Maslow's Pyramid

When I arrived in London, and learned about urban mission, one the chief influences on the scene, taught to me as a key for our task in the inner city, was Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. There are, he taught, a series of needs, which must be met, for a person to progress in their life.

It begins with basic physical survival, and progresses through safety and material security; love, relationships and belonging; self-esteem and recognition; to self-actualisation and creativity. Only when someone feels secure at a lower level, can they turn their attention to the upper levels.

Preventing Revival

There seem to be many initiatives at the moment aimed at revival in the church: including evangelistic campaigns and prayer gatherings. This is nothing new. I remember similar calls, during my student days in the 1970s. And there have been regular cycles of revivalistic enthusiasm at internals during my ministry life: from the New Churches in the 1980s, to prophetic predictions in the 1990s.

The Berlin Wall and Christian Dissent

Recently it was the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which harbinged the collapse of Communism throughout Eastern Europe. This celebration also highlighted the role of dissent, which involved different ideological positions, including many Christian intellectuals.

Do we not need an underground Christian resistance movement in the contemporary West? Of course, we do not live under a totalitarian regime. But we do live in one that is ‘totalising’. Totalitarianism is a deliberate system of ideological conformity. In the West, under cover of official pluralism, we inhabit a totalising system which imposes a single view of reality.

LGBTQ+ Only Connect

I recently met with a local LGTQ+ leader; to see how he viewed Christianity, and build bridges across the cultural divide. His main gripe was, understandably, the mental illness among gay people, including the amount of self-harm, plus the discrimination and violence they experience. Conservative Christians, he thought, contribute to this anti-gay feeling in society; so he wondered if we could change our theology, and accept same-sex marriage?

At a recent Street Level Theology session (our monthly theology class at KCBC), on same-sex relationships, someone asked: although we have this conservative theology, can we avoid exacerbating the prejudice and problems faced by gay people? It requires, I think, intentional, concrete, actions, rather than well-meaning, but vague, sentiments of sympathy.

Among the Polemicists?

I’m surprised that my two latest blogposts propelled me into the realm of polemics, criticising the views of other Christians. I feel uneasy with that. I don’t enjoy conflict, and shy away from it, whenever I can. I also don’t like it when people criticise me; this made me decide not to respond to negative comments on social media.

I do think, however, that we must confront error when we see it. And not only concerning issues of obvious error. There needs to be robust debate within the church about the application of truth. We must not be afraid of respectful discussion and dialogue. The only problem is that if we are ready to dish it out, we ought also to be able to take it as well: myself included.

How Heresy Happens

I don’t like public controversy, and the kind of arguments Christians get into. This kind of divisive sectarianism gives Christianity a bad name. Plus, I don’t like it when people criticise me, and so I don’t want to do the same to others. However, sometimes we come across such a significant theological error, which also highlight problems influencing the church’s teaching today, that we have to speak out.

I came across a church recently where doctrinal error combines with ethical compromise. Their Pastor was describing the vision of the church, and explained that, as a Christian Church, they believed in one God, ‘in three parts’.

Sorry, J. John...

I write this with a heavy heart. I hate disagreements, and when people criticise me, so I am loathe to do it here. Nevertheless…

J. John is a superb evangelist, and a very funny man. However he has just written a blog on the Premier Christianity website. He’s taking issue with the matter of political correctness; responding to the BBC’s declared support for diversity, criticising for example the white middle class male, erstwhile counter-cultural heroes, like Monty Python.

Prophecy For Today

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” Amos 5.24

I remember when I was a student, and noticed this verse for the first time. It helped me realise that God’s Word was not just spiritual, but also political. It also revealed the nature of the prophetic calling, the means whereby God warns his people of impending judgment for their injustice (3.7-8).

Naturally, the ruling class never wants to hear this word of Divine correction, so prophecy is frequently forbidden (2.11-12). But God challenged prophecy’s domestication by a caste of professional prophets, through calling this ex-shepherd (7.14-16).

Prayer Walking

We’ve just hosted a mission team from Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Our good ongoing relationship with them helps us impact our post-Christian city. One of their activities is Prayer Walking – when I say this, I realise it’s often just sitting around, and praying silently, while they observe the spiritual dynamics around them. However, their Pastor, Spencer Knight, earths this, by asking them when they debrief, “What spiritual needs did you notice in that location?”

I also once led a team to Turkey, where the evangelistic opportunities were slight, largely because of we couldn’t speak the language! The trip, however, turned into a Prayer Mission, as we interceded for the nation, and the particular towns we were visiting.

"Jesus Is My Boyfriend"

I’ve recently got into the music of Samuel Lane, a worship leader from the Vineyard churches, well-known for their tradition of intimate worship music. His songs are beautiful evocations of praise to God, which draw me in, and help refresh my relationship with Christ.

Some appropriate for corporate settings, others suitable as performed songs of personal experience, they have, nevertheless, been very helpful in renewing my faith during recent times of dryness. As expressions of spiritual devotion, they are basically love songs to Jesus; very reminiscent of Matt Redman’s songs, though perhaps more passionately delivered. And I need that energy.

Ministry and Mission among Older People

Many churches, including ours, have specific outreaches to young adults, all trying to be the next Hillsong. This demographic is, nevertheless, missionally strategic, as they are what’s called the “missing generation” in churches. Our future depends on reaching them.

However, mission among the elderly does not possess the same trendy cachet; although retired people represent a rapidly increasing segment of our population.

Of course, demands to include older people also illustrates the stereotypical self-centredness of the Baby Boomer generation. As this population bulge progressed along their timeline, they insisted on having their own needs met at each stage: first as youths, then as parents, now as retirees.

Race, Nationalism and White Supremacy

In the west, the powers of race, nationalism and white supremacy have resurfaced into public discourse. This has been accentuated by the rise of political ‘strongmen’: Victor Orban, Matteo Salvini, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and (he would like to think) Boris Johnson.

MAGA and Brexit also play on the fears of our indigenous populations - facing rapid change, the dominance of global capitalism, and immigration from poorer countries. They also gain leverage by appealing to feelings of patriotism, loyalty to local communities, and solidarity among people overlooked by unbalanced economic development.

Coventry Cathedral Welcome sign

Coventry Cathedral put up a welcome sign some time ago, which attracted more attention than most church noticeboards. They emphasised their inclusive welcome of those often excluded by ‘normal’ churches: 

"We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, straight, gay, confused, well-heeled or down at heel. We especially welcome wailing babies and excited toddlers …

We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome keep-fit mums, football dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems, are down in the dumps or don’t like ‘organised religion.’"