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The Judge is the Savior: Towards a Universalist Understanding of Salvation by Jean Wyatt… Haddon Willmer shares his thoughts

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Jean Wyatt, The Judge is the Savior: Towards a Universalist Understanding of Salvation

Resource Publications, Wipf and Stock, 2015 (xviii + 223 pp)

Here is a book that comes from decades of caring thought and spiritual wrestling. Jean Wyatt begins with a story from 1974 when she and her family were worshipping in a friendly Baptist Church. The worship and preaching were dynamic and the fellowship warm, but there was one drawback: the church had a formidable doctrinal basis to which all members should assent. It was the last statement that I found so difficult: We believe in the judgment by the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming again, of all men, of believers to eternal blessedness, of unbelievers to eternal condemnation.

That provoked years of study out of which this well informed, sensitive book, rich in story and quotation, comes to us now. It could help many kinds of people to think again. Some say there is no God, who calls us to a final accounting for ourselves, with possibly serious consequences.    Some are confident that, because God is love, God will not be hard on us so no one need worry. A few still believe God is holy and just and cannot tolerate any shortfall, which implies that sinners may deservedly be sent to eternal punishment. Other Christians hold that faith in Christ assures them of escape from deserved punishment, while those who don’t believe are excluded. And maybe that leaves a lot of people who are confused and don’t know what to think, although they have an uncomfortable feeling there might be something important here, if only they could get a grip on it. 

Jean Wyatt argues in a constructive way, from the Bible and theology, that God’s judgment is not condemnatory or destructive of God’s own creatures, but that it is disciplinary and restorative.  It consistently aims at what is good, however badly things have gone.     So God’s Judgment is God’s salvation – there is not a simple Either-Or.   And this salvation-judgment is revealed and worked out in the life, death, resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God, God in human being, for human being – ‘Oh, generous love! That he who smote/ in man, for man, the foe….’   God does not leave the crucial task of achieving salvation to human beings in their self-deceiving sovereign apart-ness:  God takes the business in hand without emptying human action and responsibility of meaning.  

As I now understand the good news of Jesus Christ, it inescapably involves the quest for a ‘universalist understanding of salvation’ which is not careless about human sin and judgment.   It is good to say clearly, The Judge is the Saviour.  It is also foundationally good to say, The Saviour is the Judge. That means judgment is finally, decisively executed in the realisation of the salvation God is working at and will complete rather than in the dismissive condemnation of sinners.   Jesus, God in humanity, received sinners and outsiders into the fellowship of the kingdom of God.  He ate with them, concretely showing God did not exclude them according to some readings of the law.  And then he said to his critics, this is what the salvation of God is like:  the blind receive sight, the hungry are fed, the poor have good news given to them, the estranged and humiliated and fearful people come in.  Critics, insulated by in their own sense of goodness, were called to notice and understand what was going on in these feasts from which they excluded themselves. Jesus said, with the ultimate seriousness of final judgment,  there was no hope for such people unless they liked what God was making of, and for, the people they despised and feared. The well-off, who need no physician for themselves, are called to be glad that those they looked down upon were being included in God’s welcome. People with pride and confidence in any superior quality or achievement are not saved by virtue of what they are in themselves, but only by giving up self to find themselves with, in and through  the salvation God brings to the humble, by his own humility. 

That is how the father appealed to his older son, when the wayward younger brother returned, a broken and disgraced man.  Could the older son not see the goodness in his brother’s being found, coming to life out of death?  What does it reveal about him that he refuses to share in the joy of it, because he has ‘standards’ which prevent him seeing goodness in his brother’s recovery? Whatever his other qualities, he lacks love which rejoices in the good (I Cor.13. 6). The story in Lk 15 is left hanging at the end as the father tries to persuade his son to love generously and to have convincing reasons within his own mind for loving even this brother.  

Such a salvation enacted and displayed brings us into the place of searching and being judged.  So the Saviour is the Judge. 

As Jesus said, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him….This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world and people loved darkness rather than light… (John 3.17-21). 

Haddon Willmer

New Wine United 2018

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Bookings are now open for this year’s New Wine event in August. 
 
If you are interested in finding out more or booking your place go online at https://united.new-wine.org/
 
All details are on there, including prices and what is available for adults, teens and kids programmes. 
 
