Tag: Christendom

Back from Istanbul

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Reports

Arrived home on Sunday, not only does it take time to reflect but also how accurate are any reflections, but I will give it a go! First though back in time!

We all (I think) have a framework within which we see life. That framework can be small or big and ‘big’ does not mean more important. I say that as mine tends to be big which probably means the only way I know what is going on at a ‘real life’ level is when Gayle gives me a kick up the proverbials.

A background

Some while back as I was praying (and I am not a great pray-er) a map of the world appeared before me and as it appeared two great land masses moved. South America moved to position itself under Europe and Africa moved east being positioned under China / far east. I noted that the Indian sub-continent did not move. Way back in the day when I was travelling regularly to Brazil I declared that Brazil would remove its currency from a dependency on the US dollar and relate to the Euro (I cannot remember if I said it would drop its currency and join the euro or not). Obviously South America as we have it was shaped by the colonising exploits mainly of Spain and Portugal. It has encouraged us to see that Spain has taken steps toward repentance for the genocides and colonisation – more has to come. Africa is invested into heavily by China, and with the Indian sub-continent not moving I suspect it will become much more of a global trade partner and have influence on the global scene.

China, and her relations in the far East, is set to become the next global super-power. I hold that when there is a shift of imperial power that the rising power has to ‘eat’ the former power. China – communist or not now? Or has it been eating gradually the capitalism of the West?

The big factor for me though is that of faith. Christendom, sometimes characterised as society that has ‘Judeo-Christian’ values, has shaped the West, and from the West to many parts of the globe. Christendom is more than an expression of ‘Judeo-Christian values’, but that which privileges ‘Christianity’ often with a state-church or even where government is supposedly Christian. I do not see that as the original setting for faith nor set as a goal to be established. This is why I have such high hopes for Europe. ‘Secular’, ‘post-Christian’ and many such labels are put on this continent. However, given that such culture as we now see developing – multi-faith for example – we are moving toward something much more akin to the context of the first century. Faith in Jesus was much more than the expression of a private religion but a declaration that there was an open invitation to join the movement that believed ‘new creation’ was breaking in already, and the days of Caesar and the like were numbered.

I am deeply grateful and full of admiration for the commitment to Jesus in the far east, but… yes there is a but! A Christendom-free, kenotically-shaped gospel is what Europe can lead the way in .

Spain became clear to Gayle and I as being ‘the only nation on the planet that can claim on the basis of Scripture that there are first-century unanswered apostolic prayers in the ground’ and that if they could be partnered with the possibility of the resurrection of the ‘Pauline gospel’ could begin. (That perspective in no way suggests that we have found the keys nor that we will ever be the custodians of such a gospel. We all have a part to play and everything anyone does, small or big, is done in the name of Jesus for the sake of the body of Christ.)

Sicily became clear as a place, based on its history and geographical setting, where there could be a leverage point to pray and push for the future. From there we got sight of Istanbul – a city of 15 million in the land (Roman province of Asia) where Paul worked – as a follow on from Sicily. Located in Europe and Asia; history of (Orthodox) Christianity and Islam; formerly known as Constantinople (new Rome) as capital of the Eastern Empire… with so much more history and significance.

Anyway I put the above here to try to give a context, realising that even when we have sight we see in part.

A merry band of 7

Bjorn & Maria – from Sweden. A wonderful couple who have given and given again at great cost into the marginalised who have come to Sweden, many fleeing for their lives. Huge respect to them.
Next is Gayle – awesome person!
Then Kathy and Steve. Huge commitment from them both into the holding together of the far east (with two wonderful daughters from China as well as two older daughters born in the UK). If you look closely you will notice that Steve’s legs are very short due to walking from Whitby to Rome and then on to Saudi Arabia! Then me coming along for the ride. And finally Paul who has heavily invested into the Middle Eastern world, and from my memory, this time was the 6th time he had been in Istanbul.

We leaned heavily on Paul for guidance through the city physically (15+ million people) but more importantly through the layers that are present. Steve held this ‘magnificent seven’ all in place. It really was easy and a pleasure being together (always helps when there are no ‘egos’).

The background to coming there was the months that we had spent in Sicily where the (very tangible) layers of Imperial domination and historical oppression and incarceration of the feminine was clearly visible through both myth and story. Sicily being the centre of ‘middle earth’ / first colony of Rome / centre of the then Empire / first place ‘conquered’ to form the modern Italy, she gave sight to what lay beyond and Istanbul as ‘the new Rome’ (Constantinople through Constantine); headquarters of the eastern Empire / displaying the contention and divide between Islam and (Orthodox) Christianity; meeting point and divide of the two continents of Asia and Europe… so from Sicily Istanbul ‘called’.

