Doncaster East Uniting Church Blog

So I’ve been a Dad for two months now. Its difficult to articulate the changes our life has undergone and the emotions we have experienced through Daisy joining us.

One overwhelming emotion is gratitude because we feel so undeserving of the gift that Daisy is. Now that we have a moment to consider it, we are looking for a more formal way of both expressing our thanks to God and committing ourselves to being God-seeking parents.

Sharyn and I were both formed in our faith within the Churches of Christ tradition who express this gratitude in the ritual of a Dedication and Thanksgiving Service. Now though, I am in ministry in the Uniting Church who baptize infant children as part of their faith life.

The issue of Infant and Child baptism is one of the few expressed points of theological difference between the Churches of Christ and the Uniting Church traditions, so as one who stands with a foot in each camp so to speak, there are a couple of questions I need to face.

Very briefly below is a short exploration of my theological reflection.

Why do UCA baptize children, and why wont the Churches of Christ?

Lets start with the biblical text. There are numerous examples of baptism in the New Testament: Jesus was baptized by a bloke who was famous for it (John the Baptist), and instructed his disciples to do the same (Matt 28:19 – go into all the world baptizing…), Acts 2 – the Pentecost story, Acts 8 – Phillp and Simon, Phillip and the Eunuch. Acts chapter 16 makes a number of references to a person and their household being baptized, which has important implications for biblical scholars.

In 1 Corinthians 1:16, Paul writes that he personally baptized the household of Stephanas.

So there is no escaping that baptism was a ritual that was part of the life of the early church. But what of children? The stories in the NT are of the spread of Christian faith within a generation or two of its beginning, therefore not enough time to widely encounter the birth of children into Christian families. This is an issue that occurs beyond the scope of the NT.

The issue for biblical scholars here is this: There is no specific mention in the New Testament of children being baptized. Scholars within the UCA tradition will argue that the term ‘household’ implies the baptism of the head of the household as well as all of it inhabitants – wives, slaves and children. Scholars within the CofC tradition contest that the stories of baptism retold in the NT involve an acceptance and a decision towards Christ and therefore a baptism requires these elements. (Though as I outlined above, the scope of NT doesn’t span a timeframe in which you would expect people to have to face these issues.)

So where have the two traditions arrived at with there own biblical understanding of baptism?

Well, the Churches of Christ (and my forming tradition) affirm the act of baptism as an act of choice, involving repentance and acceptance of God grace. A person must be of an age capable of making that choice; therefore children are not baptized until they are old enough to make that choice (typically in their teens, though I was 21 by the time I was sure – as was Sharyn coincidentally).

The UCA acknowledges that a child is not able to make an informed choice for baptism or repentance (what does 2 month old Daisy have to repent of anyway?!), but instead affirms that God’s love and grace precedes any choice on our behalf anyway. In short, even as an adult we have an incomplete comprehension of the fullness of Gods love, yet believe that it is offered to us anyway. Through baptism into a community, the UCA affirms that whatever choices a child makes as they direct the path of their own life, they will always have a people they can call home. They will always belong to a people of faith, the same way that we believe that whatever our choices, we always belong to and are loved by God.

So what will I, as a parent, do?

So personally, as one who grew up with the CofC understanding that baptism was about choice etc, I can now appreciate a great deal of beauty and theological significance to the statement made in the ritual of baptizing a child. However, as a family we have decided to let the experience of belonging and grace (and of God’s love preceding any choice) be a lived event for Daisy and the ritual of baptism to be one that celebrates her personal choice and commitment of faith when she is ready later in life.

If you’re not going to baptize your own child, will you baptize someone else’s? How could you do that with integrity?

I acknowledge that from a scholarly point of view both traditions have a point, and its not an argument I see myself doing a PhD on to decide on behalf of the world’s Christian denominations (not that they would all listen). All of us as theologians (amateur or otherwise – in fact we are all merely varying degrees of amateurism) are burdened with, or rather liberated by, the knowledge that our belief is incomplete, our knowledge is incomplete. There are no “right” answers, only faithful choices.