For more information on what you might expect to find at New Wine speak with Richard or Kathryn Thompson or Chris Puckrin. 
 
And if you’re not so sure about camping there’s plenty of alternative accommodation options off site or you can hire a caravan at http://www.tilshead-caravans.com/carcaravan-hire-new-wine.
 
In the meantime here’s a youtube link to a short film shot at this years’event

FIRE!

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FIRE SAFETY – Evacuation of the Building during a Service

Meeting Point: In the event of a fire, people should calmly leave the building by the nearest exit (see below) and meet on the grass by the telephone box to the right of the car park exit.

All children’s/youth group leaders are responsible for evacuating the children in their care except for crèche (see separate note under Crèche Room)

Foyer: Exit through main front door

Sanctuary: (as seen from the front)

Rear balcony: Down front steps and through the main front door or down side steps and through the corner room

Left hand side (front half) exit through door between Sanctuary and Music Room

Left hand side (rear half) exit through main front door

Right hand side (front half) exit through door by offices

Right hand side (rear half) exit through main front door

Music Room: Exit through door between Sanctuary and Music Room

Offices: Exit through external door by offices

Disabled toilet: Exit through external door by offices

Meeting Area: Exit through external door by offices

Lounge: Exit through Sports Hall fire exit

Sports Hall: Exit through Sports Hall fire exit

Kitchen: Exit through Corner Room fire exit

Corner Room: Exit through Corner Room fire exit

Crèche Room: Exit through Corner Room fire exit (NB those with children in crèche should pick up their children from the Crèche Room by the door near the ladies toilets and exit by the Corner Room

Gents Toilets: Through main front door

Ladies Toilets: Through Corner Room fire exit

Service Leader to direct from the front of church

Stewards on duty to facilitate exit and to sweep the building following exit

All stewards in attendance to assist elderly and infirm

Administrator or substitute to call emergency services

                          ———————————————————————–

FIRE SAFETY – Fire extinguishers situated:

One in Foyer by window

Three in Sanctuary – one on platform by sound desk, one next to organ, one at the entrance from the office corridor

One in corridor by offices

One next to photocopier

One in Corner Room next to emergency exit

One in Sports Hall next to emergency exit

Two outside Corner Room (one is specifically for use on kitchen fat fires)

There is also a fire blanket in the kitchen

Fire Call Points (break glass if you discover a fire)

One in corridor by offices

One in Sports Hall next to emergency exit

One in Kitchen by rear door

One in Corner Room next to emergency exit

One by the external door between Music Room and Sanctuary

Doors and Fire Exits

Main front door

External door by offices

External door between Music Room and Sanctuary

Corner Room

Sports Hall

In the event of an emergency evacuation, all “off duty” stewards will be expected to become “on duty” stewards.

It will be the responsibility of the two “on duty” stewards to check both the ladies, gents and disabled toilets

No heroics! A safe, calm and speedy evacuation of the building should be your main priority. Don’t put yourself at risk. Leave the fire fighting to the professionals.

New BMS World Mission Engage magazine out now

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Published three times a year, the latest edition of ENGAGE, BMS World Mission’s brilliant magazine is now available either in print (completely free through the post) or on line via https://www.bmsworldmission.org/get-involved/stay-informed/engage/

Issue 41’s  cover is taken up by a picture of BMS World Mission surgeons Andrea and Mark Hotchkin. The couple who have spent eight years living and working in Bardia, Chad “live in a two room mud and stone house with a reed roof, no windows and no running water.” 

Inside there are stories from Uganda, India, China and Nepal as well as a hard hitting three page feature about modern day slavery here in the UK. 

You can support BMS World Mission in a number of ways including through its novel Birthdays Scheme; each year, on your birthday, instead of receiving a gift you commit to send the BMS a donation. Last year this simple but most effective plan raised over £300,000. 

Roger Robson is MBC’s BMS World Mission representative so if you would like more information about any of its work he’s the man to see.  

 

Church Day Out – Otley Chevin – Saturday June 23

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Church Day Out – Saturday 23rd June

Meet at The Cheerful Chilli Cafe car park at Otley Chevin at 11am
Bring a picnic or use the cafe, bring a blanket or a chair to sit on.

