Uncomfortable Wealth

If you’ve been attending Redeemer over the past few months you will have likely heard Pete and others plugging the book - Uncomfortable: The Awkward Challenge of Christian Community. We’ve even written a review of it on the blog!

After reading the book, Mandy Hudson was inspired to go further, and to think about what it means for us at Redeemer to live uncomfortable lives. This month she has joined with Adele Dabrowski to write about Uncomfortable Wealth. We hope that you are challenged and encouraged by what she has written.

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Uncomfortable Wealth

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God. 
Proverbs 14:31

One subject we really don’t like talking about is money, yet as western Christians we can easily take our wealth for granted.

There is poverty in the UK. By some estimates one in four people or 9 out of every 30 children is living in poverty in the UK. That’s a shocking figure for the world’s sixth largest economy.  Three fifths of the population in the UK hold 80% of its income, However, globally there is much greater disparity. Most of us in the UK will still be in the top 25% of global income even if we rely fully on the UK welfare system. That’s still 3 times better off than most people in the world

Our relative wealth or poverty is an accident of birth, but how can we work to equalize the situation?

Taking wealth for granted

Adele and Richard Dabrowski lived in Mozambique as missionaries for eight years:

Before we lived in Mozambique, we had no idea what extreme poverty was like.    Like most Westerners if I heard that a family of five or six were living in a two bedroomed house, I would agree with them that this was a case of overcrowding and they should be moved into a three bedroomed house.

Until, that is, we visited Noviane, the village next to our base. Here a two roomed house usually served as living dining and sleeping quarters for a family of up to 12 people, with an outside latrine - a hole in the ground surrounded by a bamboo screen. Cooking took place in the tiny patio over an open fire made of twigs. The richest people of the village were those who could afford a three roomed house made of bricks, unlike the others who saw their little mud and bamboo homes being swept away every year when the rains came, along with their few earthly possessions!

Eating one meal a day of rice, beans and possibly some tomatoes or tiny fish which Mama had managed to catch in her ‘capulana’ (something like a thin sheet) at 5 am that morning, was the norm.

I once took two ten year old girls out to a chicken and chips place, I noticed they ate half of the quarter chicken and a few chips. They then carefully wrapped the rest in the paper serviette and informed me that they were ‘going to share it with their family.’  

I felt humbled! How much do we take for granted in our comfortable life-style? how often do we thank God for the food we have on our plates?”

I’ve learnt that we can never out do God in giving. He will provide for our needs as well as those we give to. To really appreciate the generosity of God we need to step out sacrificially just as Jesus was willing to do for us. 

Gospel guided generosity

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
1 Corinthians 9:7

We recognise that everything we have, including our lives is a gift from God. He is open handed towards us so we must be the same towards others. Sometimes, there seem to be so many conflicting calls on our cash we feel overwhelmed and don’t know where it is best to invest the resources God has given us.

Here’s some good advice from Adele:

“As children of God, we cannot turn a blind eye to the poor of this world.  But let us be sensible.  First, let it be the Lord who guides us in the amount of our giving and supporting. Secondly, in the case of extreme poverty, it is a good idea to support projects that will change a whole village, or will provide people a chance to better themselves and eventually be in a position to be self-sufficient, plus help their own community.  Projects such as well-drilling, farming or enabling students to undertake further education, thus guaranteeing them jobs, are well worth considering. Even a small amount on a regular basis goes a long way in poorer countries.” 

In Matthew 25 v 31 – 46 Jesus tells us the parable of the sheep and goats. Let’s heed its message that, ‘Whatever you did for the least of my brethren, you did it for me!’

May we rise to the challenge to serve the Lord freely with the wealth He has given us.

Written by Mandy Hudson

Mandy is a member of our Redeemer Family, a teacher, and a contributor to Redeemer’s latest book - Stories of Hope. You can pick up a copy on a Sunday morning!

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An Uncomfortable Challenge

If you’ve been attending Redeemer over the past few months you will have likely heard Pete and others plugging the book - Uncomfortable: The Awkward Challenge of Christian Community. We’ve even written a review of it on the blog!

