The Benefits of Corrupt Government

The last year or so – and even longer – politicians in the UK have been uncovered to be scoundrels. I suppose it ever was so. It would be pretty difficult – nay impossible – to find a period in history when politicians weren’t accused or found out doing something immoral. One person has described politicians as ‘self serving pigs’. A bit harsh? Maybe.

You say, ‘how can corrupt government be beneficial?’  I do not say it’s pleasant, and it’s certainly annoying, if not downright oppressive. What corrupt government does, is this. It makes us long for a better one. A better government, one that is not corrupt or self serving. You say ‘that’s impossible’. Well yes and no. There’s no doubt government in this world will eventually become corrupt in some way or another – certainly aspects of any government. And so yes, it is impossible. But supposing there was the possibility of such a government that was just, righteous and caring about all its citizens. One that had honest scales. Wouldn’t you be interested in such a government.

There is the possibility of such a government. In fact there is the certainty of such. Here’s how: When the Lord Jesus Christ returns in all His Glory, He will bring a righteous rule that will be seen, and that forever. Pie in the sky – not at all! The Bible tells us in several places that King Jesus will visibly rule. Here’s a couple of verses to chew over:

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

These verses are often associated with Christmas, but can you see the application? Does not your heart yearn for something better. Why do you think we long for this. Clearly, there is something in the fabric of our being that makes us long, even yearn for a righteous government. It will only be found in The Lord Jesus Christ. And so the benefit of a corrupt government – it makes us look up for a better one. That’s not pie in the sky – that’s reality!

Song of Solomon – Allegory or….

The last few weeks has brought to my attention – from different sources – how the Song of Solomon should be viewed or interpreted. While away for a few days one minister announced his evening sermon (with a preview in the morning) as being on sex from the Song of Solomon and he interpreted it in that way. Just the other day I was listening to some lectures on apologetics and mention was made of the Song as not being about Jesus and the soul; but about sex – and quite explicit at that. Both of these discounted the interpretation of the song as being about Christ and His Church. You will also find this interpretation by John McArthur in the notes on the Song in his study Bible.

Is this what the Song of Solomon is about, sex, plain and simple? Well, I’m sure this is what it is about, but, let’s think about this for a moment. The Apostle Paul describes marriage in Ephesians 5:31  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Paul then says in verse 32  ‘This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church’. In other words marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church , not the other way round. This is vitally important because our natural tendency is to think everything is about us – and it’s not. Marriage being a union between two people at the deepest and most intimate level is a picture of Christ and the Church. If the Song then is about sex, it’s about union at the most intimate level, and if marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church then it must be telling us something about that. So, on one level the Song is about sex. But is that all it’s about? It will be, if at an interpretative level the Bible at it’s heart is not about The Lord Jesus Christ. At the interpretative level my own personal commitment is to an hermeneutic that is primarily about The Lord Jesus Christ, and quite frankly, it’s difficult to see any other way it can be interpreted when the Bible tells us quite plainly that this (Jesus Christ) is what it’s about.

If the Song is only about sex and yes, the way we can honour God through our bodies, how we can glorify Him in all that we do, then the emphasis shifts to us and how far we are managing to live righteous lives. Preaching of The Song (and other OT books) then become, not so much an instruction manual but an opportunity to give a check list to Christians so they can see how well – mostly not so well – they are pulling it off. This type of preaching therefore confirms the self righteous and pushes the sinner into despair. And this, I believe, is the real danger or consequence: a Non Christ-Centered hermeneutic. Bizarrely, it becomes possible – and I know this from personal experience – that one may hear ministry in a Church and yet that same ministry can be Christ-less. That is, Christ will not be mentioned, neither His Glory, His saving work upon the cross or His resurrection. This should not be.

The Prodigal God: Revovering The Heart of The Christian Faith

This is the first book by Timothy Keller that I have read. To be honest I have been a little resistant because it seemed at one time everyone was saying ‘you must read Tim Keller’. However, I heard him on The White Horse Inn and was suitably impressed. That was a little while ago, until just the other week I spotted The Prodigal God on the Church Library book table.

