Last week in From the Dean, Phillip wrote about the opportunities that Mother's Day brings to invite our mums and/or children along to church.
I've been thinking and praying for the last few weeks about how to invite my unbelieving Mum and Dad along, who will be down from Queensland. In God's kindness, I didn't even get to invite them before Mum asked whether they could come along to morning church with me this Sunday. What a fantastic, yet (to be completely honest) unexpected, answer to prayer!
Have you invited your Mum or your children to come to church on Sunday? Why not give it a go? They might just surprise you and say yes!
Phillip will be preaching evangelistically at morning church at 10.30am, and Chris Nicholls will be preaching evangelistically at City Night Church at 6.30pm. Let's pray that lots of mums do come along and hear God's word taught.
Showing posts with label Mother's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mother's Day. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Sunday, May 11, 2008
From the Dean ... 11 May 2008
Most people believe in discrimination. You need to in order to be just and fair, to say nothing of merciful and kind.
We discriminate in the sense of having taste and discernment. But we should also discriminate by treating people differently. It is important that we give extra help to some people. We should support the weak and vulnerable - the blind, the lame, the widow and fatherless.
Even within the family parents treat different children differently. They have to, in order to be just and fair.
This discrimination must not be based on favouritism. It must not be based on irrelevant considerations like race or good looks. But discrimination is normal. It is an important part of a just and civilised society.
Inevitably to support one group means to disadvantage others. Even to support one person means others miss out. But if the reason for the support is right: the discrimination is just. And if any person in a similar situation would be given the same support then there is no favouritism. This is discriminatory justice.
In this world it is impossible to treat all sin as criminal. If we did, then we would all be in prison. We choose to accept some sins as tolerable and punish other sins as intolerable.
So we do not tolerate theft but we tolerate adultery. We tolerate dishonouring parents but we will not accept murder. We tolerate lies except when given on oath.
There are bad consequences to these sins that we accept. But in general we see the consequences as punishment enough. There is no reason for the police or courts to get involved.
Some of the things we tolerate create misery. They also cost the people involved and the society enormously in money, emotion and psychiatric turmoil. But we think that making sin a crime will cost us more. The classic illustrations of this are drunkenness, adultery and gambling. They are all sin, they all create misery but they are not crimes.
So our society has become “permissive”. We do not approve of pornography but we permit it. We decriminalised it. There is no agreement whether such a choice was wise. In the later half of the twentieth century many sins were permitted.
But decriminalisation should not mean approval let alone promotion. We may not treat adultery as a crime but we should not encourage it or teach it in our schools. Society is benefited by people remaining faithful to their spouse. Parents staying together is basic to good child raising. The cost to society of family break up is enormous.
Society is built upon stable families. Governments do not create society. Families build nations and culture. It takes more than one generation. It is from the members of society reproducing and raising their children that a culture is built and maintained. The way we help families is a sign of the value that society places upon its own culture and future and indeed life itself.
This is why we must discriminate in favour of mothers. Especially those mothers with small children. For mothers are very vulnerable because of their huge responsibility.
This discrimination must be for more than the childbearing years. The great sacrifice of those years does not end when the children leave home. It takes so long to raise a family that the mother's life remains economically disadvantaged, long after the children leave. This is especially true of widows.
Yet we cannot discriminate in favour of families and, especially mothers, without discriminating against single people and couples who have no children, and men. To discriminate against us is just and fair if it is discrimination in favour of mothers.
The blessing of God on the Israelites was twofold: the provision of children and remaining in the Promised Land. These two things were linked together as the apostle Paul reminds us: “Honour your father and your mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (Ephesians 6:2-3)
Phillip Jensen
11 May 2008
We discriminate in the sense of having taste and discernment. But we should also discriminate by treating people differently. It is important that we give extra help to some people. We should support the weak and vulnerable - the blind, the lame, the widow and fatherless.
Even within the family parents treat different children differently. They have to, in order to be just and fair.
This discrimination must not be based on favouritism. It must not be based on irrelevant considerations like race or good looks. But discrimination is normal. It is an important part of a just and civilised society.
Inevitably to support one group means to disadvantage others. Even to support one person means others miss out. But if the reason for the support is right: the discrimination is just. And if any person in a similar situation would be given the same support then there is no favouritism. This is discriminatory justice.
In this world it is impossible to treat all sin as criminal. If we did, then we would all be in prison. We choose to accept some sins as tolerable and punish other sins as intolerable.
So we do not tolerate theft but we tolerate adultery. We tolerate dishonouring parents but we will not accept murder. We tolerate lies except when given on oath.
There are bad consequences to these sins that we accept. But in general we see the consequences as punishment enough. There is no reason for the police or courts to get involved.
Some of the things we tolerate create misery. They also cost the people involved and the society enormously in money, emotion and psychiatric turmoil. But we think that making sin a crime will cost us more. The classic illustrations of this are drunkenness, adultery and gambling. They are all sin, they all create misery but they are not crimes.
So our society has become “permissive”. We do not approve of pornography but we permit it. We decriminalised it. There is no agreement whether such a choice was wise. In the later half of the twentieth century many sins were permitted.
But decriminalisation should not mean approval let alone promotion. We may not treat adultery as a crime but we should not encourage it or teach it in our schools. Society is benefited by people remaining faithful to their spouse. Parents staying together is basic to good child raising. The cost to society of family break up is enormous.
Society is built upon stable families. Governments do not create society. Families build nations and culture. It takes more than one generation. It is from the members of society reproducing and raising their children that a culture is built and maintained. The way we help families is a sign of the value that society places upon its own culture and future and indeed life itself.
This is why we must discriminate in favour of mothers. Especially those mothers with small children. For mothers are very vulnerable because of their huge responsibility.
