Society & Politics

• Viewers’ fury over Black Lives Matter dance. Over 10,000 complaints have been received by Ofcom following the inclusion on the ITV show Britain’s Got Talent of a dance inspired by the BLM movement. The performance, by the group, Diversity, is now the second most complained about TV moment in a decade. Read more here. 
• Brexit deal more uncertain following Withdrawal clash. Controversy flares over legality of the UK Government’s plans to override key elements of the Brexit withdrawal deal. The EU, as well as many UK politicians, including numbers of Tory MPs, is demanding that the Government ditch the proposals immediately. Read more here. 
• Government’s mass Covid-testing plan may cost up to £100 billion. It has been claimed that radical plans to see millions of Covid-19 tests every day in the UK could cost as much as the entire NHS budget. The ambitious plans involves carrying out up to 10 million tests per day. Read more here.

Church Issues

• Another church leader accused of ‘hate crime’ by LGBT supporters. A pastor in Cornwall has been targeted by LGBT activists, and admonished by the police, after celebrating the cancellation of a gay pride event on Facebook. When the pastor reported threats made against him and his church, the police told him they did not consider them to be serious. Read more here.
• Churches not restricted by new lockdown rules. The tightening of restrictions on social gatherings in England, due to come into effect on Sept 14, will not apply to church services, the Archbishop of Canterbury has confirmed. Read more here.

World Scene

• Rewards for reporting gatherings of Chinese Christians. In increasing efforts to stop the spread of Christianity in China, government officials are offering cash rewards to anyone observing believers engaged in unusual activities. Read more here.
• Covid just one of many crises facing North Korea. Catastrophic flooding, international sanctions and the rapid spread of coronavirus (albeit denied by the communist Government) are among the causes of severe hardships currently faced by the population of North Korea. Read more here.
• Is Sweden’s no-lockdown approach paying off? As restrictions increase in many European countries following a rise in coronavirus cases, Sweden records its lowest rate of cases since the pandemic began. As a result, there is no general quarantine obligation for travellers entering Sweden from the UK. Read more here.

Israel & Middle East

• Poll suggests 750,000 believers in Iran. A recent study of 50,000 Iranians, by a secular Netherlands-based research group, has revealed that 1.5% of the population of Iran - relating to three-quarters of a million Iranians – identify as Christians. Read more here.

Thought for the Week

Spiritual Downloads

Torah Reading: Deuteronomy 29:1-31:30

Nitzavim (‘Ones standing’) / Vayelech (‘Then he went out’)

It could be argued that smartphones and similar technologies have compounded the busyness and complexities of our lives rather than eased them! Having information, connections and alerts at our fingertips on a 24/7 basis seems to leave little excuse for inactivity or low productivity.

God knew the necessity of us having spiritual resources accessible at our ‘fingertips’. In the place of our sophisticated technology – at that time not yet developed – his directions to the Israelites were aimed at providing that access. He specifically explained that his word would be “very near you … so that you may obey it” (Deut 30:14).

Pivotal

It is worth noting the context in which God’s directions were given at the time of the passage for this week. The Israelites were about to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land, a pivotal and unique point in their history. God knew that such a prospect was causing them fear, terror and discouragement (see Deut 31:6). This was also being undertaken without Moses as their leader, the man whom God had used in that role for an entire generation. Joshua, now taking his place, was himself in need of strength and courage (31:2-7).

So the Israelites were about to experience a new environment, great challenges and an uncharted future. Does that not sound relevant to our current circumstances? God’s reassurance was that he would “cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you … He will never leave you or forsake you” (31:3-8).

Personal

But crucially God also provided the law – his word – as an ongoing means of following and having a personal relationship with him. This was the spiritual access at their ‘fingertips’ that was needed both for them and ourselves.
• It was to be a permanent ‘fixture’ of their lives: “… at the end of every seven years … you shall read this law …” (31:11).
• Everyone was to have this access – no one was excluded: “Assemble the people – men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns …” (31:12).
• God wanted everyone, as they heard the law, to be drawn closer to Him: “… so that they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law” (31:12).
• Whilst there were plans of God that would not be accessible, there were things that he did want his people to know: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children … that we may follow all the words of this law” (29:29).

Pathways

It is also notable that the means by which God wanted his people to have this access to his word covered a number of pathways. As above, the law was to be read aloud as well as written down (31:9). It was also to be sung and specifically taught (31:19). Our modern technology has not improved on these basic but effective methods! ‘Downloading’ God’s word has never been easier … or more vital! How engaged will you be this week in accessing what God has said … and getting closer to him?

Author: Steve Bishop