I wasn’t looking to read a heavy book, so this brings me to my first point – it’s appearance and layout. It’s a very simple looking book, perhaps even bland in appearance. But a hardback all the same, and this I think conveys the idea that despite it’s simple look it’s a serious work. Upon opening the book I’m struck by the layout, the lines are well spaced and avoids having a dense look about the text. I believe this is important given the audience for the book and invites to be read.  This does not take away from the content however and we’ll discuss this later.

On scanning the first few pages a phrase struck me as being especially relevant. On page xi we read:

”This volume is not just for seekers, however. Many lifelong Christian believers feel they understand the basics of the Christian faith well and don’t think they need a primer. Nevertheless, one of the signs that you may not grasp the unique, radical nature of the gospel is that you are certain that you do.’

I thought I had a good understanding of the Christian faith and was brought up short by the challenge to re-grasp the unique nature of The Gospel. Keller opens up the well known – even familiar – parable of the ‘Prodigal Son’. He flips this on it’s head and rightly – in my opinion – turns it into the ‘Prodigal God’. Keller, using the Miriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, defines ‘prodigal’ not as wayward, but as ‘Recklessly Spendthrift’. We prhaps think of a spendthrift as wasteful and so it’s worth saying that in the economy of God nothing is wasted. But that’s the point, here we are by nature as Godless rebels, shaking our fist at God – or just plain ignoring Him – yet God spends His all on such people. This is marvellous, such is the overflowing Grace of God toward sinners that it’s described as ‘Prodigal’!

Keller introduces us to two types of sinner that we all pretty much fall into – that at heart are selfish. The one son goes off to spend his inheritance, the other stays for his. Both at heart want the father dead so they can get the loot. I found myself being described by both as we can so often oscillate between wanton sinfullness and self righteousness – just as damning.

Here is the amazing love of the Father displayed- as He (God) goes out to both of them. The one He sees afar off and runs to meet him, the other, outside the banquet, yet goes out to meet him.

I heartilly recomend this book for Christians to read and those that have seriously misunderstood the message of The Gospel – mostly by encountering ‘Elder Brothers’!. And at £5.61 is an absolute bargain. 

Cumbria in Shock

Families and communities in Cumbria are waking today to the awful reality of events yesterday. It’s right in the first place to think of those affected – loved ones have died with little or no explanation as yet as to why this happened to them. Others are injured, some still critical. Why did this happen? Honestly, I have no idea. That is, I have no idea of why this should happen to those particular individuals – or even to this particular part of the UK. A very beautiful part at that.

There’s an incongruity between the beauty of Cumbria and the killing spree carried out by one man. First reports indicate Derrick Bird was a normal person, friendly and approachable – described as ‘a lovely man’. It takes some explaining – and there’s no doubt many criminal psychologists will be called upon to do so. The fact is we humans are capable of amazing heights, and, amazing depths. Selfless acts of sacrifice and selfish acts of hatred and abominable deeds.

There will of course be calls for stricter gun controls and as the search for causes is undertaken the stark reality is that events like this every so often will continue to happen. Who knows what the tipping point is for any of us. What set of circumstances or even an ‘off the cuff’ remark will set in train such devastating events. This is probably not the time or place to pick through a tragedy so fresh, but, if nothing else it should tell that something is wrong when ‘a lovely man’ can murder so awfully.

Christians know what the problem is with all of us and are (or should be) the most realistic people in all the world. We are a sinful lot – all of us. At the root, it’s a problem with human nature – not nurture. The Bible correctly diagnoses the problem, gives a prognosis and provides a remedy. The Grace of God keeps such events to a minimum and keeps us all in check, but don’t be fooled into thinking the problem is with someone else. The demonising will start shortly and society will dust itself down and proudly assert ‘we’re not like that’. Really?

O dear Father in heaven, you alone are the God of all comfort, a strong tower to those that find refuge in You. O Lord, please enable the people in Cumbria and especially those affected to call upon Your dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ for comfort, help and salvation. Please grant Your peace, and healing to the suffering. Amen.