Author Archives: english

Book Review: Respectable Sins

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Review by Ben Manisier

Written by Jerry Bridges, Respectable Sins seeks to confront the sins we tolerate: impatience, irritability, frustration, anger, pride, anxiety, judgmentalism, and the list honestly goes on.

The title Respectable Sins is enough to make us scratch our heads.

How can a sin be respectable? 

Bridges doesn’t try to shift our focus from lust, idolatry, greed, or other typical ‘big, bad sins’ that we often desperately try to avoid – but rather brings notice to the more subtle and socially accepted sins – sins we often don’t pay much attention to.

What is something that I took away from the book?

God knows more than I think he knows. 

What I mean is that while I was aware of my sins, God is aware of the sins I’m not even aware of. That’s pretty scary. It’s easy for us to look at major and more obvious sins to avoid such as premarital sex, drunkenness, theft, and murder, but that often makes us blind to the other sins mentioned above. Respectable Sins opened more of my eyes to my failings and the areas that I still need to repent and work on, but more importantly, it reminded me of how abundant God’s grace is. 

Where I fail, Jesus has already succeeded.

Application Points

  1. Always address our sin in the context of the Gospel
  2. We must learn to rely on the enabling power of the Holy Spirit
  3. While depending on the Spirit, we must be diligent with practical steps to deal with sin
  4. We must identify specific areas of sin
  5. Arm ourselves with specific and applicable Scripture for our sin

Respectable Sins isn’t a book to breeze through. The writing is simple and easy to follow but the content takes a while to digest and reflect. Sin isn’t changed in a day or through one book but Respectable Sins dissects specific sins that are common in our everyday lives with Scripture as a daily remedy. It emphasises the strength of the Spirit but also the responsibility we bear as Christians. If you read this book and think, “This isn’t me”, then you’re reading the book wrong.

Book Review: Untangling Emotions

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Review by Alex Manisier

Emotions are a bit like the weather. Just look at some of the words we use to describe our emotions. An angry person might be in a ‘thunderous’ mood, ‘storming’ out of the room. A happy person can be said to have a ‘sunny’ and ‘warm’ disposition. And you might describe a sad or melancholy person as ‘downcast’ or ‘cloudy’.

And just as we can’t control what the weather will look like tomorrow, so too do we lack true control over our own emotions. There is no way to stop someone from feeling sad because they lost their job or a loved one, just as there is no way to stop someone from feeling happy because they graduated uni or won the lottery. 

Untangling Emotions by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. Smith is not a book about how we can control our emotions to always feel happy and on fire for God. Rather, it’s a book that recognises that there are some seasons in which we will never be happy – and in which our good and godly response is not to search for happiness, but to take stock of and respond to our sadness.

I particularly appreciated the section of the book dedicated to exploring God’s emotions. It’s a simple idea: if God is emotional, and we are made in God’s image, then we inevitably reflect God’s emotional nature. We weep for our loved ones as God weeps for his people. We are outraged at injustices in our world as God is outraged by sin. It’s a good reminder that it isn’t wrong to feel, because God invented emotion!

The book is a fairly even split between broad, high-level theology and practical advice. It’s accessible and full of helpful anecdotes and applications from the authors’ lives, which give some much needed colour to the core thesis of the book: that we should always bring our emotions to God as we process them.

If you’re looking for a full systematic study of the theology of emotion, you probably won’t find it in Untangling Emotions. But if you want to understand how the Bible paints emotion, and how you can respond to your own emotions in a godly way, I’d recommend giving the book a go.

I’m particularly thankful for Untangling Emotions because of how it helped me understand my darker emotions. I’m strangely comforted to know that I can’t change or avoid anger and grief in my life, just as I can’t make it warm and sunny in the middle of May. Because God is there for me to bring my emotions to him, and process them in prayer, meditation, and with the support of my precious brothers and sisters in Christ. I can’t stop the rain, but God will always be there, ready to hand me an umbrella.

