Easter's A Comedy For Crying Out Loud!
The happy ending is justly scorned as a misrepresentation; for the world, as we know it… yields but one ending: death.
The ancient Greeks thought of tragedies as "high art" and comedies as "low art." They reckoned that tragedies were truthful engagements with the world as it is. Comedies, on the other hand, were considered to be frivolous escapes from life's harsh realities. Still today, 'Best Picture' Oscars are much more likely to be awarded to dramas than comedies. We struggle to believe that there's much depth or reality to comedies. We like them. We just don't think they're, well, serious.
Christians, though, should think differently. We ought to take comedies — true comedies anyway — with the utmost seriousness. The Bible, after all, is shaped like a comedy. It gives a blissfully happy ending for embodied, earthly life. While the rest of the world makes its peace with the grave and resigns itself to a tragic fate, Easter ought to make Christians think again. In particular we should have a more sophisticated view of the stories told in the world. We need to realise this: some rib-ticklers are really tragedies; and some tear-jerkers are really comedies.
Monty Python's Life of Brian is considered by many the greatest comedy film of all time. I can understand why. The writing and performances are exquisitely crafted. I've often used excerpts from the film in sermons because their skewering of the pomposity and absurdity of human religion harks back strongly to the Biblical prophets. It harks back to Jesus himself. Jesus was constantly making fun of the "religious" (see Matthew 6 or Matthew 23 for some scorching take-downs of the first century "Bible-thumpers").
In its day though Life of Brian drew howls of outrage from many religious conservatives. In Britain, Anglican Bishops appeared on television in their finery to denounce the film and its makers. But I think they may have objected to the wrong thing. Sharp humour is not a problem, or it least it shouldn't be for those who have read their Bibles. Sharp humour directed at religion is not a problem either, in fact religion is the chief target of satire in the Bible. These aspects of Life of Brian should have been welcomed and celebrated.
I submit that Life of Brian should be considered one of the all time great films. But it is not a great comedy. It is, instead, a great tragedy. And I mean that in every sense. It is a rib-tickling tragedy.
Think of John 21. Mary is distraught. She has come to the tomb to be near her Lord. Where have they taken him? All is lost. And then he speaks her name. That is the moment of eucatastrophe. And we can well imagine that now the tears really flow. Before it was an anxious whimper, now they come in waves. Before her chest was tight with fear, now her heart really aches. Before she was just about holding it together, now she falls apart: Joy and Sorrow, lost in Love.
Compare the two kinds of ending. Brian took us on a raucous journey, but we get to the end and realise it was all gallows-humor. Like the anxious man whistling through the graveyard to keep up his spirits, the laughter rings hollow. And it ends all too quickly. This is the human tragedy.
In the wizard's face he saw at first only lines of care and sorrow; though as he looked more intently he perceived that under all there was a great joy: a fountain of mirth enough to set a kingdom laughing, were it to gush forth.
This is Easter laughter and it's priceless. In a world of laugh-out-loud tragedies, Jesus brings to weak failures like us an ending so good, we might weep. It is our heart's deepest desire, the world's true destiny: the tear-filled comedy.
This Easter we're releasing four poem videos and seven interview videos (stay tuned for those).
So there's this guy who says that he's God.
No sliver of vanity, Purest humanity.
He's got a real Messiah complex.
A messiah complex with a death wish and that's the joke.
And he says: 'I'll show you I'm God, Watch me die.' Which is odd as a sign of deity.
Declaring that this is the behaviour of divinity.
He'll assert his infinity by choking to death, to croak his last breath in rasping benediction.
He's the Fountain of Life and the clearest depiction His conviction's non-fiction is a cry of dereliction. One hell of a crucifixion.
There's this guy and he's God and he must die, on this he'll insist.
It's the item on his bucket list.
For him it's his mission.
He said "When I'm lifted up, then you'll know that I AM." That I AM WHO I AM.
Then you'll know it's not a scam.
Then comes recognition: here's the definition of glory.
to ascend the hill, and assert his will, to reign in state.
Of noble breed, perhaps a stallion, and, behind, his battalion and so to his office accede.
An old cloak laid astride these poor brutes side by side.
And God all-precarious atop these two beasts.
Will bay for his blood in a matter of days.
His kingdom borne across trembling shoulders.
And yet on he soldiers.
Becomes the proof that He is Lord.
So on he rides in asinine glory.
Easter is a funny story.
Did you hear the one about the God who croaked?
It's kind of a joke.
He's a Jew doing stand up with a northern lilt.
He ploughed dangerous and deep. To the core.
And history saw that when Truth is so uncouth as to speak, we freak.
We're proud to be woke but when God spoke, we choked him to silence.
Which was his whole idea.
To teach him who or what on earth really reigns.
the file against him's thin, but they pile in.
Except, the one he fixed upon from the start: He's God.
Well case closed, he has to go.
But for who he is, God must pay.
And make their verdict: Life must die.
The Truth is held in contempt of reason.
This is what it looks like to be God.
Forgiveness unfurled to his murderers.
