Sunflowers, wheatfields and morality

Here's my article for August:

Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Last year I visited the National Gallery in London, and wrote an article reflecting on how just like the Christian artwork displayed there, our society wants to rip Christian values away from their Christian foundations.   But my visit there was definitely worth it as I had another thought while I was there that has inspired this article!!

As I walked around the gallery there were many tour groups with a guide who spoke about the pieces of art and the various movements they belonged to.  They also told you to move away if you got too close, so you didn't get the benefit of their expertise without paying for it!

In one room there was a particularly large crowd gathered around a picture.   As I moved towards the picture, I saw that it was van Gogh's 'Sunflowers'.   This was quite a surprise as I had no idea that that picture was in the National Gallery.  It was also quite a thrill to see this famous picture in real life, and to be able to get close enough to see the brushstrokes.    The tour groups moved on to another room, and I started to look around at the other pictures in that room.  The picture next to 'Sunflowers' was also by van Gogh, and called 'A Wheatfield, with Cypresses'; I found that I was much more captivated by this picture than 'Sunflowers.'  It had swirly clouds and trees and wheat that were all painted in such a way as to look like they were moving – I felt like I was there and could feel the breeze and hear the sounds of rustling.

Another tour group came in going straight to 'Sunflowers' and then leaving after having heard about it.   I felt sorry for 'A Wheatfield' and wondered how often it was overlooked in favour of its move famous neighbour, and then felt sorry for the tour group, who missed out on what I consider the better picture next to the one they concentrated on.  This left me with the question: is an artwork famous because it's good, or good because it's famous?

I'm not an expert in art so I probably don't have much knowledge to contribute to that discussion, but if the question is shifted to the realm of ethics, that's much more in my comfort zone: are certain actions favoured because they are good, or good because they're popular?   Is there an objective moral standard or does society decide what is good or bad?

If society decides which actions are moral acceptable then it becomes very hard to criticise any group for their actions: the UN Declaration of Human Rights might be the moral standard for this time, but there's no reason it can't be altered, or rescinded, in the future.  And even with the UNDHR, some humans, by popular consent, are not covered by its provisions, for example in Iceland nearly all pregnancies with a confirmed Down syndrome diagnosis are terminated.   However, if morality is not to be arbitrarily decided by societal consensus, and it can't be found by looking at the natural world, it needs to grounded in something outside of society, i.e. something that is super-natural.

For Christians, that objective moral standard is not to be found in a distant divine law-giver, but in the God who in intimately involved in the universe he created, and also entered into that universe, becoming human in Jesus.  Jesus not only came to show us what moral perfection looks like in practice, but also to die to take our punishment for failing to keep those moral standards.

Don't judge a book by its cover

Here's my article for Scawby's July magazine:

Image by sergeitokmakov from Pixabay

The Year 6 end of year performance at Scawby Academy this year is “Legally Blonde: The Musical.”   I have to confess that I have not seen the musical nor even the 2001 film on which it is based, so the following thoughts are based entirely on what the internet has told me it's about!!

The plot is (apparently!) about a Elle, a stereotypical ditsy blonde who is dumped by her boyfriend Warner, because she is not serious enough and would damage his chances of becoming a lawyer and then running for political office.  Elle decides to enrol at Harvard Law School to win him back, but despite struggling for recognition and acceptance by her professors and peers, she discovers that has a talent for law.

In some ways Legally Blonde is the opposite of Grease: in Grease the girl lowers her standards to be acceptable to the guy; in Legally Blonde the girl 'raises' herself to the guy's standards, and then finds a better guy who isn't so shallow!  However, the overall moral of the story is: don't judge a book by the cover.

This principle is illustrated in the Bible with the choosing of the first kings of Israel.   Despite God warning the Israelites that rejecting him as king and wanting a human king like the surrounding nations, would lead to the kings becoming self-serving tyrants, they insisted that they wanted a king.  The first king that was chosen was Saul, who was described as “as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else” (1 Samuel 9:2).

