite insightfully explained:<br />
<br />
“The problem of the relationship of God's will to the created will is not to be solved by denying God's sovereignty, as though through the creation of human wills and demonic wills he had delimited an area within his creation over which he had given up control. Not only is this contrary to the whole of revelation, but it would be unbearable and terrifying were it true, and prayer and trust would become impossible. God has not limited himself in any way at all. The Bible knows nothing of such an idea.<br />
<br />
Nor is the problem of the relationship of God's will and ours to be solve by denying the reality of the human will, as though it were not what we experience it to be, namely a true will. The word 'free' adds nothing to the meaning of the word 'will' and the denial of the word 'free' is meaningless, so long as we are talking about what we experience as will, which is the only will of which we have direct knowledge. Although our wills are free wills, it is incorrect to say that they are independent wills over against God's will. The possibility of this concept was the false suggestion of the devil to Adam, grasped at by man but certainly not achieved by him, though man thinks he has attained to it and that he is in fact free from God's sovereignty. Adam's mistake was that of thinking that by rebelling against God he would become sovereign. But no creature can ever become sovereign over against its almighty Creator, and no will can be free if by this is meant independent of its Creator.”<br />
<br />
<br />
(<em>The Everlasting God</em>, D. B. Knox, Evangelical Press, 1982, p. 103-104).</div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-43479758717867543252012-03-29T22:17:00.003+11:002012-04-03T21:39:17.345+10:00God and Evil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Evil exists. So how can God exist?<br />
<br />
Either God is bad [he does evil himself], God is limited [his power cannot prevent evil], or evil does not exist in the first place; or so we might be tempted to think anyway. <br />
<br />
But none of these three positions work. A bad God is a contradiction in terms, as is a limited God. In both cases the God we would be talking about would not actually be God.<br />
<br />
A God who is bad would be evil himself, because he would not be separate to and against evil in the first place. A limited God who cannot prevent evil, would not be able to rule all things in the first place. But in asking about whether God exists separate from and above the existence of evil, we are of course asking about a God <em>over</em> and <em>against</em> evil. <br />
<br />
And of course the non existence of evil is only a theoretical concept adopted by atheists. Christians do not deny the existence of evil in order to uphold belief in God; we are the first to unequivocally affirm the reality of evil.<br />
<br />
Evil exists. So how could such a God at the same time exist, a good God with power over evil? <br />
<br />
But how can evil exist in the first place if God does <em>not</em> exist? By definition evil can only exist if God does too. In order to deny the existence of God, atheists must deny the existence of evil too. But the problem with atheism is that it is not true to the world we see and the lives we live, lives full of the experience of evil.<br />
<br />
Evil is the distortion of what is good; it is the perversion, the twisting of what is right in the world. And so by denying the existence of evil, atheists also deny the existence of everything we know by nature to be both good and right.<br />
<br />
But to deny evil is to deny the existence of things that we know are bad. And to do that we must deny that things can be wrong in the first place. This stems from a denial of the existence of objective moral values, or laws. Laws must be given by one who has ultimately responsible; the owner, the director, responsible for our governance and judgment. It is in order to deny accountability to judgment that atheists want to deny both God and evil.<br />
<br />
But evil exists, and so does God too.<br />
<br />
And this God can only be good [so hating evil and always doing good] and all powerful [above all, controlling even evil].<br />
<br />
So we have only one consistent option:<br />
<br />
Since evil exists [and therefore God must exist] then God must be using evil for good.<br />
<br />
The concept of 'using evil for good' raises many questions, but it is throughout the Bible affirmed again and again; that the all good and all powerful God reigns over and against evil by using it to magnify both his goodness and his power.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere in <a href="http://talkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/evil-and-sovereignty-of-god.html" target="_blank">Evil and the Sovereignty of God</a> I have given a survey of the Bible's teaching on this subject; God, far from doing evil himself or being a victim of it, rules evil by making it achieve what is ultimately good. <br />
<br />
This certainly can be hard to understand. But the problem of the existence of God in view of evil is not solved by denying the existence of God, as though by questioning God's existence we can make more sense of evil in our world, or at least cope with it better. For if God does not exist then we really do have no body to complain to; no body to question; and in fact, we are faced with a false reality in which we must deny our own perplexity, anguish, grief and turmoil, because by rejecting God we have denied the reality of all the evil itself that we suffer. This would be more terrifying, surely, than holding onto belief in a God over evil -- a God who we can call out to with our arguments; a God who we can turn to.<br />
<br />
