Category: faith

A commission to a new generation

by Ben Clapton, posted in faith

In his inaugural speech, Nelson Mandela, the first president of a free South Africa, told his people and the world:

We understand it still that there is no easy road to freedom.
We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success.
We must therefore act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world.
Let there be justice for all.
Let the be peace for all.
Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.
Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfil themselves.
Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world.
Let freedom reign.

The world is waiting to see what this generation is going to do. The children whose lives are in the balance are waiting for you to act on their behalf. Your own future children are already waiting to see what kind of world you will give them. The Church is waiting for you to change our direction. Most of all, Jesus is waiting for you, waiting where he lives amid the sufferings of humanity, waiting for you to join him there. Are you ready? We need you now. This is your time and your moment. Don’t let it pass you by.
So my advice is to take care of your faith, take care of each other, take care of your hope, and stay with your vision.
And my commission to a new generation is this:

No longer accept the unacceptable.
Change what is believed to be possible.
And always make the choice for hope.

— Jim Wallis, Seven Ways to Change the World, p. 242-243

Racism does not just disappear

by Ben Clapton, posted in faith

Scott Garber, the pastor of our Washington Community Fellowship, says:

Racism does not just disappear just because of the passage of time. Racism does not disappear just because we are sorry. Racism does not disappear just because we’re “workin’ hard”. Racism doesn’t disappear just because we denounce it. Racism doesn’t disappear just because we change our laws. Racism doesn’t disappear just because we compensate for its consequences. Racism doesn’t disappear just because we build a memorial to Martin Luther King. Racism, like any other sinful condition that God does to transform, will disappear when, and only when, it is replaced by its opposite.
What is the opposite of racism? Well, racism involves attitudes of superiority and inferiority. So,  transformation means replacing those attitudes with equality and love and meekness and affirmation. And racism involves social systems characterized by stigmatisation and oppression of those we perceive as different. So, instead, a just society must create a community defined by mutual submission and solidarity, protection and opportunity… At this juncture in the history of our nation God is looking for a model home for his transforming kingdom values – a staging ground for the opposite of racism. To prove that such a transformation is possible and to show what it looks like.

To do that, the church will have to commit itself to both truth-telling and a direct engagement that goes far beyond just denouncing racism. Pastor Garber says we have to first be honest about what the role of the church has been and yet insist upon what that role now should be. He confesses, “Historically, despite some noble exceptions, the church has Allentown prostituted is theology to the institution of slavery, looked the other way during decades of discrimination, stashed is feet through the civil rights movement, ignored the problem one the external stimulus was removed, and finally settled for something resembling ‘separate but equal’ in church life. It’s hard to be part of the problem and part of the solution to the problem at the same time. And, yet, God still desires to display his transforming power through the church.” For that to happen, Garber says that the church must “turn the bright lights of righteousness on the sin of racism.”

— Jim Wallis, Seven Ways to Change the World, p. 152-153

The Problem with Proof Texts

by Ben Clapton, posted in faith

I’ve restarted reading a book that I started a little while ago, and it reminded me of a problem that I picked up the first time, which was the use of proof texts. For those that may not be familiar with the term, a proof text is the practice of extracting a verse or couple of verses from the Bible in order to prove your point. What happens is that the verse is often stripped of its context, and as such may not actually mean what it is being said to mean.

 

Continue reading “The Problem with Proof Texts” →

Book Review: The Church of Facebook by Jesse Rice

by Ben Clapton, posted in faith

When I initially bought this book, I thought it was going to be a really useful book with tips on how to use Facebook effectively in a church environment. It wasn’t anywhere near my expectations, but that’s more a comment on me not reading the blurb properly than it is on the book.

Continue reading “Book Review: The Church of Facebook by Jesse Rice” →

Welcome at church?

by Ben Clapton, posted in faith

Today, we had an “Observation Sunday” which is where we go to a different church, to observe worship there. This is a great idea, as we get ideas on how other people structure their services, buildings, morning tea, etc. But as with all things, you can often learn what not to do. Today’s experience had us asking all sorts of questions, because it could have been so good. But, if we were looking for a church to attend, we wouldn’t go back to the one we went to today. In fact, had we not been going to observe, we probably would not have gone in at all. Continue reading “Welcome at church?” →

What does God want you to do today?

by Ben Clapton, posted in faith

Another study day today, more Greek, and some house work. Nothing overly exciting, except that I took Liesl out for lunch as she’s finished all her assignments.

Something in prayers this morning hit me quite hard. We had a question to guide our thoughts, which was “What does God want you to do today?” Continue reading “What does God want you to do today?” →

Is any life more important than another?

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith

It’s tough to write on such a subject a as the Boston bombings so soon afterwards the event. I want to extend my sympathies to the victims and their families. However, I’ve seen a slightly worrying tend starting to appear on Facebook. Is the images contrasting the Boston bombings with a bombing somewhere in the Middle East, generally passing the question why the Boston bombings received blanket media coverage, while the bombings in the Middle East didn’t receive any.
Is this a legitimate question to ask? Yes. Is the right time to ask it on the very same day? I don’t think so.
By saying that one bombing should have received coverage over another is saying, in effect, that some peoples lives are more important than others. Whether that’s American lives over those of the Middle Eastern lives, or the other way around, either is not right. As a Christian, I believe that we are all made in God’s image, therefore we are all equally important to God.
So as Christians, how should we respond? Firstly, with prayer – for those affected by violence all over the world. Secondly, no matter who is responsible for these acts of terrorism, we need to remember that we cannot respond to violence with violence if we hope to achieve peace. You cannot achieve peace by fighting for it. As such, we need to be promoting a strong nonviolent response. How that will look like will depend on who is found to be responsible for the bombings. However, any response should be one that embraces nonviolent principles.

