Year: 2025

A little writing that is to come

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Theology

The next next of posts will take a slightly different direction. During lockdown I wrote four books with the overall title of ‘Explorations in theology’ and have held various Zooms on their content. I consider behaviour is more important than belief but know that belief shapes behaviour. I am not sure what label is appropriate for where I sit on the theological spectrum. I guess I could be labelled a ‘progressive evangelical’, evangelical in the sense that the canon of Scripture is the authority for what I believe and the cross of Jesus is the means of reconciliation to God (as put out in Robert K. Johnston 1990’s paper); David Bebbington suggested four elements that define evangelicalism: conversionism, biblicism, crucicentrism, and activism. As per all terms each one needs to be filled with meaning and meaning is where theology steps in. ‘Progressive’ in the sense that there is one eternal gospel but our understanding of it is shaped by our cultural setting, and we are no longer living in the Anselmian era of feudalism, nor the Reformers’ era of indulgences and the law-court. If progressive is appropriate then I also make a loud shout that we must always be assessed by our faithfulness to the parameters of the great narrative of Eden to New Jerusalem. (And to be a little provocative… surely a belief in the rapture falls way short of being faithful to those parameters; and to be even more provocative – we have to go beyond ‘belief’, maybe a statement of faith that could not be critiqued would be one borrowed from ‘the devil’ who believes!!!! Purely provocative – but the point is faith has to contain allegiance and perhaps should be defined by allegiance?)

Since writing the four books I began to write some extended articles (https://3generations.eu/journals) and am about to start another one in that ‘series’. It will be an exploration and my plan is to write it as a series of posts that I will then extend (maybe with the help of comments and push back) and publish it as the next pdf extended article. This will be an exploration into the reconciliation of all things, not in the sense of eschatological reconciliation but at the level of ‘redemptive’ reconciliation – what now and here is to be reconciled; in what areas are we to experience and work toward reconciliation. I will suggest that there are four ways in which reconciliation is to be expressed:

  • reconciliation to God
  • reconciliation to others
  • reconciliation to the creation
  • reconciliation to self.

The first is of course obvious and very ‘Pauline’; the second comes through clearly with the command to love our neighbour… and the extension of that to love ‘our enemy’; the third is clear in Romans 8 and is much more visible as an urgent necessity in our day than in Paul’s day; the fourth has become the domain of the therapeutic world but is within that command to love others as we love ourselves. So far so good, but not really much of an exploration! A very short article.

We can claim to be reconciled to God but if we ‘hate our brother / sister’ we are a liar! Strong words. In reality if I am truly reconciled to God then there should be a flow into the other areas – sadly a ‘believe the right doctrine’ and righteousness is ‘imputed’ does not stack up with Scriptures that extend the meaning / implication of faith in God. We are in process so I am not suggesting some level of perfection required – grace is grace. Full, realised reconciliation awaits us.

I will seek to explore these four areas and allow Scripture to critique our approach to Scripture and the area that might prove a little uncomfortable is whether there is scope to begin with an area of reconciliation other than that of reconciliation to God (in the personal / Christian sense).

Let me put it this way – if we (I) claim to be reconciled to God through the work of the cross then there is the legitimate expectation that there will be evidence that I am embracing the other three areas of reconciliation. That is the challenge to me as a believer – demonstrating my faith, not simply articulating it. Then exploring the position of someone who is not a believer:

Could it be that there is someone who does not even believe in a transcendent personal God who is increasingly being reconciled in the three other areas and as that takes place they are in fact being, in limited but yet real measure, reconciled to the God who is revealed within creation and within humanity?

Panic not! Explorations… but I will also wish to explore the implications of any such view. Where am I on the theological spectrum – willing to explore as Jesus is the centre of all.

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Teaching the Way of Empire

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by Simon Swift
Posted in Justice, Poetry

After my reflections a change with a guest post from Simon Swift. ‘At the heart of God’s kingdom is justice based on relationships’… and I love the ‘Divine Commonwealth’ as a concept for the kingdom of heaven.

Some weeks ago the USA decided to drop the biggest non nuclear bombs on Iran and put an end to their nuclear ambitions. As I watched the unfolding drama on our western news, I was struct by the question of what exactly was the President of the USA trying to teach Iran, and indeed every other nation in the world?

Now I am no expert in the problems of that part of the world. So I don’t want to comment too much because I would be doing so mostly from ignorance. While it seems to be all centred around Gaza, the horrific suffering of both the Palestinian population and the Israeli hostages, there are larger forces at work. With the support of Israeli colonisation by the likes of the US and UK on the one hand and the Iranians dreams of dominance in the middle east on the other. It’s like a middle east version of the cold war with proxy fighters and complicated relationships. In the middle of it all the people who live there suffer the most. One could ask who is actually to blame for all this.