This discrimination must be for more than the childbearing years. The great sacrifice of those years does not end when the children leave home. It takes so long to raise a family that the mother's life remains economically disadvantaged, long after the children leave. This is especially true of widows.
Yet we cannot discriminate in favour of families and, especially mothers, without discriminating against single people and couples who have no children, and men. To discriminate against us is just and fair if it is discrimination in favour of mothers.
The blessing of God on the Israelites was twofold: the provision of children and remaining in the Promised Land. These two things were linked together as the apostle Paul reminds us: “Honour your father and your mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (Ephesians 6:2-3)
Phillip Jensen
11 May 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
From the Dean ... 4 May 2008
I think it was the early Easter that has thrown me but I am not yet ready for Mother’s Day. I know Christmas comes around quicker each year but Mother’s Day seems to have snuck up faster still.
Mothers are the conveyors of culture. They are the ones, more than any other, who teach us the way of life. They are the ones who often introduce little children to the gospel truths of God. Their sacrifice in raising children is usually more tangible and, sadly, more real than fathers.
So what are your plans for next week? Let me help you – for it is really simple – bring your mother to the Cathedral and then take her out to lunch afterwards. This is a fairly easy tradition to get into. It is a no fuss, easy day for all concerned.
There are many variations on the theme.
For some of us Mother’s Day is a little sad, for our mother has died. If she died recently it is more than a little sad. After more than thirty years I still feel the sadness of my own mother’s death and am quite pained about my wonderful mother-in-law who died eleven years ago. Still, coming to church on Mother’s Day gives me opportunity to thank God for the two women who “mothered” me. It also gives me the opportunity to support other mothers in their joyful day.
Some of us are mothers. It is not so much what are we going to do for our mother as what do I organise the family to do spontaneously for me? Again, tell them that you want them to come with you to the Cathedral and then take you out for lunch. Who can resist a mother’s request on Mother’s Day?
For some of us it is not so much Mother’s Day as Grandmother’s Day. The principle is the same. Grandmothers and grandchildren should come to the Cathedral to celebrate the great gift of life that God has given us through the creation of Eve.
When we celebrate Mothers and Grandmothers we are celebrating God’s good gift of creation. It is a time to rejoice and to honour our mothers as the scriptures command us.
But for some of us, the whole Mother’s Day is much more bitter and sad. It can be such a sad day for those whose children have died, or are alienated from us. It can be equally sad for those whose mother was cruel or neglectful and with whom we are alienated. It can be such a sad day for those who have struggled with infertility – longing to be mothers but unable. Sometimes this is the social problem of the relationship that never happened. Sometimes it is the physical problems of not being able to have children. The reason does not vary the sadness. It can be really sad for those who were adopted and feel the pain of not knowing their mother.
Yet we know that God is sovereign. He is working his purpose out in each of our lives. So this is not the day to hide from our sadness and disappointments but the very day to bring them to Him in prayer. Certainly in the Cathedral this element of the day will be remembered in prayer.
The Scriptures say that we should rejoice with others who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). Mother’s Day is that kind of time. Do not let your weeping hold you back from rejoicing with others. Do not let your rejoicing hold you back from weeping with others.
Let us share with each other the wonderful kindness of God in giving us mothers.
Phillip Jensen
4 May 2008
Mothers are the conveyors of culture. They are the ones, more than any other, who teach us the way of life. They are the ones who often introduce little children to the gospel truths of God. Their sacrifice in raising children is usually more tangible and, sadly, more real than fathers.
So what are your plans for next week? Let me help you – for it is really simple – bring your mother to the Cathedral and then take her out to lunch afterwards. This is a fairly easy tradition to get into. It is a no fuss, easy day for all concerned.
There are many variations on the theme.
For some of us Mother’s Day is a little sad, for our mother has died. If she died recently it is more than a little sad. After more than thirty years I still feel the sadness of my own mother’s death and am quite pained about my wonderful mother-in-law who died eleven years ago. Still, coming to church on Mother’s Day gives me opportunity to thank God for the two women who “mothered” me. It also gives me the opportunity to support other mothers in their joyful day.
Some of us are mothers. It is not so much what are we going to do for our mother as what do I organise the family to do spontaneously for me? Again, tell them that you want them to come with you to the Cathedral and then take you out for lunch. Who can resist a mother’s request on Mother’s Day?
For some of us it is not so much Mother’s Day as Grandmother’s Day. The principle is the same. Grandmothers and grandchildren should come to the Cathedral to celebrate the great gift of life that God has given us through the creation of Eve.
When we celebrate Mothers and Grandmothers we are celebrating God’s good gift of creation. It is a time to rejoice and to honour our mothers as the scriptures command us.
But for some of us, the whole Mother’s Day is much more bitter and sad. It can be such a sad day for those whose children have died, or are alienated from us. It can be equally sad for those whose mother was cruel or neglectful and with whom we are alienated. It can be such a sad day for those who have struggled with infertility – longing to be mothers but unable. Sometimes this is the social problem of the relationship that never happened. Sometimes it is the physical problems of not being able to have children. The reason does not vary the sadness. It can be really sad for those who were adopted and feel the pain of not knowing their mother.
Yet we know that God is sovereign. He is working his purpose out in each of our lives. So this is not the day to hide from our sadness and disappointments but the very day to bring them to Him in prayer. Certainly in the Cathedral this element of the day will be remembered in prayer.
The Scriptures say that we should rejoice with others who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). Mother’s Day is that kind of time. Do not let your weeping hold you back from rejoicing with others. Do not let your rejoicing hold you back from weeping with others.
Let us share with each other the wonderful kindness of God in giving us mothers.
Phillip Jensen
4 May 2008
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