This is God. Covered in blood.
Good news, if you let it.
A good joke, if you get it.
But stick with me a while.
An unpromising womb but I guess that's his style.
Which brings us to Sunday.
because of course it's bad manners to have God rotting in the tomb.
so they have a journey ahead.
Because he told them he was God and death could not hold him.
They'd presume that service would soon resume.
They'd camp beside the tomb and wait for God to self-exhume.
But no, no-one believed God, not even his believers.
We can't conceive a Higher Power really.
That's the One to make us cower.
That glowering conqueror of light.
It's never lost a fight.
Declares that death is Lord.
It's scored a victory over every rival.
and we went back to perfuming our cadavers.
Cos all we have, it seems, is corpse preservation regimes.
Not in the domain of decay.
But God made a bolder move.
But now, NOW they're crying.
Life has killed death by dying.
And a hole through death is forever torn.
And these mourners look through, to see Him.
And to see Him is to view Home.
Home reborn, Home adorned with golden hue.
And Jesus our Battle-Scarred Brother, face to face.
Maybe we came to the tomb to pretty a corpse and honour the dead.
But today instead we meet a living God.
As it writhes under a Victor's blow.
We sing the happily ever after.
Here begins the Easter laughter.
A recent report by the Spanish Government says the Evangelical church is on the upswing in Spain. According to the Religious Plurality report, released by the country's Justice Ministry, as of 31 December 2016 there are 3,910 Evangelical churches in Spain, up from 3,769 in 2015. In other words, last year a new Evangelical church opened in that country every two and a half days. These numbers do not include unregistered house churches or Bible study/ prayer groups. Of a total Spanish population of 46 million, there are around 1.5 million Protestants, of which 500,000 are Evangelicals. However, groups working in the country have identified 587 towns with populations exceeding 5,000 without an Evangelical witness.
The Evangelical church is also on the upswing in France (population 65 million). At the end of 2016, the number of Evangelical churches in that country was 2,440. According to a report by the National Council of Evangelicals in France (CNEF), in 2016 a new Evangelical church opened in that country every 10 days. CNEF serves as an umbrella organisation for 70% of French Evangelicals. Overall the number of Evangelical churches increased by 35 and the report noted a slight "acceleration" in growth over the last two years. Aside from the increasing number of churches, CNEF added that many churches are also experiencing growth, citing the church Lille Metropole which recently increased its seating capacity from 800 to 2,000. Over 30 Evangelical churches in France have congregations of 1,000 or more.
The number of Evangelical Protestants has increased tenfold in the past 60 years (in 1950, there were 50,000 practicing Evangelicals). It's no exaggeration to say that, compared with the activity just 10 years ago, France is becoming a hotbed of Evangelical activity. While this is, in no way, persuading millions of French people to accept Christ (34 percent of the country is atheist), we see in France today a real shift in the spiritual 'tectonic plates.' "One wonders what the secular philosopher J.P. Sartre would make of this renewal of Christian faith in the land of 'laïcité', says French researcher Sebastien Fath.
JANUARY PRAISE God for the steadfast work of godly men and women who have laboured with love and dedication to build up evangelical churches.
PRAY their labours may see increasing fruit.
The United States Congress will continue opening sessions with prayer after a challenge to the tradition by an atheist. A federal court ruled against a lawsuit brought by Daniel Barker, co-president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation. Barker argued he was denied the opportunity to give an opening invocation in Congress while other guest chaplains were allowed to do so. U.S. District Judge, Rosemary M. Collyer, said in her decision that House rules didn't allow Barker to lead the prayer because he had left his faith.
Barker claimed he met all the requirements, but the chaplain denied his request because he was 'ordained in a denomination in which he no longer practices' and 'is not a religious clergyman'. In a ruling Wednesday, Collyer dismissed Barker's claims that he had been discriminated against. Collyer also pointed out, opening prayer has been a part of Congress for more than two centuries and doesn't conflict with the establishment clause according to the United States Supreme Court. House Speaker, Paul Ryan, was quick to applaud the decision. "Since the first session of the Continental Congress, our nation's legislature has opened with a prayer to God.
Today, that tradition was upheld and the freedom to exercise religion was vindicated. The court rightfully dismissed the claims of an atheist that he had the right to deliver a secular invocation in place of the opening prayer," Ryan said. He continued, "Recently, especially following the return of Majority Whip Steve Scalise, this institution has been reminded about the power of prayer. I commend the District Court for its decision, and am grateful the People's House can continue to begin its work each day, as we have for centuries, taking a moment to pray to God." Scalise also responded to the decision on Twitter saying, "Our rights come from God, so it's only fitting the House begins each day united in prayer." Barker says Collyer's decision was tainted by her "personal bias against nonreligious people." Collyer was appointed to the court under George W. Bush.
JANUARY PRAISE God for the evidence of answered prayer, highlighted by House Speaker Paul Ryan, as he referred to the miraculous recovery and return to the House of Steve Scalise who was critically shot in June.