When Jesus first preached in the Temple, he unrolled a scroll of Isaiah and read a prophecy (Luke 4:18-19) The Spirit of the Lord is on me, 
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. 
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners 
and recovery of sight for the blind, 
to release the oppressed.

Jesus later declared that the Kingdom of God is near/here. I see the sharing of Good News to the poor, the release of the captives, the gift of sight to the blind, love given in the face of hate, hope held in the face of despair, light shone in the darkness as building the Kingdom of God here amongst us.

The faithful choice to declare and demonstrate grace and acceptance in the baptism of a child within a faith tradition that views it that way is Kingdom building. If I, imperfect as I am and incomplete as my understanding of Gods love is, am invited to participate in that by a family seeking to make a faithful choice, then I view it as a valid exercising of my calling to ministry.

That’s why I will humbly participate in the ritual significant to you as you faithfully seek to honour God, and why I hope you will stand with my family as we do the same.

Lucas T.

The following is a re-imagining of the Biblical text found in Matthew 25:31-46 . I hope it draws out some thought for you.

31″When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

32The heavenly hosts will stand before all the gathered nations as they separate themselves one from another as the privileged separate themselves from the underprivileged. 33The sheep will gather on his right and the goats on his left.

34″Then those on his right will say to the Righteous One, ‘Leave us, you who claim to be blessed by our Father; take your inheritance elsewhere. 35For we were hungry so we grew crops, slaughtered beasts, and ate, we were thirsty so we imported bottled water, we were strangers so we created social networking sites, 36we needed clothes and we created new seasons fashions, we were sick and we consulted doctors and physicians at the hospitals, we were in prison but our lawyers had the decision overturned on appeal.’

37″Then the Lord will answer them, ‘I saw you when you were hungry and fed only yourselves, or thirsty so supplied only yourselves with clean water 38I saw you idolize strangers and create a cult of celebrity, and I saw you spending extraordinary money on clothes made by children who have nothing. 39I saw you create and vote for laws that protect the rich and enslave the powerless.”

40″The people will reply, ‘We tell you the truth, whatever you once did for us, we now do it for ourselves.’

41″Then those on his left will say to him, ‘Draw near to us, you who are cursed. 42Though we were hungry, the food you had for us was taken from your hands and hoarded by the wealthy. Though we were thirsty, the water you drew from the depths of our lands was poisoned by factories that produced products for overseas. 43Though we were strangers and you welcomed all, the insecure spread fear about those who looked different and we were excluded. Though we needed clothes and we were sick, the knowledge you gifted your people was turned to serve only those who could afford to pay. Though we were oppressed and you declared us free, we remained faceless and were simply forgotten about.’

44″The Lord will answer them, ‘Friends, when did I act upon your hunger or thirst or estrangement or need for clothes or sickness or imprisonment and help you?’

45″They will reply, ‘We tell you the truth, whenever you asked it of one of us to help one of the least of these, you did it yourself.’ 46″Then they will welcome the Righteous One into their arms and the Lord shall spend eternal life amongst the broken and outcast.”

The following is a re-imagining of the Biblical text found in Matthew 25:31-46 . I hope it draws out some thought for you.

31When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32The heavenly hosts will stand before all the gathered nations as they separate themselves one from another as the privileged separate themselves from the underprivileged. 33The sheep will gather on his right and the goats on his left.

34Then those on his right will say to the Righteous One, ‘Come, you who are blessed by our Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the status quo in our world. 35For we were hungry and you gave us something to eat, we were thirsty and you gave us something to drink, we were strangers and you invited us in, 36we needed clothes and you clothed us, we were sick and you looked after us, we were in prison and you came to visit us.’

37Then the Righteous One will answer them, ‘Friends, when did I see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did I see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did I see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40The people will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of our brothers and sisters, you did for us.’