It is so hard to pull out points that answer the question of ‘and…?’ but here is a small attempt.

We were very aware that the beast (Jewish writers used the term ‘beast’ or drew on undomesticated animals to represent imperial hostile powers) can appear to be obliterated but that a head can resurrect (Rev. 13:3) and we are seeing this very clearly at this current itme with the attempt to resurrect / keep alive Christendom. It does seem that the original seat of ‘Christianised’ faith in Istanbul (Hagia Sophia) was taken over by Islamic faith and once Islam took on the clothing of that brand of Christian faith Islam was able to expand. In reality there is a deep resonance between those who claim Christian faith but want it expressed through dominance over; an Islamic faith that is expressed through opposition to all other faiths and the claim to pull on the God of Israel as we see within Zionism. Those three ‘Abrahamic / monotheistic’ faiths when they are used to empower dominance over eventually submit to the same ‘god’ – that ‘god’ not being the God of Israel and the parent of our Lord Jesus. Violence and killing is what Jesus attributed to the ‘devil who is a murderer from the beginning’.

So one strand was into the untwining of the threefold ungodly cord – at the surface those three faiths might not be seen as aligned but I have a deep conviction that they are… and the challenge therefore remains of – regardless of ‘faith label’ – being a Jesus-aligned person.

Jumping ahead in our time-line in Istanbul when we crossed to the Asian side and got off the boat we were immediately met by a very oppressive call to prayer coming from the Mosques (much heavier than on the European side). And immediately in front of us was a shot-out car – either taken from Gaza or replicated from a car that was shot out there – complete with over 300 bullet holes and the occoupants left murdered. It was alongside a highly sobering display of the ongoing genocide that is taking place in Gaza. The history of faith being used to legitimise killing. Trauma, trauma, trauma.

Painful to wak through but ever so necessary.

The divides were where we were focused – the faith divides; the divide between Asia and Europe (so much more could be said about the need for Europe to find an identity, not simply for Europe’s sake nor simply for now. Without it China / Far East will simply eat the current Western hegemony and there will be no real shift); the feminine space – the lack of it being seen so clearly in a city dominated by the toxic masculine.

Prior to going I had had a conversation with Rowena who had considered coming with us to Istanbul and she had talked about her desire to put Jasper into the city, into the spaces. This we did – naming each Jasper that each of us put into the various ‘cracks’ – including into the Bosporus.

Jasper is the first stonein the new city:

It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal.

And the results???? What a smart question that we have such a tendency to want ot ask! Who knows, but prayer sows into the (open) future. The day we left the news carried that Erdogen’s government had put the squeeze on the opposition with violence against their headquarters. Of course those things happen (and not just in Turkey!!!) but perhaps the timing indicates it was a sign that as we sought to press into the ‘cracks’ that the pressure made some impact.

We did have a very nice sign indeed at the last meal we had together. Throughout the time we encountered the number ‘7’ – on the wall of the apartment where we stayed, on the wall of the blue Mosque where we prayed and at numerous other points in the city. The last meal came to exacty 7777.00 Turkish Lira. Four 7s – a hugely significant combination of numbers in Revelation – symbolic of the completeness for the sake of the entire creation. Maybe we should not assume we have sorted out all of creation(!!!) but that what we went to do is our small part into that ‘reconciliation of all things’ or now. I am sure a very small part, but deeply encouraging.

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Istanbul… we are here

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by Martin Scott
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Well at least we plan to be as I wrote this post a few days ago and scheduled it to come out today (21 May). Scheduled as I had started to write pushing into how we approach Scripture when it presents us with mammoth sized problems provided we don’t simply ignore the issues. Anyway, Istanbul.

For those who followed our journey in Sicily where we sensed that we needed to go to a) track with the Imperial history of Europe that has been tied up with Christendom’s expression and b) sow into the future. How successful? No idea at all. And if a good step maybe the smallest contribution into the future.

While there as we prayed and journeyed to different places it seemed that Istanbul became the next place. Neither Gayle nor I have ever been there (though Gayle’s sister has been teaching there for the past couple of years) but the history of the place – back through the Ottoman empire to the clash between an expression of Christianity and an expression of Islam as well as being key as a portal between east and west pulls.

