What is The Salvation Army about?

The answer will depend on how much the person answering knows about the organization. One would say: “It is my favourite store!” – with reference to our thrift stores. Another would say “They help the poor!”. A third may say “They have good brass-bands!” whilst a fourth states “It’s my church!”.
Nothing of this is wrong, however they are just fragments of the truth. I could continue with a multitude of statements that would say something about what we are.

For me The Salvation Army is all about mission; and mission is bringing the life of Jesus into the communities of our present time. We can do that through a thrift store, a poverty alleviation project, a brass-band, a church/corps or in a way that has not yet crossed our minds. That is why The Salvation Army has so many expression of the mission.

In the last twenty reflections, I have elaborated on General Brian Peddle’s “Call to Mission – NOW”. The danger with everything we do, is that we can continue to do it also after we have lost the focus on the mission. The store, the project, the band, the corps, or one of the many other expressions of our mission can replace the main focus, which is the sole reason for doing the mission.

Many years ago I was leading a large, quite traditional Salvation Army corps. In a meeting with most of the active members of the corps present, I said the following in my sermon:

“If it was possible for God to die, and he actually decided to die, it would take at least three years before this corps discovered it! Therefore, we would continue to what we have always done as though nothing of importance had happened”.

In some ways it was a “Wake-up call”, and the feedback afterwards was on the whole scale of emotional expressions. A young soldier came to me and said: “First I thought, you must be right, and I felt scared. However, then I thought, if God really died, I trust that Jostein will discover it, and I am sure he would tell us!” In some ways it was a joke, but I also sensed that he saw the seriousness of the message.

At all times we need to be reminded “Mission first!”. The General has reminded us. We need to remind each other: We need to spread the life of Jesus right where we are. The mission is not something we do, but something we live.

As I could say to the young soldier many years ago, I confirm again:

“God is not dead, he will never die, he conquered death and rose from the grave. He is alive in you!” (1)

‘Manna’ for today:

Live the mission!

…and have a blessed summer
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(1) I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms...

Ephisians 1:18-20

I am my Father’s favourite!

How can that be when he has so many children?

Actually my Father is the ‘Father of all’. That is how Paul concludes his list of aspects that unites us in one Spirit (1). When Paul comes with this statement, I am convinced that he is not limiting ‘all’ to ‘all believers’, I believe he includes every individual human being on this earth. In the same letter he writes about the unity of the Spirit, he has already stated that the Father of our Lord Jesus is also:

“the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth.”
Epf 3:15

I have met many people, also believers, who struggle with the image of God as the ‘perfect Father’. Very often this discomfort derives from bad experience caused by a distant or abusive earthly father who was far from perfect. God the Father sets the standard for what a good father is – and even a good earthly father would never be able to give more than a brief glimpse of what the ‘perfect Father’ is like. Because the ‘perfect Father’ has the capacity to embrace all children. Further:

“…to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
John 1:12

So when a person has received Jesus Christ into his life, he has become a child of God, and as such he is also God’s favourite. It will never happen that the ‘Perfect Father’ will favour one child over another, because he knows that to favour one would disturb the unity of the Spirit, and that is exactly what God wants to see in his children. He wants us to sing with David:

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
Psalm 133:1

…and move forward as One Army, with One Message and One Mission.

‘Manna’ for today:

I love to share my Father with all!

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(1) ….keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, Ephesians 4:3-6

‘One’ God!

At the time of Jesus, confessing ‘one’ God was part of the upbringing for all Jews. There may be several reasons for Paul bringing this aspect into his teaching about unity in the Spirit (1), and I think the most important is that the consequence of this confession is that: There is only ‘one’ God that should be worshiped! Jesus reminded Satan about this when he was tempted by him in the wilderness (2). 

It is a great threat to unity when ‘worship’ goes astray and focuses on other sources. Even the worship activity can easily be a goal in itself and replace God. When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and addressed how the church was divided, one of the issues was that they focused on the ’instruments’ the Lord had used to lead them to faith, rather than ‘worshiping’ the one and only God (3). If they had been united in the worship of 'one' God, they would have known that Apollos, Cephas and Paul were nothing but God’s instruments.

