Bishop John

‘Christianity alongside Islam’ commendation

March 11, 2010

I have just read the proofs of a great book on Islam, Christianity and some new atheism! An intriguing mixture.

My commendation is to go on the book’s cover and has been sent to the publisher. I have accepted the invitation to launch the book next month and am looking forward to this privilege very much. The author, Bishop John Wilson, is my long term friend, encourager and mentor who led my ordination retreat and preached at my Ordination as Bishop of Tasmania in 2000.

It has been extraordinarily fulfilling to read and reflect on John’s book at the National Bishops Meeting where John and I laboured hard to get Muslim and Christian engagement on the national church’s agenda. I trust God will use this scholarly educator, a true bishop of the Church, to invigorate a gracious and wise discipleship lived at a time of Islamic and atheist resurgence – now there’s a story, and John Wilson tells it!

My commendation of the book follows;

Christianity alongside Islam by John W Wilson, Acorn Press, Brunswick East, 2010

An excellent book for the person who wants to know how to respond to questions about Islam. Is Islam: war, peace, political, pietistic? What does Islam say about Jesus, the Bible, human rights, women?

In interweaving these and other themes John Wilson File presents not just Islam and its similarities and differences with Christianity but the challenge that Islam brings for Christians to live more Christianly.

The teacher in John Wilson cannot resist engaging with the new atheism of Richard Dawkins and company – this provides an intriguing dimension to ‘Christianity alongside Islam’.

Historical stories, easy maps, photographs and ample footnotes for those who want to dig deeper all add to this outstanding book.

If you want to grow in your discipleship amidst the challenges of Islam (and atheism) then this is the book for you.

As the old saying goes: ‘Read, mark and inwardly digest’.

Tasmaniantimes.com posted a press release on 4 March for the launch of Christianity alongside Islam.

The Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower will launch John Wilson’s book Christianity Alongside Islam at 8pm on Tuesday 13 April at Glen Waverley Anglican Church, 800 Waverley Road, Glen Waverley.

The book, which is the fruit of ten years research, is an honest critique of Islam and Christianity and their impact on today’s world.

John Wilson asserts that Christianity and Islam both have a crucial role to play in the future of Western civilization.

He writes, “The book aims to challenge Christians, Muslims and even those without any profession of religious faith to consider afresh the foundations on which they stand and the content of their lives.”

Bishop Wilson asserts that Muslims and Christians alike must face the conflicts that currently divide our world with honesty and the courage to bring about real and lasting change.

He believes that, “Ignorance is not going to help us through the present crisis and to build a better world and better lives. It is written with the conviction that no person should count themselves as educated without a basic understanding of the core teachings of both Islam and Christianity.”

Assault on WV Pakistan office

March 11, 2010

I received an email this afternoon from Tim Costello, Chief Executive of World Vision, regarding an assault on the World Vision office in Pakistan. This is what Tim wrote to his staff this morning,

Colleagues,

World Vision is today mourning the brutal and senseless deaths of six members of our staff in the Mansehra District of Pakistan after an unprovoked attack by gunmen.

We believe that gunmen first set off bombs or grenades, then opened fire on the office, located 65 kilometres north of the capital, Islamabad.

In addition to those killed, seven other staff are hospitalised with injuries -we understand these staff are in a stable condition.

All of World Vision’s operations in the country have been suspended indefinitely.

Please pray for the affected staff and their families, and keep them in your thoughts during this tragic time.

We will find a time to come together in prayer and I will let you know as soon as this has been determined.

In the meantime, I ask that at 3.00 pm today we have a minute of silence to remember our colleagues.

Shalom,

Tim

Chief Executive

World Vision Australia

May I encourage you to join with the World Vision staff in prayer for the affected staff and their families during this tragic time.

Why Pray? – #2

March 10, 2010

Continuing on with Why Pray?, inspired by Ray Stedman’s book, Talking with My Father, Jesus Teaches on Prayer. Read his book, here.

So, why pray? Because prayer transforms our life.

There is an old saying, “Seven days without prayer makes one weak.”

Ray Stedman writes that prayer is to be our life and our breath and as prayer was the secret of the Lord’s amazing life, therefore, we know WE MUST PRAY. He also says that the purpose of prayer is not to give information to God, but to change us.

…. the purpose of prayer is not to inform God about our needs, but to conform us to His will. Prayer doesn’t change God. Prayer changes us. It changes our attitude from complaint to praise. It enables us to participate in God’s eternal plan. It makes us aware of our total inadequacy–and God’s infinite sufficiency.

People who are familiar with the strengthening ministry of prayer in their individual lives have an undeniable joy and glow that is wonderful to see. They can approach every circumstance with that compelling air of triumph that marks the authentic Christian faith, and in their lives the ministry of prayer is very evident.

God is relevant to life-and knowing God enlarges life…God is the ultimate reality, and we are intended to know Him and experience Him on a daily basis. When we do so, life becomes vibrant, exciting, and awesome.

