holmes at hagley park

Paul Holmes has grown on me over the years.

I much prefer him in his current role as a weekly correspondent in the NZ Herald over the role from which he gained his fame and fortune – fronting a nightly current events TV show for decades (it seemed).

His columns are powerful. Often laced with compassion and always laden with insight. He has always had an instinct for the views of the common Kiwi – reflecting those views even as he speaks into them, shaping and strengthening them. When it comes to kiwi cultural exegesis, tracking Holmes has always been a favourite past-time. Plus he writes so well, so it is not difficult.

This is why today’s column troubles me.

He is writing about yesterday’s open-air Memorial Service in Christchurch in the aftermath of the earthquake. I wasn’t able to watch it all – but with what I did see, I was surprised by the amount of ‘Christian’ content in the service.
[Plus it was a thrill to see two former students involved – and then I did my usual moan about how the prominence of How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace – both of which were sung – in NZ public life never seems to extend to singing their respective final verses. I would have thought the hope of Christ’s second coming might be rather relevant – but that is one step too far, I suspect].

I digress.

What comes through in Holmes’ piece is his disdain for the religious element, specifically this Christian element, in the service. Here are the extracts:

“The speeches, if one were being a bit picky, could all have been a bit briefer, particularly the religious ones.”

“There was plenty of religion, it has to be said. And what the bloke was saying at the start about the tree of life was beyond most of us.”

“The various religions each made a contribution, Muslims, Jews, Hindu, Buddhist and Baha’i. They too were brief. It was the Christians who banged on a bit.”

Gee – he is taking a big risk writing like that after an event like that. But I think he knows what he is doing. He usually does. I suspect there are many New Zealanders muttering the same things under their breath. The headline might just as easily have read – “Never mind the heat and the Christians, this was truly a special day”.

This is a tough cultural context for the church and for Christians – tougher than places like Australia, the US and the UK. As I travel I am convinced of this. This is why one of the deepest and most enduring motivations in my life has been to encourage our pastors. I admire them so much – particularly those shaping authentic biblical ministries.

The way forward is to allow the gospel to transform us so much that it causes us to live distinctive lives laden with good deeds at the heart of our local communities … and then let this intrigue people, with the Spirit well able to take it where he wants from there. While there is a very real sadness that Paul Holmes does not see this happening in this nation, it should not surprise us either. The New Testament helps us see that a blindedness is to be expected.

In the meantime I’ll keep doing what I’ve been doing for years – praying for his salvation.

nice chatting

Paul

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About Me

paul06.16

the art of unpacking

After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.

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3 Comments

  1. Greg on March 21, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    Hi Paul,

    Unfortunately I missed the service – I was watching the beginning on TV but then had to go to my 6 year old son James' school assembly (in which he was playing an important part!)

    Given that I missed it, I can't really comment on whether the Christians "went on a bit", but for what it's worth, we do have that tendency a little, don't you think? I can think of a fair few sermons I've heard (and probably preached) that could do with being about 10 minutes shorter than what they actually were.

    By the way, my son's part in his assembly was one word – "respect" – which I must say he delivered with precisely the right blend of passion, verve, vigour, heart and poignancy. It was the best word in the whole assembly, in my opinion. (And I'm not the only one who thinks that – my wife agrees with me wholeheartedly.) Perhaps James could grow up to be a (very brief!) preacher? Do you think? 🙂

    Greg

  2. Greg on March 22, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    I was just talking with James, and he reminded me that he did the whole thing without notes as well. What a talented youngster! Perhaps we could have more of this kind of thing at church. (Puts a whole new perspective on "bringing the word", doesn't it.) [I'll stop now.]

  3. Paul Windsor on March 25, 2011 at 3:51 pm

    I wonder if James might be available to be a mentor for me?! Succinct and without notes is quite an achievement.

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