The Dark Side of Prayer for Healing

My friend Dr Shane Clifton (pictured in the photo below, you'll work out who he is) was left a c4/5 incomplete quadriplegic after a serious accident in October 2010. Shane was my Professor of Theology throughout the course of my Masters Degree and is a humble and genuine guy with an incredibly sharp mind and beautiful ability to write.

He has recently had a paper published that explores the dark side of prayer for healing. It is thought provoking and insightful and, to be honest, address a myriad of questions that many of Christians want to ask but may not feel they should (because it might be a lack of 'faith') in regards to miraculous healing that does and doesn't happen.

Here are three snippets. The link to his blog post is below and from there you can link to the full article. Please, find some time to read the whole article is an incredibly worthwhile read!

Indeed, Pentecostals have elevated the importance of miraculous healing to such an extent that it is inextricably bound to theories of the atonement and conceptions and practices of faith. There is, however, a dark side to this emphasis that is rarely acknowledged. This paper seeks to unmask the negative impact of pentecostal theologies and practices of healing upon people with permanent illnesses, injuries, and disabilities.

And this...

With this in view, my first premise is that supernatural healing is rare, and that Pentecostals almost never acknowledge this rarity. Of course it is difficult for me to prove a negation. I might argue on the basis of definition: that if divine healing is miraculous, then it must be rare (or it would not be a miracle). More significantly, my argument is grounded on the assertion that there is no substantive
evidence that many people with severe and permanent injuries and disabilities—in other words, those for which healing might unquestionably be considered supernatural—are supernaturally healed. And if this is so, it is possible to generalize and say that the same is likely to be true across the board. At this point I am making an appeal for honesty. It is one thing for the healing evangelist to excite the crowd attending a one-off event with assertions that supernatural healings are an everyday reality for people with faith, but a pastor who lives with her congregation week in, week out appreciates the fact that sickness is a part of life and permanent disability isn't set aside by the thrill of the moment.

And finally...

This only makes sense because life is difficult and messy, because we need hope, and because in one
way or another we are all disabled—some more obviously than others, and if not today than almost certainly tomorrow (or perhaps the day after). Creamer notes that to be human is to be subject to “embodied limits,” and that such limits need not be understood negatively but, rather, as “normal.” The concept of well-being recognizes the reality of our limits. So, rather than seeking to escape our finitude, it looks to individual and communal flourishing in the midst of our limitations.

Shane's blog post can be found here and from there links to the article in full. 

Thank you so much Shane!

The Christian Man's Beard

We're working through a series at St Luke's at the moment called Everyday Spirituality. Here is a link to iTunes where you can subscribe to our Podcast and get a hold of the various messages. Sadly we're not going to have time to cover everyday spirituality and the beard at one of our Sunday gatherings so I thought I'd jot down a couple of thoughts here in an attempt to at least scratch the surface of this vast and important topic.  

In regards to everyday life, one of the challenges of authentic Christian living is to overcome artificial dualisms that compartmentalize a 'religious' life as separate from 'normal' life. With this in mind we must be careful that all spheres of daily living are seen as sacramental rather than simply instrumental or idolatrous. All of life is a gift from God, points to God and can be lived to the glory of God.

In no area of life is that perhaps more obvious than in regards to the Christian man's beard.

In some circles of Christendom great debates rage in regards to biblical manhood and biblical womanhood. What does it mean to be a Christian man or a Christian woman. All sorts of blog posts, books, sermons, conferences and seminars have attempted to address these issues. I won't even bother linking to them as a solid hermeneutical praxis that is cool headed, objective, exegetically sound and discerning will quickly conclude (at least in regards to biblical manhood) that the essence of Christian manhood is the beard. Full stop.  

Throughout the biblical cannon - though of course we only need to consider two isolated verse from Leviticus - we see that the honour of a man is his beard.

Leviticus 14:9
On the seventh day they must shave off all their hair; they must shave their head, their beard, their eyebrows and the rest of their hair. They must wash their clothes and bathe themselves with water, and they will be clean.

Leviticus 19:27
Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

In Leviticus 14 one is only to shave when unclean. One must spend some time isolated from the community and shave everything; head, beard, eyebrows and the rest of their hair... They will then be clean, everyone will know they had been unclean, but at least now they can set about growing their bearded awesomeness back and, in time, will be totally reincorporated into the life of the community. The beard is not something to be squandered, taken lightly or shaven. Only in times of reproach, or rebuke, or dishonour would a man remain clean shaven.

In Leviticus 19 we have an extended version of the Ten Commandments - pretty obvious here - don't shave. Honour the Lord your God, don't murder, and, don't shave! Grow and awesome beard.

Men were created in the image of God. Through puberty they gain the ability to be fruitful and multiply and to grow facial hair. These things all go together - for how is a man supposed to attract a wife without a beard!?!