Nor is the problem of the existence of evil in view of God solved by denying the existence of evil. Evil is real, we know it, we feel it, we suffer it. It is not good, it is not right, and we know that it really is bad and wrong. But the denial of the existence of evil makes all the atrocities, all the pain and hurt, the war and genocide, the rapes and murders, the exploitation and the greed and lies; it makes is all 'disadvantageous', a subjective sadness relative to us -- but really and actually just "a part of life". They may be unfortunate for us, but not wrong as such; an inconvenience but not bad actually; an unhappy happening, but not an evil. The mature modern mind will just "accept them" and "move on". All the bad and ugly and evil of our world would simply by cause and effect, time and chance, and survival of the fittest and the lucky. <br />
<br />
This is more unbearable, surely, than holding onto the reality of evil in the face of our suffering -- evil that is real, and that we can really hate.<br />
<br />
How it is that God in his goodness and power actually uses all our evil ultimately to magnify his own goodness and power, we may never really comprehend this side of heaven; the most we might aim for is childlike faith. <br />
<br />
But one thing is easy. Since evil exists, God must exist.</div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-43400009531827214392012-03-23T23:08:00.007+11:002012-03-30T21:39:31.765+11:00Raising the tone of our conversation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The <a href="https://thegenevapush.com/join/posting_policy" target="_blank">Posting Policy</a> of <em>The Geneva Push</em> website is so good I'm posting about it. I actually found these guidelines assuring as I read through their challenge to self-control on the web and their requirement to maintaining a high-level 'tone' in all conversation on their site. <br />
<br />
It begins:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">"The Internet is a brilliant place to witness people behaving badly. The belief that the web is somehow unreal has encouraged unbelievable behaviour. It is a sad fact that even believers have been known to express themselves in a particular way online that would be considered sinful in any other context. As a Christian network, <em>The Geneva Push</em> encourages its members to speak the truth, but to do so in love."</blockquote><br />
In general this is a rebuke much needed by our generation I think. It is commonplace today to be exposed, even regretably involved, in the fierce fighting of Christian argumentativeness, even amongst reformed Evangelical circles (such as the long comment threads recently on <em>The Briefing)</em>. <br />
<br />
Ironically, we children of the reformation show off our 'maturity' by pulling apart one another in critique and debate, often beginning with theology but ending in personal conflict and even fall out. Are we using our knowledge to love or to pull down?<br />
<br />
Sadly, in a world of speed limits and regulation, guidelines are needed because we as people need to be told how to behave; by nature we are creatures that fail to govern ourselves internally and automatically. We need external controls to impose standards upon us; we need to be lead by God's Spirit.<br />
<br />
Offline we are generally more careful to show self-control because our cultural etiquette, which itself is an external force providing norms of acceptance, provides us our much needed help in governing our behaviour.<br />
<br />
But in the last decade or so, blogs and Facebook have of course allowed a new space in our lives where we can find it so easy to forget to apply these norms and in this sense forget 'ourselves'. Like failing to think about the risks of entering into a friendly game of gambling, we can leave ourselves open to losing many of our usual restraints. We can so easily become lazy, and ultimately careless, because without these automatic rules for engagement, we have no necessary commitment to a certain standard of communication that will likely be appreciated by all parties involved in our conversations.<br />
<br />
Ironically these are often the most public of spaces where we can do the most damage to our community, to our churches. <br />
<br />
So it's probably fair to say that in recent times Facebook (and the like) have become not only a force for much good, but now also one of the most significant forces for bad within our community life. Just as for Businesses and other organisations more generally, the effect of Facebook upon the dynamics of our community life have surely emerged as one of the greatest challenges now for church leaders.<br />
<br />
Perhaps we need to follow the lead of <em>The Geneva Push; </em>perhaps we need our leaders to give us policies to help us govern our use of social media as members -- not necessarily as prescriptive regulations, but as guiding principles that would help us to think through and apply the gospel of grace, the command to love, and the call to growth in maturity within the context of our online community relationships.</div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-51215777348638263982012-03-22T20:27:00.000+11:002012-03-22T20:27:24.968+11:00Andrew Heard on Independent churches<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="154" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/28930070" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="251"></iframe><br />
<br />
Andrew Heard went 'independent' when he planted the Central Coast Evangelical Church (EV), but not too long after begun The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), ironically to escape their independence. FIEC also has the goal of planting 100 new churches across Australia in 15 years. Reminds me of Vision 100, but we're of course aiming for that in the small state of Tassie though perhaps over a longer period.<br />
<br />
Almost humourously, Heard now argues that 'independence' is three things:<br />
<br />
1. Impossible<br />
2. Unchristian<br />
3. Stupid<br />
<br />