41Then those on his left will say, ‘Depart from us, you who have cursed us. 42For we were hungry and you gave us nothing to eat, we were thirsty and you gave us nothing to drink, 43we were strangers and you did not invite us in, we needed clothes and you did not clothe us, we were sick and in prison and you did not look after us.’

44The Righteous One will also answer them, ‘Friends, when did I see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45They will reply, ‘We tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of our brothers and sisters, you did not do for us.’

46Then they will go away and continue to experience to eternal punishment, but the privileged will continue on in abundant life.

If indeed the church is to be ‘the hands and feet of Christ’, might this not be a reasonable response?

Thirst is such a great word to describe a mixture of longing, craving, hunger, wanting etc…

We can thirst for things other than water though, right? For the prophets of the Old Testament to say they want justice gets the point across, but when they say they thirst for justice, it is so much more emotive. It carries the true yearning so much more accurately.

It seems to indicate that this is not just something we want for the future, but it is something we have done without for too long already. At various times lately, due to the arrival of our daughter Daisy, I’ve been thirsting for sleep. It’s as though my mouth is dry, my head is spinning – I miss and long for sleep.

I thirst.

Our land thirsts. Its people thirst.

Sometimes our thirst is for something unnamable and it seems only God could quench our longing.

“For I will pour out water on the thirsty land

And streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring

And My blessing on your descendants.” -Is. 44.3

It seems only God could quench our thirst for justice. Our thirst for peace. Our thirst for love.

But there are plenty of other things out there that claim to be able to quench your thirst. That’s pretty much what the advertising world is based on.

It seems that everything out there is claiming to be the oasis that will sustain you in the desert of unsatisfying lives we live in.

I saw an ad recently that ended with the tag line, “Show your true colours with Mastercard” You can display identity with a credit card?! Spending more will reveal more of who you truly are?!

The ability to spend money you don’t have yet – an oasis!

“Tired? Stressed? You’ll feel better on Swisse!” – Better than what? – My mum insisted I start taking these to prevent getting run down looking after Daisy – I still feel tired and stressed!

Multivitamins – an oasis!

Are you feeling a lack of existential satisfaction? Maybe its because your shampoo isn’t innovative and ambitious enough! Maybe you need a toothbrush with more resilience and confidence! Oases!

Or mattresses that promise to cure all your ills – the reason you have a sore back is because you don’t have our mattress! Inner coil springs – an oasis! Though perhaps a waterbed could be an oasis…

Beyond specific products, there are all sorts of beliefs around about what can satisfy your thirst.

Money is an oasis! We get countless messages telling us that money equals freedom and choice and that money can sustain us. Dive in to the oasis of money! But we know that’s not true.

Sex is an oasis – and more broadly relationships is painted as an oasis. If only you get the right partner, with the right status all your problems will be solved…

The problem is that the world is full of oases, full of products, full of ideas claiming to be the oasis that will truly satisfy. But none of these things come close to satisfying the deepest thirsts of our soul. All they try and do is actually distract us from the deeper questions that we thirst for – ‘who am I’ and ‘what is my purpose in life’.

They all try to claim some connection to the deeper truths in life, but the truth is simply that you are a sacred creation of the living God and your purpose in life is to found within a personal committed relationship with God in Christ Jesus.

In Johns Gospel we read a story of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at a well. After a brief conversation, Jesus says to her “I am the water of life – if you drink my water you will never be thirsty…”

Jesus is the oasis that truly quenches our deepest thirsts.

Sometimes we think it is our job as Christians, or churches to have all the answers. Sometimes we think we are supposed to have it all together – to know all the answers because we profess to follow a faith. Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking we need to be the oasis for people’s longings. But if we think that, then we fall into the trap of reducing our faith to merely another product to try and sell, for people to consume.

In fact our job is more like to try and create deserts for people, free of the false oases that clamour for our attention. Jesus is the only one to satisfy thirst – our job is to create thirst.

