What Matters

Engage: Royal Priesthood

A recent survey demonstrated that Australians rank 'clergy' as the
38th most trustworthy profession out of the 51 listed, just ahead of
lawyers, politicians and sex workers.  The Apostle Peter calls the
church a 'Royal Priesthood'.  Is this a label we should claim is 21C
Australia? Listen in as Stu Cameron explores this rich metaphor: Download 250813_Stu_Cameron_Royal_Priesthood_Robina  You can read the mansucript here: Download Royal Priesthood Manuscript Final

Some Muppet Theology

I grew up with the Muppets, first on Sesame Street, and then the show that bore their name.  I cried when Kermit the Frog sang ‘It’s not easy being Green’.  I laughed at Fozzie Bear’s lame jokes.  I loved Animal, the maniacal drummer (is there any other type of drummer?).  The least likeable Muppet characters were a couple of grumpy coots called Waldorf and Statler, who would sit in their theatre box each week and watch the performances on stage, always ready with a biting, sarcastic and often hilarious criticism.  (Waldorf: ‘They ain’t half bad.’ Statler: ‘No, they’re ALL bad!’) 

Waldorf and Statler were armchair critics taking potshots from the balcony, while on the stage the actors risked it all each night.  When it comes to the church, there is a little bit of the spirit of Waldorf and Statler in me.  I find it way too easy sometimes to stand back and point out all that isn’t as it should be.  When I do, I forget momentarily that if I claim allegiance to Jesus Christ, the church is not something ‘over there’, but a community that is around, and encompasses me.  For the believer, the church is never ‘them’; it always ‘us’.

Make no mistake; God’s church – made up as it is by broken people - is in need of constant reform, and reform will often begin with loving criticism from within.  Renewal arises out of repentance.  The choice we have is whether we will sit in the balcony watching on, arms folded, criticism on the tip of our lips, or instead join the other actors on the stage as together, with faltering steps and imperfect lives, we are caught up in the drama of God’s redemptive plan for the world.  Stage or balcony, which will it be?  Right here, right now this is what I believe God is saying to all of us who call Newlife home:

'Don’t spectate; participate.Don’t sit back; step up. Don’t observe; engage. Don’t come to church; be the church.’ 

I’d rather be Kermit or Fozzie, than Waldorf or Statler any day.

Engage: Living Stones

Our experiences have left all of us with distorted images of the church. In their place, the bible offers us some rich metaphors for God's vision for his people.  In this first message in a new series, Stu Cameron explores how the church is a Spiritual House.  Listen in: Download 180813_Stu_Cameron_Living_Stones_Robina  Or you can read the message here:Download Living Stones Manuscript

Rev Dr Lew Born: The Charge

Rev Dr Lew Born is a legend.  Together with his wife Betty, Lew has served the Newlife community with distinction for 16 years.  As he 'retires' to Brisbane, Lew charges us to continue the mission of Jesus.  Listen in: Download 110813_Lew_Bourne_Robina

Developing a Culture of Honour

A month or so ago I attended Hillsong Conference in Sydney with twenty of my friends and colleagues from Newlife Uniting, as well as twenty thousand or so others!  It was a wonderful week, marred only by the lingering man-cold I suffered with.  I made sure everyone knew I was stricken, as one of the defining symptoms of a man-cold is the necessity for the sufferer to tell everyone of its miserable, death-dealing horror.  Anyway, back to Hillsong.

Hillsong conference is a packed week of worship, speakers, electives and getting to and from each.  It’s a four day spiritual marathon.  This being my fourth conference, I was able to stand back a little and observe some of culture that informs and shapes the event.  More than anything else, one thing stood out – Hillsong has a keenly developed culture of honor.

From the main stage recognition and affirmation of speakers and leaders (never over the top), to the warmth of greeting offered at doors by the hundreds of volunteers, to the very moving and very public recognition of otherwise anonymous leaders – Hillsong seeks to value and affirm every contribution of every volunteer, leader and staff member as critical.  Watching on keenly, it never felt fake, it never seemed forced and it always appeared to be from the heart.  Alongside some of the speaker input - and of course the refreshment in worship - it was one of the biggest ‘take-homes’ of the week for me.

In Romans Paul says this: Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. (Romans 12:9-10)  A mark of Christian community is the loving honour we offer one another as sisters and brothers in Christ.  To honour another is to see with God’s eyes their worth and recognise Christ within them.  It is t to acknowledge and affirm their God-given giftedness and critical role within the proper functioning of a healthy, Christ-exalting community.  Honouring one another paradoxically elevates us over and above the trenchant demands of our own insecure egos, knowing that our worth is always found in Christ alone.  When we honour others we remind them of that worth.  Finally, when we honour one another appropriately, indirectly but very surely we are honouring Christ.