Saul started his reign well but eventually rejected God's guidance via Samuel, and so God rejected Saul as king.   God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem, saying that one of his sons would be the next king.  When Samuel arrives, he assumes that Jesse's eldest son is the one, but God says “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.   The Lord does not look at the things people look at.   People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).  And so Jesse's youngest son, David, is chosen because he was a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

On the outside Saul looked impressive, and as the youngest son, socially-speaking, David was not considered important, but God knew their hearts.  So, it was David who became Israel's greatest king, and it was into David's family that the King of Kings, Jesus, was born.

So often we judge people, both positively and negatively, on things such as their outward appearance, their achievements, their background, their opinions, their 'success' in different areas of life.  The example of Saul and David remind us that more important is our heart, and whether it is in tune with God's.

What Fagin counts

Here's my article for Broughton's July Magazine:

This year's end of year production at Broughton Primary is Oliver!.   With a recent rise in anti-Semitism, it might be relevant to think about the portrayal of “the Jew” Fagin, particularly in Dickens' book, as the personification of evil.   The overt anti-Semitism we see today, and perhaps more worryingly society's lack of condemnation of that anti-Semitism, mirrors closely the Victorian cultural views around when “Oliver Twist” was written, and that we thought we'd moved on from.   However, that's a complicated topic with much nuance needed that a short article cannot adequately cover.

Instead we'll think about the much less controversial topic of money!   When Oliver is brought to Fagin by Dodger, Fagin explains what their 'business' is.  He sings “In this life / one thing counts / in the bank / large amounts. / I'm afraid these don't grow on trees / you've got to pick a pocket or two.”  Fagin is avaricious and greedy, he loves hoarding money but doesn't use it either for himself or for the boys he looks after (and who get him the money!)   Because he believes that the only thing that counts in this life is large amounts of money, his self-worth is based on how much he has, not what he does with it.   And he is prepared to do anything to increase the amount he has – or more correctly, he is prepared to let others risk themselves to increase his wealth.

The Bible has a lot to say about wealth, and it is one of Jesus' most common subjects to teach on.  In Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus teaches us to store up treasure in heaven not treasure on earth, firstly because earthly treasure will perish.  Secondly, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Whatever we value most, we will strive to obtain – “you cannot serve both God and Money.”  Famously, Paul writes “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).  One of those evils is the exploitation and oppression of others to gain wealth, which is an insult to their Maker (and our Judge) (Proverbs 14:31).  Fagin gives us a working example of that evil.

We may not go as far as Fagin does, but for a lot of people their self-worth lies in how rich they are or in the things they own, and so they are never truly content because they can never have enough money, nor all the possessions they want.  Jesus teaches “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” instead we are to seek his kingdom first (Luke 12:13-34).

Fagin considers leaving his life of crime but the lure of money is too much for him.  Our attitude to money and possessions can become idolatrous and God calls us to trust him for what we need, and perhaps demonstrating that trust involves generously using what we have for the benefit of others.

Click here for other articles on Oliver!

How to be free from desire

Here's my article for June:

It's time for another football World Cup: which will be a cause for rejoicing for those who can't get enough of football and despair for those who have had enough of football!  I've mentioned previously about football chants but as well as adapting lyrics to popular songs, football fans also adopt songs as their own.

Famously, Liverpool fans sing “You'll never walk alone” from the musical Carousel; West Ham fans sing “I'm forever blowing bubbles”; Hibernian fans sing “Sunshine on Leith”; and Newcastle fans sing “Blaydon Races.”  Other songs transcend individual clubs and are sung by many fans, such as “We are the Champions” and “Sweet Caroline.” Another song in this latter category is “Freed from desire.”

When I was chaplain to the Scunthorpe United Academy, the U18s team would often play this song as part of their pre-match playlist.  This always struck me as slightly odd as although the the music and rhythm are invigorating, the wish to be freed from desire doesn't seem to be the best motivation for going into a competitive match!  I'm sure that it will be said many times during the World Cup that poor performances from teams are because of a lack of desire.