My great desire is to serve the Lord and be His instrument. From time to time I need confirmation that he uses me as his tool; however, it stops there, I do not want to stand in his way – actually it is one of the few things I really fear. Through the years, I have witnessed how some of his instruments have received more attention than the Lord.

Maybe it should be an eye-opener for us that stars within popular music are called ‘idols’ and are more or less worshiped by their ‘fans’? The ‘stars’ even take part in competitions to become the greatest ‘idol’ of the year. I cannot deny that I admire some of them including many of the great worship-leaders, because they are very good and sincere musicians. However, for me there is only one God worthy of my worship.

‘Manna’ for today: 

I will worship the Lord my God
And I will serve him only.

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(1) ….keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God – Ephesians 4:3-6
(2) For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ – Matthew 4:10
(3) 1 Cor 1:12-13

What is the 'one' baptism?

Immediately it may seem equally difficult to find an answer to what the ‘one’

baptism is, as it is to find answers to what the ‘one’ faith is. Looking at the discussions that have taken place through the history of the church, it often narrows down to a question about infant Christening or adult baptism, and whether the rituals should be perceived as symbolic or if the ‘act of grace’ happens in the ritual elements or in the ritual act itself.

Paul actually referred to several types of baptism. He asked the disciples in Ephesus what kind of baptism they had received. When Paul learned that it was John’s baptism, he spoke to them and the result was that they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (1). Following this, Paul laid his hands upon them and they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

When Paul referred to the ancestors, he wrote that ‘they were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea’ (2). This indicates that baptism is a transition into a new phase of life with a new direction.

In his teaching on keeping the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (3) where he also writes about one baptism, I do not think Paul neither had the baptism in the water or the baptism of the Holy Spirit in mind. I believe he solely thought about the fact that we are ‘baptized into the death of Jesus’. This baptism is the ‘one’ and same for all born again believers. How the different churches choose to celebrate this is subordinate to the fact that ‘we have been united with him in a death like his’ (4). Jesus also spoke about his own death as a baptism (5).

I believe that the context of ‘one’ baptism strengthens this interpretation. The ‘one’ hope assumes that I have grown into Christ in a death that is like him, so that I also will be united with him in a resurrection like his (6). Because, if I claim to have ‘one’ Lord, this can only happen after my ego has died with him to enable me to live in him. In view of this I can only see one real baptism. How churches choose to symbolize this is without any value if it does not lead people into living the resurrection life as new creatures in Christ Jesus.

‘Manna’ for today:

There is only ‘one’ baptism that unites us with Christ and with one another.

_________________________________________
(1) Acts 19:3-4
(2) 1 Corinthians 10:2
(3) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism... Ephesians 4:3-5
(4) Romans 6:3-4
(5) Luke 12:50
(6) Romans 6:5
* Thanks to Bodil Østergreen for letting me use this picture of the cross she bought in Assisi. On FB she writes: God stretches out his hand to you. You can choose whether you want to accept God's hand and stretch your hand to your fellow human beings.

What is the ‘one’ faith?

Is the ‘one’ faith identical to the Apostles’ Creed, the doctrines of TSA, the Lutheran Formula of Concord, the Anglican Book of Common prayers, or is it the canonical scripture and sacred tradition, as interpreted by the magisterium of the Catholic Church?

When Paul wrote about the unity in ‘one body’ with ‘one faith’, none of the creeds existed, therefore the answer to what the ‘one’ faith is, has to be found somewhere else. It does not become easier if we look at the definition of the Christian faith made by the World Council of Churches (1), or a similar definition made by the Evangelical Alliance (2).

The older I get, the simpler I need it; and when I read Paul, I think that for him the ‘one faith’ could only be: “The faith that saves!”. A number of verses from Paul’s writings could be quoted to support this. One example is the verse which made Luther come with the statement “Faith alone” (3): “in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last”. However, in light of the context of the ‘one Lord’ in the reflection last week, these verses really add up the content of ‘one faith’:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Rom 10:9-10

I am not implying that this is simple to grasp with our human intellect. It will forever remain a mystery. But for those who believe, it is as simple as that.

‘Manna’ for today:

There is only ‘one’ faith that can save me

-------------------------------------------------------
(1) See: The Lima document 
(2) See: The Lausanne Covenant
(3) Romans 1:17- For lovers of Latin: “Sola fide” is the word theologians use to say “Faith alone”.