There will be organised walks – a gentle stroll or something a bit more challenging. 

Aiming to finish around 4pm – so stay for as little or as long as you like.

Childrens Sleepover – from 5pm at MBC
After the day out at the Chevin, the year 5 and 6 children are invited to a
sleepover at church with breakfast on Sunday morning before the service.

See Cas for details and to register your child.

10,000 thanks from MAF as they take delivery of a new aircraft

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In September 2017 MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) sent out a heartfelt plea to Help us buy a plane!  (You may recall David Casson talking about it at MBC).  

As a result of that appeal, and within just 250 days of its launch more than 10,000 people sent a gift towards purchasing a Cessna 208 Grand Caravan (like the one pictured above). This means that today the aircraft is being prepared for take off ahead of joining MAF’s South Sudan fleet. 

Ruth Whitaker – the project’s UK Chief Executive describes this amazing response as “a magnificent outpouring of love towards men, women and children of the world’s youngest nation.” 

You can find our more about the success of this appeal and about MAF’s amazing work across the world by going to http://www.maf-uk.org/how-we-help or you can of course speak directly to David Casson. 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a triple blessing as fifty special guests join Jayden, Debi and Jason for Service

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At MBC, whenever a child is Dedicated or receives a Blessing he or she is always given a simple certificate on which it says this: Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19.14. 

Last Sunday (May 27th) it was our pleasure to give just such a memento to Jayden, Nathaniel, Reggie Lynch. However, what made the Service extra special was mum and dad, Debi and Jason’s request that they too should receive a blessing.  

Debi and Jason have kindly given us permission to use some pictures taken at the Service, so many thanks and God blessings on you all. 

To view a larger version of any of these pictures just click on the image.

A Pentecost Letter to Peter

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Peter, I know you as a fisherman follower of Jesus. Speaking out what everyone else was thinking, promising what you could not deliver, but with a faith to keep going. The risk taker still standing.

I am in your stead as a Christian – a follower of Jesus of Nazareth.

In your stead as a preacher, having just heard one of your sermons. I write to you at Pentecost, the day you preached your first sermon. The day I saw you in a new light – as the clear interpreter of what was happening.

Always focused upon Jesus Christ, memorably describing what has and is happening. Not so much teaching as testimony. The one person shall pass on to another. Explaining what has taken place, pointing to what is unfolding. I would love to preach more like that. To say – “they are not drunk, but this is a move of the Spirit.”

You were the rock on which a church was built. I don’t claim to be in your stead in that way – I’m simply another brick in the wall.

Today we remember –

Your community – changed from a small band anxious and uncertain to a movement charged with courage. Filled with life giving breath that gave voice and with a fire to catch the world.

Your people – before you preached you could all be described as Galileans and afterwards the epithet would never suffice.

Peter, may I be so bold to speak of what we have in common. We in our church are not just remembering – it is happening among us.

Sometimes, I think that the community I serve can slip into becoming a huddle, tucked away from a fast changing and harsh world. But there is a wind of the Spirit among us. We are familiar when it is tongues and interpretations, gifts and prophecy. We cherish more of that. But this move is different. It is a bit of a babble, it is moving us out into the streets and communities, in campaigns and cafes.

Peter like you I spy many more languages, cultures and races coming within earshot, this is not the competitive scramble of Babel, the imperial exporting of one culture to another. This is the coming of nations and cultures together, hearing, understanding and relating together. This too is happening in our church.

Peter, I have the luxury of being able to read the rest of your story – of the deacons like Stephen and Philip, and converts like Cornelius, Pricilla, Aquila and Lydia, of the later Apostle Paul and the generous benefactor Barnabas.

So, I observe that you preached amid chaos. In untidy and unpredictable times. It comes across as exciting but unplanned. Peter, maybe I should tell my church that we are living in similar times. We don’t have a detailed plan – save Jesus Christ, the moving of the Spirit and our values of courage, hospitality and hope. Dare I tell my church that God is making these times untidy and blowing a Godly chaos when we like things in order?

