Adrian Hawkes | Books & Blogs

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Trying to Answer my Critics. (some who are my friends) …

Trying to Answer my Critics. (some who are my friends) …This is something that I think needs to be said.  My hope is that it will be understood.There was a great article recently about the fact that it is not Politicians, whoever they are and what…

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The Power of words…Watch your language!

The Power of words…Watch your language!We do many things with words. The book of James in the Bible says so. Chapter 5 of that book tells us how difficult the tongue is to tame. It says no one can control it. It can start a fire. It can be destructive …

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Morals and Values 10 – What and where they should come from?

Morals and Values for

Values. What and where they should come from.

ž They must take precedent above our culture –whatever culture that might be.

ž  They need to come from more than our upbringing or education.

ž The best place they should come from is from the heart of being a “follower of the way”.

ž Often times, issues that people say have “Christian’ values” do not. Often times people’s values have nothing to do with the Bible, or, more importantly, being a “follower of the way”, or of becoming like Christ.

ž Non-Religious Christianity removes any show or pretence from our seen value system and our inner personal value system. Our publicand private persona should be identical.

ž That our values should come from relationships is paramount. Jesus died to restore relationships. Relationship with God as well as people.

ž In building our paradigm of values, relationship with each other and the well-being of others is central.

ž It is vital to hold to a Christological interpretation of the Bible, i.e. that Christ is central to scripture. It is more than helpful if we work back from who He is.

ž To grow in Christ- likeness, a theology of Grace and freedom is foundational to thoughts and actions.

ž It is important to have a strong theology of issues such as: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female,” so that the leadership of females is not an issue, neither is race, colour, or earthly nationality. These issues are contemporary throughout the global village.

ž Choose a lifestyle that reflects the character of Jesus. Thereby we take on the mantle of Christ.

ž Adopt a world view that creates a mindset where we consider all our human relationships as bringing and giving meaning to the whole of life.

ž Know that Christ is central in the story of God’s creation, because He is in the process of restoring all things to perfection.

ž Know that Grace fulfils and then surpasses law and brings freedom.

ž Value the equality of all. Hold tight to a value system, where all people are identified in the cross of Christ.

It’s a good idea to think about the differences in Values between what we see as Hebraic and what was Greek thinking at the time of Christ

ž Have a look at what is the difference between the thinking that was Hebraic, and what is and was Greek thinking and value.

ž This would be another way of checking our real Values. And I think it would give you quite a surprise.  You will find a comparison analysis of these things in my book, “Jacob. A Fatherless Generation.”

Scripture says:

ž Romans 8:29.  Amplified Bible (AMP)   

 29For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be moulded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.

ž  Romans 12:2 New Living Translation (NLT)        

 2 Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Adrian Hawkes

3 min talk for UCB

w. 442

Blog

What Mind?

Morals and Values .9.Put on the Mind of ChristScripture tells us to “put on the mind of Christ”. How do we do that?The story is told of a little boy who was coming home with his friends from school. The friends passed an apple orchard. The apples in th…

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8. Morality and Values – What do we put into our Brains?

8. Morality and Values What do we put into our Brains?We talked last time about the fact that it is our thinking that changes us, or should I say can change us.  If we are to change, then what we think about is the key to that change. We have…

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7. Morality and Values – Thinking Controls Everything

7. Morality and Values Thinking Controls everything.Well first of all:  Any answers to my question of last time? My question was: What is it that is used to change us and develop our consciences? Is it God? Or is it us?  Lots of answers …

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6. Morals and Values – Laughing at Bad

6. Morals and Values Laughing at  BadI was leading a community of Jesus followers in the North of England, when I noticed that there was a particular parent who every time their child did something bad, they laughed at the child and noted how…

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Morality and Values 1 – ETHOS

Ethos


Morality and Values  1.


This subject of “Morality and Values,” I observe presents such problems.


I was part of a government think tank in looking at OFSTED inspections of schools. One of the things they looked at is the moral dimension of the ethos of the state schools.  My problem was – and is: How does one get hold of and understand morals and morality?  In this small group, on the discussion  of “Moral teaching in Schools”, were Muslims, Catholics, Jews, Evangelical Christians, and Humanists.


All of us – apart from the humanist – agreed that morals has to come from some kind of law giver. And actually, in all of our thinking, we concluded that the law giver must be God – that is, apart from the humanist – who said “There isn’t a God! So morals must come from somewhere else”.

I went on to argue that in terms of generosity, in such things as tsunamis, famines, natural and man made disasters and the like, the UK Is actually quite generous in its giving. I put this down to the Judeo Christian influence in the historical background of the nation. The humanist said, “Now don’t be silly! It is due to the fact that we were once great colonists”.   Hmm! I thought that was all about greed, trade, and getting lots of power and things for ourselves?


Anyway! Having been one of those interviewed by Richard Dawkins for his, “Religion is the root of all evil” programmes, I find the stuff all over the internet, usually with many of “the learned” atheists – so called – poking fun at my opinions.  Funnily enough, I have read Richard’s book, “The God delusion”. One of the things that struck me from the volume is how often the base of “who we are” and “where we are”, comes down to “luck” and simple good fortune – at least according to Mr Dawkins’ book. 


God seems a better thesis to me.


And of course, both in the programme and on the net, as well as – defiantly – in Wikipedia, comes the discussion of morality.  I am sort of “amused” that in at least one article or comment, the fact that we live in a moral universe  – and one “without God” according to the “atheists” – is actually argued from the fact that some fish have a symbiotic relationship with cleaner fish and actually protect them. This, so they claim, is the logical grounds as to why we don’t go around on our streets killing each other. 

The fish story is used to suggest that violence and killing is – sort of – wiser not too.

One of the things that Richard Dawkins said to me in the interview for his programme, (which I have not seen on the TV repeats or YouTube, so I guess it’s on the cutting room floor), was; “I am more righteous than you”. I, of course, said “Oh! And how is that?” To which he replied, “I don’t go around pillaging and raping, and I don’t need a God to stop me. You, Adrian, need God to stop you.” 

To which I answered “Bully for you! You maybe ought to watch the international news every day!”


One Swallow does not a summer make.








Adrian Hawkes

For UCB

300417

W. 550

 Edited KL