The last that dies…

I have heard it many times before, however it was special to hear it the context of a meeting with prisoners serving life-sentences in Moldova – a country where ‘life-sentence’ is literally a sentence for the rest of the life.

When I spoke with the inmates, I said: “I see hope in your eyes, don’t ever lose it!”. The response from several of them was immediate: “The hope is the last that dies!”

I also learned that many of them shared the same ‘one hope’ in which I have found my salvation. We are in the same ‘one body’:

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
Eph 4:4

There is a lot of hope in the world and it can often be like undefined expectations of something better. In a spiritual Christian context there is in reality only ONE hope. This does not mean that we should not work for the best of our communities, cities and countries – on the contrary, we are encouraged to do so: “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jer 29:7). This is 100% in line with how we view our mission as a Salvation Army and the concept “Salvation for both worlds”. However, even the salvation in this world is bound to the ONE hope.

In Paul's mind, hope is something that stands forever and is synonymous with an ever-existing future. Moreover, hope is so strongly linked to Jesus that he wrote:

For in this hope we were saved.
Romans 8:24

For Paul, there is no salvation outside of Christ, so the one hope is also synonymous with Christ alone.

‘Manna’ for today:

United in Christ in ONE hope.

-----------------------------

One Spirit

After a long break, I return with my weekly blog, and I continue with reflections on walking ‘worthy of the calling we have received’ as one body.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
Eph 4:4

The last entry with posting in six languages was on the last day of June. In the time since then many things have happened in my life. During our homeland-furlough I was able to spend much time together with my family and my father before it was pleasing to God to promote him to glory. It was also good to be able to conduct his funeral and celebrate his life before we returned to office this week.

My father was not only my dad, he was an officer-colleague, a dear brother in Christ, and an intercessor on whom I could count in hard times as well as one who could rejoice with me when we saw the God’s intervening hand in our own lives as well as other people’s lives and situations. We were of the same Spirit, the one Spirit. Even in the struggles on his death-bed I sensed the confirmation Paul described in this way:

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Rom 8:16

I am so grateful to God that this kind of relationship can be found with every born again believer. Sometimes nothing needs to be said, we just know that we are of the One and same Spirit – we are the body of Christ.

‘Manna’ for today:

As one in one Spirit, we can make Jesus known to the whole world. 

What can I learn from my fingers…

… when I want to learn more about the fruit of walking in and with peace?

The question may seem irrelevant but it is important!
When Paul continues his teaching about walking ‘worthy of the calling we have received’, the first fruit of walking in and with peace is that we become “one” body:

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
Eph 4:4 

The logic is clear. If we are called to the one and same hope, we also belong to the one and same body, filled with the one and same Spirit.

So what can I learn from my fingers?

I learn that even though my little fingers do not look alike, and are not always functioning equally well, they are part of the one and same body. There is no use for Mr Rightfinger to be proud because he looks better or functions better than Mr. Leftfinger. Fortunately, I know that Mr Rightfinger does not think that way, because I am the head of my body and my spirit rules in it.

I could have used my knees as example as well, but they are not as photogene as my fingers, and today it is hard to distinguish one from the other. 40 years ago my right knee was badly damaged in a car crash. It affected the whole body, however, Mr. Leftknee did not blame Mr. Rightknee.

On the contrary he took on himself much of the burden and assisted Mr. Rightknee in restoring much of his function. Two years ago the tables turned when Mr. Leftknee was injured in a terrorist attack. If it wasn’t because of Mr. Rightknee I don’t think I would have been walking today. He carried the burden, and still helps Mr. Leftknee to stretch when he is in a bad mood and threatens to hurt the body.

You can learn a lot about the fruit of walking in and with peace by listening to your own body. You have only one, so take care of it. As a believer you belong to one body, so take care of it. We need one another both in weakness and strength. To know this and act in accordance with this insight, is part of walking worthy of our calling.

‘Manna’ for today:

Called to one hope in one body filled with one Spirit.

-------------------------------------------------
NB There will be a pause in the blogging in six languages for three months. The next posting in this series will take place on 6 Oct 18. Have a blessed summer and take good care of the body.

Walking in and with peace!