After reading the book, Mandy Hudson was inspired to go further, and to think about what it means for us at Redeemer to live uncomfortable lives. We hope that you are challenged and encouraged by what she has written.

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An Uncomfortable Challenge

As I read Brett McCracken’s “Uncomfortable” I was struck with a desire to read and learn more about practical ways we as the family of God can live, learn and grow together to truly reflect the glory of Jesus. The result of my searching is below in blog form.

Have you noticed that in creating the perfect bride, the Lord has decided to unify the most disadvantaged, dysfunctional, disparate and desperate group of people you can ever imagine? This includes you and I!

Over 40 years of church life I’ve had plenty of time to observe and participate in the uncomfortable existence which is living out the Christian faith in the community of the church and out in the world. The truth is that we simply don’t fit in.

Some of us will never be “cool” or “strong”. We’ll always feel we sit on the outside of the “in” crowd, even when everyone else thinks we are in it. This is being the family of God inside the church. Outside, well that’s a different story, through Christ we are now strangers to the world. (Hebrews 11v13-15) As Jesus’ people we have a new heart and a new direction towards His kingdom.

If only that kingdom had already come and rescued us from our current uncomfortable situation. Oh, wait a minute – the Lord expects us to continue His work demonstrating that kingdom, right here, right now. That’s uncomfortable. Sometimes I think if we are the hope of the world, God help them.

Let’s not despair, Jesus is Head of the Church and has given us the power of His Holy Spirit. We shouldn’t underestimate the resources He has put in our hands, but they are not for us, they are meant to be a witness to a lost world.

I think there are three things we need to recognise if we are to live up to our calling:

1. We like people like us

2. People see through our insincerity

3. We need to live honestly and with integrity

It seems so natural to gravitate towards like-minded people, but even in church we miss out on the uncomfortable truth that everyone is family and therefore to be equally loved. 1 Peter 2:5 says 

“You also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

This is who we are – meant for sacrificial service. This goes beyond a smile on a Sunday. We are one household. We need to look beyond ourselves. In remembering our roots in God’s mercy, we can find grace to reach out to the world, creating a space for all to live honestly with integrity. 

Is it easier to live life in the shadow of the world and sin? Rather than living in the full light of Christ we prefer a kind of half-light where we try to co-exist with the world. We gather a few favoured Christian friends around us but don’t venture outside that circle. We can kid ourselves we are holy on a Sunday, but we don’t fool God or our non-Christian neighbours or colleagues  who see us the rest of the week. Evangelising unbelievers is not an optional extra. We are called to preach “in season and out of season” (2 Tim 4:2). Let’s rely on the Lord to supply us with His strength to fulfil the great commission to go into all the world and make disciples – like Him not us.

Inside the church we need to be honest about our failings and gracious towards others. Maybe, rather than avoiding that brother or sister in Christ who really irritates us, we should remember the grace and mercy Jesus showed to us and work harder on our relationships. After all, we are all part of the redeemed Bride of Christ.

Brett McCracken doesn’t seem to have much time for “authentic” Christianity which excuses sin. Quite right. However, we do need to learn how to be authentically Christ-like towards each other and those to whom God calls us to witness. That’s an uncomfortable challenge drawing us deeper towards the heart of Jesus…

“in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7)

Let’s share that kindness today.

Written by Mandy Hudson

Mandy is a member of our Redeemer Family, a teacher, and a contributor to Redeemer’s latest book - Stories of Hope. You can pick up a copy on a Sunday morning!

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Wednesday Prayer - Peace

Over the past several months, we often met as a church community on a Wednesday to pray together. As meetups have started, and many of us are now meeting regularly to study Ephesians together, we are no longer meeting together as a church to pray. This doesn’t mean that we’re going to stop praying! So over here on the blog we’re starting a new series on Wednesdays, giving you a few ideas of what you could be praying for today and for the rest of this week.

Today we’re praying for…..

Peace

The last couple of Wednesday Prayer blogs have focused on a specific group of people, or area of church life. Today we are focusing on a broader concept, which though it may be more of an unorthodox focus for a blog like this, is still something which it is important to pray for.