The Sunday after, he found an ad in the newspaper about a church and decided to attend. Originally, his plan was to expose the Christians' false worship. By 'coincidence' it was Pastor Gergis' church. Two months later Chevan discovered the secret behind the Bible's magnetism: it's a living Word. Unlike other books, the words in the Bible are alive and they offer new life to all who believe. In response, at the age of 29 Chevan surrendered his life to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, and was born again. Now, as a refugee in the USA, he dreams about becoming a pastor in his home town of Nineveh.
JANUARY PRAISE God for Chevan's curiosity leading to him immediately being struck by the Bible's magnetism and finding it to be God's living Word.
PRAY for many in the Middle East to have similar experiences.
Although licences to hold Christian worship or build churches in Dubai are restricted, over the years, a large number of Christian congregations have grown up in the city – most of which are thriving. The United Christian Church of Dubai, an evangelical congregational church, is one such example. From small beginnings among the expatriate oil workers back in 1962, it has grown to a congregation well in excess of 1,000, from some 50 nationalities. Now meeting in a modern, purposebuilt, church complex, it has spearheaded the development of similar church plants in Abu-Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain. UCCD is not formally aligned with any denomination or international ministry organisation. However, it benefits from fellowship with churches and pastors throughout the world, especially in Arabia.
Another expanding congregation is Christ Church in the Jebal Ali district of Dubai. Christ Church recently held a double ordination, to enhance its ministry team. In the presence of the Minister of State for Tolerance, Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, highlighted the warm relationship and mutual respect which exists between the authorities in the UAE and the Anglican church. Opened in 2002, Christ Church has seen weekly attendance grow from approximately 40 people to more than 200. Over 40 different congregations worshiping in 16 different languages use the site.
A message on its website says: "We are open to new ideas and want to witness to the saving grace of God which we have found through Jesus Christ. We want to be part of the fabric of what makes Dubai good, drawing people closer to God and helping them to live well, alive to the Spirit of God." The double ordination service comes as the construction of a giant new Anglican cathedral in nearby Abu Dhabi enters its final months. All Saints Anglican Church will have room for 4,200 worshippers following its completion in December this year.
JANUARY PRAISE God for a strong Christian witness in the Gulf.
PRAY they will find ways of reaching out to the local Muslim population and see much fruit in their communities.
Venezuela has the most faltering economy in South America, a result of the populist measures adopted by 'chavismo', a political movement initiated by the late ex-president Hugo Chavez, and maintained by the current President, Nicolas Maduro. Faced with this, all public services are struggling, including hospitals. An example is the dilapidated state of Central University Hospital Antonio María Pineda in the city of Barquisimeto, in terms of its cleanliness and infrastructure. It has motivated a group of evangelical Christians to generously invest money and personal effort in its restoration. Local church, the "Iglesia Evangélica Pentecostal Misionera Primitiva" has contributed over 3 Billion Bolivars in restructuring work, including much they themselves have done by way of an altruistic contribution to their community.
Pastor Carlos Garcia said they began to intervene in the medical centre in December 2016. At the time of writing, the areas they have restored include, delivery rooms, cardiology, neurosurgery, pavilion, dialysis, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), day care for children and surgery (men's section). According to García, the intervention includes provision of services – to construction, electricity and lighting, carpentry, plumbing, reconditioning walls and equipment, cleaning and fumigation.
"When we started the works, the services were in the maximum state of deterioration and abandonment; there was rotting and trash of all kinds," Garcia said. One of the areas most dilapidated was men's surgery. They called it "Batman's Cave", Nataly Valenzuela, a member of the volunteer team, explained that one of the things most worrying them is that the areas continue to be maintained and cleaned, after the enormous effort that they have put in. For this reason representatives of the Church meet weekly with relatives of inpatients to discuss the measures they need to follow to maintain the hospital.
JANUARY PRAISE God for impoverished Christians, living in the midst of a broken economy, to be so generously.
PRAY their example may be emulated.
JANUARY PRAISE God He is able to break the tightest bonds.
PRAY this strategic nation will be changed from what was once referred to as an "Axis of Evil" and become a light for salvation.
Over the past five years, BFTW has supplied two million copies of the Gospel of John and 100,000 full New Testaments in the country. "We've been working through a network of about 1,800 frontline workers and they've been using our Scriptures in their evangelism as they share the Gospel with people in their villages and towns," Pudaite says. One of BFTW's newest partners seeks to reach the so called 'unengaged, unreached people groups' in areas that are physically, culturally, and spiritually challenging to reach.
and for good quality training for pastors and leaders.
In small congregations in remote places, the leader may simply be the only person in the church who can read. Further growth is taking place among the Tibetan expatriates' descendants who fled Tibet to Nepal following the Chinese Communist takeover. Some are being trained to reach their own people for Christ. Indigenous ministries are now conducting missionary training programs for scores of Tibetan Christians each year, according to Christian Aid Mission.
JANUARY PRAISE God for the huge influx of Scriptures to support growing churches. PRAY that hunger for God's Word may grow deep in Nepal.