Back to the bunker busting bombs and the ability of the USA armed forces to strike any where in the world: What did it actually teach Iran, will it cower the Iranians or make them moor determined to have nuclear weapons? What was on show was the might and power of the USA. It’s feet firmly planted in the power of empire with it’s ability to bring death and destruction to anywhere in the world. They can send a missile with precision to anywhere. If you are on their list as enemies, it does not matter where you live. Country border’s are meaningless now; they can deliver death to your door step. Now they are not the only ones who can do this and this is not about having ago at the US, but I do question the reason for that mission, because I believe it teaches one thing to the world: Might it right.

It teaches that if you want to be truly free you have to be the strong man, you have to be dominant and in control. The way to do that is to have the biggest bombs and the larges military. You have to subdue anyone you think could equal you and therefor become a threat. So it would not surprise me if Iran doubles their efforts to build a nuclear bomb. And the rest of the world looks on and thinks Yeah, we need one too. This just draws the world further in to the kingdom of death. It does not provide justice for the populations of the world and leave the weaker to whims of the powerful as they, the elite ruling classes, battle it out to be king of the castle.

Now I occasionally watch LBC’s James O’Brian on YouTube when they post clips of his shows. On one occasion a gentleman who is Jewish and lives in London, has dual British and Israeli nationality, called in on O’Brian’s phone in show. He is a musician and formed a band with a Palestinian who unfortunately is still stuck in Gaza. He went on to explain how the Israelis live in fear and how that is exploited by politicians. As he talked he mentioned that he had been approached by some Palestinian musicians to produce their music. If we want justice in the middle east then this man points to the right way: relationships.

At the heart of God’s kingdom is justice based on relationships. We may feel we cannot do much about what is happening in Gaza, Yet, we can do relationships. This man talking on LBC radio was doing relationships. Now I don’t know anyone from that region or indeed any Jewish or Palestinians, but I do know that I should be careful in passing judgement. Instead, if we are in a position to do anything, however small, we should be looking to build the right relationships. Why? because we need to be using Love power instead on drawing on the power of Empire.

What would the world look like if our politicians lived in the kingdom of Heaven. If they where to hook up to the power of love? This I think is relevant particularly to the UK after Brexit. It finds itself with out an empire to pay for things. The government has to work out what is the place of Britain on the world stage (and still be able to afford it.) So I ask how would the vision of a future UK be shaped if power is based on Love instead of Empire?

One of the problems with the term ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ is its connection with Christendom and empire building. I much prefer the term ‘Divine Commonwealth’ as its suggest a shared inheritance which we get to take part in and even to contribute to. Which leaves us with the question, what can we do to advance the kingdom, or better still build the commonwealth, that is of heaven? If justice is about relationships then that is where we can begin: In the villages, towns and cities. In the work place, on the high street or shopping mall. In our churches for sure, but what other third places do we frequent that need the disciples of the the Way to be a light in the darkness?

In our conversations what is the type of language we use? In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Paul lists more than just a description of love, rather they are practical pointers to how we should do love. If we want to plant the seed of God’s Divine Commonwealth then we must, while not ignoring wrongs done (whether by governments and organisations or individuals,) promote reconciliation. Pointing out what is of the kingdom of Death and what is of Heaven using a language that none Christians get.

I’m afraid I only have questions and not many answers. To live in these times we need our heads in heaven and our feet on earth, or as shewed as snakes and innocent as doves if you prefer. At the end of the day our only weapon is Love. But we do have one advantage: A faith in one who has gone through death and come out the other side.

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Assuming another 70 years!!

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Personal Perspectives

Another 70 years to come… of course I would be wildly in fantasy land to think I will have another 70 years. And I hear a groan – ‘no not another 70 years Lord, spare us’ – just to let you know that maybe prayer has three possible ‘God answers’ – yes, no and wait… so your prayers might just not avail!! 70 more years -I don’t think I will come close. One day – moons ago – when I was 66 (not 666!!!) I was running and suddenly I thought ‘I am probably more than half way through my life’ (2 x 66 = 132, so nowhere near 140). So not really assuming 132 or 140 but I do have today so what comes? One day at a time.

I hope the reflections have given you a smile or two, an agreement here and there, and probably a few disagreements too. As I hit the 70 mark I am content to acknowledge that there are huge gaps in my understanding (not an issue) and sadly huge gaps in my maturity (there lie the issues). One wrote of ‘the second half of life’ – I have gone way beyond that in calendar terms, but have not yet worked my way through the first half of life character wise (and the use of the word ‘work’ probably was a give away?).