Ultimately the Christian man's beard is sacramental in that it is symbolic or a reminder or indicative or iconic in the way it speaks to other facets of an honourable life lived to the glory of God. Three particular features must be considered; flavour & smell, shape, and also that the beard is intended to be iconic not instrumental or an idol.

Flavour and Smell:

As any Godly beard wearer knows, it is the nature of the beard to take on particular flavours and smells. At one point in my life I was poorly stewarding my beard. Everywhere I went there was a smell and I couldn't distinguish where it was coming from or what it was. Eventually I discovered it to be my poorly kept beard. Its odour was strong and offensive not subtle and inviting. It smelt like a week of meals and was musky and damp. Again, it was poor stewardship on my behalf which I quickly remedied.

A beard should, like a good Australian Shiraz or a Scottish Single Malt, be layered with subtlety and nuance. The first hints of flavour and smell will be feminine in character; the delightful floral smells of your wife's perfume lingering after a passionate kiss and also of her body wash, borrowed to give the beard and occasional clean. No Christian man actually owns their own soap.

Following on from these more feminine notes there will be more masculine notes. It will be slightly smoky, left over reminders of an occasionally smoked pipe or perhaps from the nightly lighting of the fire to warm the home in winter. It may even be from a few drops of Lagavulin absorbed into the moustache after a fine single malt has been enjoyed with other wonderful beared men of God. At the same time the beard will be salty. The sweat of a hard days labour or of physical exertion at the gym, running or playing sport will leave a salty residue. As will the sea spray of a wild ocean.

Finally the flavour and smell of the beard will give way to more pleasant and sweet reminders of daily life; bubble mixture from playing with the kids, coffee, dessert, a ripe orange, the cinnamon of homemade scrolls, bbq sauce.  

These flavours and smells found in the Christian man's beard are iconic reminders of one's life as a gift from God, of the down-to-earth joys of daily living, of hard work, of simple pleasures, of hearth and health, of wife and children. They compel one to give thanks and glory to God.

Shape:

The shape of the Christian man's beard is also an important part of the integration of faith into an everyday spirituality. The beard will not to too well crafted and yet it will not be wild and scraggy. It will not be wispy nor close cropped, nor so long as to seem ignored. It will be carefully maintained as to reflect good stewardship but lacking in prideful manicuring. Ultimately this care for the Christian man's beard is a reminder of the responsibility one has before God to steward the gift of life. To steward one's gifts talents, resources, abilities, friendships, possessions before God as Lord and Saviour of all.

Too well manicured...

   Too wild...

 Just right...

Iconic:

It is essential to remember that the Christian man's beard is always intended to be iconic; it speaks to, reminds of, and is indicative of one's attempt to live faithfully as a Christ follower. It is not simply a means to an end; attract a wife, look amazing, ooze manliness. Yes, these things will happen but they must be not lead to pride. The beard is also not to become idolatrous. The beard itself is not to be worshipped or followed. The beard too can be a white-washed tomb if one does not live authentically, beneath the beard, the life Christ has called us to live.

Finally, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, if a husband and wife want to mutually abstain from sexual intimacy for a time of prayer, this is fine. Of course this would be the time to go clean shaven. At the conclusion of this brief season one would grow one's beard back and normally intimacy with one's spouse would resume.

That my friends is everyday spirituality and the beard. 

Thomas & Hannah's Wedding

There are some awesome photo's of Thomas and Hannah's wedding on the blog Magnolia Rouge. Claire is an amazing photographer!

Traditional

Traditional is another term that we have chosen to describe an aspect of the style of church we feel God is leading us to develop at St Luke’s. By traditional we mean the intentional embracing of various elements of a more traditional church’s liturgy (form or arrangement of public worship). At times this will mean an awareness and celebration of the Christian Calendar or Christian Seasons, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter etc, allowing these seasons to influence aspects of our own church gatherings and the communal life of our church. On occasion we will use set readings and prayers in our Sunday gatherings such as found in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. In no way do we feel bound to any of these traditions but rather think there is something beautiful expressed and experienced in them and look forward to fusing the ancient with the contemporary. Our gatherings will always be full of life and the passionate celebration of the resurrected Jesus. We look forward to this passionate celebration being both, boisterous and noisy, as well as reflective and peaceful.      

Pictured is an Advent Wreath. It is usually a horizontal evergreen wreath with four candles and often, a fifth, white candle in the centre. Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, the lighting of a candle can be accompanied by a Bible reading and prayers. An additional candle is lit during each subsequent week until, by the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit. Some Advent wreaths include a fifth, "Christ" candle which can be lit at Christmas. The custom is observed both in family settings and at public church services and of course can either be meaningless or full of meaning depending on how practiced in the home or in a public service. Ancient practices such as an Advent Wreath leading into Christmas have the potential though to help reshape one's thinking and attitude towards Christmas, highlighting the true reason for the season when accompanied by the set readings and reflections. A potentially wonderful practice for those both old and young!