A great video introducing <a href="http://www.fiec.org.au/" target="_blank">FIEC</a>.</div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-13004127852346375252012-03-20T21:08:00.000+11:002012-03-20T21:08:45.601+11:00Welcome to EV video<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I'm looking into what they do differently at Central Coast Evangelical Church, familiarly called "EV church" (as per my last post, <a href="http://www.talkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/reaching-charismatics.html" target="_blank">Reaching the charismatics</a>).<br />
<br />
The first thing that struck me is they've done a really great Welcome Video, which is at the same time really bad in terms of its production. And that's the point. What I mean is that the video itself is no better than a backyard video for Funniest Home Videos. And yet as a Welcome, this video is ideal. It is so warm, inviting and perfectly achieves its aim of drawing me into EV, giving me a real great picture of who they are and what they're on about, making me want to come along on Sunday, and making me already feel welcome [having not been there yet]! Here it is; welcome to EV church:<br />
<br />
<object height="360" width="520"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZuZjgLM1Pkg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZuZjgLM1Pkg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="520" height="360"></embed></object><br />
<br />
It's not just about the friendly and passionate people in it; thought that is half of it! The style actually disarms me; the fact that they have done a budget production and majored not on quality of production but on sincerity of the messages the contributors are presenting, this makes me feel like they're just on the other end of Skype; I'm just being introduced to a friend, that's all. It shows me I'm going to get a church full, not of perfectionists, but of caring, welcoming and loving Christians; a church where I could feel 'at home'.<br />
<br />
So the poor production quality actually helps in some strange way. Goes to show what I've often suspected - in today's day and age you don't need to do video well in order to do a video that serves your purpose well. And now I've got a great example.</div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-35710517613761957062012-03-15T23:36:00.010+11:002012-03-27T20:50:05.003+11:00Reaching the charismatics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Reaching our own brothers with the gospel; that should be our goal, even our first priority, as a family of believers, right? As reformed Evangelicals, we want to reach everyone everywhere with the gospel; shouldn’t we then especially want to rescue what remnant might by God’s grace be given us from among the Pentecostals, those of our own ‘race’? <br />
<br />
Sadly the rift between the charismatic movement / Pentecostalism and reformed Evangelicalism only seems to be deepening and widening as the decades have rolled by in Australia. And there are good and perfectly understandable reasons why this has occurred. It is in fact <em>biblical</em>, in the sense that <a href="http://talkingpentecostalism.blogspot.com.au/2010/08/when-christians-should-disassociate-or.html" target="_blank">the Bible does call for disunity</a> in such situations. But we wish it would be otherwise, don’t we? We want to be united with our own brothers, first and foremost, more than any, right? After all, Pentecostalism arose from within Evangelicalism itself. While we do ministry to the world, and seek to save the pagan, we surely and especially want to earnestly minister to our own, and seek to save the members of our own household, our broad and wide family that we call Evangelicalism.<br />
<br />
In this <a href="http://reaching%20our%20own%20wayward%20brothers%20with%20the%20gospel;%20that%20should%20be%20our%20goal,%20even%20our%20first%20priority,%20as%20a%20family%20of%20believers,%20right/? As reformed Evangelicals, we want to reach everyone everywhere with the gospel; shouldn’t we then especially want to rescue what remnant might by God’s grace be given us from among the Pentecostals, those of our own ‘race’?" target="_blank">interview</a>, Phillip Jensen makes a great point about the importance of ‘reading charismatics’ before preaching to them: As reformed evangelicals we can be too harsh in our condemnation of the errors of charismatic theology when we're speaking to Pentecostal or charismatic Christians who have come to Christ through their experiences within that movement.<br />
<br />
To quote part of that interview:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">"Tony Payne: Throughout the 80s and 90s, there was significant conflict within Christian circles over the charismatic movement. In fact, as a young charismatic arriving at your church many years ago, I found your strong stance on those issues a difficult thing to wrestle through. Do you think you made any mistakes in the way you responded to charismatic issues? <br />
<br />
Phillip Jensen: This may sound strange, but I think we should have fought harder quicker. By the time we understood what was going on, we had already lost a lot of ground and a lot of people.<br />
<br />
But I also made mistakes by taking too long to realise that there were two basic kinds of charismatics. There were the ex-evangelicals who became charismatics, and who were moving away from evangelicalism. And then there were non-Christians who were converted in a charismatic or Pentecostal church, and were moving towards evangelicalism. The problem when you met a charismatic was that you had to work out which direction they were travelling, in order to know what to say.<br />
<br />