I am asked sometimes ‘Is Allah God’. Interesting question as the word ‘Allah’ means ‘God’. My actual response is to ask a question back – ‘is the Christian God, God?’ I ask that as it depends what content we give to the word ‘God’ as to whether we describe ‘God’ or simply a ‘god’ of our own making. I guess we all have a ‘god’ who is less than ‘God’, and it depends how much less as to whether the less-than-God still has enough resemblance to ‘God’ or not.

To make judgements is not our place, to seek to understand who God is and to make God known is our place. I am not to know if (say) a Muslim who has an understanding of ‘God’ that they were given and seeks to do what is right is going to be a companion in the age to come; neither do I know if someone who grew up understanding God to be continually in a bad mood will be a companion. Salvation is through Jesus alone, not through belief, though both belief and action are relevant.

I do consider though that there are unholy allegiances and there is a fearful similarity between Christendom (clearly exemplified with the crusades in history, and in all forms of hatred) and the desire for some from within the Islamic community to exercise sharia law over others. ‘Over’ is such a key word. The work of God is to invite people not to put something in place that is over. Go back in history and Paul was so clear that he was honouring ‘God’ through the persecution of what he considered was a blasphemous cult. Did Paul serve ‘God’ or was he serving a ‘god’?

Sworn enemies can be at each other’s throats but can be operating from the same source! Jesus aligned the strict sect leaders within Israel (Pharisees) with their ‘father the devil’. I don’t think that went down too well. Christendom – a manifestation of a kind of Christianity, certain more extreme forms of Islam, and certain expressions of Judaism (or Jewishness with those who do not express faith) in my opinion seem to align themselves with the same (kind of) ‘god’.

In history Istanbul was ‘Constantinople’, the new Rome and capital of the Eastern Empire, the headquarters for Christendom. That magnificient cathedral was converted into a mosque. Those conversions of buildings from one religion to another were always seen as a symbol of victory, but I believe something deeper was going on. Islam aligned with Christendom’s model at that point, and I have held for years that the ‘well’ that Islam draws from is that of Christendom.

This will be one aspect we will pray into… There is more that will come out, particularly as this trip we will lean heavily on four people who have insight beyond mine. Grateful for Kathy & Steve Lowton, Maria and Bjorn Isacsson and Paul Wood who will bring what they carry both in terms of insight and story. I suspect as the few days unfold I will post updates.

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Istanbul – May

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by Martin Scott
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We have tickets booked for Istanbul for a few days toward the end of May. Istanbul with a history back into antiquity, and Istanbul that came into focus during our days in Sicily (seems a long time ago!). So here comes a rambling post.

I am amazed with the diversity of what people give themselves to in life, and as far as having a focus for the advancement of the gospel is concerned I am very uncritical of whatever people give themselves to – other than being very cautious where people are motivated by ego, or to help God out! Those aspects can be ever so subtle. I have vested interest in being uncritical as it then becomes easier to justify whatever I feel to give myself to!

Rambling post about to begin! Global issues are huge and not about to become less complex anytime soon and the expression of the gospel is very diverse in different parts of the world. My focus is Europe and (broad sweep) it was the cradle of the gospel within a short period of time after the initial apostolic era with a huge part of the NT focused on the expansion of the locale where the good news of Jesus was proclaimed. Challenges – and changes – took place slowly over that period. A Hellenisation of the message began, I am sure in great measure to connect culturally, but that Hellenisation brought a shift over centuries from a very earthy message (how could it not be earthy when the resurrection of a body was central?) to a ‘going to heaven’ and ‘avoiding hell’ becoming central and when those two become central there is a short path to drawing very firm lines of ‘in / out’ and of exercising huge control over people. Add to this the Constantinian move of ‘by this sign you will conquer’ and there is quite a shift from the original message. How big a shift? Well Jesus invited / instructed followers to carry a cross (figuratively), not to crucify others but it certainly made it easier for others to crucify them – the instrument was already available. [Gayle and I were once with a well-known couple whose books are on many book shelves and we were instructed to get ourselves guns as at that time there were various threats on Spain from certain Islamic quarters… I thought this was a joke and waited for the punch line. There was no punch line.] I am not to judge whether Constantine had a conversion but certainly cannot endorse the message that we conquer by the cross on our swords.

Subtly, and maybe not so slowly, a message has gone from that cradle of the gospel (Europe) to many parts of the earth. Honourable people have taken it and the power of the gospel is evident with the changes that have taken place, but at some level the ‘clothing’ for the gospel has been one of colonisation of cultures and progress is measured by the christianisation of a nation.The gospel does bring about a cultural change but must never dominate at any level of control: the kingdom of God is not the ‘control’ of God but the invitation to be transformed and as a result to be part of a transforming movement – a movement that is focused relationally through a message of reconciliation and with a central focus on the marginalised.