I love to greet people with ‘peace’. In Norway people look at me whit a smile when I do it, however, in Eastern Europe it is a good tradition shared by many. We find peace among the attributes on Paul's list of what he considers a walk ‘worthy of the calling we have received’:

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Eph 4:3

I had not been a follower of Christ very long when I discovered that the most prominent characteristic of the devil is his use of the strategy to “divide and conquer”. Unity is the soul of any fellowship. When unity is broken, the fellowship will fall apart.

What can we do to keep the unity of the Spirit?

In his book “Purpose Driven Life”, Rick Warren comes with the following advice:

• Focus on what we have in common, not on the differences 
• Be realistic in expectations (no fellowship is perfect) 
• Choose encouragement instead of criticism 
• Refuse to listen to gossip 
• Support the leaders 
• Practice God's method of conflict resolution (1) 

Paul’s advice to the Romans is in the same spirit:

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Rom 14:19

‘Manna’ for today:

I want to make every effort to walk in and with peace!

-------------------------------------
(1) Matt 18:15-17a

Vitamins for a healthy walk

The phrase “less is more” fits well in several settings. A vicar in the Norwegian church visited Jeløy Folkhighschool (1) when I was a teacher there almost 30 years ago. Addressing a large group of teenage students, he first shared some brief thoughts on how important it is to be gentle and kind to one another. Then he rushed to close with an even briefer prayer:

Dear Lord - If you still perform miracles, please make us kind! Amen

…and then he left the auditorium. I will always remember the effect of this simple, short prayer.

I think all human beings like when people are gentle and kind; so why then is it so difficult? 

Is it because it takes a miracle from God?

The qualities are on Paul’s list of attributes found in Christ which will make our walk on earth worthy the calling we have received:

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Eph 4:2

So simple, yet so difficult that it takes a miracle. I know that it takes a miracle, because I tried for several years to perform as outlined, and it did not work! So I gave up and stopped pretending and discovered that God has already performed the miracle. He has made the impossible possible in Christ. Like Paul, I wish I did not do things I do not want to do (2); however, there is still no condemnation in Christ (3) – because in and from Him there flows a stream of constant new life that comes with his gentleness and overbearing love.

‘Manna’ for today:

Thank you Lord - for the miracle!

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(1) Jeløy Folkhighschool is owned and run by The Salvation Army in Norway
(2) Rom 7:19
(3) Rom 8:1

Learning how to walk

I love to move around on foot. Therefore, I cherish walking instead of driving a car. When I add some running, the benefit is that I keep fit. The principles are the same in God’s Kingdom.

The three first chapters in Paul’s letter to Ephesians are very much focused on my status or position in Christ. Paul wanted to make sure that his readers know their position. When I know where I “sit”, I am ready to raise and start walking:

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called…
Eph 4:1

The word Paul uses in Greek literally means ‘walking’. However, it is also possible to use ‘living’, which many translations of the Bible prefer in the verse above.

There are a lot of similarities between ‘living’ and ‘walking’. I live because I am alive. I don’t have to tell my heart to beat or my lungs to draw the breath – it is all part of being alive. Likewise, when I have learned to walk, I do not need to think about how I stand up and start to move my legs to get the correct movement to reach my destination. I only need to know where I am going, simply because the ‘art of walking’ is an integrated part of my life.

When Paul beseech me to walk and live worthy of the calling with which I was called, he continues to outline what he sees this to be. When you read it (1), you will discover that he makes a list of the attributes of Jesus. It is all about walking like Jesus in the world today. That is the normal Christian life (2). It is impossible without him, yet he will not do it without us. When we start walking in this way, it becomes an integral part of us – we do it without thinking about it, or even knowing about it (3). We will look at several of these attributes of walking in the weeks to come.

‘Manna’ for today:

Learning how to walk – like Christ

-------------------------------------------
(1) Eph 4:1-16

(2) “The Normal Christian Life” is another book of Watchman Nee – the author of “Sit, Walk, Stand”. Nee’s books have meant a lot for me on my personal spiritual journey. 

(3) “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? …” Matthew 25:37-40

Knowing who I am

When we were installed as territorial leaders in Eastern Europe territory in January 2018, I said the following in my sermon: “If I do not know who I am and why I am here, I am a danger for the mission of The Salvation Army!”

