“God was really in the house today”
Recently, I came across an expression that I stored away somewhere in my subconscious because it sounded something to meditate on – “God was really in the house today!” I saw it again this week in an advert for Christian summer camps in tents in Devon. They actually altered it to say “tents” rather than “house”, which I suppose is a fair enough kind of thing to do.
But then I started to think about the expression in a little more detail. What did it mean? I wonder if it’s a new expression for the old subjective comment “I really liked the worship today!” Over the years I’ve heard this put in several other ways – “Wow! The worship was really anointed today!”
Now on one level these can be quite encouraging comments, particularly if you are the person responsible for leading worship or happen to be in the worship group that day. And goodness, do we need to hear comments that encourage and build up, because put plainly, the church can so often be a place called “The Desert of Encouragement.”In other words, it just doesn’t happen. And that’s good, because often words of encouragement will spur people on to even greater things. Whilst of course, words of discouragement can do the opposite.
But then again, the trouble with these kind of comments is that they so easily point out the subjective nature of worship. After all, it may have been good for you, but it wasn’t for me. I might have been up late last night and to be honest anything you ask me to comment on is going to get negative feedback! And what works for one, may just not do it for another. And in any case, who on earth is the worship for? Us and to make us feel good, or God and to give him glory and honour, no matter what we feel like or what is happening in the midst of our life and it’s struggles?
One final point came to my mind which may well be worth further reflection. There is a verse in Acts 17: 24 which makes clear that God “does not dwell in temples built by man.” Now that is interesting! If it’s true, then could it be, as free churches (a la non-conformists) have always held and thus chosen not to have altars, that God actually is not in residence in our church buildings?

The General Election 2010

So it’s all over! And a week on into the new Government, I am beginning to wonder what it was all about. A number of observations: 1) The TV debates made it far more presidential: And if that’s what we really want in the UK, then well you can keep it! I’m no fan of it, and whilst it has been said that the TV debates were very good – and yes I did watch them, and that they have made many more people turn up to vote than in the past, then okay, but I’ve never ever considered the key facet of being a Prime Minister as being how well you come across on TV. In fact, and I know little more than you about what a Prime Minister does, but I doubt its about appearing in front of TV cameras 24-7 is it, I’m pretty sure that running the country and its government is very NOT about how well you come across on TV. 2) Tempting as it may be to see an individual as the target of my “yeh” or “neh”, I actually would hope that I voted for a party and it’s policies after careful research and reflection, not merely on whether I liked its figure head or not. 3) I know that we live in a TV and internet age now, but I personally resented not seeing any of the local candidates come around my house asking for their vote. Sure I received loads of printed advertising through the door from them, but wanted I really wanted to do was to see the individual concerned asking for my vote. But this gets a big fat zero! I saw none of them. “Oh, but we can reach more people by email, Twitter, Facebook or a leaflet through the door, rather than trudge round on foot, door to door.” Well, I’m sorry, but I wanted to see them and speak to them personally! So someone will say, “well you had the local hustings, don’t complain!” Well yes, in fact we had two. But it still isn’t the same. I wanted the candidates to come round the doors in the way that they always used to, so that I could talk to them!

The fact is that I feel disenfranchised from the process. Is that my fault? Maybe the candidates would say it is. But as Christians, you and I have a scriptural commandment to be fully engaged with the salt and light ethical and political issues of our nation, even if they try to disengage from the people, in this instance Christians. In fact, I think God will hold us to judgement for the things we did and do nothing about “on our watch” whilst either The Commons or The Lords try to slip them through “on the nod” without me/us knowing. Sadly, most of us (that’s you and me – “Christians”) are quite happy to do nothing about any of the stuff that is contrary to scripture and which sails through the legislative process. And then we complain when we find out, and it’s too late. The famous quote, ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’ is absolutely applicable here.

So I will hold my MP and the new Government to account. I will follow his voting record on the internet and chase him for decisions. After all, he is our representative! Will you do the same I wonder?