Peter, I have read of the struggles that you had to come to terms with many Gentile converts, and the raising up of new and different leaders. In our scriptures which record your story, I have read of your commitment to this, but also when you made mistakes and lost your nerve. Peter, as one preacher and leader to another – I say me too. Having read the whole story in theory it is simple but in practice it is so complex. To take what we have in and apply to ever changing new context. I know that as a minister, father, husband and friend. I wonder how you felt when Paul became more and you less, how you engaged what was unfolding even though you hadn’t worked it all out? I am learning through joys and mistakes of how to partner more and I think to follow your path of working with and genuinely welcoming the new. Peter, I guess your spirit-filled self was still expressed through your whole character. I can identify with that.

So the band of you, your brother Andrew, of James and John, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna… became Stephen, Philip, Barnabas, Silas, Paul, Lydia, Pricilla and Aquila. Different people being raised up in new and unexpected ways. People called to one role and then doing another. Today we are choosing deacons and we have been searching for a youth leader. The same unexpected ways are emerging among us. I am beginning to see trusted new people exercising ministry already. Maybe we should call them out and give them recognition and space.

Peter, in our wider church we have lost sight of being the movement you described so we have hived off the ground breaking as emerging church and its leaders as pioneers. But isn’t an emerging church simply one in which God is stirring and moving and pioneers simply ministers who describe and explain what is taking place and equip the people. On this day Peter, I get it – every living church is on the move and every preacher, minister and leader a pioneer. As one preacher to another I have learnt from you on this day that a better Christ shaped world is possible if we dream and speak it here and now, it must and will first take shape in us, it will require more of us but it is born of the wind and fire of the Spirit.

Peter, I wonder what you would have preached if we had you with us at Moortown today? I guess we know, you would have described what you saw happening and connected it with Jesus. You would preach in such a way that urges people to respond and question – what must we do to be saved? You would have reached out to the lost and not just have conversations in church.

Graham Brownlee, 20th May 2017

(The text of a message given on Pentecost Sunday)

Owzat for a first attempt… MBC all stars snatch victory with just one over to go

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After decades in the doldrums MBC is once again fielding a cricket team.  That’s because Moortown Baptist Church are currently playing in a four team, 20 over tournament running on Wednesday evenings in May and June at Harewood House. The teams are Mosaic, St George’s, Leeds Pathology (links to Bridge Street) and Moortown.
 
Skipper Mike Gray reports… All of the teams consist of players from each church and friends to make up the numbers. In our first game we had a close victory in the 19th over of our batting innings. Leeds Pathology hit 120 runs and we chased a score of 121 to win.
 
Our Man of the Match was Graham (right) with a fine performance as both wicket keeper and batsman; indeed it was Graham who secured our victory by dispatching the ball to the boundary for the winning four. 
 
Other individuals shone, particularly debutantes Edward (above, left) claiming a wicket and a run out, Andy 2 wickets and Sam who took a brilliant catch.
 
There are still two matches to play so if anyone would like to join the team please contact Mike Gray on 07505634522.
 
Included in the gallery is a picture we’ve found in our archive taken of the MBC cricket team in either the late 1950s or very early 60s. If you want to see a larger version of this or any of the others simply click on the image. 
 

 

20th May – a busy, busy day at MBC

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I think it’s fair to say that no Sunday morning service at MBC is ever what you might call quiet or straight forward. Besides all the traditional elements there’s very often a mission slot, or our children come back in to share what they’ve all been up, sometimes we have a visiting preacher or maybe some weeks just an up date on one of our many and varied projects. Sunday May 20th, however, was even busier than normal.

This was because after a shortened service (one hour, five including Communion) we held the second of our special open Church Meetings.

On the agenda this time was the election or reappointment of deacons, confirmation that Howard Dews is to be our GDPR guru and the latest news on our ongoing search for a new youth worker. Then, an hour later it was time for the top side of a hundred of us to share lunch. 

The gallery below shows a selection of images taken on the day. This includes pictures of a splendid new “stained glass” window, specially designed and built for Pentecost by Kate Slater, our two new deacons – Paul Smith and Phil Laws and a shot taken in the lounge showing what some of our kids were doing during our meeting. 

So there you have it, Sunday May 20th, just another day in the eventful life of Moortown Baptist Church. Fortunately everything ran smoothly even if it was a bit of a struggle getting everything cleared away before it was time for Shona and Graham to clock on again, this time to lead a 4pm Tea Service. 

You can view a larger version of any of these images simply by clicking on the picture

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