Poppins and prayer

Here's my article for July:

@broughton_primary

This year's summer production at Broughton Primary Academy is Mary Poppins, the story of a magical nanny who comes to look after two unruly children who are trying to gain the attention and love of their strict father and pre-oocupied mother. The story starts with Mr and Mr Banks advertising for a new nanny, with help from Jane and Michael, their children. However there is a big difference between what Mr Banks is looking for and what the children are wanting.

Mr Banks thinks that a British home should be run with precision: “Tradition, discipline and rules must be the tools / Without them, disorder, catastrophe, anarchy / In short you have a ghastly mess.” Jane and Michael, however want someone who will play games, is kind and witty, and who will “Take us on outings / Give us treats / Sing songs, bring sweets. / Never be cross or cruel / Never give us castor oil or gruel / Love us as a son and daughter.” Mary Poppins arrives and responds to the children's advert, to the bemusement of Mr Banks, although she doesn't fulfil their wishes in quite the way they expect. Her first game for them is to tidy their nursery, though she finds the fun in it by animating the toys and clothes so they tidy themselves. Later on one of their outings is with their father to his workplace.

These unexpected fulfilments of wishes make me think about the topic of prayer. Often people think of prayer as being like a divine vending machine: you request something and you get it. Therefore they get disillusioned when their prayers are not answered that way and consequently doubt that God exists. Prayer, however, is much more relational than that: God hears and answers our prayers, though the answer can be 'Yes', 'No' or 'Wait' and even when the answer is 'Yes', it's not always in the way we imagined.

We see this in the prayer attributed to the late fourth century Bishop of Constantinople and famed preacher, John Chrysostom, that includes the phrase “Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of your servants, as may be most expedient for them.” This asks God to answer our prayers but in the way that is best for us, which is not necessarily by giving us what we ask for nor by giving us what we want in the the way we want. And the prayer then focuses us on what is most important for us; asking God to grant us “in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come, everlasting life.” Our deepest need is to know God, both intellectually and personally, which in turn is the way to everlasting life.

So if you've been put off prayer because God hasn't seemed to answer them, I encourage you to try praying again. (For help go to www.trypraying.org). But this time be open to God granting your requests in the way he knows is best for you.

(P.S. As ever, their production was fantastic - well done to the staff and children!!)

Should God get credit for D-Day?

Here's an extended version of my magazine article for this month:

This month we will be commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the day the Allied troops landed in France to begin the counter-offensive against the Nazis.  Facing them was a vast defensive network of artillery, gun emplacements, mines and other deadly obstacles stretching from the west coast of France up to Norway, known as the “Atlantic Wall”.  Ernie Pyle, a war correspondent who was there at the time, said that the Allies attacked “with every advantage on the enemy’s side and every disadvantage on ours.”  Pyle concluded, “Now that it is all over, it seems to me a pure miracle that we ever took the beach at all.”  

We will be rightly admiring the bravely of those who attacked against such great odds, as well as the intelligence of those who devised both the invasion and the equipment needed for it.  But will God get any credit for the success of D-Day and its aftermath?

Invoking deities in battles is probably as old as human conflict itself, with victories being seen as evidence of the superiority of one nation's god(s) over another's.  When Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked Judah, his commander said to the people of Jerusalem ““Do not listen to Hezekiah [king of Judah], for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?” (2 Kings 18:32-33) In this case God did indeed deliver Judah (2 Kings 19:32-37).

Things get a bit more complicated however in the age of Christendom when the nations fighting against each other claimed to follow the same God, most famously perhaps with the Spanish Armada aiming to reclaim England for the 'true (Roman Catholic) faith' but being defeated in part by a 'Protestant wind.'  And in World War I both sides claimed God was on their side.  However, in World War II the Nazis rejected the traditional Judeo-Christian God and their policies made it easy for the Allies to claim that they were fighting against an evil regime.  So, coming to D-Day it was natural for the Allied hierarchy to invoke God to their cause.  

Eisenhower requested to the troops that “all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking”; Montgomery told the troops, “Let us pray that the Lord, mighty in battle, will give us victory”; Roosevelt offered a prayer rather than a speech  saying “In this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer”; and George VI said “I desire solemnly to call my people to prayer and dedication.”

Arguably the prayers worked.  The bad weather, which had led to the invasion being postponed, abated but also meant the Germans were not expecting the invasion.  Indeed a lot of their commanders left for war games exercises in Brittany, and Rommel, who was in charge of the Normandy defences, decided to travel 500 miles to Germany to celebrate his wife’s birthday. As Pyle observed, although still horrific, Allied casualties “were remarkably low—only a fraction, in fact, of what our commanders had been prepared to accept.”

So did God intervene miraculously on the Allied side on D-Day? The Bible reveals a God who cares about what happens in the affairs of nations and will intervene (Daniel 2:20-21), but we ought not to be too quick to recruit God to our cause.  As George VI wisely said on D-Day: “We are not unmindful of our shortcomings of the past and present. We shall not ask that God may do our will, but that we may be enabled to do the will of God; and we dare to believe that God has used [us] as an instrument for fulfilling his high purpose.” And when he does use us as an instrument we should, as Churchill told the House of Commons after the war had been won, “give humble and reverent thanks to Almighty God for our deliverance.”