The song itself is actually a reflection of Eastern spirituality, especially Buddhism – that's the 'strong beliefs' referred to.  The singer's love has been freed from the desire for money, power and fame, and his mind and senses have been purified, unlike other people who just want more and more.  This seems to be similar to Jesus' teaching “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 5:19-20), and also to the apostle Paul's “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2).

However, the reason these desires should be avoided in Buddhism is because never-ending desires and cravings that cannot be quenched cause suffering.  Buddha taught that even the desire not to desire is in itself a desire, and as such a source of suffering.  Therefore the solution is to cultivate non-attachment to everything – including the idea that there is a permanent essence of anything.

In contrast, the Bible teaches us that the created world was good and that humans made it very good, because we are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1 and 2).  We are created to be in eternal relationship with God, but humanity's sin has corrupted us and the world.  Therefore our desires are now not for God but for earthly 'treasures.'  The good news, however, is that through trust in Jesus' death and resurrection, we can be freed from those desires and enjoy the abundant, eternal life with God that we were created for.

image by Prawny from Pixabay

The Inspired Life

Here's my article for May:

When we hear about people achieving amazing things we often describe them as being 'inspired' particularly in the fields of art, literature, ideas and music.   The word 'inspire' comes from the Latin meaning 'to breathe into' and was originally used to describe divine beings breathing ideas, virtues or talents into, usually, humans.  This feature of pagan myths is a glimpse of the full truth that we find in the Bible.

The Creation stories teach that the difference between humanity and the rest of creation is that we are made in the image and likeness of God and that he breathed life into us (Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:7), so all of us have been 'inspired' by God.  What's more, the Hebrew (and Greek) word for 'breath' can also mean 'spirit', and so in this context we have been created with God's holy spirit.

As the biblical story unfolds, God's holy spirit is revealed to be more than just a poetic way of talking about being 'inspired' in his likeness.   The Holy Spirit is shown to be a personal divine being who is both one with God the Father and God the Son, and also differentiated from them – the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.   Jesus taught his disciples about the Holy Spirit on the night before he died (John 14-16), and this month we will be celebrating the feast of Pentecost, when after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples and empowered them to tell others about Jesus.  The rest of the New Testament (mostly letters written to the small fledgling Christian communities) speak about how the true followers of Jesus are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who inspires and equips them to trust in Jesus and live in obedience to him.

So the question we need to ask ourselves is, who or what is inspiring us?  Or perhaps, to use a popular term, who is influencing us?  Greek culture valued wisdom - Luke described those in Athens as being people who “spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas” (Acts 17:21)!  But Paul, writing to the church in the Greek city of Corinth, speaks about two types of wisdom: wisdom that comes from God through the Holy Spirit and the “wisdom of this age” which he says is “coming to nothing” (1 Corinthians 2).  This transitory nature of the wisdom of the world is clearly seen as we think back to ideas, trends and characteristics that were once commended but now seem ridiculous and even immoral.  Think for example of the gladiatorial games or the practice of leaving babies on rocks to die simply because they were female.

Jesus describes this contrast using the illustration of houses (Matthew 7:24-27).  The life inspired by the wisdom of Jesus' teaching is like a house built on the sure foundation of rock.   The life inspired by the wisdom of the world is like a house built on sand.  Only one is a truly wise life, able to weather the storm. Which wisdom is inspiring you?

Pictures of Easter

Here's my article for April:

There are many images associated with Easter: bunnies, chicks, decorated eggs, bunches of Spring flowers; but often associated with the religious celebration of Easter is a picture of a hill with three crosses on it, and sometimes a rising sun behind it.  For those who aren't familiar with all the details of the Easter story, this can be a bit confusing.  They might know that Easter is something to do with the death of Jesus on a cross, but who are the other two crosses for?  Perhaps they are for two of his followers?  The answer is that “Two rebels were crucified with [Jesus], one on his right and one on his left” (Matthew 27:38).