You cannot go into a spiritual battle without knowing who you are and why you are in the battle. That is why the Bible contains so much teaching about the identity in Christ and the mission we are called to be a part of.

This matter is Paul’s main focus in the letter to the Ephesians. He starts with describing our identity in Christ and continues to teach about what this means in practice for the mission. Finally, he writes about how this equips us for being able to stand in the spiritual battle. Watchman Nee has taken the essence of Ephesians and presented it as three important step in spiritual development. His book is “Sit, Walk, Stand!” and ‘sitting’ has all to do with the identity = our status in Christ:

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:6 (1)

Some years ago, a man who was possessed with evil came so close to me that his nose touched my nose. There had been no conversation between us, yet he swore and cursed me and said I was a man of the devil. Because I know who I am in Christ, I could calmly speak to the evil spirit and said: “You know who I am. You know that I am in Christ and that there is nothing you can do to me!” 

The man screamed and waved his arms so that my glasses were thrown to the pavement, and then the man ran off. I was unhurt and even my glasses were OK. It was not a pleasant experience, however, it was good to see that even though the evil spirits are ‘liars’ like their ‘father’ (2), they know what is true when you confront them with truth. When we know who we are in Christ, we can do what James encourages us to do: 

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

‘Manna’ for today:

Jesus is the truth and he is stronger than the ‘father of lies’ (2)

------------------------------------------
(1) If you read Eph 1:1-14, please notice how many times Paul writes “in Christ”, “in Him” ….
(2) When he (the devil) lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44

Fit for mission

In my last two blogs I have used the chess game as an illustration for spiritual warfare – and I take the chance to use it again:

The # 1 ranked chess-player in the world and reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen (1) says that he needs to be fit to win his games. Therefore, he does a lot of mental and physical training and exercising to be ready and fit for the fight.

When I now continue to use the chess game in the context of spiritual warfare, to be fit for that mission is synonym with being fit for fight. In several of his letters, Paul likened the mission with being in a fight or in a race on a sports-arena:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Tim 4:7

In this fight we use the ‘weapon’ of good to defeat evil:

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Rom 12:21

Further, Paul stresses that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil. To do be able to go to this battle, we need to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power (2). Very often principles that are valid in a physical context will also be applicable in the spiritual sphere, also this has Paul expressed:

While physical training has some value, training in holy living is useful for everything. It has promise for this life now and the life to come.
1 Tim 4:8

If I want to train for a half-marathon, I can use an app to set up a training program to prepare for the race. In the weeks ahead, I will share some thoughts about what “training in holy living” can mean in practical terms. However, the program starts with knowing who I am in Jesus Christ, and it ends with knowing that he lives in me.

‘Manna’ for today:

Fit for mission requires training in holy living.

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(1) It is not important, but I like to tell that Magnus is from Norway
(2) Eph 6:10-12

To live the life of the Resurrection

NORSK
Since many of us are still in Easter modus I want to post the question:

“Have you ever thought about the Spirit’s role in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?”

If I was to ask this question in a Bible study, I am sure that some would answer “Yes!” – and if you have followed this blog for a while, you will know that the Spirit is the giver of life. The creation story tells us that it was the breath of God that brought Adam to life (1) and if you are attending The Salvation Army, you are likely to have stated that you believe in the regeneration by the Holy Spirit (2).

Paul prayed many prayers for the Ephesians, and in one them he prays: that you may know God’s:

“… incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead…”
Eph 1:19-20

Jesus was clear that this power is The holy spirit (3). So when I tomorrow greet the people I meet with the statement: “Christ is risen!”, I am also believing and confirming the mystery that the power that raised him from the dead is for me. Therefore, being conscious of the fact that I as a believer is living the life of the Resurrection even as I live my life here on earth, becomes vital for the continuous unwrapping of the gifts of the Spirit.

‘Manna’ for today:

To live the life of the Resurrection, means to pass on the power of The holy spirit

----------------------------
(1) Genesis 2:7
(2) “We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation” The Salvation Army’s seventh doctrine.
(3) Acts 1:8

New costume

NORSK
“What do you want for …?”  
This simple question is likely to come before a Christmas or a birthday and it is one of the hardest questions I get. For more than 20 years I think my answer has been the same: “I have no idea, I have everything I need.” For just as many years, I wished I had a national costume.