Seeing such a healthy culture of honour got me thinking.  What are the practical, day to day disciplines that lay the foundation for such a culture to develop? Good intentions won’t do it; disciplined action will.  In our ministry team context at Newlife, here are some ideas that, as carried through consistently by all members, will continue to shape our life:

A culture of honour will develop as we:

• Follow through on commitments made to other team members.  Where a commitment may not be able to be kept, in an honouring culture, we will inform those affected as soon as possible.
• Commit to always being on time for meetings, knowing that not just our time is precious, but so is the time of others.
• Submit to God-placed and Godly leadership.
• Develop means by which people can lead ‘up’ – that is appropriately and lovingly challenge their leaders where necessary.
• Where possible, leaving rooms we use, facilities we utilise and equipment we borrow in a better state than when we received them.
• Take every opportunity to both personally and publically recognise the contribution of others to any success we enjoy.
• Take every opportunity to both personally and publically celebrate the success that another team member experiences.
• Develop a culture of expressed gratitude – expressed in genuine and creative ways.
• Are transparent and timely in all communication.
• Honour other team members publically, but always and only challenge privately.  A culture of honour will never air dirty laundry outside the boundaries of the team.

There is plenty more that could be said about developing a culture of honour.  What practical disciplines would you suggest?

In the end, as we honour one another, we honour and serve Jesus – the one who embraced the shame of the Cross so that we might receive eternal honour.

This is Newlife

Newlife Uniting is an Acts 2 church with an Acts 1:8 mandate and a Matthew 28 commission.  Filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), we bear witness to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus to whomever and wherever God calls us (Acts 1:8).  As we do so, and as God works by his Spirit, we make disciples – baptizing and teaching them in Jesus’ name – confident in the presence and power of God in Christ (Matthew 28).  This encapsulates the mission and purpose of the church.  The mystery of the church (one of them at least) is that God calls such a fragile and diverse people to this mission.

I often describe Newlife as ‘one, big, happy – sometimes dysfunctional – family.’  In this we are in rich company historically, as any glance at the New Testament and church history will testify.  Newlife enjoys rich diversity.  At last count we have just under 40 different birth nationalities in our midst.  While our heritage is ‘Uniting’, most of us came from different denominational backgrounds, if we came from any at all.  Some of us live in caravan parks, while others live in million dollar plus homes.  Two of our members are 99 years of age, and later this year – God-willing – will turn 100.  At the other end of the scale, our crèches are bubbling over with babies at both Pac Pines and Robina. Last Sunday, of the 950 people in worship, approximately 350 were under the age of 25.  Diverse indeed – and this is how it should be.  You see, where else but the church will you find people with otherwise so little in common – except their common faith in Jesus Christ?

While we should always celebrate our rich diversity, even more fundamental we should revel in our God-given unity – a unity found in Christ alone.  As we continue, by God’s grace, to grow – it will be ever more important to fix our eyes on Jesus, who is the one and only head of the church.  As we do, we will continue to experience rich adventures in mission as Christ leads us, and the Holy Spirit empowers us.  To God be the glory!

A Beautiful Exchange

In 2 Corinthians Paul says this: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9) 

Through the Cross of Jesus Christ, a beautiful exchange was made possible.  Through faith – as we confess with our lips that Christ is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead – we exchange our spiritual poverty for all the riches that Jesus has as the only begotten son of the Father.   

In exchange for my spiritual poverty, I am showered with his spiritual riches.

In exchange for my unrighteousness, I am clothed in his righteousness.

In exchange for my many mistakes, I receive his eternal perfection.

In exchange for my brokenness, I am gifted with his wholeness.

In exchange for my guilt, I am blessed with his innocence.

In exchange for fear that paralyses me, I receive peace that liberates me.

In exchange for my imperfection, I am offered his perfection.

In exchange for my faithlessness, I am overwhelmed by his faithfulness.

In exchange for my many inconsistencies, I am blessed by his always and forever consistency.

In exchange for my sorrow, I am covered over by his unspeakable joy.

In exchange for my desolation, I am freed by his deliverance.

In exchange for the ruins of my life, I am transformed by resurrection in his life.

In exchange for my shame, I receive honor.

In exchange for my pain, my soul finds rest in his comfort.

In exchange for my sin, I am set free in his salvation.

In exchange for a crown of thorns, I receive a crown of glory.

In exchange for my filthy rags, I am clothed with his royal robes.

A beautiful exchange indeed...

Life Towards God

Jesus has some pretty direct things to say about finding our security in stuff.  In Luke 12 he frames a story about a rich fool with a warning to guard our heart against greed and an encouragement to live life towards God.  Listen in: Download 040813_Stu_cameron_Life_Towards_GodOr read the manuscript here: Download Life Towards God