Rarely did the ex-evangelicals ever come back to the Bible. They tended to keep going into more and more charismatic extremes and often out of Christianity. But for the non-Christian who became a charismatic… usually that was their first ever taste of the gospel of Jesus, and when they had it explained more clearly to them they continued on a trajectory away from charismatic theology. So there were several years in which I was preaching as if the congregation were ex-evangelicals, when they really were ex-non-Christians. I was being too harsh in what I was saying because I was misreading the people who I was speaking to."</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">(<a href="http://matthiasmedia.com/briefing/2012/03/the-mistakes-of-phillip-jensen/" target="_blank"><em>The Mistakes of Phillip Jensen</em>, The Briefing, Matthias Media, 12 March 2012</a>)</blockquote>It’s a great reminder; we need to read people before we speak to them. Too often I have bypassed the charismatic as an individual, associating with them all the beliefs of Pentecostalism as a doctrinal system. But very rarely will a charismatic or a Pentecostal completely hold to the theological system called Pentecostalism, even if they identify themselves as part of that movement. And when I assume these things, I’m misreading and ‘judging’ incorrectly the person; it’s no wonder if they then feel ‘condescended’ upon. <br />
<br />
How I speak to the doctrinal system which is Pentecostalism must be different to how I speak to a charismatic Christian; how I speak to a leader or a teacher of the theologies of Pentecostalism must be different to how I might speak to a member of his/her church. This is partly because teachers must be critiqued and indeed will be judged more strictly. But it is also because, as Jensen points out, a ‘Pentecostal’ (or a Catholic for that matter) may not at all be on the road <em>away</em> from the truth of the Bible. But via Pentecostalism he or she may actually be on a trajectory towards maturity in Christ; and my task is and must be to help them onward and toward that destination.<br />
<br />
However, there is an undercurrent in some of these sentements that concerns me. The comments of Jensen might be read by some to infer that ministry to evangelical converts to Pentecostalism is likely to be unprofitable and ineffective. We might read Jensen implying "Rarely [do] the ex-evangelicals ever come back to the Bible. They tended to keep going into more and more charismatic extremes and often out of Christianity. "<br />
<br />
But that can't be right. First of all, I was an ex-Evangelical myself who after a long lead-time into the charismatic movement, became fully committed to the Pentecostal system, both theologically and practically. And yet, by God's grace, I am now as 'reformed' as they come. To borrow a Pauline phrase and mis-quote out of context with a paraphrase:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">"Did God reject his people? By no means! I am now a reformed evangelical myself, out of the tribe of Hillsong."</blockquote>And are not all Pentecostals ultimately ex-Evangelical? The whole movement is ex-Evangelical by its origin. And still today, by virtue of its unprecedented growth, most new Pentecostals are converts from within Evangelicalism. So the question is simply, is ministry to Pentecostals worthwhile, or likely to bear fruit?<br />
<br />
But who would dare to ask such a question? It is the wrong question, because of course, all ministry is as unlikely to be fruitful because our own human inability against the power of sin, but is equally as likely to be fruitful because of the Spirit's power in the gospel. <br />
<br />
So where do these undercurrents come from, if not shared by Jensen then generally by our overall laziness in our efforts towards charismatics and Pentecostals as a family of reformed Evangelicals? Why do we make so little effort; why do we reach out so little? Why are we not planting churches to reach the charismatics? Do we lack the faith? <br />
<br />
As I began by saying, how can we deny or ignore our own? We believe in the power of the gospel; that God speaks with power to save whenever the Scriptures are read and proclaimed. So it's not a matter of power; but of love. Is it grace that we are lacking?<br />
<br />
And of course, true to God's mercy, there are some beginning to do it; there are reformed Evangelicals who are leading the way by reaching charismatics. <br />
<br />
I know of one respected evangelical minister who has been proactive in adapting his ministry to care for charismatics. They are the <a href="http://www.ccec.com.au/" target="_blank">Central Coast Evangelical Church</a> (EV church), under Andrew Heard. While retaining his reformed edge, Andrew Heard's church has grown in part as a result of Pentecostal transfer. And it would probably be fair to say that this may not have occurred unless they had considered carefully how to properly love Christians from Pentecostal backgrounds as they began arriving. I'm told they don't set out to attract ex-Pentecostals; but they do make every effort to ensure that charismatic explorers of their church are not culturally cut off when they come and encounter reformed theology for the first time. Ironically, many of these newer and 'weaker'/'younger' brothers come to experience a <em>deeper</em> Christianity, and seem quite struck with the God of the Bible for the first time. <br />
<br />
What EV under Andrew Heard seem to be doing a bit better than most of us, is seeing that love towards our suffering brothers, weakened by the charismatic focus, is a beautiful expression of maturity in Christ. I want to hear more from these guys, and hear more about what they’re doing differently, and it seems effectively, by way of evangelical ministry in a charismatic context. <br />
<br />