Hello Handsome!!!

This is my son Romeo Alexander Thomas McAuley trying on his outfit for his aunty's wedding in a few weeks. Hot stuff and proud as punch!

Freedom of Simplicity 5

Chapter 5 - Inward Simplicity: The Divine Center

What will free us from this bondage to the ever-spiraling demands that are placed upon us? The answer is found in the grace Christian simplicity. This virtue, once worked into our lives, will unify the demands of our existence; it will prune and trim gently and in the right places, bringing a liberty of soul that will eliminate constant reversions to ourselves.

Within all of us is a whole conglomerate of selves. There is the timid self, the courageous self, the business self, the parental self, the religious self, the literary self, the energetic self. All of these selves are rugged individualists. No bargaining or compromise for them. Each one screams to protect his or her vested interests. If a decision is made to spend a relaxed evening listening to Chopin, the business self and the civic self rise up in protest at the loss of precious time. The energetic self paces back and fourth, impatient and frustrated, and the religious self reminds us of lost opportunities for study or evangelistic contact. If the decision is to accept an appointment on the human services board, the civic self smiles with satisfaction, but all the excluded selves filibuster. No wonder we feel distracted and torn. No wonder we over commit our schedules and live lives of frantic faithfulness.

But when we experience life at the Center (with God as the Center), all is changed. Our many selves come under the control of the divine Arbitrator, (The Holy Spirit).

Everything becomes orientated to this new Center (Christ) of reference.

We enter a refreshing balance and equilibrium in life.

From Brother Lawrence - The time of business for me does not differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great a tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.

My major takeaways...

I couldn't believe how much Foster's comments about the different 'selves' within us fight with each other. When resting I fight with myself that I should be studying, when studying I wonder if I should be exercising, when exercising I wonder if I should be with the kids, when with the kids I fret about undone tasks that need completing. Absolutely there is need for me to consciously get Christ at the center and trust him as I do all that needs doing in life, all in due course.

I have have to chose to...

1. Let go and trust Him. All my DOING will never get everything DONE. I have to remember how important it is at times simply to be. Be with Him, be with my kids, be with myself etc.

2. Chose to slow down.

3. Accept that seasons in life create different priorities. Even though I still have to fight this, having kids has helped me a lot. Golf and the gym are on the back burner at the moment. Bikes, books, and bath time reign supreme.

Why No Posts?

I know, I know it's been nearly a month since I posted. Why no posts? What's been happening?

Well truth be told two kids, (no surprises here), can be a real handful at times. If I was wearing a hat I would take it off to everyone with 3 or 4 kids. You guys are legends. For those of you with 5 plus kids I would shave my hair off if I had an electric razor on me. Pity I don't.

I just haven't had time to blog sorry. Then if I have had time... which would mean the kids are asleep, the house is at least mostly in order, and all sermons currently needed have been written... my eyeballs sting too much from lack of sleep to sit in front of a screen and blog.

We just don't seem to be sleeping much at the moment, it seems if its not Romeo's reflux and inability to burp (he only farts, like his uncle), its Annamari's teeth coming through all at once. This means we are up a lot during the night.

I guess I could blog then but the tooth picks I use to hold my eyes open make my eyelids bleed so I can't see because of the blood. Its lose lose whatever way you look at it.

Its awesome having both Annamari and Romeo. I love them to bits and they are so much fun. Being a Dad is awesome. And being a Dad means blogging is on the back foot at the moment.

Anyway, that's why there are no posts. Too busy with work, study, and parenting.

In saying that, I'm looking to get a few posts going over the next week and then will try to get something up every couple of days.

Have fun for now.

Romeo Alexander Thomas McAuley

Lisa and I had a baby boy this morning. So exciting!

Romeo Alexander Thomas McAuley will be a fantastic brother for Annamari. He was 9lbs7. Mum and baby are doing really well. Here are some photos...

Time Flys

Man time goes fast! Lisa just mentioned that her and the other mums from our antenatal group are in the process of organising a combined 1st birthday for all the babies from our group. While she is 10 months old at the moment, I can't believe we are coming up to Annamari's first birthday! The last year has been amazing and being a Dad is awesome. Annamari is an absolute joy to have and her outgoing, adventurous and active personality makes everyday exciting. She is so going to enjoy having either a baby brother or sister in August. If you don't yet have kids then you are in for a real treat and when you are ready, (you're never ready), I know you will just love it. Until you do have kids here are a few things I suggest you make the most of before they come along.

1. Sleep (I think sleep is overrated, in saying that, appreciate what you have pre baby).
2. Movies (Go to the movies lots, even if they are zero star rated like 10,000BC. Babies and movies don't mix).
3. Golf (18 holes, four hours... young Dad's it just ain't happening).
4. Sky Sport (Sky Sport moved out when baby moved in, watch more sport now and make the most of it, even watch motor sport if you have to).