The idea of creating thirst (first pointed out to me by the writer Peter Rollins at NCYC 07), of offering people desert spaces in a world of oases in order to find their true thirsts, make sense for me of the passage where Jesus instructs his followers to be “salt of the Earth”. We are to be as salt, creating thirst for the one who truly satisfies. Clearing away the false  claims of satisfaction trumpeted by commercials and society to allow people to ask themselves what they are truly searching for.

How do we do that?

Well, interestingly and simply enough, following Jesus. Looking out for the poor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting and healing the sick, visiting the imprisoned. All of this takes a self-giving love, a love and generosity that goes beyond self interest to care for others. This is counter cultural, This behavior causes people to ask questions – why would you do that? – and that is thirst.

When we follow Jesus we create thirst.

Why sacrifice time, energy, effort, money?

Why sew bags for the Christmas bowl appeal?

Why raise money for an orphanage in Africa?

Why would you pledge a portion of your income as a tithe?

Why do you do these things?

That’s thirst.

Jesus is the living water who satisfies – “he who drinks of me shall never be thirsty” (John). It is not our job to satisfy people’s thirst but instead to create the thirst in people – to create and offer dessert spaces in the world of Oasis’ and to share our same thirsts.

Lucas T.

The following is a Biblical mash up… I have deliberately taken verses out of context to tell a different story, hopefully with the same meaning. Tell me what you think…

Now when Jesus was talking to his disciples, he asked them ‘Who do people say that the I am?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Some say you are King David, or Samson, or perhaps Moses.’

He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ But before they could answer, Jesus sent them out with a task.

The disciples went on from where they were staying (Bethpage on the outskirts of Jerusalem) and did as Jesus had directed them; returning with a donkey for Jesus to ride.

They brought the donkey and a colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. As they began to pass through the outskirts of town, a very large crowd began to form and spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them before the procession. The people were laying out the welcome mat of a King, or an emperor, a ruler.

The crowds that went ahead of Jesus and that followed were shouting,

‘Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

Some among them said ‘Here is the new David, a ruler to unite us all.’

Others among them said ‘Here is the new Samson, a warrior to defend us from our enemies.’

Still others said, ‘Here is the new Moses, the one to lead our nation to its true identity.’

As the disciples heard the crowd, they began to agree with the people. Peter was heard to say, ‘Lay down your cloaks for the new John the Baptist.’ And later, ‘Wave the palm fronds for our Eljah!’ Later still Jesus overheard him say joyfully ‘Welcome Jeremiah to Jerusalem!’ with his arm around the shoulder of an onlooker.

Peter saw Jesus fix him with a puzzling expression of his face and say, ‘Peter, the sun has not yet set, yet you have denied me three times this day.’

Jesus surveyed the crowd of cheering, celebrating townsfolk. He paused for a moment and turned his face towards the heavens and said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’

Lucas T.

4. Into your hands I commend my Spirit… Luke 23:44-46

We begun with the cross among us this morning because, as we spoke about earlier, crucifixion is always among us as people of faith.

It is among us both as an event we experience and an event we participate in. We continue to carry Easter with us; the crucifixion and resurrection events are always amongst us, as is Gods Spirit. We know that the story of our lives will be criss-crossed with black lines, unsightly scars, but Easter tells us that God can use stories of despair and brokenness to bring incredible value and meaning to peoples lives. And the lead beads aren’t what define a stained glass story, they merely add contrast and strength.

What I find inspiring about the Good Friday story is the faithfulness that Jesus displays. Even though he clearly felt abandoned at the last, even though he cried out in anguish and heard only silence, he remained wholly faithful. ‘Not my will but Your’s Father.’ At a time when he felt no confidence that God was actually there for him, Jesus trusted God with his very soul, ‘Into Your hands I commend my spirit.’

Here is our example; by all means doubt, as doubt is a healthy and necessary element of faith, but live as though you have no doubt. In the darkest times let your cries of anguish and despair by echoed by affirmations of faith and praise.