Grief and hope at empty tombs

Here's my sermon for this year's Remembrance service at Broughton:

Last Thursday, the Cubs, Scouts and Explorers came to church to think about Remembrance Sunday and created these poppies to decorate the church with for today. We thought about the two minutes silence and how, for some people, in the first minute we recall those who have died in the two world wars, and whose names we hear read out, and in the second minute we think of all those affected by war, through injury, bereavement or loss of homes and livelihoods.

So on these poppies we wrote on the top half a name of someone from Broughton who died in the two world wars, and then on the bottom half people that we pray for during the service, either because they are suffering because of war or because they are trying to make peace. So thank you to the Cubs, Scouts and Explorers for helping us to remember the purpose of Remembrance Sunday – to remember and to pray.

Of course, this two minutes silence happens at our poignant War Memorial: with our soldier deep in thought, remembering his friends who have died and holding in his hand a laurel leaf for peace. Remembering and praying.

There are many war memorials throughout the country – from simple plaques to huge monuments but almost all of them have one thing in common – they are technically cenotaphs. A cenotaph is a monument to someone who has died and whose body is buried elsewhere and I learnt recently that the word 'cenotaph' comes from two Greek words meaning 'empty tomb'. So these cenotaphs are not graves but memorials.

This reminds us that so many of those who went to war never came back, for most not even their bodies came back and for some the location of their bodies is unknown. In the absence of a proper grave, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier represents all those whose bodies never returned, and all our local cenotaphs are testament to the absence in all senses of the word of those who never returned from war.

We gather at an empty tomb to remember those who should be here but aren't. And as we feel the pain of the empty tomb we commit ourselves to praying for all those who suffer because of war and violence, and all those who are working for peace and justice.

But we don't just gather at the cenotaph, we also gather here in church, where the words 'empty tomb' have a different resonance.

In our first reading (Acts 13:26-39) we hear the words of the apostle Paul telling people in a synagogue about Jesus. He tells them that Jesus was unfairly tried and unjustly put to death, but that he was raised from the dead, and that unlike his ancestor, the great King David, his body did not decay. Instead there was an empty tomb. And because of that empty tomb Paul could say for certain that Jesus' death is the way sins can be forgiven, as Jesus himself had said it would. And it's those sins of course which lead to war and violence. Therefore, Paul goes on, everyone who believes and trusts in Jesus is set free from their sins, something that is simply not possible through being a good person doing good things.

That empty tomb is the central belief of Christianity – if it is untrue, as Paul says elsewhere, then our faith is pointless, but if it is true it should change every part of our lives. If Jesus has not been raised to life again then all graves are empty tombs – they all mark people who no longer exist except as dust and ashes and memories – merely names carved on stone. If Jesus has not been raised all grief is without hope – we will never see those we love again. But if Jesus has been raised from the dead then those who believe and trust in him will share eternal life together.

To stand at the empty tomb of Jesus is to celebrate that death is no longer the final word in our lives either personally or as a world. In our second reading (Luke 21:5-19) Jesus teaches his disciples that after his death and resurrection he will return to his Father for a while before he returns to earth again at the end of time. In the meantime there will be suffering, wars and disasters, and his followers will be persecuted. His promise is that those who remain faithful will receive eternal life. But when he returns death and suffering, along with war and disaster, will be got rid of once and for all and justice will be done. Without that empty tomb, death, suffering, wars and disasters will continue, and evil will go unpunished.

So as we gather around the cenotaph, the empty tomb, let us remember those who died and pray for those who suffer and who work for peace. But let us also remember that it is only by gathering by faith around the empty tomb of Jesus that there is the certain hope of an end to injustice, suffering, wars and death.

Lockdown lessons

Here's my article for the May magazines:

When I was young there was a craze for 'Choose your own Adventure' books, stories which offered the reader the chance to choose what the characters did and so there were a number of alternative stories and endings. I feel like I should write a similar article for this month: one where the lockdown continues and one where it is lifted! However, I'm going to assume that some sort of restrictions will be in place when you read this, especially if it's at the beginning of the month.

When I wrote my last article COVID-19 was just starting to become a concern outside of China – how much has changed since then! The restrictions we face are a real source of worry for a lot of people, with many fearful about where they can get food from, whether they or loved ones will survive and what their future economic prospects are going to be. And I know already how this situation is adding further pain to those who are grieving.

Whilst acknowledging all of that, it is also important to think about what we're learning from this time. And the lessons often fall into two categories: we're learning what we can live without and what we can't. Toilet roll is one of those things a lot of people think they can't live without, but really human interaction is one of the major things we need. And we have been discovering many different ways of connecting with people: alongside letters, cards and phonecalls we've connected through the internet and putting pictures up in windows and clapping outside at various times. However, these aren't as good as face-to-face interactions. Some of the things we can live without (at least for a short time) are days out, certain types of shopping and even some jobs!! I'm sure you can think of more in each category!

