Someone mentioned Unapologetic on Twitter as being a good read, so I thought why not?
Unapologetic is a gritty honest book. It is billed as a “defence of Christian belief taking on Dawkins’ The God Delusion and Christopher Hitchens’ God is not Great.” It’s not about arguing that Christianity is true, it’s an emotional response. This is does very well.
The basis of the argument is the HPtFtU (and you’ll find out what that means if you read the book). It uses this basis very powerfully.
I found the first couple of chapters difficult to get in to, but by chapter 5, Yeshua, wow – so powerful!
This book pulls no punches. The language is “colourful” in places, but that is where its coming from. It gives a fresh look at what can be a crusty subject.
I borrowed it from the library. I have now bought a copy – that probably tells you all you need to know.
I am known for my ruthless packing. We have been asked incredulously at check-in if that is really all the baggage we have for four people. (and yes I always make sure there is room for things we might want to bring back) Packing in such a way gives a very tight focus to what you really need, there is no room for “just in case” or options in my luggage.
However, even I would draw the line at not taking a money bag…
10 Later the Lord chose seventy-two other followers and sent them out two by two to every town and village where he was about to go. 2 He said to them:
A large crop is in the fields, but there are only a few workers. Ask the Lord in charge of the harvest to send out workers to bring it in. 3 Now go, but remember, I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. 4 Don’t take along a moneybag or a traveling bag or sandals. And don’t waste time greeting people on the road. 5 As soon as you enter a home, say, “God bless this home with peace.” 6 If the people living there are peace-loving, your prayer for peace will bless them. But if they are not peace-loving, your prayer will return to you. 7 Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they give you, because workers are worth what they earn. Don’t move around from house to house.
8 If the people of a town welcome you, eat whatever they offer. 9 Heal their sick and say, “God’s kingdom will soon be here!”
10 But if the people of a town refuse to welcome you, go out into the street and say, 11 “We are shaking the dust from our feet as a warning to you. And you can be sure that God’s kingdom will soon be here!”
16 My followers, whoever listens to you is listening to me. Anyone who says “No” to you is saying “No” to me. And anyone who says “No” to me is really saying “No” to the one who sent me.
The Return of the Seventy-Two
17 When the seventy-two followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!”
18 Jesus told them:
I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. 20 But don’t be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven!
There are two sides in the story – the goers and the receivers.
The responsibility of the goers is to go. To hear God’s call and commission and go and do what he asks of them. To go where people receive them and hear God’s word.
So the responsibility of the receivers is to do just that. To welcome God’s messengers, hear them and provide for them.
For the goers, the messengers, there is nothing they can take that they need. God and his people will supply. Spare shoes, extra money – none of that is of any use in the work God calls them to. Conversely, God’s people are called to care for and support those who are working for God. If God’s workers are rejected, God is rejected.
So, are you and I goers or receivers?
Are we hearing God’s call, responding, getting out there taking his message to those who need to hear it? Or are we welcoming people in God’s name? Providing them with what they need to fulfil his ministry? Encouraging them and enabling them?
Both are needed in God’s work. The question is not just which we are, but whether we are doing the role we are called to faithfully. Together both roles further God’s work in the world.
Are you playing your part?
Lord,
I want to be faithful
in what you call me to.
When you send me out,
to go with your message,
help me to go.
secure in you
and not my possessions
to get me through.
When you send others my way,
may I receive them,
hear them,
support them,
that they may be equipped for the work you call them to.
Lord,
when I go
and when I receive,
may I do it for you
Do not judge your neighbour until you walk two moons in his moccasins.
You do not know what the reality of someone’s life is. You only know the bit they allow you to see, and many of us are expert at “putting on a good face”
6 My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don’t be tempted yourself. 2 You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand.
3 If you think you are better than others, when you really aren’t, you are wrong. 4 Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don’t compare yourself with others. 5 We each must carry our own load.
6 Share every good thing you have with anyone who teaches you what God has said.
7 You cannot fool God, so don’t make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. 8 If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. 9 Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up. 10 We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.
Final Warnings
11 You can see what big letters I make when I write with my own hand.
12 Those people who are telling you to get circumcised are only trying to show how important they are. And they don’t want to get into trouble for preaching about the cross of Christ. 13 They are circumcised, but they don’t obey the Law of Moses. All they want is to brag about having you circumcised. 14 But I will never brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his cross, the world is dead as far as I am concerned, and I am dead as far as the world is concerned.
15 It doesn’t matter if you are circumcised or not. All that matters is that you are a new person.
16 If you follow this rule, you will belong to God’s true people. God will treat you with undeserved kindness and will bless you with peace.
The writer to the Galatians reminds us not to think we are better than others – because if we do, we’re wrong! We are to worry about our work, and let others worry about their own. We are not to spend out time and energy comparing how we are doing with how we think others are doing. Firstly, we will no doubt be wrong, because we don’t know all their circumstances; and secondly, it is not our business, but theirs. We are responsible for how we carry our load. They are responsible for theirs – not us. And whatever we think – we cannot fool God – who actually knows…
Our role here is not to follow our own selfish desires and whims – but to help others. Not to criticise or judge how they carry their load – but to help them. It’s not about the right show, but truly doing the right thing – when others are looking and when they are not.
We have done nothing worthy of bragging about – there is only what God has done in us. None of it is our doing, but his generosity and goodness to us.
So we look not at what we think we’ve achieved, or what we consider others haven’t, but what God is doing in each one of us – and we give thanks.
Forgive me Lord,
for the times I have felt myself to be better,
when I have thought I was doing the right thing,
whilst wondering about others.
Help me to remember
that I do not know the truth of their lives,
I don’t see what you see.
May my focus be only on living for you
and helping others carry the loads they bear,
that together we may live as your people
Unapologetic is a gritty honest book. It is billed as a “defence of Christian belief taking on Dawkins’ The God Delusion and Christopher Hitchens’ God is not Great.” It’s not about arguing that Christianity is true, it’s an emotional response. This is does very well.
Pam's Perambulation 