Lucas T.

3. I am thirsty/It is finished… John 19:28-30a

Have you ever tried sharing your problems with someone who just has no idea what you are talking about?

Sharyn’s two months away from childbirth now so of course we are hearing all the horror stories of any recent labour’s that people know of. I’m standing there hearing these stories nodding my head saying, ‘oh I know, I know’, ‘Oh dear’, ‘Oh my!’ and in my head I’m thinking ‘I once lost my big toenail from wearing a pair of shoes that were too tight…’

Its just not really helpful unless the person listening has been through a similar situation.

Now people have thought all sorts of ideas about Jesus and some of them I cant stand. One idea that I cannot theologically abide is that Jesus was some sort of superhuman who knew all along what the plan was and just went about suffering and death as an exercise in devotion. I cant stand that idea because it robs the story of the passion, the wretched anguish in Gethsemane, the doubt and the fear of all its meaning. If Jesus knew all along how it was going to turn out, it makes it a decidedly less than impressive event. In fact it makes it conceivable that anyone could do what Jesus did, because they would know how it would turn out.

No. I don’t buy that.

Jesus was fully human and had no special knowledge or forewarning. The thirst and despair that he felt was genuine and he died a man thinking that he had served his God to the end, and were that to be the end; it would be ok with him. Because his mission was always about serving, always about revealing the divine in the human and the ordinary, not about dazzling people with magic or impressive shows.

2. Father, Forgive them… Luke 23:32-35

“Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” One of the biggest problems with trying to worship, let alone trying to understand or to comprehend a God who is unknowable by definition, means that we get God wrong. We all get God wrong because God exceeds all our understanding.

God is beyond all understanding – even when we say the word ‘God’ we are shortchanging who God is.

So we fall short. We stuff up. We get God wrong and we misjudge the divine nature of every person we interact with as well. This means that crucifixion is a continual occurrence that we participate in.

When we fall short of loving others as God loves us, we crucify our fellow man, and when we do this to the least of our brothers and sisters we do it to Christ.

When we fail to act with justice as we have been called to do, we crucify our fellow man, forcing them into captivity of power or economics.

When we fail to show mercy to those we walk with, we crucify our fellow man, and we crucify Christ again, and again and again.

I mentioned that we get God wrong, because God is beyond our comprehension. Therefore its not difficult to see that we are going to make mistakes and hurt people. However, ignorance is never an excuse and Christ’s message of forgiveness stands also as a constant call for repentance.

I’m not talking about a “turn or burn” kind of message here; but to honour the forgiveness a broken, beaten and dying man showed his accusers, we need to turn from our mistakes when we learn of them and ask forgiveness. If we learn that our choices cause hardship for others, we have to change them. If we discover ways in which our lifestyle treats others unjustly, we have to turn our behavior around. I could reference fair-trade or environmental issues here or many others.

“Father forgive them for they know not what they do” is not a clear-all, blanket, get-out-of-jail free card. You’ve heard the story now so from here on you do know what you do!

1. My God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:41-46.

‘Why have you forsaken me?’ Have you ever said that to God? Have you ever felt those times of despair and fear as though God had turned away from you? Maybe it was the loss of a loved one or maybe the consequences of some of your own decisions coming home to roost that left you despairing, but if you’ve ever said that you wouldn’t be alone.

These times are like thick, black marks across the story of our lives. Dark scars that prevent light through. Good Friday means that our faith has a role to play in these times. Our faith is not meant to be a way of avoiding pain, or of papering over the cracks, or sweeping difficulty under the rug. It is a faith that holds at its central event a moment of feeling forsaken.

A few years ago, Sharyn and I visited Canterbury Cathedral in the UK. As much as it is possible for your eyes to just glaze over at the sight of yet another Cathedral or Castle as you tour around the UK, Canterbury is one of the biggies. It manages to stand out among the countless old churches because it is so historically significant.