I do try and sit in the space of creating space for those younger who should go way further than the likes of my generation. It will be great to compare notes when we all hang out in the future. So a bunch of final ramblings follow.

Final future when we all hang out (and of course it might not be the ‘final’ as we have the word ‘eschatos’ not ‘telos’ for that ‘end of the ages’). No more marriage – why? Cos marriage is intended to be a sign of covenant relationship – then we will be truly in covenant relationship with all. (And those whose marriage has ended in divorce – you too are a sign too not of personal failure but of the wider pain and suffering in our world. We need every aspect lived out in grace – the diversity is important.)

Who will be hanging out? I am not a Universalist, but suspect that God might just be. Those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes for sure; those who were proclaimed ‘born again’ – I suspect God will find a way to get most of them in; those who truly lived out the embrace of humanity – I am pretty sure we will hang out; and so on and so on – God knows. It is not my part to draw lines but to provoke people to find out who they truly are and where I have space to explain the hope that is within me and the story of Jesus.

I am always disappointed when people make some self-proclamations. There will be a proclamation on that great day. I live for that. Have I done well in these past 70 years? Who knows? You don’t and I don’t. So I wait and wait in faith because of the generosity of God.

Many factors took us to Spain but the undergirding reason was that of seeking to uncover what was the Pauline Gospel. Back in 2001 I was asked to take a session at a conference in Hannover and spoke of ‘re-digging the wells of revival’ (that was the era). At the end of that time I had a small number of those from Spain who said that they did not have a history of revival comparable to what I spoke of… I instantly replied without any pre-thought with ‘what other nation on this planet can on biblical authority claim that there are first century apostolic unanswered first-century prayers in the ground. You do not need any history of revival, go dig out those prayers’. I went away to realise that the prayers were those of Paul (and others). Have we (wider we) grasped the ‘Pauline Gospel’ – well I am encouraged to see major movements forward in the academic world on a deeper exploration of Paul and his gospel. But something beyond that is coming.

The ‘gospel of the kingdom’ or ‘the Pauline Gospel’ seems to centre on Jesus’ resurrection and the disarming of all hostile powers through the cross so that this world does not have to be subject to imperial powers but can move toward transformation. This I want to sow into… Sicily calls, Istanbul calls and the Far East. Maybe even a final setting of ‘Jerusalem’ the city where a great reconciliation should be manifest – hence all the conflict and demonic ethnic cleansing in that part of the world right now… for Paul said ‘in this way all Israel will be saved’ (that demands another post, the Greek is not ‘and then’ and it does not say ‘all Israelites’ nor ‘all Jews’ (Jews and Israel not being synonymous) but it references the ‘fullness of the Gentiles’… Another of Paul’s difficult to fathom passages and rich beyond measure).

I have no idea what is to take place before the ‘trumpet sounds’ but I am sure of the prayers that have to be prayed prior to that sound – let your kingdom come (here). I remain agnosticaly active.

I have hinted at a new context in some of these posts – such as the one with Michael Kolisang. If we see people healed (and ‘saved’) in a church construct setting let us rejoice, but having been on the island of Malta recently and reading that the sick were brought to a healing meeting (oops, got to read it again!!!) there is a provocation for the presence of God to be present. (Presence is something of a new paradigm rather than ‘power’.) A new context is challenging, but I think the grave was a challenge for it was there that ‘the last enemy’ was overcome.

I grew up with George Ladd’s theology of the New Testament and many times (past) have quoted his take on the church as the agent of the kingdom. Now I suggest it is not as simple as the church being the agent of the kingdom but the body of Christ taking responsibility to be a catalyst for agents of the kingdom to rise. We are here to hold space.

The most influential season in my life (21-46 years of age) was that of the New Church Movement – if you have come another path be grateful for the path for all of us is different, it is to be fruitful and to ever lead us into new vistas – in that movement we were ‘restorationists’: God was restoring the church on the foundation of the ‘five-fold ministry’. Once the church was ‘without spot or wrinkle’ the nations would flow to ‘Zion’. Not sure God is that concerned about the shape, structure of what we term ‘church’. I am deeply grateful for that background… but now I see God’s eschatological vision as the restoration of all things. The world is centre stage. Of course God loves the ‘church’ but that has to be embedded within ‘God so loved the kosmos‘.

I think when we read of Paul’s use of imperial language (‘Lord’, ‘Saviour’, ‘peace’, ‘gospel’, ‘kingdom’, ‘salvation’, etc) it is fully understandable that people thought he was proclaiming another lord other than Caesar… and for sure, for the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and Christ. Grateful for the past but not wanting to stand still. [I appreciate Paul’s langauge is alsoshaped by Israel’s Scriptures and perhaps there is with that the challenge of how we communicate the Jesus’ story within our culture, though given that there is a core continuing issue of imperial powers we have to connect the ‘gospel’ into that.]

