But? How much of a party-pooper do you have to be to put a 'but' at the end of that intro? Turns out, this much of a party-pooper.
I'm a Pastor. Pronouncing a blessing is part of my job - whether it's the Aaronic blessing on children welcomed into the world, or the blessing of the Trinity on the gathered congregation, or the blessing on the eucharistic food which we take to remember Christ. I like to bless. But I worry, oh I worry. I worry that maybe we're missing what's going on. I worry that we're missing the moment.
The thing is, I don't have the power to pronounce a blessing, not unilaterally. I can only bless where God blesses. And I worry. Is this the moment for a blessing? Can we pronounce a blessing over an apostate and unrepentant nation? Can we pronounce the blessings of Israel over a people who will not have the God of Israel?
What if this country were to be blessed? I suspect that the first fruit of real blessing would not be peace but a deep grief over who we are and what we've done. If God turned his face towards us, of necessity much of what we value would shrivel up and die. Maybe I misread the situation, but I don't see the UK as ripe for blessing. Mercy. Mercy is what we need. And perhaps a church which is more ready to get back up the mountain and fast and plead rather than pronounce a blessing.
Oh, I don't know. Maybe I'm just the Grumpy Pastor. I want to bless. God knows I want to bless. But the only blessing I have to pronounce is the death of the sinner in the death of Christ, and I don't think many people want to hear that.
I'm with you on that one. Felt bad about being the only one not raving about the video. I agree we need to plead for mercy and a turning from sin! Phil Butcher
ReplyDeleteLet's feel bad about our grumpiness together. I am encouraged that I'm not the only one!
DeleteSuch a relief not to be the only one worried by the rejoicing amongst Christians this beautiful song has inspired. Surely we cannot offer this blessing without mentioning the cost to Christ to restore peace with our Father?
ReplyDeleteYes. There's a real danger that we preach cheap grace at this crucial moment, and cheap grace leaves nobody and nothing changed. We have to preach cross-and-resurrection grace, or we may as well not bother saying anything. (Might even be better!)
DeleteI don't think you need to apologise for this. They're well meaning, but perhaps a better thing to say to the nation along the lines of Acts 14:15-17 would be that God has already blessed us quite a bit, we don't deserve better than the current situation, and it's time to turn from futile ways. That's still relatively 'positive' compared to some gospel presentations.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteNot that I am saying that the position of the video is right, but I wonder about tone and timing. As we see a potential increase in spiritual appetite from people, how do we encourage them to explore more, and as the time and situation is right, explain the gospel in its fullness? All to say I don't necessarily disagree with you, but I'm keen to help people who are maybe starting to recognise the reality of a suppressed appetite and junk diet (mixing metaphors badly). Interesting to consider what that actually looks like in reality.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andy - I think that's a good angle to investigate. It seems to me that we need to avoid giving the impression - even at the outset of people's investigations - that they might be able to adopt God as a lifestyle choice alongside their other choices, or that they can expect God's blessing on an essentially unchanged life. Striking to consider some of the examples of gospel presentation in Scripture along these lines. I was reading the other day some of John the Baptist's preaching in Luke; pretty confrontational! Not that it always needs to be like that, but could we ever imagine doing it like that?
DeleteI think what moved me about it is that it echoes my prayers for people who don't believe. Of course there's no blessing outside Christ, there's no face shining without our being in Him. But I often pray from those verses in Numbers for unbelievers as a way of praying for their salvation ... isn't that what's meant by praying that the Lord shine his face on people? That they'd know his favour? That they'd know his peace? And of course the blessing only comes through Christ. I wept precisely because no one deserves that kind of blessing, and no one can get it without Jesus. (That said, maybe you just think it's a confusing message for non Christians? But I think any kind of message is confusing in some regard to unbelievers... a song based on Romans 2 would still be confusing for people.And if you are praying a blessing I think what matters most is that the Blesser understands it!)
ReplyDeleteThanks Philippa, I get that. I think the danger is that we are heard to be blessing the world as it is, telling people who remain opposed to Christ and under the wrath of God that God is with them and for them. Imagine Moses coming down the mountain, tablets in hand, to see the golden calf for the first time. Is it appropriate for him at that point to raise his hands and pronounce a benediction? It just seems to promote cheap grace.
DeletePossibly I'm understanding the act of blessing slightly differently as well; I don't think it's quite the same as a prayer. But that's probably a side issue.
I guess you're right in that it functions differently as a blessing within Israel. But Israel were frequently blessed when their behaviour merited the opposite... I mean Balaam speaks blessing over them at the very moment they are whining in the wilderness! The blessings to Israel immediately introduce the same tension: how can God bless people who are so undeserving? And it's only resolved in Christ.
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