Down-under round-up: 21 October 2015

Issue of the week

It’s impossible to monitor yourself perfectly on this, but I try to avoid mounting my hobby horses too often here. But the devastating effects of problem gambling, especially on the parasitic "pokies" (a.k.a. poker machines, i.e. 'slot machines' for Americans, 'fruit machines' for the UK) is in the news here.

So I want to share one of the best articles I’ve ever read that shows why Christians concerned most of all about the gospel of Jesus should care about the issue of gambling. By Russell Moore, it’s entitled 'Why gambling is a justice issue'. It points out that it’s far more than a personal morals issue, because: “Gambling is a form of economic predation. Gambling grinds the faces of the poor into the ground.” 

Moore really makes his case well here, but what was just as encouraging is what he said before exploring this issue:

The most important thing a church can do to undercut the local casino is to preach the gospel. By that I don’t just mean how to get saved (although that’s certainly at the root of it). I mean the awe-filled wonder in the face of the really good news that Jesus is crucified and resurrected, the old dragon is overthrown.

Making disciples of Jesus

I think every team leader or trainee leader could find something to consider and apply to their team from David Mathis’ 'Seven ways to improve your team'. I know I can do better in teams I serve. Here are his seven points as a checklist, but you really need to read the article for his explanations to fill it out:

1. Actively cultivate and protect trust
2. Carefully monitor team size (and communication)
3. Generously invest time into your team
4. Humbly pursue unity in all areas
5. Boldly keep short accounts
6. Lovingly guard the gate
7. Joyfully lean on the team’s wisdom.

I am a month late coming to this, and many of my friends thought it really, really unfortunate that Rainer used ‘chaplain’ in a pejorative way (and Rainer agreed in humbly responding to feedback on his blog). However, if you can see past that, someone in a senior minister’s role or in senior congregational leadership should really be able to get the positive point of 'Ten signs a pastor is becoming a chaplain'. It’s not that you are likely to display all ten signs, or that all of them are necessarily problematic in right context. Rather a cluster of them could be a real warning sign of gospel mission drift.

Akos Balogh makes a very serious point with a hint of satire: 'Four dangerous characteristics of radicalised Christians'.

And completing my series of links with numbers in the heading… I enjoy the connection of our faith with history, so here’s 'Refuting 5 false theories about Jesus' (the Pagan Myth, the Failed Prophet, the Moral Philosopher, the Violent Revolutionary, the Ahistorical Existentialist).

Image of the week

Not a Christian link, except that it features God’s beautiful creation in Australia!

The dramatic beauty of Australia’s iron ore country is the star of the 2015 Top GeoShot photographic competition, in the winning photo by Craig Burns of Hamersley Gorge. Follow the link to see it and seven more photos just as wonderful and interesting.