Canterbury Cathedral - been there!

Canterbury is the centre of Anglicanism, its like the Vatican to the Catholics. It’s the home church of the Archbishop of Canterbury (funnily enough), worldwide symbolic leader of Anglicans. So it’s a pretty big deal.

Now like most Cathedrals, Canterbury has an amazing stained glass windows. Works of art, they stand ten, twelve metres high or more. They are amazing.

Canterbury Cathedral stained glass windows

Well, on one side. Has anyone been there? Does anyone know what’s on the other side?

Plain glass – no stained glass.

Turns out that through the puritan era in the 17^th century, there was a particularly zealous bloke called Richard Culmer, though people referred to him as ‘Blue Dick Culmer’ because he wore blue robes rather than black, who was under Oliver Cromwell. There aren’t any stained glass windows on one side of Canterbury Catherdral because old Blue Dick Culmer went around with 20 foot pike smashing out the windows! Priceless masterpieces poked and shattered!

This guy was so disliked by congregations he was meant to minister to that they often locked and barricaded him out, forcing him to break in to his own church! One church even withheld nine months of tithes and then promised it to him if he would just go away!

It’s a good story isn’t it? Well it gets better. You see Sharyn (my wife)’s mother’s maiden name is Culmer. Sharyn’s Grandfather (on her mothers side) was a Culmer. A Culmer who was born and grew up in Kent, England. In fact in Margate, Kent; which is about 45 minutes on from Canterbury.

…Culmer’s not even that common a name! Ladies and gentlemen; my wife is, I am afraid, a distant ancestor to the bloke that defaced and vandalised one of the worlds most beautiful cathedrals!

If you have ever seen beautiful stained glass windows (before they get smashed) though, you will know that they can be the most intricate works of art. These windows visually tell stories (in fact because most people in medieval times couldn’t read, the stories they told saw the windows become known as the bible’s of the poor) and do so with the most beautiful patterns through which the light shines, revealing an image, a scene in heavenly story. God’s light shines through, revealing a beautiful story. However, there are also thick black lines. Solid black gashes through which no light seems to penetrate.

You could view these lines as a disfiguring of the image, though the reality is that it is these beads of lead that give the glass integrity, the rigidity and strength. Without these black lines the glass could not have the strength to tell its beautiful story.

For our Good Friday service this year we took the idea of using the little snippets of scripture that reveal the words of Jesus on that day, the thought being that the words he used (or the words which were recorded) each revealed an important aspect of the meaning of Easter.

Over the next few days I’ll post up the short reflections we used to explore our Easter experience this year. Feel free to comment and join in the discussion.

I crucify. I am crucified.

0. Crucify Him!

We are a people in mourning.

Today is Good Friday, the day on which love incarnate was put to death, The day on which humanity turned its back on the truest revelation of God.

But in Easter we do not merely commemorate the events of 2000 years ago. Easter is a time when we acknowledge the continual crucifixion and resurrection that exists in our world, in our faith today.

This morning we are going to see ourselves and our experiences in the words of Jesus.

When the crowd shouted ‘Crucify Him! Crucify Him!’, we have to acknowledge on this day more than any other, that sometimes we stand before that crowd, experiencing the despair, loneliness and fear of crucifixion moments. Maybe you feel that despair as a result of choices you have made, or maybe you feel deserted by the actions of others that affect you. Sometimes we feel as though it is us being hauled up on that cross.

When the crowd shouted ‘Crucify Him! Crucify Him!’, we have to acknowledge that sometimes we are in that crowd; condemning, vilifying and accusing. When we fail to live with the love, justice and mercy we are called to, we continue to participate in the crucifixion of Christ.

Matthew 25 tells us that Christ is present in even the least of our brothers and sisters, therefore we are constantly re-crucifying Christ.

So as people of faith we acknowledge that crucifixion is an event, an experience which we carry among us today. It is not an event that is confined to the pages history, it is a reality that informs how we live in faith today.