So Istanbul… or Constantinople as was. Founded in 330AD as the ‘new Rome’ it was a major ‘Christian’ hub with a mega push through the construction of the Hagia Sophia (not quite the ‘holy’ or ‘wisdom’ that we find in the NT!!). Fast forward and… OK here come personal perspectives.

Today there are three monotheistic faiths that all claim Abraham as their father. Those three take diverse shapes. But at the extreme end all three have an expression of militancy over others with a divine mandate to use force to control (and even justifing genocide). Is there a difference between the three or are the extreme version of each simply a version of one another? I suggest the latter is the case, and that the ‘god’ they claim to be in subservience to is the same ‘god’. A three-fold cord is not easily broken.

[This is where I see the unique significance of Jerusalem / land of Israel. In conflict and perpetuating conflict it excels, but if there is one place on the earth that potentially can reveal reconciliation that is the place… We can discover what God is doing by seeing the perversion of it – God works in the opposite.]

So off we will head to Istanbul. A small group who are far from being smart and knowing what to do.But with a focus on the now-mosque (Hagia Sophia) for historically there was an increase of the spread pf Islam once they were able to inhabit the previous house (originally an impressive cathedral) that manifested Christendom. Maybe we can help cut the tie between Islam/ Sharia law and the ‘Christian’ expression of it as manifested through christendom? I have long maintained that whatever followers of Christ exhibit is what can change (for better for worse) the wider society, along the lines of ‘you have heard it said… but I say to you…’

Christendom and Europe. Europe is essentially post-christendom. Seen as a demise of values by some (and there are some ‘losses’) but I consider it totally necessary and with a leverage to see the possibility of a more earthy-related faith in Jesus prosper – the sort of faith that was exhibited in the oikoumene of the Roman Empire. And ever so telling that it was that oikoumene (ready made shape and structure) that was offered to Jesus in the wilderness… and turned down.

Beyond the focus on christendom there is an east/west gateway in Istanbul. At this time there is an ongoing shift from west to east. So prayer for something so indigenous and expressing a gospel without the encumbrances of the clothing that has for centuries shaped our understanding of the gospel.

So tickets booked… and if we make a little contribution to the future that will be wonderful. Little acts and prayers – all we ever have to offer.

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Christendom

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Prophetic Perspectives

I subscribe to Jeff Fountain’s weekly newsletter and this week his title was:

The Constantine Trap (Click on link to read the full newsletter).

Here are the headings (but I recommend a full read):

  • The first danger of a ‘Christian empire/nation’: Faith is shaped by power, not obedience.
  • The second danger: Faith becomes compulsory rather than voluntary.
  • The danger deepened: War itself was given sacred meaning.
  • The pattern repeats: Christianity becomes civilisational identity, not just personal faith.
  • The danger is exclusion: Outsiders are seen as threats to Christian identity, rather than neighbours to be loved.
  • The danger is clear and present: Christianity has become weaponised to ‘make America great’ rather than to offer freedom to all peoples.

A nation may be shaped by Christian values—justice, truth, dignity, compassion—but it cannot be Christian in the way individuals or communities can. The state wields power. 

Following Jesus Christ, the church must be the state’s conscience. Not merely its chaplain.

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Sicily – a break and an update

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by Martin Scott
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At last I get round to a bit of an update on our little journey in Sicily. For the past three weeks we have had Elizabeth Coveney (known her for 49 years!! Our ‘kids’ grew up together for years), Annie Macintosh (a director with Andrew Chua and Gayle in their company, Authentic Business Catalyst) and also for a few days at the beginning of that time we also had Jenny Rettig (Switzerland) with us. It is wonderful to have the ‘right’ people who carry something for the relevant phase – not merely right in the sense of what knowledge / insight / wisdom they carry, but the story they hold. Eventually people (land???) does not catch what we proclaim but what we carry – ‘I do not have…, but what I have I give to you’.

We had four main loci – Agrigento, Palermo, Catania and Siracusa, with a central focus. Phase 1 was a discovery of the colonisation that is the common theme in the history of Sicily; this phase was a focus on the healing of the (toxic) feminine and the toxic masculine. Never possible to absolutely state what is ‘masculine’ and what is ‘feminine’ but they are rough terms to help. In this phase Gayle with the others took a lead (hate to admit it, and of course would absolutely deny it if challenged, but way over my head). Along the way we encountered three female ‘saints’ – Agatha (Catania), Lucia (Siracusa) and Rosalia (Palermo). Their dedication to Christ and the Gospel, led for the first two to be martyred (Rosalia was not martyred but walked away to become a hermit)… Later then colonised to become protectors. The end result was not the rescuing of the feminine but the disappearance of the feminine under the guise of being rescued.