In many ways, this was the reason for my other blog, <a href="http://talkingpentecostalism.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Talking Pentecostalism</a>. My blog to Pentecostals might be criticised for failing to begin with the Bible itself; Talking Pentecostalism starts first in seeking to understand Pentecostalism itself, before then critiquing the basic beliefs of that movement and system against the Scriptures. My philosophy was to first seek to understand, then to be understood (Stephen Covey). I also wanted to acknowledge the vital influence that historical developments in Christian subcultures have on our understanding of theology, and the importance of deconstructing our presuppositions if we want to get beyond reading the Bible through our own modern frames of reference. I thought that if Pentecostals could see for themselves how their movement has been a reaction to developments in historical theology, which were themselves a result of historical and cultural developments of our time, they would see that their reading of the Bible itself has been biased.<br />
<br />
Phil Colgan has said in this excellent review of Sinclair B Ferguson's book entitled, <a href="http://matthiasmedia.com/briefing/2010/04/the-holy-spirit/" target="_blank"><em>The Holy Spirit</em></a>,<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">“One of the great difficulties in dealing with this issue [the charismatic view of the work of the Holy Spirit] is that most of the literature on the Holy Spirit is polemical in nature. Much recent popular work on the Holy Spirit begins with the phenomena associated with the charismatic movement and then seeks to support or deny its authenticity from the Bible. My experience of these books, sermons or articles is that they become a study in proof texting: both sides line up verses that support their position and then explain why verses that appear to support the other position actually don’t. All these sorts of studies tend to do is confirm people in the position they already hold.”</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">(<a href="http://matthiasmedia.com/briefing/2010/04/the-holy-spirit/" target="_blank"><em>The Holy Spirit</em>, The Briefing, Matthias Media, 15 April 2010</a>)</blockquote>This criticism is fair in part, particularly about arguing with a proof-texting approach. In fact, I have elsewhere recommended the same approach as Colgan and others in <a href="http://talkingpentecostalism.blogspot.com.au/2008/08/answer-for-pentecostalism-biblical.html" target="_blank">answering Pentecostalism</a>, which is Biblical Theology, Goldsworthy style. So thank you Phil, and I recommend this article and the book it reviews to everyone. <br />
<br />
However Biblical Theology itself is influenced by one’s own perspectives and presuppositions that we bring to the text, even when aiming to do Biblical theology, and exegesis from Genesis to Revelation. In the end, apologetics needs to get to the point of properly understanding any theological system such as Pentecostalism on its own terms, and then proceed by moving back and forth from the Scriptures seeking to sincerely weigh up and review and eventually evaluate the presuppositions behind it and the notions it puts forward according to the weight of evidence from the biblical data.<br />
<br />
So I don’t go all the way with what Colgan implies in his critique, “All these sorts of studies tend to do is confirm people in the position they already hold.” If Jensen is right, by pointing to the importance of reading charismatics in terms of the one of two directions they will be heading, a charismatic thinker after reading Ferguson's <em>The Holy Spirit</em> will still in general react by seeking an alternative Biblical Theology of the Holy Spirit written by a Pentecostal (who reads and exegetes Genesis to Revelation from a charismatic perspective). Ferguson himself has been deeply influenced by John Owen, as a frequent digest of his writing on the same subject (See preface to John Owen, <em>The Holy Spirit—His Gifts and Power, </em>Christian Focus Publications’ 2007 edition).<br />
<br />
Although Jensen may <em>at present</em> be generally right in his approximation, that “rarely [do] ex-evangelicals ever come back to the Bible,” it must be said that it in fact is not as rare as he implies that ex-evangelicals do come back. And it would be awful if these sentiments were to discourage earnest ministry to the Pentecostal movement with the aim of bringing holy and evangelical reform. <br />
<br />
To be fair, Jensen is actually only reflecting from his experience of what he has observed, and largely in the past. "Rarely did [he witness or notice that in the short term in his time that] ex-evangelicals ever come back to the Bible." But I think it is fair to say that many 'tend [not] to keep going into more and more charismatic extremes and often [not] out of Christianity.' <br />
<br />
We must be careful not to dismiss our charismatic brothers; not to overlook them; not to ignore our enduring an abating <em>debt</em> to love them (Romans 13). Are they not worth the effort? Have they gone too far to warrant our concern? Or do we doubt that in another 100 years, Pentecostalism Proper might barely exist under the sovereign mercy of God if by his grace that were his decree to bring them back into our fellowship?<br />
<br />
As someone who was once an ex-Evangelical, who after my exit into Pentecostalism has now found deep reform in true evangelicalism, this is of course slightly ‘personal’. But also, I know now, after some years of ‘talking Pentecostalism’, that good ministry to Pentecostal Christians is not only much needed, but it has in small measure across Australia yielded very beneficial fruit over recent years.<br />
<br />
And going forward, ministry to ex-Evangelicals in Pentecostalism is an unavoidable and essential aspect of Christ’s mission with the gospel to save his church. As now the second largest family of Christianity next to Roman Catholicism, in 21-st century Christianity there is now no part of the world that we can go and not encounter the effects of Pentecostalism.<br />
<br />