And as a church we've also been learning those lessons. Worship has continued in various ways online but we have learnt that although our buildings are not essential they are very important, because virtual gathering is not as good as physical gathering. And although we can pray to God anywhere at any time – there is something special about praying in a place where people have prayed for centuries. And through it all we learn the most important lesson – we need God.

There are many times in the Bible where God has taught his people to rely on him in difficult times, the forty years in the desert and Job's life are two examples. At the end of this month, wherever we are, we will be celebrating Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit todisciples in lockdown. Paul would write from prison “I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance” (Phillipians 1:19-20). And if we ask that same Spirit is available to each of us whether or not we're in lockdown.

God: despot, genie or Father?

Here's my article for May:

All you have to do is rub the lamp and out will pop a genie who will grant you three wishes (as long as they aren't about falling in love, killing someone or having more wishes!) I wonder how many times you have thought what your three wishes would be?

Of course, most of us would say that we want our loved ones to be safe; or a cure for various diseases; or perhaps world peace. But deep down there is a temptation to ask for power or wealth or beauty, and given the choice I don't know whether I would be able to resist the opportunity for selfish gain – and I suspect I'm not alone!

I also suspect that often we think of God as being like that genie; someone who we go to as a last resort when we can't solve things ourselves and expect him to grant our every wish. The Rogation Days are the traditional days of asking God's blessings on our world and our work. However, if we do think of God as some sort of divine vending machine then we will be disappointed. And that disappointment might be the reason some people don't believe in God. It probably isn't because he hasn't given us a fast car, or the winning lottery numbers, but more likely it will be because he hasn't answered a genuine prayer, perhaps to save a loved one from dying.

When I studied Judaism, the rabbi who was teaching us said that in classic Judaism the answer to the problem “why does God allow suffering?” is “God is God and he can do what he wants”! Although it is not a completely satisfying answer to the the problem it does give a helpful steer, especially if we don't hear it as being “God is a totalitarian despot.” Instead it invites us to see the problem in the light of who God is.

God is neither a despotic God, for whom we are merely playthings, nor is he a genie God, who is entirely at our command. God reveals himself in the Bible as being all-powerful and all-knowing but he is also all-loving. Jesus encourages us to pray saying “Ask and it will be given to you” but qualifies it by going on to say “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7 and 11). The two important parts of that verse are that God is our Father who longs to give us good gifts.

Just as children don't always know what's best for them and can get upset when they don't get what they ask for, so too we don't always know what's best for us and often have imperfect motives. God is perfect and knows what we need before we ask (Matthew 6:32), so if he doesn't give us what we ask for, we can be confident that it is because he loves us and wants what's best for us, not because he doesn't care for us or we don't have enough faith. This side of death we will never fully understand God's purposes but we should be confident to pray, as Jesus did “thy will be done.” That prayer lead Jesus to the cross, but he went willingly knowing that through his death he “led many of God’s children to be saved and to share in his glory “ (Hebrews 2:10 Contemporary English Version.)

How to end all wars

Here's this month's magazine article:

On Sunday, 4^th August 1918, the fourth anniversary of the declaration of war, King George V and Queen Mary joined members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords for a special service at the Church of Saint Margaret, Westminster. The King had asked that 4^th August 1918 should be observed as a National Day of Prayer: 100 days later the war ended.

This year we commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I and our remembrance is particularly poignant as we consider how we have failed all those who died or whose lives were affected by the war. In Peter Capaldi's final episode in Doctor Who, a WWI soldier gets lifted out of time and the Doctor says that he is a WWI soldier to which he replies “Yes, but what do you mean, 'one'?”

For those who fought or suffered in the Great War, the only thing that made the hardship and slaughter bearable was the belief that it was the 'war to end all wars', as H.G. Wells wrote in 1914 “This, the greatest of all wars, is not just another war—it is the last war!” They were told that their sacrifices would make the world a better place, indeed in the new world there would be no war. The reality of the trenches probably put paid to the idealism of the first few months of the war, but it probably also confirmed in them the horror of war that we find in the war poems of that time.

We have failed those all those who died or whose lives were affected by the war because we have failed to learn that war cannot end war; that violence only leads to violence. And if this seems to be an inevitable vicious cycle, that's because it is – at least humanly speaking. The root cause of violence and war is our sinful nature. All human beings are pre-disposed to evil and this affects us individually and collectively. The worse news is that we cannot put this right ourselves, but the good news is that if we truly repent of our sins, God will forgive us and give us his Holy Spirit so that we can live as his children.

And like our sin, this salvation affects us individually and collectively. One of the prayers for Remembrance Sunday is “Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule.” It reminds us that we are divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, and that the only remedy is the just and gentle rule of Jesus, the King of all. Jesus died so that we can be forgiven; he rose from the dead to give us new life; and he will come again to rule over all things.

If we really want to see an end to all war, we need to follow the example of George V: come before God in repentance and with prayers for help; for ourselves, for our nation and for the world.

Check out Glen Scrivener's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=StuOWU4b1to