I have for some time seen the year 2040 as a major cut off in this season, one that was marked early on by COVID. Just for a minute (but not for too long) imagine that I only just make it to that year. What will we see by then. Well I hope I will be faithful to run with the vision I have and countless others with theirs… otherwise – OOOF. One day I saw a major global catastrophe (probably a set of catastrophes) and the world population being decimated – possibly by more than 1 billion people. Not good news, but almost certainly avoidable.

I think this is the first season when I have tried to reflect back… oh and one final reflection. When I look back and see the 1 mistake (maybe the demons made me write ‘1’)… the many mistakes I have made I find myself praying ‘God forgive me’, then one day I heard – stop praying for forgiveness, forgive yourself. Hearing that I realised how immature I am, but thought maybe somebody reading these posts could benefit from that reflection. A God-gift to humanity is the ability to make mistakes. How we handle them is how much we image God and reflect his/her glory. Reflecting back has been good for me… and also ‘forgetting what lies behind’ is as good if not better. I plan to write a few more posts before I hit the 140 marker! Thanks for reading.

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God is… humble

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Personal Perspectives

The problem with theology (word about / study of God) is that it normally starts with God and works from there. But what do we know about ‘God’? As Barth said ‘we cannot say God by saying man (sic) in a loud voice’… So we have to be ever so careful when we talk of the ‘wrath’ of God as if God is me when I am angry but only more so! Likewise ‘forgiveness’ cos if we are not careful we end up with an appeasing of God. So much theology starts with God and then all the ‘omni’ words but they are often articulated without reference to God’s character – I still think somewhat reliant on the ‘Unmoved Mover’ of the Hellenistic world. Take omniscience – God knows all things, but under conventional theology it is closely aligned to predestination . How about the analogy of a master chess player who knows how to respond to every move, only multiplied beyond measure, so that God works toward the one goal with precision, responding to every move and every opposition so that there will ultimately be ‘the reconciliation of all things, things in heaven and on earth’. As one author puts it ‘Love wins’.

As Jesus is the revelation of God we have to start there, and we also add that Jesus is the image of the new / true humanity. Hence, we can affirm that ‘God is love’. I mentally assent to that, but am provoked to believe it – that I think is a life-long journey for us all. However, I do think I believe (cos I am stunned so many times) that ‘God is humble’. I have a long way to go in my faith and I guess if I believe God is humble it it probably a step on the way to understanding that ‘God is love’. Let’s try a few verses from Paul (with my small edit!):

God is patient; God is kind; God is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. God does not insist on her/his own way; God is not irritable; God keeps no record of wrongs; God does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. God bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

We so often want a big God – big defined our way. A God who demonstrates not simply who s/he is but demonstrates that we are so right. God is BIG but does not ‘big’ her/himself up. Humility – so key in Scripture, and given the humility of God I am shocked at how arrogant I can be – knowing this, knowing that.

The pre-Pauline Philippian hymn speaks strongly of the humility of God; conventional translations have something along the lines of ‘although he was in the form of God… he humbled / emptied himself’ giving the impression that Jesus did not act in a God-like way. (And of course this plays out when we come to the cross with the view of justice demanded (by God) and mercy offered through sacrifice / appeasement).

[I am not engaging with the passage along the lines of Andrew Perriman who does not view the passage as a pre-Pauline hymn – a fascinating take for those interested… and my point below is not dependent on what the passage is at core. Andrew’s view is put forward in his book but you can get an insight to it here:
https://www.postost.net/2025/07/whats-pauls-letter-philippians-all-about.]

I appreciate we are not all Greek readers but let me simply write below what the manuscripts say:

ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ…
who in the form of God being (no ‘in spite of’, ‘although’ or any such words).

Why did Jesus not grasp at position? Why did Jesus humble himself? Why did Jesus become a slave?Why did Jesus become obedient, even to death? We have to answer it with: because he was God-like.

God is humble. Maybe I am immature and need to deeply bow under the biblical statement that ‘God is love’; but I am hopeful if I know that the God who is revealed in Jesus is humble maybe that will deal with any residual arrogance and one day I will simply need to say ‘God is love’.

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Clothing!

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Personal Perspectives

Never been a fashion icon nor with any desire to try that path. Gayle can dress me easily – all she needs to do is arrange what is in the top of a drawer as I pick the first thing every morning (tempted to make this a ‘no-comment’ post). Way back in time, 1996/7 I was meditating a lot on sack-cloth and sensed that one day I would need to add it to my great range of clothing… BTW one of my heroes Gustavo Gutiérrez once travelled in the USA and in one place his host noticed that each day he was wearing the same clothes and was evidently washing them each night. They bought him a new shirt which he gratefully received with the words ‘Thank you so much I know a brother back home who really needs a new shirt’.

