The scale of the destruction is only beginning to emerge, but already it is enormous.  Building damage is immense, but the human toll is unprecedented.  Please pray for the city over the coming days and for how we can show care for our neighbours in the weeks and months ahead.  I was reminded of Romans 12 today –

“Let love be genuine.  Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  10 Love one another with brotherly affection.  Outdo one another in showing honour.  11 Do not be slothful in zeal,  be fervent in spirit,   serve the Lord.  12 Rejoice in hope,  be patient in tribulation,  be constant in prayer.  13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and  seek to show hospitality.”

Romans 12:9-13

Here’s an update on where things are at:

We have been in contact with nearly all of our regulars and we’re confident they are all accounted for.  We are in prayer for families we know who are unable to contact loved ones still missing.

Most regulars are fine and houses are ok but are getting used to not having flushing toilets or clean water from their taps.  Do remember to boil water for a full 3 minutes before use.  Be very aware of hygiene with outdoor toilets – dig deep holes if using open latrines and wash hands well with disinfectant.

If we needed any convincing that church is about the people not the buildings, then this week’s events are proof. Church buildings throughout the city have been badly damaged.  Initial inspections of the Ilam Primary Hall we meet in have not indicated any serious damage.  At this stage we are still working to meet on Sunday night, although that will be under review in the coming days.  You will have seen the damage to the cathedral.  We are aware of damage to the buildings at St Saviour’s, Sydenham – this has not yet been assessed but there appears to be significant structural issues.  St Stephen’s Shirley is also seriously damaged, and is waiting for assessment – initial feel is that it will need to come down.  The vicarage next door is also damaged and has been vacated while waiting assessment.  Please pray for each of those churches as they work out how to care for their people and run gatherings.

If you need help in any way:

Please let us know.  A lot of students are fine and are looking for ways to help practically.

Do get in contact –

admin@campuschurch.org.nz

(03) 357 2222 (I think this was typed incorrectly yesterday)

Drop in Centres Opening

I can announce that we’re opening drop-in centres at two Campus Church homes.  A lot of people would be helped by gathering together for encouragement, news and support.  We’re looking at organising shared meals, having a place to download and pray together.  It will be a good way to recover from the shock of the earthquake and a place to hear of ways that we can help others.

Both locations have access to coffee, internet, television, running water, power and phones.  The two locations are:

• The Duttons – 14 Rountree Street, Ilam
• The Palace – 237 Waimairi Road, Ilam

Come around if you are able!

Ways to offer help:

Bottled Water – it seems that water quality issues will be significant in the coming days.  The council has done a great job of deploying water tankers to locations throughout the city.  However, people might appreciate bottled water being made available to them, especially those who find it hard to get out.  We’re looking to collect boiled water for distribution in the eastern side of the city as need arises.  If you can provide sealed containers filled with boiled water we will collect them at drop in centres above or at the unlocked garage at the church office at 193 Waimairi Road.

Accommodation offers – if your flat or house can provide temporary accommodation then email earthquakehelp@msd.govt.nz with details.  They will be looking for location, contact details, number of people you can host and the duration it is available.  If you would prefer you can go directly to the Burnside welfare centre and register there (Aurora Centre, cnr Greers and Memorial Avenue).

Baking is not required at the welfare centres, charities are looking for cash donations at this time.

Student Volunteer Army is out today at Ferrymead, having been bussed to location from UCSA at 9am.  Keep an eye on their Facebook page (see below).

Staying informed

Official sources of information:

http://canterburyearthquake.org.nz/ – the council / Environment Canterbury

http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/ – the uni will update regularly

http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/

Facebook groups:

The Campus Church facebook group will have information in coming days on how to best help out.

The Student Volunteer Army, organised by Sam Johnson for UC students will be up and running in the coming days to get involved.  A great way of responding quickly and practically to need.

Twitter:

campus_church   will be useful to follow for Campus Church specific updates.

#eqnz is the tag most people will be using.

Growth Groups

We’re committed as a church to growing Christians.  We believe that growth happens best in communities that make time to hear God’s Word.  Our small groups are commencing this week and we’d love everyone to be part of a group.  Groups meet on Tuesday and Thursday nights and many share a meal together every week.  Please RSVP on your contact card at church or get in touch with the church office so we can be in contact.

Tuesday groups from 6:30pm @ 193 Waimairi Road

Thursday groups from 6:15pm @ 3 Rountree Street

Term 1 Series

Radical Discipleship: On The Road With Jesus

20 Feb 2011                   Luke 9:51-62                   Radical allegiance
27 Feb 2011                    Luke 10:1-24                    Radical mission
6 Mar 2011                    Luke 10:25-28                   Radical demands
13 Mar 2011                    Luke 10:29-37                    The disciple as a neighbour
20 Mar 2011                    Luke 10:38-42                    The disciple as a listener
27 Mar 2011                    Luke 11:1-13                    The disciple as a child
3 Apr 2011                    Luke 11:14-36                    A clash of kingdoms

Yeah – it was tricky – I was trying to illustrate contemporary examples of differences between Christians whilst at the same time attempting to show they are not exactly the same.