Turn from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14
At any time such as this, we need to strengthen our resolve to turn from evil and instead to do good. We need to seek peace and to pursue it in our world. We need to be the voice shouting in the wilderness of the new way, the way of peace, of nonviolence in ways that provide real solutions to the issues at hand.

Steve – Chief Steward to Zaphenath-paneah

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, blog, faith, Sermons

As has been my tradition, every sermon that I preach will be posted here. This sermon was given at The Salvation Army Moonee Valley corps on Sunday 7 October, 2012. This was my first attempt at a narrative sermon, based on the story of Joseph.

Have you ever wondered what you’re supposed to be doing with your life? You’ve probably heard at some point that your entire life is in God’s hands, and that he has a path paved out for you. He has a plan for your life. But that’s kind of hard to see when things are going bad. Today, I’m going to do something a little different, and tell you a story that you’re probably familiar with, but from a different perspective. Through it all, I want you to hear how God has a magnificent plan for your life. Continue reading “Steve – Chief Steward to Zaphenath-paneah” →

When the Lord became zealous for his land

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, blog, faith, Sermons

As has been my tradition, every sermon that I preach will be posted here. This sermon was given at The Salvation Army Moonee Valley on Sunday 9 September, 2012.

January 2010 started off what was going to be a great year. I was getting married, I was working doing what I loved – teaching violin – and I started off the year with a holiday down to Mandurah – about an hour south of Perth. It was great to get away from everything, and just escape. However, my whole year was about to take a dramatic shift. I received an e-mail from one of the schools that I taught at, saying that they didn’t have any students for me, and I wouldn’t be required at the school any longer. This was one week before the school term commenced. By that time, all of the school teaching positions would have been filled, and it meant that I was now living off effectively one days income. With a wedding to pay for, a house to find (as I was still living at my parent’s house), I really needed to find a job, and preferably quickly. Continue reading “When the Lord became zealous for his land” →

I’m Salvo, and I’m Sorry

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith

Over the weekend, the Salvation Army in Australia was involved in a bit of controversy. One of the Salvo’s PR guys did an interview on Joy FM in Melbourne. You can read about the controversy here, as well as listen to the interview in full.

When I read about this, I was angry. What was said does not line up with my understanding of the scripture, or Salvation Army beliefs. The Salvation Army fairly quickly put out an apology and clarification over the comments. However there are still a lot of bad and angry comments on The Salvation Army Australia’s Facebook page, such as this one:

No more donations from me. You homophobic, hypocritical, judgement bigots don’t deserve anyone’s time or money. Time to find a charity that practises, not preaches TRUE values.

And this one:

don’t come knocking on my door looking for donations. your a bunch of homophobic, ignorant bigots.

There are also some less hateful ones, such as this extract from a longer comment:

I have carefully listened to the interview and read the transcript. It is my view that JOY FM interviewers, Serena Ryan and, to a lesser extent, Pete Dillon, displayed an appalling lack of journalistic integrity and were bullying and manipulative in their questions to the Major. Serena Ryan, particularly, demonstrated in my view that she was pursuing a personal agenda and refused to allow the Major opportunities to clarify his position on matters relating to supposed “death calls” for homosexuals.

I submit that the document issued by the Salvation Army and found at [http://salvos.org.au/about-us/media-centre/documents/ResponseJOYFMqusFINAL.pdf] should be published and read aloud on that radio station in order to show fairness in debate. I submit further that Serena Ryan and Pete Dillon should be censured for their conduct.

I’ve been wanting to write on this for a while, but struggling with what to write. I could go into an exploration of the Romans text in question, performing a full exegesis to look at what Paul was actually saying. I could point out that the Greek word used can mean both a physical or a spiritual death, which clouds the issue. I could point out the ways in which the Salvation Army actually embraces LGBTI people, and does not discriminate in any way. But none of that would be helpful at this time.

Instead, as a member of the Salvation Army, I wanted to work out what I could do, in my own small way, that might be helpful. As such, I put the following out as a personal statement.

I’m Salvo, and I’m Sorry. I’m sorry that you were hurt by what was said. I’m sorry that you were offended by what was said. I cannot speak for the Salvation Army as a whole, I cannot change our policies or positional statements. But I can say Sorry, and I can say that personally, I will work as hard as ever to show love and compassion to everyone, no matter who they are, because I believe that God’s love is non-exclusive, and because God loved the whole world, therefore I should love the whole world too.

I know that this, and the apology statement linked above, do not make up for what was said. I know that the damage has been done, and it will take some time for us to regain the trust that we had. But I hope that through our actions, you will see that we truly do love all who come to us.

The views, comments, statements and opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the official position of The Salvation Army.