Back in the 90s I used to run reasonable distances with a stop-watch (I still run now but am on the edge of ditching the stop-watch for a calendar, feeling good if I can complete 5kms the same day that I started) and I could still go back to the same part of the road when I ‘heard’, ‘it is time to get the sack cloth’. I managed to track some down and Kay (neighbour over the road) quickly put a make shift shirt and shorts together. My new wardrobe.

Within weeks there was a leadership conference for a certain movement (from memory almost 1000 leaders?). I was always due to attend and showed up, changed into the new wardrobe and joined in all the meetings. A number of questions were asked (understandably so) but I did not respond beyond – just felt the right thing to do. Without asking the host of the conference gave me the platform at the end of the conference.

It is time for new clothing, the clothing of repentance and humility is the clothing that we have to wear. We see walls that have been built but have to take responsibility for the building of the walls. We must go beyond our walls and will meet others on the ground of humility. Tonight the ‘train’ that brought us here has terminated and is not moving, we have to get out of the train of convention and find new transport to take us forward. Relationships for the sake of identity have to give way to relationships for the sake of territory.

That was the summary of what I brought.

Some time later I met with a couple who were talking to me about that evening and suddenly she had an outburst… (excuse the language) ‘They have bloody well started to move the scenery behind the train to give the appearance the train is still on the move’.

1998 – the date of the conference – to 2025 and a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then; probably if I revisited that ‘word’ I might well express it somewhat differently. But clothing is so important.

I had a woman in Chiswick, London come to me at the end of a meeting asking if I would pray for her and her work. She said she was a fashion designer. I did not reply with ‘you’ve come to the right person’, but with ‘you are in a field of work that is so ideal for a believer… clothing is a sign of the resurrection’. Paul, talking of the resurrection body described it like clothing and he said the one aspect regarding death was he did not want to appear naked. Clothing is not simply for warmth and modesty but to express who we are. I said to that woman if you can feel the pull of the resurrection you will design clothes that when there is a show models will want to wear your design for they will feel good about themselves.

Maybe we need a ‘revival’ in the fashion industry, with great designs… and some sack-cloth?

Humility is so necessary. It is the major protective clothing against the devouring work of the adversary:

And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:5-8).

But God gives all the more grace; therefore it says,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (Jas. 4:6-7).

I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment (Rom. 12:3)… For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves (Gal. 6:3).

The sack cloth is no longer in the wardrobe, but the clothing of humility should not be discarded, and we must avoid moving the background scenery to give an impression of movement.

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Up and down… and beyond

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Personal Perspectives

Reflecting back the years 1998-2008 were years when I thought ‘this is what I was born for’. 1990 we had a visit from a prophet from the USA and something was imparted. We were meeting in a school hall and there was an explosion of life. A literal ‘roar’ went up. 1994 came along and what became known as ‘the Toronto blessing’ impacted so many places in the UK… a little later and news of what was happening in Pensacola came through, then in our little pond ‘Marsham Street’ meetings began (1997) in Westminster. I remember the many responses to faith, baptisms where people were not simply drenched in water but in the Spirit and had to be dragged out of the pool. Heady days… expectations were simple, revival was here and would only grow.

A few years later Roger Mitchell read to me an email that he had received. In summary the contents were that this person knew Roger from years back and he wrote to outline how he had lost faith and lost his way but had now found his way back to the Lord. He wrote that he was not sure what he would do now with church as he observed ‘it was not public like it used to be’. At the close of the communication he said that he was living and working in Leatherhead, Surrey. The town where I lived and ‘church was not public like it used to be’. At that time one of the most prominent churches in the UK was meeting in Leatherhead, renting the largest building in the town. Inside that building one would regularly be experiencing ‘touching heaven, changing earth’ (to quote a song)… but outside?

I lived prior to Leatherhead in a town of some 11,000 people in a Christian community of around 600 people. A BIG percentage. Inside that community everything was awesome. No need to own a lawnmower – one person can ‘own’ it and numbers of us can use it… I walk past 5, 6 doors to the 7th where someone who was ‘in’ lived. Great testimony… but how was that seen by those in the previous 5 or households?

One of the most progressive (and large) churches meeting inside but not visible. And a further challenge – Mr. Scott lived at the same time in Leatherhead – so his faith was not visible?

Anyway that communication was toward the end of the 1998-2008 period, so back to that time.

