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Today @ Healingsprings fellowship

In previous weeks, we established that unlike traditional doctrine that the Old Testament was written by Moses, it was in fact written retrospectively.

Most scholars agree that the recording, redaction and compilation started during the Exile and it was completed after the Exile.

The primary goal was to galvanise the people towards a metaphysical and physical identity, and for the purposes of nationhood.

Last week in my lecture on Exodus chapters 4-6 we also treated a concept known as The Evil Eye, sometimes referred to in Hebrew literature as The Eye of Evil.

In the Bible, The Evil Eye is synonymous with envy, jealousy and some forms of covetousness. Within the commonwealth of Israel we see lots of examples: Esau and Jacob, Rachel and Leah, Joseph and his brothers, David and Uriah, David and Absalom, Saul and David; and the list goes on.

We also see it in the hostility they face from gentile nations. Thus, the Israelites saw themselves as victims to The Evil Eye, because of their unique relationship with Yahweh. In the course of my lecture I explored what it meant for us today, and the internal and external effect.

In line with this thought, and as part of my recap, I will be drawing lessons from an incident in the book of Samuel between Michal (the projector of the evil eye) and King David (the receiver of the evil eye); with a focus on the repercussion of her action.

Seminar questions will centre broadly around the following theme:

  • what were the redactors trying to convey through the story?

  • how did the story serve the community in their nation building project?

  • what lessons can we deduce from the story?

  • examples of people today that have exemplified similar qualities

Core text: Exodus, chapters 4-6 NRSV

Join us at 3pm

St John the Evangelist Hall

Church Rd,

Sidcup DA14 6BX

Reachout | Revive | Recover

http://www.healingsprings.org.uk

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#spiritualintelligence

Thought Leaders Series: 2017

Old Habits Die Hard.

The word anti-intellectualism is nowadays synonymous to Christianity, especially Evangelicals and Pentecostals.

By way of background an anti-intellectual is simply a person who believes that intellect and reason are less important than actions and emotions in solving practical problems and understanding reality.

Anti intellectualism is alien to Judeo-Christian culture or history. In fact as well as others the term ‘Teacher’ was one of Jesus’ titles. Judges, Kings, Priests, Rabbis, Prophets, the disciples, and even Paul were all seasoned intellectuals. We can still see this today in the priority the Jews give to academia, and the position they hold in most professions in leading economies.

Anti intellectualism crept into Christianity by stealth. As churches became elitist, break away faction (who were mostly from the poor and underclass) started reorienting towards the idea of “being led by the spirit”. These poor uneducated well meaning leaders were solely dependent on “signs and wonders” as they lacked basic education, not to mention theological training. Doctrines, exegesis, and interpretation became skewed; and those who dare question them were ostracised from their congregations.

One of these breakaway factions is the Pentecostal movement, which came out of the Methodist movement. As this group attracted the poor and underclass, they found affinity with the oppressed, especially those within Black communities in the West and developing World – owing to their common struggle.

Much later some within the movement saw the need for theological education and training, but by this time habits had been formed which made their way into the curriculum as doctrines. Besides, most people within the movement did not see the need for training or education as all they needed was prayer, fasting and “signs and wonders” to vindicate their activities.

For those who have “eyes to see”, when we fast forward to the 21st century we see the damaging effect of poor theological understanding, epitomised in anti intellectualism. As a result, ignorance and mediocrity prevails.

Jesus challenged Nicodemus,

“Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? – (John 3:10)

Reachout | Revive | Recover

http://www.healingsprings.org.uk

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#spiritualintelligence

June Series 2015: the church and the media 

The Media is oftentimes described as the Fourth Estate. 

Almost like the invisible hand in economics, the Fourth Estate can be defined as a societal or political force or institution whose influence is not consistently or officially recognised. 

In the UK alone, newspapers media have been the subject of government inquiries, police investigations, legal cases, and ethical debates; most notably the recent phone-hacking scandal (the subject of the Levinson Inquiry).

So, join us this Sunday for the final segment of this year’s June Series. 

During the course of my lecture I will be exploring the media’s influence over faith, culture and politics, and its enormous potential in our mission to reach the lost, and make disciples. 

(3:00-4:30)pm

Bexleyheath Academy, Woolwich Road, Bexleyheath, DA6 7DA