If Only

I sometimes wonder; what if? What if my theology impacted my life so much that I changed and impacted what was around me. I sometimes wonder what it would like if what I wrote on this blog actually had a mirroring in the world; if I didn't just aim to challenge thinking, but to create change. What would it look like if I did something about it?

These are lines from previous blogs. What would it look like if they had some bearing on my life, on 'Church', and on my society? That's not an abstract question. I'm genuinely trying to figure out how my thoughts and hopes and frustrations can bring change. I'm struggling to live what I believe, and I want your help. Practically, how can we make this work? If you have thoughts on this, please comment.

It isn’t about getting names on a dotted line; it’s about transforming people, transforming communities, and transforming the earth

The church needs to find a way to become true communities, that stray away from consumerism and to focus on the big picture.

The real question is- why don’t we talk about doubt more? 

Faith is all about finding the balance between believing with my mind; doubting and questioning but still seeking relationship with God in my heart, trying to be obedient to him even when I can’t explain everything

Think of the darkest place you know. The place where there is a real absence of God, where people are just longing for change but can’t get it. Be light there. That’s distinctive.

The reason that sin is so destructive is because it destroys you. It’s not just that sins stops us from being close to God, but that it stops us being who we really are. Jesus offers real freedom in the present. 

Prayer is me getting in step with God, it is me learning to notice what he notices, see what he sees. It is being the answers to my own prayers

We need to stop the attitude which says the only things that are of value, the only things that are worshipful and the only things which are focused on Christ are the things of organised 'Church'. I'm challenged to rethink what 'Church' is, what following Jesus means 

Do we believe the truth? And on what grounds? Unless we're prepared to properly engage and understand scepticism and disbelief I think we are in danger of alienating a whole generation of people who just can't believe.

I refuse to put God in the box that everyone does. The one labelled 'for church' 'for prayer time' 'for that godly conversation'. Because if God is here he's not a distant force who created and left. He built his house & moved in.

We belong in the Premier league- Jesus Christ is Lord of all. At the moment we're playing Sunday league football. There's a long way to go.

I'm finding it difficult to believe recently.

I want to be the person with enough faith to say, I don't worry about tomorrow because I know God will provide, I know God will direct me. I want to be defined by Christ, and I want to say "I will not worry about my life".That's pretty hard.

Of late I feel like I haven't invested much time in 'relationship with God'. Sometimes I'm not even sure if I understand what it means. I feel a bit like one day soon I'll get a bit more passionate, that I'll get 'better' at this. But generally I'm apathetic about faith.

I'm wondering recently if at times our view of 'the gospel' is inherently selfish and individualistic. I wonder if concentrating on my own salvation and restoration as the full extent of God's rescue that we miss something astounding.

I cannot stop believing until I stop loving.

Does our philosophy of mind effect the way we view Christianity? Ask that question to about 99% of Christians and I think you'll get a negative response. But I'm convinced that it really does matter what we think about mind, body, soul, spirits

I leap every day into what sometimes seems paradoxical and unknown. My hope is that other people will see the power of faith and choose the same.

We need to learn how to be consistent. Communities of people who believe what we believe and act what we believe. There is a lie that says that putting a brave face on, of acting like everyone else is acting is the right thing to do. It is a lie that belief doesn't matter

I think we'll only gain real maturity in faith when we start to know what we really think about things, what we really believe, when we're able to learn from people who think differently.

I'm free on any sort of level that matters. I find it difficult to dispute that. It's pretty obvious to us that we are free, we're free to choose almost all the time. It's what we do with our freedom that's important, it's how we choose and what we do with our lives.

The truth is- the Church needs innovators desperately. But no one is going to pick you. Stop waiting to be picked. Step up, pick yourself and dare to do something no one has done. Dare to be radical

Why do you believe what you believe?

In a world full of pain and suffering, there is beauty. In a world where death looms round every corner, there is hope. As Paul puts it in Romans 8- creation is under bondage, but it is crying to be released, it will be brought to beauty and glory. In those moments, I understand this, I understand what it means to see beauty in the universe, to see hope. And whilst we live in this broken world, it is so important to get those glimpses of beauty. To stop and see the sunset, to meditate on the beauty of a piece of music, to get lost in a moment.

I want to be the kind of Christian that acts as consistently in front of my computer as at work, in the street, with my girlfriend, in Church. Very simply- I want honesty. I want to belong to a community of honesty.