I am sure it will not come as a surprise to hear that when we choose to follow Jesus, he gives us no guarantee that our lives will suddenly become easier! Even if you were thinking that going in, if you are someone who has been a follower of Jesus for any length of time, you will now have realised that it is not the case. Though Jesus does not promise us an easy life once we choose to follow him, he does promise that the way we deal with the situations of life will change.

He speaks to this directly in Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

That brings us to our topic of prayer for today, despite the fact that we may feel weary and burdened, we are called to come to Jesus, seeking peace. 


Below are some ways you can focus your prayers on peace today.

1. Pray for diplomatic peace, across the UK and the nations.
   We are in a time of global turmoil in many different ways, and this is putting pressure on political leaders and governments across the world. Please pray at this time for wisdom to prevail, for the Holy Spirit to be at work amongst our political leaders, and that we as the people of God might honour him in the way that we respond to the actions of politicians.
   

2. Pray for peace within our communities.
   London is a diverse city full of people of different nationalities, classes, and religions. These are some of the reasons it is such an incredible city in which to live, however in times of pressure these differences can result in tension within communities. Pray that during this time we would be ministers of peace in our local communities, and that those who live around us would take this opportunity to build bridges rather than walls, and embrace that which unites us rather than focus on what could divide us.

3. Pray for peace in our homes.
   As we experience tighter lockdown restrictions, we are spending more and more time at home, and therefore more and more time in close proximity with those we live with. However much we love spending time with those we love, we all know that concentrated time with others can lead to a less than peaceful environment! Pray for peace in your home, that the Holy Spirit would be present and obvious in the conversations we have and our interactions with one another, especially on the difficult days!

4. Pray for the peace of God to be present in YOU.
   For this final point, I’ll defer to the apostle Paul.

   Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
   Philippians 4:6-7

Amen.

Church is BACK!

When I walked back into the University of West London on Sunday morning, it has been 202 days, 19 hours and 30 minutes (roughly) since I had left the building on the 15th of March after our normal Sunday service. If I’m honest I wasn’t quite sure what to expect! I knew the rules, I knew that people had signed up, I knew that there was going to be a lot of setup to do and a lot of praying that all the technology would work, but I didn’t quite know how it would feel. If I’d been asked to try and sum up what I expected to be like, I would have probably boiled it down to one word, I expected it to be WEIRD.

And at first, my expectation was met. It was a little weird to be wearing a mask and having to follow a one way system, or to be printing out a list of those who had booked tickets, and seeing chairs spaced out with unnatural gaps and in no discernible pattern. But after a while, once the strangeness had worn off, I began to see what this was, it was something I had missed for a long time. This was CHURCH.

Now this is not to say that the last 28 weeks have been completely church free! As someone who works full time at Redeemer I can confidently say that church has not stopped for a second during the pandemic. We have shared great times of prayer together, built community, and enjoyed fantastic worship times and preaching series online on Sunday mornings! But this Sunday was a fantastic reminder for me that the church is about PEOPLE.

Not just faces on a screen, or names in a contact list, but real people! People who turned up early to make sure that there were signs pointing people in the right direction, people who plugged in cables and set up cameras so that others could tune in online. People who sat with kids on their knees, or stood and raised hands, all the while desperately trying not to break into song! People who came to dedicate their Sunday morning, and the whole rest of their lives, to GOD.

Now I would be lying if I said that it wasn’t at all weird… There are certainly aspects of Sunday which I hope don’t catch on, and I’ve greeted enough people with a strange elbow touch now to know that I definitely don’t want to do that ever again. But the sight of others raising their hands in worship, the quiet “Amens” of appreciation as Pete preached about grace, the friendly faces walking past after the service, they all transformed a morning which started off a little weird into a glorious celebration of the people of God gathered together again.

It was a Redeemer Family reunion. And I LOVED IT.

Prayers from (Recent) History - Frank Hudson

Recently during our Week of Prayer, we published a number of prayers which were originally prayed by famous believers down through history. But one of the most incredible things about prayer is that it is universal! We believe as Christians that anyone who lifts their voice in prayer has a direct line to their Heavenly Father! That’s why we pray, because we know that God listens to each and every one.