Member Spotlight – Sarah Ford

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First off, what have been up to since social distancing started?

Since I’m still a student, I don’t actually feel I got that much ‘extra time’ since quarantine started. Most of my time has been used to do homework, study, or get ahead of classwork. In my spare moments of free time, I like to watch TV shows, garden, and embroider!

Why did you join Growth Groups? How are you finding it?

I joined Growth Groups because I really wanted to be part of the church community. Actively taking part in fellowship and community has been something that I’ve struggled with for years, so I wanted to make an active attempt to talk to people I wouldn’t normally talk to.

I am absolutely in love with Growth Groups. Every week I learn something new about God’s Word, and the questions and discussions within the group are stimulating and exciting. Through our conversations and sharing our lives in prayer, I’ve been able to feel like I am a part of the church community for the first time in years. 

Last term, Growth Groups went through the Gospel of Mark. What’s one thing that struck you from the studies?

The one thing I remember vividly in our studies was The Parable of the Sower. I always read it in the same way, and focused largely on the seeds in the story and how that is reflected in my own life. Then Alex (my GG Leader) said something really interesting which, for some reason, I had never picked up on – the sower. Every time I read this parable I was focusing on the seeds and had no thought toward the sower, yet the sower is the most important part of the parable! It doesn’t matter what soil we think we are in or even what soil we want to be in, because at the end of the day God is sovereign over our lives. 

What are you most excited to learn about this term in the book of Hosea?

In a book where we see Israel’s continued failure, and God’s continued justice and forgiveness, I am excited most to learn more about God’s character and His relationship with His people. We’ve only read 3 chapters so far yet I am learning so much about God’s justice and authority over the world, and also the deep love and mercy He shows the world.

I’ve always thought I understood God’s relationship with His people, and that it’s like a husband and wife, yet Hosea has really broken that ‘understanding’. I am beginning to realise how little I actually know about God’s relationship with His people, and I am excited to realise more about the nature of this relationship as we progress through Hosea.

What have you been reading and reflecting on in your quiet time?

I have been reading through Hebrews at the moment, and anyone who has asked will know how in love I am with this book. I am around halfway through it and God has taught me more than I could have ever asked for. I wasn’t sure how well I’d understand Hebrews, considering it was such a theologically dense book, so I am very thankful to God that He opened my mind to understand what I was reading. This is actually one of the first times I’ve properly read a book in the New Testament, since, being the history buff I am, I always focused on the Old Testament. 

SMBC Women’s Conference 2020 – Run for your life

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Last weekend, a group of women from CAC got up early on Saturday morning to attend the SMBC Women’s Conference. The topic was ‘Run for Your Life’ which looked at how the book of Hebrews encourages us to finish the race and inherit all that God has promised.
 
After enjoying a scrumptious brunch and much-needed caffeine hit, we were excited to spend a whole day meditating on God’s Word in the presence of Christian women all across Sydney.
 
The common thread in all three talks was the importance of persevering in our faith, because Jesus is greater than anything this world can offer.
 
Hebrews 1 tells us that Jesus is the Superior Son, the Sustainer of the universe…He is God! Therefore, we need to trust God’s Word and paying attention to it, so that we are not swayed by the loud and distracting messages of our world.
 
The second talk covered Hebrews 6, which affirms that God’s promise is a sure thing and our hope is certain. When we live in light of this promise, we produce evidence of love for God and His people.
 
By the afternoon when our brains (and stomachs) were very full at this point, the last talk brought home the unshakeable promise of a better future painted in Hebrews 12. On Judgement Day, God will ‘shake the heavens and earth’ and all that remains is His kingdom and not man-made things. Therefore, we need to actively pursue holiness so that we don’t drift away, by submitting to all of God’s Word, and spurring on each other to finish the race.

As we stepped outside the SMBC hallway into the real world, the call for us to live as God’s holy people is cemented in our hearts.