In the midst of the Marsham Street season I strongly felt this needs to be taken to cities up and down the UK, and eventually one city opened her doors and over the next few years in the context of team we invested 12 weeks into the city of Leeds. I never requested an invite anywhere but numerous cities followed, at one time there were 3 teams running, I wrote two books, Germany, France, Sweden, West Coast of the USA, Brazil and other places also opened. As the Spanish say ‘I was in my salsa’.

I carried a simple approach – the church in the city / region should find that in their unity they were present for the sake of that locality; prayer at every level (and with a focus on how the effects of history can be undone) and lo and behold… well the overriding name will explain – ‘Sowing seeds for Revival’. It was in that period of time that I gained an understanding of ‘land’. With over 1200 references in Scripture not a minor theme, yet if one were to ask most Bible-oriented Christians what word they associate with ‘heaven’ they would answer with ‘hell’. Ask someone to read Scripture with no previous exposure and ask them the same question and the answer would be ‘earth’. The ‘big’ aspect of prayer as instructed by Jesus was ‘on earth as in heaven’. I began to understand how what has taken place in history is what shapes a place spiritually. After Jesus had encountered Jerusalem where he was not accepted (the place that had always rejected the prophets) we come to a few enlightening verses at the end of John 10:

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptising earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there (emphases added).

So many references to geography with one verse indicating what had taken place there to make this a place of response – John had been baptising there. A lightbulb moment for me with the understanding that land has to be healed from previous wounds and bondages, and it also opened up the meaning of Jesus submitting to John’s baptism.

Thus years of ‘sowing seeds for revival’ began. Revival – in the USA used more to describe what happens inside a meeting context; in the UK with the history of Wesley /Whitfield and more recently ‘the Welsh revival’ or the ‘Hebridean revival’ the impact on the community with deep sorrowful confession of sin and resultant conversions, so that miners no longer swore and beat the donkeys in the mines, or harvests left unharvested as attendance at church overtook every other responsibility.

I am very grateful for meeting James Thwaites who was someone who helped me see that the church is beyond the congregation and is to be embedded in and through all of society. To borrow Eugene Peterson’s language the people of God have to move into ‘the neighbourhood’ to such a level that their glory can be seen – full of grace and truth. There is the deeper challenge. Glory is what we have fallen short of (the core definition of sin – ἁμαρτάνω – to miss the mark).

I perceive that this realisation concerning the transformation of our world is on the agenda of many who have had a similar journey to my own… sadly a model has come up that outlines the need to have believers rise into the top 3% of various spheres to bring about change. I perceive the kingdom of God is not of that order, indeed for some 20+ years I have sought to outline how ‘sharia law’ is but a mirror of that ‘top down’ view, and as I believe that there is no stronger body of people on earth than the body of Christ… thus what is within that body will produce a harvest – hence sharia law draws from the well of christendom.

Wales, Lewis – not as simple as bad people in the pubs and then convicted and then in the chapels. Sure there was that element, but visit, for example Wales, and a great number of chapels were built or enlarged in the 1890’s – to accommodate the children from previous revivals, but with the overriding Calvinist theology conversion was wholly a work of God so until conviction comes there can be no salvation (of course ‘salvation’ is a work of God, but like a drowning person to whom I throw a life-line that person has to grab it. Later that person would be foolish to say ‘I saved myself’ – their part would be simply – thank God someone saved me. Oh and in Acts we do have the phrase ‘save yourselves’!!!!).

We are in a different era. ‘Revival’ as defined by our history I suspect is history other than some further outbreaks, but the body of Christ (using that term rather than ‘church’ as often we use the word we all know and make a direct equivalence with what we know) engaging in the cultural mess of our world I see as the future.

I loved that era that I am reflecting on. I could give so many stories – hundreds of watches and clocks that restarted that were broken and had been put away – at one point in Brazil I asked that people went home dug them out and if they had restarted they should bring them the next evening and we would line the platform with them. I even had a story told me (from the UK) of a clock that had the pendulum removed as the ‘tick’ was intrusive to the room, it was taken down for redecoration and lo and behold the clock started again ‘tick, tock’ with no pendulum. Signs of the start of time, not the repetition of the past.

But as for all of us we project forward from where we are. Looking back is better (‘this is that’) but we do not have that luxury. Inevitably I still project forward – I hope I do it with a less strong viewpoint now than then.

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Prayer, a complex partnership

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Personal Perspectives

I don’t find prayer easy. My mind wanders. And I led prayer teams here there and everywhere. Ah well God chooses the foolish ones?