Today we share a prayer from someone who might not have been as famous, but was just as important in the eyes of God, Frank Hudson. Frank is the late father of Mandy Hudson, a member of the Redeemer Family who has written for this blog in the past, below she shares the story behind today’s blog…

My Dad was 80 when he died. He became a Christian when he was 45. Previously, he'd been a spiritualist medium, a gambler and very independent minded. He encountered Christ through the witness of his family (including me, I hope!) and would testify later that he was delivered when he read the words about how God gives good gifts to his children. (Matt 7 v11). He always celebrated his relationship with God, was an evangelist, Gideon and methodist lay preacher.

After my Dad died we found this prayer in his Bible which he used each day to start his devotions. I think it's from a combination of sources but what was good to read and see the challenge of giving every second to God.

I hope you enjoy reading his prayer.

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Heavenly Father,

Thank you for creation, for today, for my life, for your great love, faithfulness, forgiveness and mercy.

Thank you for Jesus.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, that you sent your only Son - Jesus Christ to live among us. Jesus died on the cross for my sin, for my sake.

Praise you, Lord Jesus, you rose from the dead, you ascended into heaven, you sit at God’s right hand. You pray for your people.

Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus.

Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit, thank you for His work in my life. Thank you for grace and peace and rest in God. Thank you for all the gifts, thank you, Lord for prayer.

Lord, I pray that you will forgive me for my sins of today. I have sinned in thought, word and deed. I am sorry for my sin and I ask for your forgiveness.

I pray Lord for your continued watch over my life, watch over my going out and coming in.

I pray that you will watch over me every second and I pray that I will give you every second.

Amen

Easter - A Change in Perspective

I shall never forget spending Easter with my sister, at my gran’s. 

Even though I was only ten years old and my sister was nine (which was many years ago), we still remember it clearly!  Why? 

• Was it because she spoiled us with her home cooking?  

• Was it because we were allowed to do fun things we weren’t allowed to do at home?

No!  In fact my sister and I were not allowed to do ANYTHING!!  Except pray, of course… After all, this was Holy Week…

On Good Friday we spent the whole day indoors, being reminded not to raise our voices and keep a solemn quiet! At 2.30pm our gran turned on the radio and we all sat together round her little table and listened intently to it. The speaker described the passion and crucifixion of Jesus in such detail and so vividly, that Marie and I could not stop bawling our eyes out! Our gran was so pleased that she said we could have something light to eat after 6pm!

Since the last time any food had passed our young lips was 10am, we were thrilled…

Well, on reflection maybe that isn’t the best way to explain Easter to young children, but our grandmother, a strict, staunch, traditional Catholic, obviously didn’t know any better. I like to think that God knew her heart though…

Since then, I’m glad to say, my perception of Easter has changed, as has its focus. 

Yes, I do still remember the pain endured on that terrible cross by Jesus, but I also know the real reason for it being known as ‘GOOD Friday’.  Because on that cross Jesus paid the penalty for my sin, dying in my place so that I, a sinner, can now stand before God the Father and be declared innocent!  (Romans 6:23 says, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.)

So that was indeed a GOOD Friday!

And it doesn’t stop there… after Friday came Saturday and then Sunday – EASTER SUNDAY - the greatest day of all for fallen humanity!

For not only did Jesus Christ die for me and you, but He was raised to life again on that Sunday!  And because He lives, I too am assured of everlasting life with Him when I die! 

Wow! It can’t get better than that! 

Death has been defeated and our King is now reigning victorious!  As the apostle Paul says ‘Death, where is your victory; where is your sting?’ (1 Cor 15:55)  

It’s gone!

So now when I think of Easter I can’t sit quietly as my gran would have wanted.  I rejoice.  I celebrate together with millions of other people throughout the world who understand that the unimaginable happened on that Easter Day over 2,000 years ago -  The sinner gets set free, the gates of heaven are opened wide.  The Father welcomes us with open arms!  I shall be there one day – 

How about you?  What’s your perception of Easter?

A time of solemnity? Or a time to rejoice?  

If you’d like a new perspective – please join us at Redeemer London this Easter.  You’ll find people for whom death holds no fear - because Jesus’ death changed everything for us.  