Always hard to explain… and the last thing that would be a reality is that we are in some way ‘experts’. Bumblers along. I take great encouragement from the story of the woman who put her two coins in the Temple treasury – there seems an amazing connection to the pulling down of the Temple and its wealth with her little act. I hope a few of our antics might serve something bigger changing.

Today Annie and Elizabeth left. We moved to a new accommodation and tomorrow move again (no idea how many places we have dragged our cases into now!). On Saturday we have family arriving and till Tuesday will enjoy that context, all getting us ready for our final phase (4th – 19th March(approx)). That phase will be very different and has to bring our time here to a conclusion. That north east corner holds the third corner of the island / book; it is where Garibaldi left the island on his further conquest of the ‘two Sicilies’ to mark the end of the significant phase of creating the new united Italy; and was very central for a ‘proto-crusade’ and the sixth crusade. Christendom in full force!

We began (not planned) in the place where Garibaldi entered the island; we then move in this final phase to where he left; thus marking the beginning and end of the recent colonisation. We came here with the ancient map of the Queen of Europe with the orb (Sicily) in her hand with the cross over it – Christendom; symbolising the rule over the world. So, for sure this element of Christendom will be a focus… and while praying in Palermo two things came clear also: we need to visit the financial quarters of Milan (the financial centre of Italy) on the way home. Anyway more on that when we get there! And that before long we need to get to Istanbul (planning for this in April) to pray into the well that (militant) Islam draws from. Now a big subject so here goes.

There are three monotheistic faiths that claim to be rooted in Abraham’s journey: Islam, Judaism and Christianity. (Of course none of those faiths are monolithic.) I have long believed that Islam draws from Christendom well. Sharia law and Christendom are not very far apart! There is a connection between the entry of the Mosque (Hagia Sophia) into the Christian Cathedral that accelerated the spread of Islam. Putting their house inside the Christendom home was a key. (Of course I could be well bonkers on all this, but has been a conviction for a decade or more.) It seems to me that it will be the end of the ‘Sicily adventure’.

We came here believing that this small place (in global terms) held some keys for a bigger change and the Istanbul part will be a gate from West to East. And economic issues and Christendom are key issues in our world that are manifesting way above the surface.

On the journey goes! Maybe Etna will respond in this final phase as there still is a rage that needs to manifest and there needs to be an (out)rage against all previous abuse.

We do our small thing… others do theirs and it will enable God to do something none of us can do.

Bit of a ramble, some of which might make sense.

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Divided we stand

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by Martin Scott
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On one side or on the other? Some years back Gayle and I were advised (strongly advised = all but commanded) to get guns. The one who told us was a house-hold name in the Christian world. We waited for the punch line as obviously this was a joke. No punch line came, but an explanation for the advice. Apparently as we lived in Spain we were in mortal danger of Islam entering the land and bringing our lives to an end, hence the nation (and us) needed defending and we should be prepared to do this apparently as our Christian duty. I replied with that if this was connected to the ‘success’ of the gospel and this terrible vision of the future unfolded then no guns should be found in our hands and it is we who might have to lay down our lives. Not satisfied with this response the person with considerable exasperation in their voice said that if we would not enter into the fray that if they were any way close at the time they would undertake to do the necessary killings.

OOOOOFFFFF!

Defend the faith at all counts. Yet…

Jesus said, “My kingdom does not belong to this world; if my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. No, my kingdom does not belong here!”

My followers would fight… if.

There is a desperate battle currently not for the preservation of the Christian faith but for the preservation of Christendom (and the oxymoric term ‘Christian nation); Christendom which is centred on the use of power for ‘good’. I am not a reader of Lord of the Rings but in that story there is a very poignant character ‘Boromir’ who wants to use the ring’s power but only for good.

So deceptive. Imagine if we had the ear of the key politicians; imagine what we could do if we had an endless source of finances… or imagine if Jesus could have used the efficiency and reach of the Roman Empire of his day? [And that is one of the explanations used for Jesus coming at ‘the fullness of times’ – a reason that only a pro-Christendom reading could come up with a being the core understanding of that phrase!]

And…?