Without oxygen, our physical body dies. Without prayer, our spiritual being dies. Prayer draws us closer to God, it strengthens us to face daily challenges and it transforms us into the person that God desires us to be. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Why Pray? – #1

March 3, 2010

Ray Stedman’s book, Talking with My Father, Jesus Teaches on Prayer, is worth the read to prepare for my Prayer Pilgrimage, People @ Prayer, commencing in 3 months time: read of where I am up to in my preparation here: Prayer Pilgrimage – Working draft. Read Stedman’s book, here.

Martin Luther said, “I have so much to do today, I need to spend an extra hour in prayer!”

So, why pray? Because Jesus Christ prayed.

Ray Stedman writes,

For Jesus, prayer was as necessary as breathing. If the Son of God felt such a great need for contact with the Father, how much more do we! …..with Jesus prayer was a necessity…it was a lifelong habit. It was an attitude of mind and heart – an atmosphere, in which He lived, the very air He breathed. Everything He did arose out of prayer. He literally prayed without ceasing…..prayer was not an act of self-discipline or duty—it was always His delight…to Jesus, prayer was as necessary as eating –and just as natural.

The Gospels mention many occasions of Jesus praying in public and taking time in solitude to commune with God one on one. He prayed before choosing his disciples, before and after miracles took place, He prayed to God all night and in the early hours of the morning (Luke 6:12, Mark 1:35), He prayed by himself (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16) and He prayed prior to his crucifixion. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go and prayer over there.” (Matthew 26:36). In the book of John, prior to His death, Jesus prayed for Himself (17:1-5), prayed for His disciples (17:6-19), and prayed for all believers – that’s you and me! (17:20-26)

May prayer to us be a necessity,
May prayer be the very air we breathe,
May prayer be a delight,
May prayer become as necessary and natural to us as it did to Jesus!

Lenten sincerity or ’spin’?

March 2, 2010

The outpouring over the Prime Minister’s ‘mea culpa’ for the home insulation debacle (does no-one in government anticipate the effects of the doctrine of sin?) is particularly noteworthy during Lent. The question being asked: Is the Prime Minister’s apology sincere or calculated political ’spin’?

Sadly, ’spin’ seems to be the conclusion from the media articles that I have read. See Culpa won’t cut it, and Does mea culpa cover it? and Labor figures perplexed by Rudd’s mea culpa which concludes,

Whatever the rights or wrongs of Mr Rudd’s public sackcloth and ashes tour, some commentators have started talking about what the Government has done, rather than what is left undone.

How hard it is to separate sincerity from spin in public life. Neither is it easy in the relationships in our private life. The diversity of reactions to the Prime Minister’s apology is not dissimilar to the reactions to Tiger Woods’ apology, see Lent: Tiger Woods and Mary MacKillop.

The challenge in restoring a relationship is to be truly sorry/remorseful, to restore that which is possible and to change the unacceptable behaviour. See Putting apology into practice.

The starting point for true restoration of relationship lies in our heartfelt lament before our Creator, as expressed during this season of Lent in A Prayer Book for Australia, Broughton Books, 1995, page 451, in the prayer which we pray on Ash Wednesday and during Lent,

Almighty and everlasting God,

you hate nothing that you have made,

and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent:

create and make in us new and contrite hearts,

that we, worthily lamenting our sins,

and acknowledging our wretchedness,

may obtain of you, the God of all mercy,

perfect remission and forgiveness;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

‘Tasmanian Anglican’ – February

March 1, 2010

A summer read with a bonus back cover full of colourful North West Anglicans in ministry. Articles:

Parliament of World Religions
From the Dean’s Desk
Enabler Supported Ministry
Barnabas column – Devonport
Barnabas Column – Empty cans (are still being collected)
A reflection
Chinese Christmas celebration in Hobart
Gifts to Indian Missions
CMS Summerview
CMS Small cross
From Devonport
Haiti
Partnership ministry in Cambodia
From the North West – Smithton
From the North West – Burnie
Looking for a church
Anglicare news – New research report
Anglicare news – Volunteer rewarded
in_da_net
Climate change
Sorell, Richmond Tasman news
Book review – Growing Women Leaders
Book review – Man and Woman, One in Christ
Gems from Grove
Anglican Camping

ENJOY @ Tasmanian Anglican, February 2010

Prayer Pilgrimage – working draft

February 27, 2010

This year I will be doing a Prayer Pilgrimage around the Diocese. The theme is “People @ Prayer”. The launch will be at Synod, end May. The actual Pilgrimage around Tasmania will be for the months of June and July. The calendar of visits is well advanced and as we were working through the places and people with whom I have the opportunity to pray, I become deeply moved at this privilege. PTL!

We have been working on the Pilgrimage’s Aims and Prayer: see the current working draft below. Please pray for us as we seek to bring the materials together.