If we go to reach people with Christ in South America, we will encounter the effect of Pentecostalism there. If we go to Africa, or India, we will encounter it there. And in many places, the significance of Pentecostalism will far exceed what we are dealing with here in Australia.<br />
<br />
Pentecostalism is here and everywhere, for now at least. And just as Christ’s mission involves calling atheists and liberals, Catholics and Mormons, Muslims and Jews, back to the God of the gospel in the pages of the Bible – we need to keep doing this to Pentecostals and charismatics too.<br />
<br />
But what I’m interested to learn is how I can be moving from the ‘negative’ approach and paradigm of first seeking to critique, to a philosophy that first seeks to affirm and accept – an approach to ministry that first identifies the grounds for the unity that we do already have; and seeks to build onward and outward from there toward the common and mutual goal of fullness of love in the truth. <br />
<br />
Perhaps a trip to EV might be in order?</div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-89139341073232298302012-03-12T20:56:00.011+11:002012-03-17T21:11:12.945+11:00Argumentativeness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Argumentativeness is ungodliness.<br />
<br />
I am very opinionated; I'll be the first to concede that. But what's worse, I always speak as if "I am right", even when I don't actually have this conviction in a particular conversation. It's actually only the beginning of my problems. Then there is the tone of my voice; I always sound deadly serious, even when I'm trying to be light or humorous. And then there is my track record; I know I'm cantankerous because I've been told all my life by everybody that I actually make a point of disagreeing with people I disagree with. Am I the only one with this problem?<br />
<br />
Phillip Jensen in this great <a href="http://matthiasmedia.com/briefing/2012/03/the-mistakes-of-phillip-jensen/" target="_blank">Interview</a> talks about his argumentativeness and what he learned about it over the years:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">"As a young man I enjoyed a fight too much. I grew up in a family of brothers. We fought a lot, and I grew up through debating and arguing, and I liked a good argument. A very kind senior academic came and talked to me years ago, and pointed out that when the Bible urges us to “flee the passions of youth”, it’s not talking about sex. It’s talking about argumentativeness, if you look at the context (in 2 Tim 2). The Lord’s servant must not be argumentative, but teach patiently and pray that God may change your heart. So as a young man, my own personality and argumentativeness was too strong. So that was a lesson to learn."</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">(<a href="http://matthiasmedia.com/briefing/2012/03/the-mistakes-of-phillip-jensen/" target="_blank"><em>The Mistakes of Phillip Jensen</em>, The Briefing, Matthias Media, 12 March 2012</a>)</blockquote>Like Jensen, I was brought up in the rings of the debating team, and baptised in a household of brothers and boxing gloves.<br />
<br />
So what do we do about it?<br />
<br />
Part of the challenge is that the same Scriptures that talk about guarding against error and fighting for the truth, also instruct us to keep ourselves from unprofitable arguments and descending into fights about points of secondary importance.<br />
<br />
One thing I've been trying to do over the last few years: Only disagree with somebody when either, <br />
<br />
(1) it is a matter of life and death (this is body, soul or spirit of course), or <br />
(2) they are inviting or would welcome your 'argument' because they are already or would actually wrestle with the issue themselves when you raise your concerns with them.<br />
<br />
Is this too simplistic?<br />
<br />
Either it's so important that damaging the relationship pales into mere insignificance in comparison to the significance of the issue in your view; or you know directly or indirectly that the person is going to actually thank you for telling them the truth about what you believe about the issue, regardless of whether they agree with you, because they are genuinely open to changing their minds. <br />
<br />
Of course (2) is effected by 'how' you tell them in the first place. And (2) implies that a person who wants to argue about it only because they are 'open' in the sense that they want to talk about it to exploit the debate as a platform for promoting their views, that person is not at all in this category. Anyone who argues with these people opens up everyone concerned to divisive and unprofitable arguments that only spread ungodliness.<br />
<br />
Even though I've got an immensely long way to go in this area, one thing at least I can see now after years of debating and disagreements, there is nothing more embarrassing than a Christian who wants to take up every fight over every issue with anybody who manifests a distinctively different opinion about an issue than themselves. It goes without saying that I'm forever embarrassed about my track record in this regard.<br />
<br />
Whether it's parenting, or 6-day creationism, or baptism or Israel's future--as Christians we should not be arguing about these things. <br />
<br />
I've talked previously about <a href="http://talkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/christians-arguing-about-schooling.html?m=0" target="_blank">Christians arguing about schooling</a>. I've also discussed <a href="http://talkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/creationists-or-evolutionists-do-we.html?m=0" target="_blank">creationism</a>. I'm not saying don't talk about your views; but what I am saying is that whenever you find yourself disagreeing with another over them, stop it there: we shouldn't argue over these disagreements, but maintain our unity by keeping the peace over differing views on disputable matters within the church.<br />
