31 August 2018 | Belgrade, Serbia [Peter Jeynes]
Someone behind the scenes has put a lot of thought into the programming at the European Pastors’ Council in Belgrade. A story is being developed as we move from ‘Connecting’ on to ‘Inspiring’ and then on to ‘Change’. There has been much connecting and re-connecting going on. Older Pastors remarking, “You haven’t changed in 30 years”. Many Pastors remarked that they have been inspired by the developing story of reconciliation coming from Hungary. Change is in the air.
Inspire adventures
Thursday saw the concentration change on to Inspiration with three ‘Inspire talks’. First to the stage was Kärt Lazić. Described as, “of Estonian origin” and Newbold’s “English language centre leader” by Ana Thompson, joint host for the morning talks, Kärt took the opportunity to describe herself as ‘A Teacher’. With that description and a calling revealed from a young age, Kärt took the opportunity to show that being a teacher entitles the person to rights as well as responsibilities. The rights, of being able to set out to develop minds, would be accompanied with the responsibility to not abuse students by the way that the teacher influences, hopefully, pliant minds.
Not all teachers, it appears, realise that the point of teaching is to change the way a mind operates. A litany of teachers who simply wanted answers to questions or a replication of the teachers’ way of doing things was countered by the inspiring story of a teacher who painted a picture that allowed Kärt as a young student to begin to work out how she fitted into the world.
Bringing the talk from the classroom to the sanctuary Pastors were depicted as those who have a similar task to the teacher, to change people’s minds. Such change should be inspiring but measured with the responsibilities of the teacher. As ‘mind-changers’ “people put their lives in your care”.
Paul, that great Apostle, the teacher who opened minds to allow people to follow Jesus was also revealed as Saul, the man with a disconnected relationship with the Divine. Paul painted a picture of a Great God while Saul’s teaching revealed a small god fashioned after the image of the man.
Where is the inspiration in all this? The facts are outlined. The Pastor has duties, responsibilities and privileges. Pastors should be inspired by the trust and call given to us.
Kärt then moved onto a wider platform. As Christians those duties extend to each of us in whatever role we are given to us by God, of painting a picture of a Great God, to be an inspirer, not just a provider of facts.
That then led to the major inspiration. We have an enormous duty as Christian individuals to provide the resources and environment to allow each person under our responsibility to feel and to be included, acknowledged and supported within the safe setting of the church family.
It is obvious then that someone has ‘joined up thinking’ in the TED offices. Pastor Rhamie in his earlier devotional called for safe places, Kärt appealed for the same – and at the same time pointed to the people who are to inspire and create such safe places. Should we dream that this is what our leaders want us to do in our churches?
Inspire Marital Integrity
An Estonian educator gave way to a Hungarian counsellor in the form of Gabor Mihalec. Opening with a tale of that most frustrating of toys, the Rubik cube, our teacher showed that the cube is impossible for some yet no problem to others. Logical then to recognise that within human relationships there are some things that some find impossible which others find to be simple. Under the banner of Proverbs 5:18,19 an audience of God’s workers were asked to examine the call to be sexually faithful. The audience were to be inspired to be faithful to their spouses.
Gabor Mihalec recounted that in his counselling he could recognise that there are patterns and phases in the descent into unfaithfulness. demonstrated that that which is explainable can be predicted. Then once the predictable can be understood it can, very logically, be prevented.
That was the theory. What about practice. In three steps to prevent infidelity challenged to, ‘Define the relationship’, ‘Mark and protect the borders of the relationship’ and then ‘let’s make it 100%’. Using simple pictures, the aspiration was presented that we should make a very rational decision to define the relationship that we have with our spouses. Gabor had made the decision as a newly married man to say, as he looked in a mirror, “I will not have sex with another woman.”
The boundaries were defined. Billy Graham is famous for the vow he made to never be found alone with a woman other than his wife. Pastor Mihalec inspired his charges to make similar covenants, to not be alone with one woman, to avoid physical contact with other women and to be completely clear with people that you only have the one wife and want no other.
The final call was to give 100% to the one spouse 100% commitment. The audience was challenged to get the best … by giving of the best. The presentation of a written loyalty resolution that was read out loud, Gabor revealed that there is to be a real intentional call for Pastors, for Christians to be the ‘partners of one spouse’.
Questions from the audience included requested guidance for single Ministers and female Pastors. He responded to be responsible for who you are … to know who you are and to know your own desires and values.
Inspire or Expire
The third talk was presented by Dr Chidi Ngwaba. He was introduced by Ana Thompson as the person who inspired her to seek to eat a plant-based diet.
Stories were told of the common ‘cures’ for illness ranging from dosing with mercury to the smoking of asthma cigarettes to help asthmatics to breathe more easily to frontal lobe lobotomy to cure depression. The contrast was presented as Ellen G. White, against the current opinions, taught that a wholesome life built around Nutrition, Exercise, the free use of water, sunlight, a temperate lifestyle, fresh air, sufficient relaxation and a trust in God would reduce risk of disease and, in some cases create the opportunity for the cure of some diseases.
Dr Chidi pointed out that these days people truly are interested in lifestyle medicine. Former President of the United States, Bill Clinton no less, sought a dietary change to allow him to enjoy a life that would allow him to see his grandchildren grow up.
The talk ended with the challenge that Seventh-day Adventist pastors really should look after themselves. He advised that we should not focus so much on the urgent but should be looking at the important things in our lives. We really should be caring for our families, our relationship with God and with our own health.
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Sajitha Forde-Ralph, associate editor
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