This does not mean that I have lied, because in principle I do not need a national costume, but I was moved to tears when six months ago I was surprised to receive the first contribution towards a new costume as a gift to the 60 anniversary from my family. In the middle of May, we will be at the confirmation-celebration of our oldest grandchild, and I'll wear my national costume for the first time. “I am ‘equipped’ for the celebration, and I look forward to it.”

A lot is lost in translation in today’s blog, because the word for costume in Norwegian, means “to equip for”. In Icelandic the word is used in combination with “Army” – and means uniform = equipped for fight. In combination with people it means = equipped for people, which relates to an event and a celebration, and of course the national costume is worn.

The leap from “prepared for fight and/or people” to Paul’s mentoring of Timothy is short. The key elements in the preparation for the pilgrimage of faith I find in the verses I have reflected on over the past days:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17

In the very end of the letter to the church at Ephesus Paul encouraged the believers to put on the full armour of God (2). It was in this church Timothy served when he received the letters of Paul. The mentoring he received, equipped Timothy for every good work. He had a new “costume”, a costume that equipped him to share the beautiful treasure and to defeat evil.

‘Manna' for today:

In God's kingdom the ‘costume’ is always new!

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(1) The picture from my first fitting at the tailors. FYI this costume originates in the region of West Telemark.
(2) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11

An important reminder about the calling

NORSK
With an upbringing in the Army, I was early convinced that all men are called to salvation, and that they after having received salvation consequently had a calling to a special ministry. William Booth believed that all who had experienced salvation automatically were called to get others saved as well. The question: "How can you say that you are not called if you know that there are people who are perishing?" was asked in several of his sermons and writings (1).

For Paul as a mentor it was important to remind Timothy call:

God is the one who saved and called us with a holy calling. This wasn’t based on what we have done, but it was based on his own purpose and grace that he gave us in Christ Jesus before time began.
2 Timothy 1:9

Paul’s thoughts about the calling could have been the subject of reflection for many days. There is no doubt that he considered the call sacred.

His own calling was revealed to him in the vision he received on the road to Damascus. When he testified about this before King Agrippa, was his consciousness about his holy calling expressed in this way: Therefore, King Agrippa, I have not been disobedient to the heavenly vision. No, I have preached first in Damascus and Jerusalem, then in Judea and for the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds of repentance. (2)

In his letter to the Ephesians the reminder of the call comes in the form of an exhortation: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (3)

In Paul's understanding of the gospel, the idea that one can be saved without being called does not exist. The call is as holy as he who has called me.

‘Manna’ for today:

Of course I am called, and the calling is sacred!

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(1) See "A vision of the lost"
(2) Acts 26:19-20
(3) Ephesians 4:1

The Spirit … gives us power

NORSK
Like many Christians, I have experienced how real the power of the Spirit is. Yet it is easy to forget the importance of this resource when I live as Jesus’ disciple in the world. In fact, in God’s kingdom no lasting fruit will occur without the presence of God the Holy Spirit.

Some years back some municipalities in Norway had become very wealthy through production of hydro-power. However, rich wants more, so the local politicians decided to take up huge loans with security in future income. The loans were invested in international hedge funds. By doing so, they simultaneously gave away the control of how investments were allocated and spent. They lost huge sums when the financial crisis hit the United States and subsequently the rest of the world in the autumn of 2008. In the sequence of few minutes the former richest municipalities (per capita) in my home-country, had become the poorest.  

During my life I have met many Christians who resemble these hydro-power municipalities. Basically, they are rich in an unlimited resource of always available renewable energy, but they seem to forget it and continue to gamble with the hope of potential proceeds from other sources. Most Christians have not utilized more than a fraction of the potential of the renewable power source the third person in the Godhead represents.

I think that was why it was important for Paul to remind Timothy that:

“the Spirit God gave us … gives us power”
2 Tim 1:7 

Paul wrote much about the power of the Spirit. He reminded the Ephesians about God’s “incomparably great power for us who believe … the power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms”. Ephesians 1:19-20

I do not hesitate to admit that I receive power and inspiration from other sources as well. E.g. I love music and much of the music is inspiring and gives me strength. However, neither music nor anything else, should ever get in the way of Him who creates and sustains all life.