<br />
To be clear, I've explained elsewhere that this call to 'peace making' does not apply whenever true and pure Christianity is the subject of threat; by for example questionable 'Christianity', false teaching, and persistently disobedient Christians. The gospel itself, the purity of the church and the health of christians is at risk here; these are examples of <a href="http://talkingpentecostalism.blogspot.com.au/2010/08/when-christians-should-disassociate-or.html?m=1" target="_blank">where the Bible does call for disunity</a>. In contrast to our response to disagreements over secondary matters, here we should and must divide for the sake of the churches purity. And about these matters we should of course argue; because that's about the life or death of Christians (1). In fact, it's this perspective that shows us why we shouldn't be argumentative about anything else; because we need to save our arguing and fighting for these matters that <em>are</em> of vital importance. <br />
<br />
But bare in mind that I've been talking here about arguments in the church. None of this applies to the world. In fact, I don't believe we should ever be arguing with the non-Christian. Even on (1), when it's a matter of life or death -- it's about the gospel we preach -- Jesus commanded that if they don't welcome you or listen to you, turn around and walk away (don't throw your pearls before swine; protest simply with your feet). And about those matters that are to the church itself of primary imporance, about the world Paul says, "in that case you would have to leave the world" (1 Corinthians 5). <br />
<br />
Yes we must be outspoken; yes we must denounce the sin of our world. As did John the Baptist, we must put our necks on the line and be unafraid to be hated by the world, because we 'testify to it that what it does is evil'. But we do not fight. We speak, but we do not argue. <br />
<br />
It's not only for practical purposes that we shouldn't be arguing with the unbeliever [afterall, we can't expect unbelievers to be doing anything <em>but</em> sinning], but it's also for theological reasons: we are not their judge, but unworthy sinners ourselves. Though we certainly are called to judge one another in the church, we must leave all judgment of the non-Christian to Christ for that Last Day.<br />
<br />
So although we are called to argue with our Christian brothers over those things of gospel importance, before the world we mustn't be argumentative at all.<br />
<br />
And in the church, over all other issues except for what is related to the fundamental essense of Christianity itself, and is of fundamental importance to the gospel, over all other views and beliefs let's just agree to 'have views', or be quiet. <br />
<br />
Discussing our views can be constructive, if it falls into the category of (2). But otherwise it's actually descructive to the church, and brings shame where we are meant to be bringing glory to Christ in the church.<br />
<br />
It was to the church in Rome who had not learnt to simply accept one another regardless of the different views of its members about food, drink, the Sabbath, etc., that Paul found it necessary to command:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">"Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God" (Romans 14)</blockquote><br />
So there's my view of it. But what about you? Do you agree? </div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-70824287979171931082012-03-02T19:31:00.006+11:002012-03-03T14:35:04.299+11:00The Modern Theory of Idolatry, Or Atheists don't Exist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Have you seen Prof Brian Cox's <em>Wonders of the Universe</em>? He's the young and 'hard science' version of Sir David Attenborough and his wildlife documentaries, which have for decades wonderfied the world. Brian Cox has done with the same breathtaking beauty, but with images of stars and the physics of stellar evolution, what David Attenborough has done with biology and the theory of evolution.<br />
<br />
Of course, people have been in awe at life on our planet and the wonders of our skies since the most ancient times. Today, science has if anything only increased our wonder; and given a new basis for our idolatry.<br />
<br />
The modern mind, just like ancient peoples, idolises creation; our society still looks to the stars and to images of animals, rather than listening to the voice of the Creator. Modern science teaches that the Cosmos is our Father, and Nature is our Mother. They believe this because cosmology teaches that the life-cycle of star birth and death seeded the elements of the creation of life on this planet; and in turn the theory of evolution teaches that the environment's processes of constant change gave birth to life itself and eventually created all the kinds of creatures that have ever developed. In other words, our creator is none other than our wonderful world.<br />
<br />
As D. Broughton Knox, in <em>The Everlasting God</em> (1982), pointed out: <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">"In our own times idolatry, which was a universal substitute for the creator God, has been replaced by the widely held theory of evolution. Both are substitutes for the concept of the creator God. Just as the ancients and the heathen today deified and worshipped the creature as the creator, modeling images of man or birds or animals or reptiles and worshipping these, so for western secular man the modern theory of evolution deifies nature, and acknowledges it as creator of all we see around us. All the beauty and intricacy and all the marvelous arrangements of the natural world are supposed to have evolved by a thoughtless, purposeless, mechanical operation of nature, and in this way the God who made the world is as effectively shut out of the minds of those who are enjoying the blessings of his creation as he was by the false religions of idolatry. Just as the idolaters could not see the foolishness, indeed the stupidity of worshipping gods of wood and stone, which have no life nor purpose nor mind, so modern believers in the theory of evolution cannot see the foolishness of that theory..." (p. 30-31)</blockquote>For the theory of evolution does not merely acknowledge, as we do, the natural process we see by observation in the changing creation around us -- that the process of natural selection has adapted and continues to shape creatures to survive in their changing environment --but the theory theorises that by this process alone, the 'laws' of the Universe and Nature have created us; that is, the Creation is our Creator, the Universe is itself 'God', the real and only and 'living' deity behind all in the past, causing all in the present, controlling all of the future. This is idolatry, new improved.<br />