It is exactly that offer that Jesus turned down. The devil showed him the kingdoms of the oikoumene and was told that those could be his to use for eternal ‘good’. (For the use of oikoumene for Roman Empire see an earlier post.) Or in Tolkien language – take the ring and use it for good.

I do believe we are facing global crises; the hegemony of the West is coming to a close… but the biggest crisis of all is with regard to our faith. The path ahead is not an easy one but the biggest crisis now is whether the ring being taken for good dictates the future of our faith. The ring has to be rejected if we are to be the truly redeeming agent in the world. Challenged but also optimistic that we stand at the entry door to an amazing future – the end of an era or the beginning of a new one. Brave (and probably marginalised) vision for the future. Poets, artists lead the way.

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Time – repeats or the future arrives?

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Prophetic Perspectives

Time is such an elusive factor – a discussion within the scientific community, a theological / theo-philosophical discussion (I am not of the ‘God outside of time’ school, but cannot easily resolve all the factors – another post another day!), and in the light of the video that I reference here it is a challenge prophetically. I am deeply disturbed by the ‘again’ language that is used explicitly and implicitly. In times past I came across people who said that the most basic step in the prophetic was to have authority over the weather but I have come to the conclusion that the greatest requirement is to enable kairos time (arrival of heaven) to chronological time. Otherwise history just repeats.

I recorded three videos, the first one here and I will publish one a day over the next couple of days. The first is on the issue of time and not being caught in the snare of ‘again’. The second is a shift I see that is vital that we move from ‘demonstrating the power of God’ as a conclusive sign to that of the presence of God, and the third I look at the shift from Jerusalem –> West, and now what?

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Marginalised…?

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Theology

There is a fairly oft-repeated perspective that in many countries where symbols of Christianity were once prominent that we are now facing in those places Christianity being marginalised, and to such an extent that the suggestion is that those who profess Christian faith are even being persecuted. Along the same line great positivity is expressed when a writing comes out that outlines how the West has been shaped by the Christian faith.

There could well be some truth in the above, but…

  • The early Centuries after the death of Jesus those who lived by their confession that ‘Jesus is Lord’ were truly marginalised. Embedded in the Imperial world always living with the threat that they would not be able to buy and sell. So maybe if there is truth in the marginalisation / persecution narrative perhaps it will serve to bring us closer to the context (and faith?) of the New Testament. [A story: when back in the day and Gayle and I were travelling we had just finished a conference with a couple who are fairly well-known in the Christian world (many who read this post probably have a copy of one of their books on their shelves). We were told to get guns and be armed… initially I thought this is a joke with a punch line. However no punch line but the explanation that Muslims have a vision for Europe so we need to be ready to kill them! My reply – maybe for the sake of the Gospel ‘they’ might have to kill us… That story illustrates two different world-views.]
  • I read recently that 1) there is no God other than the Jesus-looking God, who is 2) looking for a Jesus-looking people who 3) are seeking to engage with the wider world in a Jesus-looking way. All views of engaging with the world need to be shaped in that way. Turning the other cheek (not a pacifist act but something much deeper), or expressed in summary ‘following the Lamb wherever he goes’… or as summarised ‘loving the enemy’, has to be present.
  • If we insist on Christianity not being marginalised we need to be sure it is the genuine article… we could end up (and I have a perspective so would use the verb ‘will’ rather than ‘could’) with Christianity re-established and Jesus marginalised. Let us not confuse Christianity with faith in Jesus. As I have oft-written no-one assumed that Paul was calling for those to pray a ‘sinners prayer’ and then attend Bible study sessions. The call was considerably deeper and one that motivated him to get to the ‘centre for the propagation for the gospel’ so that he could declare what he was convinced was the true Gospel in that place (Rome and the letter to the ‘Romans’).

I might be considered weird by some but I am not so weird that I am asking for all aspects of the Christian faith to be marginalised(!) but I am suggesting that we are at a very intense time of reset when either there will be ‘success’ in the traction to make Christianity central again, or… I like the ‘or’.

The central body of faith in Jesus’ time classified people as ‘sinners’. It was not as simple as ‘they broke the commandments’ but that they did not follow our tradition. One cannot come up with a one view as to why Jesus died but one aspect concerning his death was that he ate with the wrong people. Part of the ‘or’ alternative will be that a Jesus-looking people will be guilty of eating with the wrong people… of refusing to have arms and accepting the injustice of marginalisation.

If the restoration of Christianity means the marginalisation of Jesus and the marginalisation of Christianity means that Jesus can be witnessed to… I choose the latter. It is probably not a binary choice – but I deeply suspect that the Jesus-way is closer to the latter option than the former.