My best rhythm is when I get out and walk and toward the end of the time felt a challenge that on a certain area of concern I was praying too much! Jesus warned us not to pray too much (‘do not pray like the pagans who think they will be heard with their many words’) and I realised that a percentage of my praying was due to anxiety over the situation and a lack of trust in God. If I pray more… The big issue was my anxieties – deal with them, the lack of trust in God and pray less.

Prayer is so complicated. Why pray? A standard response is that God does not need prayer (after all God is omnipotent and can do whatever) and that it is ultimately for us. I think that view is in error though as I have indicated in the previous paragraph prayer has a direct impact on changing us. However much it conflicts with our view on ‘omnipotence’ and ‘sovereignty’ God needs prayer. There is an agreement between us and God that is required. That key part of the ‘Lord’s prayer’ indicates a world view that the will of God is not being done: ‘Let your kingdom come, let your will be done’.

We must get rid of any idea that prayer (for example) changes God in the sense that we twist God’s arm so that now he will get on with the task of saving my friend Johnny. God wants all to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth – thus I cannot buy into the choice of God from all eternity as to who is saved (maybe a post one day on predestination, election etc?).

God and humanity… Our vote is big when it comes to heaven’s activity. Prayer does not change God but it does change God’s activity and level of presence. It is so powerful – situations can change and in the process we change. And of course key to all this is that ‘earth’ is given to us, and we have consistently ‘fallen’ thus our sphere is that of coming out from under the one to whom we gave authority and nestling under the one who has authority ‘in heaven and on earth’. Prayer is to God but is to remove all areas that are under the authority of the ‘prince of this world’. All of that changes at the hour of the resurrection and we live the other side of that… and yet this ‘evil age’ continues. In comes prayer!

Next post I will jump into a reflection on the phase of my life when I was leading prayer teams (‘sowing seeds for revival’) to many cities in the UK and beyond.

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Prophecy… a great era

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Personal Perspectives

I am not planning to make an incredible post on ‘prophecy and the prophetic’ (as if I could!). There are so many testimonies of prophetic words that open up what has been previously shut, or confirm what has been carried during a prior season, but it is not that that I want to reflect on.

I first encountered a serious level of the prophetic in 1981 when I sat and observed a prophet from the USA who had come through the Latter Rain Movement and he prophesied over a number of people that I knew (and he did not) and who were in prominent positions within the charismatic world in the UK. I had no idea how he knew what he knew.

Since then I have had the privilege of witnessing many such times when that has taken place… but here we are some 35+ years since those days. I am deeply grateful for that background, but also am aware that not only has some decades passed but we are in a new context. Last week I was deeply provoked when I was told that someone who Gayle and I prophesied over is ‘waiting for the fulfilment’ which of course is what we have to do but part of waiting often challenges expectations.

When we were searching for a property in Madrid we received a word that contained the phrase that ‘it would be bigger than we think’. Well, we had been looking for a small property and with all of them we were outpriced. If unable to afford something smaller then there is not too much of a difference when looking for something bigger – both scenarios are in the beyond your resources area. We opened the search wider (we knew the ‘where’ we should be) and as we looked at bigger apartments and still nothing connected. An important principle in all things prophetic is that in all things ‘the peace of God is the final arbitrator in our hearts’. So nothing connected. Then one day an agent said ‘we have this place you can look at’. It was as small as anything we had looked at before, but was at a lower price as it had many issues on it (Including that the only reference to the owner that we found on a search was ‘do not deal with this man as he is a thief’ – perhaps more on that later). We thought we might as well go and look as there is nothing else we are looking at on that day.

We walked in and instantly knew we were to go for this one as we could see that we could get the entire government and judiciary of Spain inside that apartment – not literally, but present to leverage. (Location is vital.)

Bigger than you think. So often the issue is our thinking. We hear something and it might connect with our thinking at that point of time, but we have to move our thinking forward as the future context will often be different when we finally connect. Prophecy comes at point ‘A’… fulfilment is at point ‘C’ in our lives; expectation is a fulfilment in our present context and if we hold on too tightly to how it will be we can fail to be ready or fail to see the opportunity for fulfilment when it comes.

A prophetic word comes and then if there is to be a fulfilment there has to be an interior work in us; there has to be a preparation in us so that we be ready.

Language in the prophetic can also be misunderstood – bigger than you think = more square metres; and the fulfilment was something with less square metres but appropriate for the task in hand.

I am aware that there were many wonderful words to numerous people from 1990 onwards, and that since then there has been many shifts in the wider context. This is a major factor as if expectations are that fulfilments will be in a previous context there will be disappointments and we will be waiting and waiting.

This aspect of the change of context is something that goes way beyond prophetic words and fulfilments and is an aspect that will come through as I reflect.