“Learned so much today! Struck by Hebrews 1:3 – Jesus sustains the universe by the mighty power of His command.” – Brenda

“Convicted to fix our eyes on Jesus, the forever High Priest! Deeply moved by the perseverance of a missionary in Tanzania from dealing with Cobra snakes, scorpions on her 1 year old to facing terminal cancer. Also, what a joy to be worshipping alongside people who were singing in AUSLAN.” –Amy

“I am reminded that Jesus is the better messenger, high priest and better everything we know. While knowing this fact, I found it slightly reassuring to hear that everyone drifts away from God naturally, and that I’m not the only one who tends to be swayed by the temptations of this world.

The race we run is a marathon, but if we don’t reach the finish line, it’s as if we didn’t do the race at all. There is no in between.

I’m thankful for the brothers and sisters in Christ that can run the race along with me, knowing I won’t be in it alone. Praying that we can continue to spur each other on, encouraging each other and keeping us on track as we live life together.” – Jennifer

Christian Courage in the Age of COVID-19

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In the time it will have taken you to read this article, 15 new cases of COVID-19 (or the 2019 coronavirus) will have been reported around the world. By this time tomorrow, 100 more people will have died from it.

These numbers aren’t minor, but you might think they aren’t a big deal compared to some of the other things out there that could kill us. Lung disease, traffic accidents, and even suicide kill people at a far quicker rate than COVID-19. And yet, the world is gripped in coronavirus panic. 

Just look at our own country, where people are going crazy over toilet paper – two women ganging up on another over a packet, and Big W staff in Tamworth calling in police to taser a man who assaulted them over the lack of TP in the store.

It might be fun to laugh at these people, but it’s a sobering moment when you realise this is nothing more than human fear made manifest. These people are trying to protect something they care about, perhaps someone close to them.

The COVID-19 outbreak is a textbook example of how people respond to uncertainty. What if I run out of toilet paper? What if I can’t go to work for the next few weeks? What will I do with my kids if our schools close down? Fear is what drives us to take precautionary measures – and yes, even to the point of violence.

This isn’t exactly news. There’s an entire genre of entertainment focused on what happens when humans face disaster: the apocalypse movie. Mad Max, The Walking Dead, The Last of Us – these are well-known, even seminal works of art that reflect what we know about fear. It motivates us to seek safety, control, and certainty.

In these stories, fear often leads people down a path of destruction. The Bible is full of such examples as well. In 2 Samuel 11, King David sleeps with and impregnates Bathsheba, a married woman. When he finds out that she is pregnant with his child, he panics and arranges to have her husband Uriah killed in battle. God sends Nathan to rebuke him, and strikes down his newborn child.

Yet, this is the same David who called upon the name of the Lord when Saul caused him to fear for his life. He writes a song in 2 Samuel 22:

“I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
   and have been saved from my enemies.
The waves of death swirled about me;
  the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
    the snares of death confronted me.
“In my distress I called to the Lord;
    I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice.” 2 Samuel 22:4-7

Of course, God does not guarantee that we will be granted release from fears that come from ungodly places. He allows David to murder Uriah in his fear, just as he allows panicked Australians to raid supermarkets for necessities, leaving medical staff and the needy empty handed.

But these legitimate, godly fears that we experience when something like COVID-19 takes over the world have an answer in the Scriptures. It is right for parents to worry about their children. It is commendable for us to worry about our elderly parents and grandparents. It is good and holy to be concerned about burdening others by passing on disease.

The contents of our fear matter far less than how we respond to them. Are we doing our best to evaluate our fears and seek a godly response? Are we bringing our godly fears to the one who is sovereign over death and disease?

1 Peter 5:7 commands the young people in the church to “cast all [their] anxiety on him because he cares for you”. All the problems of the world which trigger legitimate and holy fear in us are to be thrust into God’s hands. Why? Because he has already conquered that which fuels our biggest fear – eternity. 

In the same passage, Peter writes to the church to remind them that “the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” Through Jesus, our true disease – sin – is healed. He has broken its hold on us, and now he carries out the work of restoring us to our true, image-bearing glory day by day. 

