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Sunday 7th October 10:45am Rev D Blandford at USBC Sermon notes: Mind Control & Pluralism Intro: John Stott in his book Issues Facing Christians Today talks about the complexity of our world and and considers how we are able to think straight. The prevailing culture like the prevailing wind is not easy to stand up against. It is easier to take the line of least resistance and bow down before it… Contemporary secularism is strong and subtle, the pressures to conform are great p32 This was emphasised for me when looking at the parable of the wheat and the Tares which Jesus tells in Mat 13.24ff. What is significant in that parable is that not only is Jesus the sower of good seed but the devil is the sower of the weeds v 37-38. Jesus makes it clear that it is not only God's influence that is active within the world but also there are influences that will lead us astray. We also recognise that in the complexity of our age with science and technology zooming ahead that somehow we need to try and find a way through these things. Stott suggests there are 4 gifts to help us develop a Christian mind. 1. The Book - The Bible With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity. Roms 12, 1-2 J.B. Phillips Within the Bible there are important principles to guide us and there are 4 major events in human history. 1. Creation Gen 1.31 - it was very good. 2. The Fall - Gen 3.1-19 -the effects were very bad 3. Redemption - Jesus steps onto the stage of history as our redeemer the one who would pay the ultimate price on the cross to set us free. Way back in Genesis 3.15 God was planning this incredible rescue operation "Save Humanity" 4. Consummation Mat 24.14. When the good news of Jesus has been preached throughout the world then Jesus will return in his glory and the end of this world as we know it will come He will raise the dead, judge the world, regenerate the universe and God's Kingdom will be seen in all its perfection. These 4 stages crucial in our understanding. Creation - because we are God made. The Fall - because even our knowledge is tainted - things like science and technology can be used for good or for evil. Redemption - Jesus as our rescuer brings hope but says we have work to do in order to enhance God's kingdom. 2 Gift Our minds - we are rational beings we are called to love God with our minds, Mark 12.30 Roms 12.2 we need the renewal of our minds. Phil 2.5 RSV Have this mind among yourself which you have in Christ Jesus. -This is something we have by the Spirit. We are called to exercise our minds. 3. Gift The Holy Spirit - As Christians we are recipients of the Holy Spirit. He is the Teacher, the Spirit of Truth, John 14.25-26, John 15.26, 16.7-11. He can help us to understand the scriptures and see how principles can be applied. 4. Gift The Christian Community We need to think together, to learn from one another. For the Church is made up of variety, different genders, age, temperaments and cultures. With this as a backdrop I would like to consider briefly the area of Pluralism. What is it? Plural, that is more than one. We live in a pluralistic society. We live in a nation where there are peoples from all over the world. Within such diversity there is much richness but also there are challenges. How are we to respond as Christians? 1. Apply the guiding principles that we have already looked at. 1. We are all created by God, one human being is not better than another. 2. With the fall, humanities act of rebellion against God rivalry entered our world, conflict and war has taken place. 3. Redmption - Jesus Christ has rescued this world. Jesus himself stated I Iam the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. This is an exclusive claim Firstly Jesus is claiming to be God - I Iam, Ex 3 I am has sent you. 2. He is saying he is the only way to God and to the intimate knowledge of God of Father. What then of those who do not see Jesus in this way? Eg In Islam - Jesus is a prophet. He is not God's Son. Jehovah's Witnesses - their difficulty is believing that Jesus is fully God as God the Father is God. For other religions such as Hinduism it is the uniqueness of Jesus that is the problem. So how are we to respond. 1. Not by force - the crusades & Islamic conversion by the sword - reveal the evil of this approach. 2. With Respect ie take seriously the view of others. 3. Through Dialogue - We need to listen to one another. 4. Through Faith-sharing Remember: |