Adele Dabrowski

#RedeemerRecommends - Bread

Here at Redeemer we love to celebrate the gifting of members of our family! This week on #RedeemerRecommends we are pointing you in the direction of another blog contributed to and curated by Ann Ajet, who attends Redeemer with her family!

Bread is described as being ‘for today’s emerging generation of thoughtful disciples.’ We hope that you will be challenged and informed by their articles! We are also hoping to publish some articles written by Ann on the Redeemer blog in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled!

Carols, Community and Celebration!

This Sunday we had the privilege of hosting our annual Carols by Candlelight event at Ealing Town Hall! Always a time of celebration, this year was no different, with people coming together to sing carols, enjoy a free glass of mulled wine and a mince pie, and get into the Christmas spirit!

What a fantastic event it was this year! Over 300 people gathered in the Town Hall, we sang more carols together than we ever have before, yet there was still time to listen to outstanding performance songs and poetry and learn from Pete Cornford about what it really means to be home at Christmas time. He reminded us that home is not always about a physical place but that we truly find what it means to feel at home in our relationships with those that we love. We as Christians believe that we are welcomed home when we seek relationship with God, that he waits for us with open arms. Jesus talked about this as part of his teaching, and you can read about it in Luke 15:11-32.

If you were one of those that joined with us this Sunday we hope you felt welcomed and at home amongst us, and if you haven’t already, see if you can spot yourself in the family photo we took at the end of the evening!

If you want to find out what it looks like to be a member of the Redeemer family, you are so welcome to join us at our family service this Sunday (the 23rd of December) at 10am in the Town Hall for festive songs, a nativity and even a few games!

Finally, there is also still an opportunity to contribute to the collection which was taken on Sunday evening to support the work of St Mungo’s, an organisation which aims to help those without a physical home to go to this Christmas.

Bring your whole self...

A lot of work places are considering how they can nurture a more diverse work force.  How can they attract people who don't neccessarily fit the established mould?

Coupled with diversity is a tougher challenge for employers: INCLUSION.

How can an employer better ensure that once the mould has been broken, all their employees have equal access and opportunities? 
How can they best identify and reduce discrimination and intolerance? 
What are the barriers to inclusion and how can they be effectively broken down?

One helpful mantra I've heard in discussion in the work place is the need to ensure staff can bring their 'whole self' to work.
That means, for example, being able to be open about hidden disabilities or medical needs.  
Being honest about carer responsibilities.  
Having your cultural heritage valued.
Having your gender valued. 

It means being confident that a discussion with your line manager about religious observance, a request that you be able to come in a bit later after a school run, a sought for accomodation for dyslexia or even a coffee break chat about past bouts of depression  - that none of these things will create a barrier to inclusion or to opportunities.

I realise that many of you will have experienced prejudice and discrimination for simply being you.  This will have caused deep hurt and created disadvantage.  It's not something that's easy to shake off and move on from and it can trigger defences that themselves create unintended barriers.  

Often the best efforts by an employer can be undone by one colleague or manager.  That's when you need strong relationships with peers or an informed staff representative to stand with you to put things right. I know some who have chosen (based on a wish for self preservation) to walk away rather than face the painful process of instigating change. Others of you will have fought back and suffered for it. 

Here's some good news: whatever your circumstances, whatever you have experienced, you can bring your whole self to God.  

He will not reject you.  He will not turn you away or categorise you and rank you according to your abilities, your race, your gender or your achievements. 

Here's some better news: he will equip you, strengthen you, give you new purpose, place you in a family of believers - he will break down barriers and stand with you as your champion. 

But beware:  by coming to Jesus you may also give others more reason to discriminate against you, to exclude you. 

I'm not talking about an easy life here.  However, I am talking about a life in which your whole self and your whole life circumstance do not have to be left at the door.  I am talking about the ULTIMATE INCLUSION - being reunited with the one who created you and with the one who out of his all-inclusive love reduced himself to a life in a back water, to one who was dispised and rejected and abandoned.

I'm talking about a God who brought his whole self to you.  

Will you bring your whole self to him?