When we come to believe in this truth, there is nothing that can stop us from continuing on to walk in step with Jesus. He knows this, which is why the Bible is full of stories in which he commands his followers to not be afraid.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27b

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

“So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:31

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Mark 6:50

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

We are not commanded to forget about the things of this world entirely, not as long as we’re still living in it and carrying out God’s mission. Please wash your hands. Remember to sneeze into your elbow. But don’t do anything until you first cast your anxieties and fears upon God. He has shattered sin, and one day his Son will return to shatter death and disease finally. Including COVID-19.

Member Spotlight – Beverly

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I first heard about Cabramatta Anglican Church through my younger brother, who frequently played badminton there on a weekly basis with a good friend, who happened to be a devout churchgoer at the same church. My thoughtful younger brother introduced me to his friend, in the hopes that I could gain some more understanding and Christian support with locating a church where I could feel strongly connected to God. His friend kindly invited me to the Christmas service and even offered to drive me there, as I was unfamiliar with the Cabramatta area. 

When I first entered the church, I was struck by how simple and casual the environment was. People happily welcomed me, patiently chatted and informed me about the church and the day’s events, and the best part of this lovely day, was how I was not expected to know what to do, and that I did not have to immediately commit to joining the church. There have been some churches in the past where I always felt condemned and judged for not being part of their original community, as if “outsiders” were unwanted.

Contrary to those past experiences, I was excited; buzzing with what was possibly a sense of religious exhilaration. I was invited to attend the following week and quite eagerly accepted, thoroughly enjoying the lovely music and the biblical knowledge and understanding I had gained from just a single service. One of the other churchgoers gave me their number, so that I could have someone to answer any queries I had with attending the church. 

Each service allowed some degree of comfort and growth to occur, whilst also increasing my awareness about some of my more selfish lifestyle choices and other obstacles that encountered, and still encounter on my journey to improving myself. Yet, I felt that as a Christian that had been raised in a Buddhist household, there were many crucial Christian milestones I had missed, which had left me feeling inadequate in my pursuit to understanding the Bible, and how to worship God. And to answer this insecurity of mine, the pastors of the church announced a starters group for biblical study, Christianity Explained (CE). 

I could not help but be thoroughly relieved and amused, thinking, “Well, that was a quick reply from God. Ask and you shall receive, right?” 

Joining CE was a great educational experience. The organiser and pastor running this program did not shy away from any questions, even when we asked the most controversial of questions, such as; “If God can do everything and is so powerful, why did He elect to only save some of us? Doesn’t this mean He is just willfully condemning others?” And the group I was a part of, I thank them for having such inquisitive minds, for asking those difficult questions which are often answered so vaguely with “It was God’s will, accept it.”

The content we covered in CE was simple to understand, but could be arguably stated to be as equally difficult to accept. Freely having faith in something so intangible and without visual proof often makes believing the hardest thing to do, especially when you are honestly explained that to be Christian is to have many rewards, but to also suffer as well. I do not believe that I am alone in thinking that a stress-free life is desirable, nobody likes to suffer after all, and sometimes, it is so much easier to avoid confronting issues, to not even consider the trickier choices with obstacles, to just pick that nicer, wider, and smoother path. 

And this is where the self- reflection and self- awareness that you develop with each session, can forcibly pull you out of your ignorant mindset. It’s also through analysing the Bible, God’s actions, His intentions, that I found some measure of comfort and reassurance. I still have plenty of doubts. I am still ignorant to many things, but I also acknowledge that I am a work- in- progress, and I feel that even though I will trip and fall a lot, I am still moving forward, towards God, with each session and church service I attend.

I feel welcome, and well- connected with God at Cabramatta Anglican Church. I am always learning something new, or viewing previously studied passages with a different perspective. The community here is so lovely, relatable, and willing to reach out to those that want to belong to a Christian family. And unless these conditions change at any point during my stay, I would like to remain securely in acceptance at my new home church, Cabramatta Anglican Church.