“Christian unity is to be a unity of mind: agreeing about things that really matter... about the Lord Jesus Christ... leading to a unifying behaviour pattern of unselfish humility” - Phillip Jensen, Philippians 1:27-2:5, @GongCathedral #LeadersDevelopmentDay
“Christian tolerance (patience and long suffering with what you disapprove of or disagree with) into pagan relativism (accept all opinions and approve all behaviours)” Jensen #LeadersDevelopmentDay
Restoring the omitted connective... “Christian tolerance *is being turned* into pagan relativism”
Today Aussies, esp. Anglos, are confused about what comes from our culture & what from Christianity: rule of law; sep’n of church & state; universal human rights; care for vulnerable; monogamy & faithfulness; auditors for accounts... we take the Christian mind for granted!
Jensen reminded us that before Tom Holland in ‘Dominion’ shower how profoundly our western culture is ‘Christian-shaped’ (not so much Greek or Roman); another non-believer, barrister Geoffrey Robertson showed the Christian (indeed Puritan) contribution ...
...In his book “The Tyrannicide Brief”, of such things as the right to silence, legal duty to act pro bono for the poor and the ‘cab rank’ rule of right to representation, and more broadly relative religious toleration, and the fore-runner of war crimes trials against rulers!
So despite charges of racism and abuse of power, Christians have most powerful reasons against these, especially in our Saviour - the one mediator, who *gave himself* as a ransom *for all* (kinds, races, backgrounds) - 1 Timothy 2:4-6.
Part 2 #LeadershipDevelopmentDay @GongCathedral Isaiah 45: Israel’s God (Yahweh) calls a pagan ‘Messiah’ - though Cyrus does not know he was anointed to gain victory not for Persia’s sake but for Israel. God is sovereign whether or not people realise it, even over hard stuff (v7)
The one truly sovereign Creator God rules his world... not just at start up, but keeping it all going. Not a tribal god... Not of uncertain control... Not to be controlled or dictated to. The Creator will run things his way... will save his way. Not how humans think it should be.
So sovereign is the Creator of all that all the nations comes to serve him, despite themselves, not via an empire, but via little Israel’s God and for their sake...
And this God is not like the tribal gods. But he speaks, and he reveals the end in advance: the goal of his plans. Solemnly swearing that every knee - from all nations - will bow to the One God who Saves. Isaiah 45:23-24 ... in Yahweh God Alone is deliverance!
Bringing us back to the Christian mind in Philippians 2:5-11... Because of what Jesus Christ (Messiah) has done at the cross (vv6-8), v9 Jesus is exalted by his resurrection, and occupies the place that Yahweh has.
Because now every knee bows to Christ, and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is ‘ ‘Lord’ = Yahweh (Isa 45:23). The is no bigger plan than this!
So evangelism, missionary support, proselytism = seeking to make converts (not improperly, cf. 2. Cor 4:1-5) should be central to our mission. How can God be the God for us but not others? He is the Saviour for all cultures. We ought to be the ultimate globalists.
Q. How does gospel work and welfare work relate?
A. Whenever you put them on the same platform, the welfare work gets the applause and takes over. Rather the welfare work is the fruit of the gospel work! We always need more workers for gospel work. #LeadershipDevelopmentDay
A. Whenever you put them on the same platform, the welfare work gets the applause and takes over. Rather the welfare work is the fruit of the gospel work! We always need more workers for gospel work. #LeadershipDevelopmentDay
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