So – the Jew Gentile differences around food were matters of gospel freedom. You could eat as much pork as you like with no fear of it ever being close to sin. By contrast, alcohol is not bad (indeed it is considered God’s gift in the Scriptures), but drunkenness is bad. So wisdom would dictate thinking through how to stay well clear of that.

For some Christians, they decide to never drink, for others they might choose to set themselves a limit. They are both trying to avoid an agreed danger – over indulging– but drawing different boundaries. The boundaries are protective – they are not God given. Some Christians will take a more conservative line (ie. a barrier further from the ‘cliff edge’), others will take a more libertine approach (ie. a barrier quite close to the ‘cliff edge’).

The difference should be clear.  Both are issues of freedom.  The Christian is free to both drink alcohol and eat pork.  Yet –  clean / unclean foods are not conservative / libertine distinction. With Jesus – you cannot sin by eating unclean food (insert caveat here from Romans 14 about concern for your brother / sisters conscience; perhaps also overeating / greed!). The food itself does not contaminate you (compare Jesus’ words in Mark 7).

So there are similarities and differences with are situation that are important to understand. In both situations Paul would probably encourage you to make up your mind and then stay relatively silent on your decision. But for different reasons – in Romans 14 – because you are waiting for your Christian brother to catch up on your understanding. With alcohol issues today – it is because you are making personal decisions about what is helpful for you and others around you – there is no absolute rule the Scripture gives.

As an illustration of how that works out…when working with halls students in Australia they had an annual pub crawl in the Orientation week. As a Christian worker in the hall I wanted to get to know the students, but was frustrated by a ‘drinking culture’ the hall created. In the end I went to some pubs along the way – but made sure I was seen to be only drinking orange juice. That was part of concern for students who may never touch alcohol – to be considerate of them. Later on in our home we may have offered wine during a meal if we thought a person would have no concerns in this area – and to perhaps quietly model a different usage of alcohol.

On your question – “How should we respond on issues we are weak on?”

In Romans 14 terms – you won’t know that you are weak. The weaker brothers ironically would have thought of themselves as morally superior and the others as pretty dodgy. That’s the trick – it’s an issue of mature understanding – and hence the need to educate the conscience. Partly that will be carefully listening to your brothers and sisters when they attempt to explain how they read the Scriptures – to hear their rationale for their behaviour, rather than imposing your own framework on them. That underlines the value of consistent teaching of the Scriptures to a church – to gradually but intentionally work through the Scriptures. That is something that will grow the unity of a group.

That’s different to the drinker / non drinker of alcohol…that’s not a weak / strong issue (unless they believe the Bible bans all alcohol) – it’s a question of wisdom.

“Now Barnabas wanted to take with them  John called Mark.  38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one  who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.  39 And there arose  a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.  Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,  40 but Paul chose Silas and departed,  having been commended by  the brothers to  the grace of the Lord.  41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia,  strengthening the churches.”

- Acts 15:37-41

It seems inevitable that Christians will disagree this side of heaven – yet doctrinal diversity is not something we value per se.  We are urged on in the knowledge that unity is the goal, that Christ will bring about. Tongue-in-cheek, Roger Nicole once wrote to a theological adversary:

“I do find comfort in the thought that although you may oppose Calvinism on this earth, you will be a Calvinist when you get to heaven.”

On Sunday we looked at a key passage, Romans 14, on the topic of Christians in disagreement.  How do you disagree well?  You can listen to the talk here.

If you want to do some further thinking on the topic, I have written an extended paper on the topic around the old saying ‘In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity’.  It reflects on the language we use in disagreements – terms like ‘gospel issues’ ‘clear / unclear’ ‘primary-seconday’ and ‘adiaphora’ (things indifferent) and tries to connect them to the gospel and the Scriptures.

Let’s be thankful that Jesus promises to finish the job of bringing us to complete unity – and anticipate that now by the way we relate to each other as brothers and sisters.

I was attending a lecture by a famous, dare I say it, notorious church leader from the United States last night at the University.  It’s always good to hear people first hand rather than interpreted and distorted through the grape vine.

One of the university staff was invited to respond – and denouncing the simplicity and narrowness of her youth group upbringing, she said it was manuscripts that were the clincher for her.  They were the beginning of the end for her youthful acceptance of the Bible.  What did she mean?

She explained (as if it was the first time it had been raised) that she learnt in manuscript studies that we do not have access to the original manuscripts for the New Testament.  So which manuscript was it that represented the Word of God?  She seemed delighted by this insight and many of the group present seemed to think that this was all that needed to be said on the matter.