<br />
D. Broughton Knox was right to also point out: <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">"Creation implies purpose. In contrast, impersonal evolution is purposeless -- things happen by accident without plan. But creation is a personal activity of an almighty supreme God. Personal action implies purpose and this in turn implies assessment. The doctrine of judgement is closely related to that of creation (p. 34)...<br />
<br />
"Creation and judgement are the two focal points around which human life moves. These two truths, closely related because they both spring from a supreme purposeful Creator, should not be far from the thoughts of any. They are central in the Christian gospel, but neither purposeful creation nor future assessment finds any place in the alternative explanation of reality which the modern world embraces and which goes by the name of [the theory of ] evolution." (p. 38)</blockquote>Brian Cox and David Attenborough are both atheists. They answer, "I do not believe in a Creator; I believe God does not exist." But the Bible's reply of course is, "You believe in a Creator, the Universe; the Creation is your God." <br />
<br />
This is the modern idolater; they in fact commit in essence the ancient practice of idolatry. But by making creation the creator, they can call themselves atheists in order to deny the existence of a God who is <em>outside and above</em> Creation, who can and will give judgement. And of course the denial of judgement is the whole purpose of ditching the God who is over all in favour of worshipping his creation instead. But this is not really atheism; they don't exist.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
<br />
D. Broughton Knox, <em>The Everlasting God</em>, Evangelical Press, 1982.</div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5933686000200242648.post-46212502813533037812012-02-24T22:49:00.004+11:002012-02-27T20:16:04.081+11:00Abortion, Steve Jobs and the Choices of Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I'm only just catching up on some news back in November: Steve Jobs, originally an unwanted pregnancy and adopted at birth, himself remained constantly grateful to his birth mother that he "didn't end up as an abortion." <a href="http://www.lifesitenews.com/home/all-stories-on-date/2011/11/24/#steve-jobs-im-glad-i-didnt-end-up-as-an-abortion">LifeSiteNews.com</a>: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">The new authoritative biography of Jobs, biographer Walter Isaacson reveals how Jobs set out to find his birth mother in the early 80s, even hiring a private detective for the task.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">While his first efforts to find his mother failed, Jobs persisted, particularly after his adoptive mother passed away in the mid 80s.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Jobs explained to Isaacson why he was so determined to find his biological mother: </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div></div>“I wanted to meet [her] mostly to see if she was OK and to thank her, because I’m glad I didn’t end up as an abortion,” he said.</blockquote><br />
<div></div>I read about this the other day in a <a href="http://www.choicesoflife.com.au/PDFs/022_February_March_2012_Newsletter.pdf">newsletter</a> we subscribe to from <a href="http://www.choicesoflife.com.au/">The Choices of Life</a>. In the same edition I was interested to read that at a recent Presbyterian Youth Camp (NSW I assume), after the speaker Bruce Coleman presented on the issue of abortion, Coleman surveyed the students, aiming to test how significantly their thinking might have changed as a result of the pro-life presentation and hearing personal experiences of abortion.<br />
<br />
Coleman used the following question: "What do you think is a good reason why a woman should be able to have an abortion?" Students and leaders were given 7 options to consider:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Rape;</li>
<li>Mum's life at risk;</li>
<li>Disability of the baby;</li>
<li>It's a woman's choice;</li>
<li>The woman is too young;</li>
<li>Other; and</li>
<li>No good reason.</li>
</ul><br />
The tallied results indicated significant numbers of changed minds after listening to the presentation:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Rape: Before 98; After 18.</li>
<li>Mum's life at risk: Before 112; After 37.</li>
<li>Disability of the baby: Before 2; After 1.</li>
<li>It's a woman's choice: Before 3; After 0.</li>
<li>The woman is too young: Before 5; After 2.</li>
<li>Other: Before 7; After 6.</li>
<li>No good reason: 192; After 351.</li>
</ul><br />
I found it striking that one presentation to this large group of young people could so signifiantly and positively effect their thinking on this issue, particularly on those very questions that are considered to be the exceptional circumstances: that of rape and when a mother's life is at risk. </div>Joe Townshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06459978086375715446noreply@blogger.com0