[W]ho through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and holes in the ground (Heb. 11:33-38).

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History repeats / rhymes

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Prophetic Perspectives

There are various quotes about history repeating itself. Here are two such quotes:

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. (George Santayana).
Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. (Winston Churchill).

And Mark Twain added a nice little nuance:

History does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes.

Not sure where this post will go but here are a few background elements that provoked me to write this morning.

  • I have been agitated over the various ‘again’ messages these past few years. ‘Again’ that looks back is not based in the eschatological vision of the New Testament. ‘I press on’ was one of my readings this very morning. Hence my seeking to understand how to align (chronological) time with heaven’s (‘kairotic’) time.
  • Late 1990s / early 2000s a major emphasis was the rolling up of the Roman way which culminated in Steve Lowton initiating a walk from Whitby (UK, where the Celtic church effectively submitted to the pattern and teaching of Rome in 664 AD/CE) to St Peter’s Square, Rome to bring that focus to a conclusion.
  • The strong belief that the Gospel is not from this world but is for this world. It is not political in the sense of ‘capitalism vs socialism’, or any other such supposed polarities but is deeply and essentially political with the language used being both explicitly and implicitly political.
  • Jesus was offered to become the Caesar of the then Roman world – he was offered the oikoumene, the term that was used of the Imperial territory.
  • Paul’s great desire, and understanding of ‘the gospel to the nations and then the end shall come’ was that of the Gospel from Jerusalem to Spain.
  • And of course my understanding of the book that shapes us is that we do not have within it ‘history written in advance’ (popularised as ‘the bible predicts…’) but as a provocative call to shape the future through our actions, relationships, prayer in the power of the Spirit.

There are other aspects I might wish to add, but the above will give a something of a window into any bias I carry!

I do not find it a great surprise that in our historical setting we have conflict within the Western world currently, as the conflict area is over the ‘offer of the oikoumene‘ – the offer to shape the territory that can express the Roman order with a ‘God-order’. Hence I respect those who are writing about how Judeo-Christian values are what has shaped European / Western culture but the conclusive appeal is normally that we need to revert to Christendom. ‘My kingdom is not of this world….’ The sword does not belong in that kingdom but as Paul points out (with great irony) in Romans 13 to the world of Imperial authority. Today the Italian PM (Giorgia Meloni) heads to Washington to represent the EU… I am not suggesting this is sinister but I do read it as a sign. Will the West be held together as ‘Christianised’ or will there be a division that will allow space for the radical followers of Jesus who are to be like the wind to manifest? (I have said for decades that the strength of Islamic ‘sharia’ law is that of Christendom. The very thing that is thought needs to be brought in place to hold the ground is the very thing that tills the ground for all levels of terrorism.)

At this critical point of history, in the shift from the West to the East, we have much work to do if we are going to find an increase of pace in the right direction. Jesus died in Jerusalem so that the Gospel could go West and bring down the Roman order – surely it is significant that Paul’s Gospel is best outlined in some detail in the letter to the ‘Romans’? – but there is nothing in the NT about the work to the East. Unfinished work.

I am no great student of history but the shift from Republic to Empire in Rome seems to carry a lens through which we can see what is happening currently. Rome was effectively an Empire before it became an Empire, but the shift came in a defined way through Julius Caesar and solidified with Augustus (in power 27BC/BCE – 14AD/CE). Jesus appeared at the ‘fullness of times’ into that era, hence what was happening in the world at that time is highly significant.

Augustus… The early signs in his reign was of the Senate allowing him to bend the rules without pushing back; of he introducing unelected people (including those of his own family) into decision-making roles, and the move was made effective through the support of the ultra-rich of Rome. (A simplified summary but one that can be expanded on should one choose to read a history on Rome.)

Through his actions Rome became what it always was – an empire in disguise. Honour was given to the god of peace (Pax) with the phrase the Pax Romana being held up as something awesome, but visit Rome and you would have seen that the temple to Pax was built on Mars field (Mars the god of war).

History repeats / rhymes.

We are in this critical period. My prayer is ‘Europe do not concede’, or better… come on those of you born from above and act like the wind. No one really knowing where you came from, or where you are going but influencing the future through helping to hold a shape for all kinds of wholesome aspects to come through.

My reading this morning was in Philippians… a city that Rome had named as being Imperial. Those who lived there were to work to make sure that Rome’s values prevailed. Into that Paul wrote that their citizenship was in heaven (nothing to do with going to heaven when we die) and therefore in that context to ‘stand firm’ in a way that was consistent with those who were waiting for a Saviour to come from heaven to earth.