The most important thing a mentor can do, is to remind the disciple on the primary source of all life - the power source is God Himself.
 
'Manna' for today:

The Holy Spirit is the primary power source!

To live transparent

NORSK
I did not like the new building that houses The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters until I five years ago heard the philosophy behind. General John Gowans had a clear purpose when the new IHQ was constructed in glass. Gowans wanted the building to be a signal that the Army desires to be completely transparent.

This is also the desire behind the “Journey of Renewal” campaign that is currently ongoing, and which also is the base of the study I am doing on how Paul made Timothy accountable for the mission entrusted to him.

Today I read:

The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.
1 Timothy 5: 24-25

“It cannot remain hidden forever”, my grandmother used to say. As a child I was unsure if it was a comfort or a threat – today I think it was both. 

A few days ago Obama pardoned Chelsea Manning who in 2010 was arrested for having leaked extreme amounts of confidential information to WikiLeaks. Manning was sentenced to jail for another 28 years. I do not know if the pardon was given exclusively on humanitarian grounds, or whether Obama has become aware of the fact that in our time “nothing can remain hidden forever”.

I believe Paul wrote this to Timothy at least two reasons:

1. Timothy should be aware that among those he was appointed to lead would be people who both lived openly with sin and people who did things in secret - but, Timothy you need to know: “nothing can remain hidden forever”.
2. It was given as clear advice to Timothy to live transparent.

Paul wrote about on this subject in several letters, like here: “everything exposed by the light becomes visible” (1).

I believe that my quality of life is best when I dare to live in the light - in other words live openly and transparent. The one who does not have secrets, has no fear of exposure. This is the liberating gospel believers are entrusted to preach.

'Manna' for today:

Dare to live transparent in the light of the world

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(1) Ephesians 5:13

The least of all the saints

Today’s reading in the Norwegian Bible-reading plan takes me back to Paul the mentor and how his self-image:

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship[a] of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ
Eph 3:8-9

Paul’s testimony is interesting. It reveals humility, but alsogratitude because he can include himself among the saints. However, it complicates his teaching about being holy “in Christ”. Because if we all depend entirely on the holiness of Jesus, this fact seems to be impossible to combine with an idea of a hierarchy of holiness. 

Nevertheless, it is not difficult to identify with Paul’s description. Anyone who wants to live a holy life will feel that it is “far to the goal”, and therefore it is easy to see oneself as less than the least. But, the miracle of grace is that it is sufficient to be I included in the community of the saint. It was enough for Paul, and it was a precondition to be able to preach among the Gentiles. For if he himself had not grasped a glimpse of the mystery, he would not have been able to lead others into it. This applies to preaching in general and mentoring specially - and tomorrow Timothy will be back in the reflections.

Today 'manna':

It does not matter to be less than the least as long as I am holy

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* The Goldcrest is the smallest bird in Europe, but still a bird like the proud eagle, but the least of them all, and very beautiful...

Where do you belong? - 1

I will follow up the question from yesterday’s reflection on the “most important Christmas-song” (1).

My dear father-in-law left behind a number of 8mm film coils with takes  of family events from a couple of decades. When we watched it a few years back, it was hours on end of family-members waving to the camera. 
It occurred to me that I had come into a family belonging to the "wavers' land". 

When the Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, was on an official visit to USA, President Obama made a speech and joked with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s productions of “slow TV”. I was only able to watch a few glimpses of "The Coastal Steamer minute by minute". It contained a lot of beautiful scenery and even more people waving. So, I have finally realized that I actually live in the "wavers’ land". We wave when we go apart and we wave when we are not close enough for a hug. Therefore, waving in many ways symbolises distance. 

Distance was the characteristic of the relationship between God and man before Jesus came. God was a distant figure. Worship was a kind of “waving” from a distance. 

By becoming man, God transformed his relationship with men completely. He went from distance to presence. The Christmas mystery is God’s presence in the lives of people (2).

'Manna' for today:

I belong in God's presence

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(1) The idea with this song is to give answers that can be acted out while dancing around the tree. The first example is “I belong to the wavers’ land, because everyone who can wave their hand, they belong to the wavers’ land.”

(2) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Eph 2:13