Jesus & St George…

April 23rd is St Georges Day here, when we (ok, some) fly the Flag of St George’s and celebrate this patron Saint of England who slew the dragon…

St George’s story is part fact part fiction. He was a real person in history, martyred in 303AD for his Christian faith, but of course the dragon slaying thing is a myth… Its also seriously doubted whether this patron Saint of England actually ever set foot on England…

This makes me think of another red cross. The wooden one on which Jesus Christ died about 2000 years ago. Its historical fact that He lived and died, and there’s massive evidence that He rose from the dead after slaying the real dragon – the Devil – on the cross. Fact or Fiction? What have you decided? As for me, every day is Jesus day…

My Auschwitz reflections…

Visited the Auschwitz Concentration camp in Poland last Saturday… 

Most of us on the tour had underestimated the weather and dressed too lightly, so were literally shivering with cold for most of the tour… I cant begin to imagine what the inmates went through with the meagre protection they had from the elements, let alone the Germans. Talking about the Germans: I was walking alone and said to one of my daughters something along the lines of “its a good thing that we didnt live at that time.”    She replied: “Why, we’re not Jewish? ”  My reply revealed my thoughts: ”Yes, but we are German…”   Like when GK Chesterton read a newspaper column which explored the question of “whats wrong with the world?” he replied: “I am.”  I agree…

 

Following our Auschwitz visit on the Saturday I was back in London on Sunday to preached a response to the BIG QUESTION “Why does a supposedly good and almighty God allow suffering in the world?”  This is a very important question for which every Christian should have at least a solid “apologetic” for. You can listen to the message here and see how I propose that the “mystery” of this question must be considered from 4 perspectives in order to understand it from within a Biblical World view:

• The “free will” perspective
• The “temporal/eternal” perspective
• The “purpose” perspective
• The “God with us” perspective.

My conclusion considering these 4 perspectives is the same as what we read in 1 Peter 5:10-11  “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

You comments welcome….

The Big Auschwitz Question…

At Every Nation London we are busy with our “Your Big Question” series. Last week I gave my reasoning for why I believe that God exists, and you can read it on our “Your Big Question” blog here, or listen to the message here.

 

This week I am in Krakow Poland for some equipping time with many of our European Every Nation Pastors and leaders, and before returning to London I will be visiting the Auschwitz concentration camp with our London team. This is very appropriate since this Sundays Big Question is “Why does a good and almighty God allow suffering in the world?”

 

Auschwitz epitomises this question. Where was God when this was going on? Why didnt He intervene? Does the fact that He did not intervene mean that He either is not as good as we say He is? Does it even prove that He actually does not exist at all?

 

My personal Big Question:

Of course I am German by decent myself. My home language is German. I know that my family tree doesn’t trace back to Hitler, but was I in any way part of this through my bloodline somewhere?  I know that the capacity for evil definitely exists in me, but I also know and thank God that He has “delivered me from evil” and “made me a new creation in Christ.”

 

Check back here next week for my reasoning on the Big Question of God & suffering…

This weeks Big Questions, including: How can I know that God exists?

I’m  getting ready to answer this first Big Question in my sermon this Sunday, and you will be able to see a written summary of this on our Big Questions blog from Monday.

  

If you are a believer, and someone asked you that question, how would you answer it? What are your reasons for believing? What about when the God you believe in feels a million light years away, and doesn’t seem to be at all involved in your circumstances? How do your reasons for believing stand the test of tests? Is it more reasonable to believe that God does or does not exist?

Anyway, I have some other big questions about life generally this week:

1. How is it possible that Robert Mugabe is still remotely trying to hold on to power in Zimbabwe after this weeks elections? Would it be wrong to be happy if someone “took him out”?
2. Who should I vote for in the London Mayoral elections coming up on the 1st of May? Does any candidate represent my priorities? Do I even know what I expect from a mayor?
3. My boiler needs replacing after breaking down on the coldest weekend of the year… should I accept the cheapest quote, or go for a far more expensive one guaranteeing quality workmanship?
4. What was my other question…?

Thirst was made for water; enquiry was made for truth…