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Prophecy and control

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by Martin Scott
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Prophetic words and revelation that communicate can make an amazing difference to a life or a situation and probably in the next post will develop that side. However… and sadly I also have to touch on the levels of control that I have confronted – blatantly in the numerous years when I travelled to Brazil and perhaps not so blatant in other places.

I still respond to requests from certain situations to bring some prophetic revelation and always make sure that the person on the receiving end knows they are the ‘boss’. They have every right to reject what is being brought, and they are not about to receive something that is controlling or manipulative. Paul describes one of the ‘works of the flesh’ as witchcraft and anything that seeks to control, manipulate or dictate in the context of interpersonal relationships is indeed a work of the flesh. It might come in the form of a charismatic gift… in the form of prophecy, but nevertheless it is ‘false prophecy’. False prophecy is not that which is wrong, it is a spirit. If someone consistently gets it ‘wrong’ then they need help and probably need to take a step back for a season – but that in itself is not false prophecy.

[An aside: one of the theological errors I believe, and something that has been popularised in many charismatic / third wave circles is that the prophets of the Old Testament spoke the very words of God, and the apostles of the New Testament did likewise, whereas the New Testament prophets spoke relatively. This does not stand up to biblical examination and I am sure the original proponent of this was operating from a presupposition concerning the inerrancy of Scripture – similar to one of my earlier posts about my days in New Testament introduction classes and the ever-present drive to prove that each and every NT book was ‘apostolic’. The Bible does not need our help!!!]

‘We had a person through who to each person he gave out their social security number and then what followed was a prophetic word, but each word was manipulative – even some at the level of threat’… ‘if you do not receive this word then this will happen…’

The above was reported to me. Perhaps the person received the numbers from heaven (I question that) but irrespective of the source the response was not one of faith and freedom but bondage. In Brazil I always held one session on false prophecy and at the close always held a response time seeking to insist that if they had been subject to such an experience that we would pray. I tried to make the response very tight so excluded where they had received something that was not accurate, or they knew that whatever they had received did not have a hold on them. On average 25-35% of those present would respond. The biggest battle was getting people to the place where they verbally rejected what had been given as they had to confront the fear of ‘but if I reject this what will happen’. Following the renunciation I would always call for healing – and sometimes as many as 50-100 people would testify to healing – such as being able to move their arm, leg or body in a free way for the first time in a decade or more.

Prophecy is never about the person giving the ‘word’. As soon as that becomes the case a door is open to all sorts of problems. Peter was asked to ‘feed my sheep’. The ministry platform has opened up the reverse of that… those listening, listen with awe and are impressed (‘duped’) and the person (ego) being fed is the platform person.

I believe in prophetic gifts. We are in a new time, a new situation, and this requires new protocols and also (re-)new(ed) people. Being impressed by the superstar is not what will bring the kingdom of heaven into reach but will only serve to keep the body immature and the remainder of society bereft of heaven’s perspective.

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An interlude

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Prophetic Perspectives

I am making an interlude in my pre-70 posts (resuming tomorrow) as we (the corporate ‘we’) are beginning to see an important shift in our world.

Quite some time ago Gayle had a very significant dream – she has many but I have never witnessed her so impacted as a result. The dream as we understand it focused on Europe as the place where a response took place and it was a huge protest about the situation for the Palestinians in Gaza. We are beginning to see this right now – and we have to have huge respect for the protests within Israel itself – in cities, in concerts that suddenly erupt in protest, in airports. It is happening, or at least beginning to happen.

I appreciate there are differing views on Israel, the land and ‘eschatological’ events but currently the level of genocide with the complicities of many of our nations and mega-companies is beyond intolerable.

The second part of the dream was as a result of the European voice on Palestine was that of a serious shift in the banking / economic world. The focus was on the children. A major ‘god’ to be confronted in the Old Testament was Moloch and it is the continuation of that alliance that is what drives so much of the global western economy. That ‘spirit’ is placated and will bless today if we are willing to sacrifice the next generation (child sacrifice). We have to see a return to ‘seedtime and harvest’ – we sow today for the future harvest, so much of what underpins the economic western structure is that we borrow from a future that has not yet appeared to fund today. Global debt… If we as individuals were to run our finances in the same way we would be imprisoned.

I pause on my reflections because soon I will not be here (even if I live to my 132 fantasy age!!!) but it is all about the children. ‘Take off your shoes Mr. Banks and play with the children’ was where Gayle’s dream ended. ‘And a child will lead them’ (Is. 11:6).

Follow the money… otherwise we will not see clearly and will not sow to a future where (the subsequent verses) come into view:

They will not hurt or destroy
    on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.

We have entered a major crack in time. 2008, 2020 and now 2025. We watch, bear witness.

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