The crime of these two men is translated many ways, and traditionally they are said to be thieves, however the translation above is probably closest to the truth.  We know this because crucifixion was the penalty for  rebels or revolutionaries, especially if they were slaves (think Spartacus!).   Jesus was charged with blasphemy by the Jewish religious leaders for claiming he was divine, but the Romans put him to death on a charge of treason for claiming to be the king (John 19:1-16).  Ironically he wasn't leading a rebellion and that was one of the reasons the Jewish leaders turned against him!

So Jesus was crucified along with guilty rebels, and in the place of another rebel, Barabbas, whose rebellion also involved murder (Luke 23:18-19).  So it is likely that they too were guilty of violent and murderous insurrection.  Today we might call them terrorists.

These terrorists were trying to overthrow the occupying Romans and regain an independent nation, and they looked for a Messiah, a warrior king, who would do exactly that.  However, Jesus didn't come as a nationalist leader.  But this makes the words of one of the rebels to Jesus even more appropriate: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).  The terrorist realises that he had been fighting for the wrong kingdom, and instead wants to join Jesus in his kingdom.

Jesus was not offering a Jewish nationalistic alternative to a Roman colonialist system, but a kingdom that is “not of this world” (John 18:36).  He was misunderstood both by his people and by the Romans, and he continues to be misunderstood whenever he is appropriated to a political cause.  Jesus didn't come to be a left-wing alternative to a right-wing government, or vice-versa.  Jesus came to inaugurate a kingdom where he is king; where all ideologies and world-views are de-throned; and our ultimate allegiance is to God.

So if you see a picture of three crosses on a hill, you may want to ask yourself which kingdom you are fighting for, and perhaps to ask Jesus to join him in his.

Lent Reflections 2026: Palm Sunday and Humility

We have spent the past five weeks thinking about humility, and looking to Jesus as being both the exemplar of humility, and also the one whose Spirit enables us to to become more humble.

Today, we start Holy Week by remembering Jesus' entry into Jerusalem a few days before his death and resurrection. The Gospels record how Jesus came riding into the city, whilst the crowds lined the road, waving branches in celebration and laying their cloaks on the road as a carpet. They praised him as God's representative and hailed him as king. We call it Jesus' Triumphal Entry; not only does he enter in triumph but his entry is reminiscent of that of the Roman Emperor.

This doesn't seem to be very humble!! It's sometimes said that Jesus is showing his humility by riding a donkey rather than a horse, but the meaning of this (as we see from the quote from Zechariah 9:9) is that Jesus is coming gently and in peace, rather than on a horse, which symbolises war. The Zechariah quote also says that it is the king who comes on the donkey.

So, Jesus is clearly coming as king. He could have walked into Jerusalem along with everyone else; he could even have slipped into Jerusalem unnoticed, as he did in John 7:10. Instead, he deliberately sets up the situation in which through symbolism he claims to be the Messianic King, coming to the capital city Jerusalem to claim his throne. How can this be the actions of someone who is humble?

The answer comes most vividly as we read the second set of petitions in the Litany of Humility: freedom from the fear of being humiliated, despised, rebuked, calumniated, forgotten, ridiculed, wronged and suspected. Jesus knew he was the Messiah, and he knew that that meant that he would “be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him” (Mark 10:33-34). He knew that his throne in Jerusalem would be the cross – above his head would be the words “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19)

Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8), he was obedient to his Father, but he also humbled himself by putting our need for salvation above his desires for praise and even for life itself.   The proof of God's amazing love is that while we were sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8) – Jesus was hated so we could be loved.

Jesus rides into Jerusalem proclaiming himself as the Messianic King. But he would subvert the expectation of what that meant by pointing to what the Old Testament said about the coming Messiah. In doing so, he would show us what true humility looks like.

“This is our God, the Servant King. He calls us now to follow him.”