Many aspects are converging. Global crises. History rhymes. Fullness of times. West and East. Christendom or Jesus.

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A change, how much of a change?

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Prophetic Perspectives

How much has changed with the passing of the Queen? The honour that has been forthcoming is more than an expression of sentimentality but seems to come from the awareness of her life of service. For many reasons I am not of a royalist persuasion (and theologically believe God chose David, ‘a man after his own heart’, to end kingship… not prolong it… another post one day), but as we live in a world in which all forms of government and hierarchies are present this is not the most pressing element in my small life!

Something though has changed, beyond that of the death of a monarch. It seems significant that we have moved from male Prime Minister, who was prophesied to carry a Churchill anointing, to a female PM, who at some level is embodying what Maggie Thatcher carried; conversely we move from a female head of state to a male head of state. Signs of the pressing nature of how we respond to issues male and female / maculine and feminine.

[At one level I am troubled by prophetic words that proclaim (e.g.) ‘this new leader will carry the anointing xxx of and restore Britain to her glory…’ Troubled because they seem to be based in a belief that the future is all down to who is present in No. 10 (or the equivalent). Seems so opposite to Scripture – Luke 3, the entire thrust of Revelation (esp. ch. 5), Jesus’ words that it was the Father’s good pleasure to give the kingdom to a bunch of nobodies… etc. At another level I think there is often some revelation in the words, but the expectation that is added is skewed. I do think we had a ‘Churchill’ in No 10. Great news is he did not last very long! The expectation of restoration of ‘Great’ into ‘Britain’ was not fulfilled… and now we have a season of female strength. I believe in leadership, the issue is not leadership it is the style, and maybe a style is appropriate at one time (war – Churchill… maybe!) that is not appropriate at another. And when the season changes what has been and is desired, and desired by believers in particular, has to manifest to be finally emptied out.]

In a time of significant change there is an old ‘covering’ that is removed. Hence I do anticipate these next 7 months will open up the land to confusion, chaos and a number of backlashes.

An aside: Defender of the faith? Or…

The history of the term was that it was given to Henry VIII by the then pope (Leo X), before he abandoned the Catholic expression of faith. A tad ironic as Henry took the title with him and was no longer there to defend the Catholic faith, his marital status influencing which expression of faith he would defend. However, my objection goes a little deeper than that. The only defence for a monarch having the title can be rooted in a ‘I vote for Christendom’ perspective. So count me out on that one. I have no doubt the Queen had personal faith, and in line with Paul we should ‘wish that all (royalty and rulers) present were as he was’ (i.e. with faith in Jesus), but their task is not to ‘defend the faith’! We are to give a defence, an explanation, a witness to faith, but any legislation or force that defends the faith? No, not in my books.

If there is a title, defender of faiths, would be something I would be more comfortable with; but probably defender of freedom, of justice, of human kindness – all of that would sit better. So without disparaging the title-giving former pope, I hope there will be some shift on these issues.

Royalists (I hear there are some Christians who are in favour) and non-royalists alike, we simply need to be ready to be re-focused. Some titles might go, some will stay, but all of it is not nearly as central to how I live. I can raise my placard (what placard and in Spain!!!) and if I feel strongly enough there is public space for that, but if my objection to royalty is an objection to hierarchy, elitism and the like I should not raise any placard, not until I have dealt with the issues of the heart. If it is a time for something fresh to come forth regarding male and female, that has direct implications for me in my household.

The Gospel – all about changing the world, how can it not be when the claim is that the Imperial powers had stolen the very word? The Gospel – all about the micro of my responses.

There are some ‘tough’ election results being counted in Sweden and whatever the outcome the far-right xenophobic party with neo-nazi roots will have made major gains. Painful. And very painful to Maria and Bjorn who have stood with, created jobs for, challenged the powers, with regard to those driven from their nations and ended in Sweden (the sentence does not begin to tell the journey). What does it mean for those that they love, those that they have taken into their household / family? That is a very real issue. If the woman who threw in her two coins brought down a most luxurious Temple (a Temple that occupied around 25% of Jerusalem, that was spoken of in Rome as a building that just has to be seen), then I know that Bjorn and Maria have continually put 2 coins into the system that ‘robs widows of their houses’. The election is painful. Faithfulness is what catches the eye of God. (Even the disciples were focused on the incredible building – has nothing changed? Jesus meanwhile saw the widow.)

There are huge changes I believe that are here. They will unfold.

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