If you haven’t thought about it recently it would be good to consider Peter Bolt’s recent blog on the topic over at Sola Panel.

Perhaps a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing!  

We’re spending four weeks thinking about our prayer life as a church.

We thought working our way through the Lord’s Prayer would be a good base to work from.  We’re probably more familiar with the term – ‘The Lord’s Prayer’, but perhaps a better title would be ‘The Child’s Prayer’.  It’s from the Lord, but FOR children. It is the prayer that Jesus invites us to pray because we have the unique position as adopted children of God – brothers and sisters of Jesus.

Jesus invites us I think to consider how prayer to a caring heavenly Father will be different to the prayers of the religious showman and the religious pagans.

The showman loves to be seen as both prayerful and theologically profound.  He prays in order to be seen.  Jesus says they have been rewarded – by the applause of the crowd.  They have their reward – and nothing more.

The pagans of Jesus’ day thought that their gods heard them because of techniques and repetition.  Jesus contrasts that with the God of the Bible, who both knows all and is a Father who cares for His children.  He does not have to be spurred into action on their behalf.  Rather, he longs for them to come and lay their needs before Him.

So prayer in Jesus’ terms is neither a duty nor a show.  It is a privilege to be enjoyed.  So let’s spend four weeks reflecting on how we can individually and corporately delight in God in prayer.  If you missed the first talk, you might like to download it here.

In Christ,

Nick

The E100 Bible Reading Challenge comes from a partnership between Bible Society New Zealand, Scripture Union and Wycliffe Bible Translators. It’s a great tool to help churches get Kiwi Christians back into reading their Bibles.

Check out their brand new video!

More details here

If you’ve read Canta #18 you’re probably a little annoyed to hear in the editorial that Canta won’t be publishing a response from Scott Mackay to the anonymous article entitled ‘Come to the Dark side!  We have Pre Marital Sex! and Led Zeppelin!’.

Yet, despite the apparent unquestioning channelling of Richard Dawkins (a number of atheists are wanting to keep their distance from Dawkins), the writer is absolutely correct in attacking Christianity at the point of history.  Christianity is not a philosophy – it stands or falls on the facts of history.

So I’m wanting to say this week that history matters…and perhaps introduce you to someone you may not have met, but should have.

You may be aware of our most famous graduate – the Nobel prizing winning Ernest Rutherford – famous for ‘splitting the atom’.  You may not however, have heard of one who should also be numbered amongst the greats, a classicist named Edwin Judge.  Both were / are keen Christians.

Emeritus Professor Edwin Judge with Chancellor the Hon Justice Kim Santow at the conferring of the degree of Doctor of Letters (honoris causa), 12 May 2006 (Memento Photography)

Edwin Judge is a leading figure in ancient history studies in Australia and New Zealand having studied at Canterbury and Cambridge and taught at Sydney and Macquarie Universities.  Read his citation on receiving his honorary Doctor of Letters here.

It’s worth listening to someone who has spent their life looking at the primary sources.  What does he say on the historicity of the gospel accounts?

Glad you asked!

“An ancient historian has no problem seeing the phenomenon of Jesus as an historical one. His many surprising aspects only help anchor him in history. Myth or legend would have created a much more predictable figure. The writings that sprang up about Jesus also reveal to us a movement of though and an experience of life so unusual that something more substantial than the imagination is needed to explain it.” (as quoted in P. Barnett, The Truth about Jesus, Aquila, Sydney, 1994)

Let me introduce you – here.

See you Sunday,

Nick

Great when Jesus makes it to the front  of Canta isn’t it?!

One of the great legacies of the Christian tradition is the protection of freedom of speech.  Even when people abuse that freedom to promote their idols and defend their ‘leave God out of it’ lifestyles, it’s a freedom worth enjoying.

Ironically, the greatest attack on authentic Christianity on campus comes not from the outspoken atheist or the decadent activist.  It’s the conquering power of Meh!

Meh! is the apathetic and perhaps postmodern response to the message of Christianity.

Does God exist?  meh!

Was Jesus real or unreal?  meh!

Kiwis tend to think that they’ve tried Christianity and found it wanting.  They’re pretty sure that it’s wrong – just not too clear on the specifics when it comes to why.  But – whatever -  no need to worry about all those Christian claims.

Perhaps it was a historical hoax?  Wasn’t that what the Da Vinci Code said?  I won’t check for myself – there’s sure to be lots of opinions.

Who knows?  Who can know?  meh…

Each age and culture has its idols, but the great danger of ours is to think that you can’t know anything, and so (ironically) you can believe just about anything you like.

Being attacked is not much fun – but there’s always one thing worse – being ignored.  Christians need to get over the worry of being attacked for the claims of Jesus and start worrying when they don’t even register.

Nick