A. AIMS

To pray
To encourage people to pray
To teach people about prayer
To unify God’s people through prayer

These aims will –

Deepen our relationship with God both as individuals and as the people of God, the Church, and deepen within us the expectation that God will work in the world.
Encourage people to pray by the Bishop being at prayer with the Anglican Parishes, Schools & Agencies. In my vision, ‘a healthy church … transforming life’, I state that my heart’s desire is for every Anglican to be a prayerful activist, enlivened by biblical faith and the power of the Holy Spirit; and for us all to take initiatives in mission that God may transform the life of our Christian communities and all Tasmanians.
Teach about prayer by teaching on the theme ‘people@prayer’.
Unify God’s people through praying together and praying for the Anglican family of Tasmania and all Tasmanians.

B. THE PILGRIMAGE PRAYER

Heavenly Father, your word teaches us that we do not have because we do not ask

By your Spirit make us as keen to pray as you are to listen

as determined to listen as you are to speak

that we may be equipped for mission and united as your people;

healthy churches transforming our lives and those of all Tasmanians

through Jesus Christ our Lord

who taught us to pray,

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,

your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

now and for ever. Amen.

POWR: Exploring possibility of friendship

February 26, 2010

The following is an extract from my article, The Parliament of World Religions: Exploring the possibility of friendship, in the Tasmanian Anglican – February 2010.

The Parliament of the World’s Religions 2009 was held in Melbourne in early December and attended by 5000 people from most of the world’ s religions. I met some marvellous people from many religions at the Parliament.

I give thanks to God for this wonderful privilege of meeting in a safe space and for allowing the possibility of friendship. Truly, we are made by a loving God in love and for love. This is seen supremely in ‘God who was in Christ reconciling the world to himself’ (2 Corinthians 5:19).

However, in the area of social cohesion which was a major area to which I dedicated some time, it was very difficult to go beyond a fairly superficial treatment of key themes such as mutual respect, compassion and justice. Speakers were reluctant to ask the hard questions of other religious adherents.

A major benefit of spending a week with people of other religious beliefs was the opportunity to understand their beliefs and practices more fully. The experience allowed me to continue to improve my conversational skills in speaking with people of other faiths.

I find it important to have a vocabulary that connects with people and avoids unnecessary misunderstanding and offence.

The full article can be read in the February issue of the Tasmanian Anglican here or at From Bishop John on the Anglican Church in Tasmania website.

World Vision reports on 2009

February 26, 2010

25 February I attended the Annual Meeting for the 2009 year of World Vison Australia. Although it is over used, it has been a truly ‘challenging year’. The full Annual Report and also by sections for convenience can be downloaded from here. The website gives an excellent insight into the diverse ways in which World Vision brings practical love to people in need. See World Vision Home page.

I liked the clear statement in the section ‘Who we are’,

Our Vision

Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness;

Our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so.

Our Mission

We are a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation that seeks to transform

the lives of children and communities by tackling the causes of poverty.

We are Christian

We seek to follow, and are motivated by, Jesus Christ’s identification with the poor, the

powerless, the afflicted, the oppressed, the marginalised; in His special concern for children;

in His respect for the equal dignity of women and men; in His challenge to unjust attitudes

and systems; in His call to share resources with each other; in His love for all people without

discrimination or conditions; in His offer of new life through faith in Him.

AND MUCH MORE – please read.

Opposing assisted suicide –‘religious’ push?

February 24, 2010

It is essential that the law upholds the protection of life of every individual…..unless the right to life is respected, protected and promoted within our society…. we risk falling into social disintegration as the lives of some are deemed to be less worthy of protection than the lives of others.

Brendan McCarthy writes in, Assisted Suicide: Drawing a Line in the Sand, that opposition to pro euthanasia efforts to change the current law prohibiting assisted suicide is commonly viewed as an expression of Christian faith or religious belief, and is an attempt to enforce religious opinion and culture on others. Brendan writes that not only Christians and other people of a faith, but agnostics, humanists and atheists may agree on

….common principles that can enable us to come together to uphold protection of life, care for the vulnerable and the essential integrity of our society in opposing assisted suicide.

We all have the same RIGHT, RESPONSIBILITY and OBLIGATION; regardless of age, gender, and whether we are a Christian, religious or not; to act as responsible citizens. We can all come together, regardless if we are Christian, Muslim, atheist or agnostic in opposing suicide. It is not a matter of trying to push our individual religious beliefs on others, but rather advocating belief in the protection of life.

We all have beliefs that help to inform our principles, which in turn help to inform our actions…… In the context of the current debate on assisted suicide, we are not trying to argue that others need to share our religious belief, only that the principles and actions that stem from our beliefs are worth supporting. People of other faiths and none may also share these principles without abandoning their core beliefs and without requiring others to agree with them. So it is that Christians, Muslims, atheists, agnostics and others may come together in opposing assisted suicide, if they agree sufficiently on the principles behind this stance.

To read more, purchase your copy of the booklet, Assisted Suicide: Drawing a Line in the Sand by Brendan McCarthy, from Grove Books Limited. Asst Suicide cover