Jesus’ Death and… Sydney Diocese, Social Action, and Frightening Illness.

Charles Brammall

[Sarcasm / ON]

We all know that Conservative Evangelicals (esp. Sydney Anglicans) are uninterested in, nay suspicious of, mercy. Social Action and the Social Gospel. (Even more than they are of the Prosperity Gospel.)

It’s common knowledge that they are Critical of anything not Word/Gospel centred. That they’re dry, dour, and doctrinaire. Black and white, unnuanced. Trenchant, driven and heartless. 

Blind Freddy can see they are process-not-people people, and “Good teaching” obsessed. Mind-bendingly wealthy. But stingy. Oh yes. Church planting, building and growth-obsessed, insular, and exclusive.

Reformed, and “Calvinist” (they may as well be Pressy… if not for a ridiculously despotic and cronyistic episcopate). Unfeeling and suspicious of emotions they are, not to mention pro- and pre-scriptive, anti-women. Restrictive. Almost papist in that regard. And Panmillennial.

They bring the inclusive, embracing, tolerant Name of the loving Lord into disrepute. As sure as night follows day, iron-clad, water-tight. Bullet and foolproof, tried, true and tested. Proven, demonstrated and wilful. Watertight, unassailable and immutable.

Shame on…us.

[Sarcasm / OFF]

A dear friend of ours has been diagnosed. With a frightening illness. Still young and fit. And healthy. Athletic, disciplined, creative. In the prime of life, an earnest Christlike believer. Faithful, Trusting. Evangelistic. A passionate Bible lover, truster and obeyer. Faithful pray-er: Servant and carer. Hospitable. Even sacrificial. Model to MANY others. 

                      *. *. *

But let’s face it- modern medical advances and their accessibility, and Australia’s at least better than US medical system are improving. Exponentially, sometimes minute by minute. The chances of complete recovery or living many many years of normal life are high these days. They tower over yesteryear’s prognoses.

But there can sometimes be exceptions: multiple surgeries, aggressive treatment, and associated effects. Possible Nausea, vomiting. Let’s get real- maybe diarrhoea. Occasionally lowered self worth, agoraphobia, social phobia.

It can, possibly, be ugly- honestly.

But not for all-

For some, there’s complete healing, restoration, health, almost revivification (which Sydney Anglicans would never ask God for: they know He miraculously heals no more),

But I’m not gunna lie to ya. 

For some humans these illnesses suck: they’re crap.

Some are not winners,

only losers:

                       * * *

My family is dear friends with a broker. A blindingly skilled one. Also, an outrageously miraculous, but absurdly generous believer. Not a broker of life assurance (about which I can sometimes be tempted to possible suspicion). But a broker of Conservative Evangelical desperately needed care. 

This person is also a high-falutin’ finance human. How do they earn a crust? I’m never quite sure, but something along the lines of sorta making money, which makes more and more money. Quickly. And a lot. That makes that make more.

This person knows a group of diverse Lord followers who have been/are being/will be affected by these kinds of conditions in themselves. Or in dear friends or family.

So they…

Buckle up this’s gonna be a wild ride!

What they do under The Healer is  no less than a sign and wonder. It is a Sairmaeon Thaumadzo (“Koinair”{C1} Grk- Jesus’ Greek). It is a “Significant Wonder”, or “Wonderous Sign”. The muscle-bound arm of an Inexplicably Sovereignly crowned Celestial Regent… loving Judge, generous Father, High Priest.

First responder, emergency worker.

World renown surgeon, Snr Professor, Dean with Eternal Tenure,

Vice-Chancellor of Oxford. Cambridge, Harvard & Yale rolled into one contemporaneously. Of the University of the Multiverse.

Lover extraordinaire.

The Immutable yet original “Repentant One”…

… (Really! Jonah 3:10- “God saw their actions— that they had turned from their evil ways— so God (lit..) repented from the disaster he had threatened them with. And he did not do it.”)

This group of believers is empathic. Literally. They’re THERE. Or have been: right there. Or will be. They are organised (they never meet physically as far as I know) IN ORDER TO… … prayerfully and financially support people with these illnesses. 

Entirely, anonymously secret, silent, like a mouse. Or a mute person. Humble, self effacing. Whispering only, under their breaths. Maybe in dark corners of kitchens, lecture theatres, lounge rooms. Around water coolers, in cleaners’ rooms, in acute wards… on line, the phone, in prisons, Boardrooms, on ships.

I just. Don’t. Know.

In this they’re like the Spirit of Holy Communication – Self efacing, always shifting our attention off Himself, away, and upwards, toward the insanely glorious Son and Brother. 

Yes, some of His siblings have these illnesses. And He knows what it’s like. He suffers, hurts, cries. Is shocked, anxious, and receives succour from friends. And family, but in his case, eventually dies.

I don’t know who these bizarre givers are. Wouldn’t have the foggiest. Nor does our family friend. And the “the broker” may not either; I don’t know. 

They are cloaked in exquisite Christlike anonymity. Just as He warned others not to reveal His identity, so do they.

And they’re not busybodies- don’t ask to see patients’ books. Audit them or Demand invoices, details about their condition. They just trust. Like the Bloke from Nazareth. They merely request a vague, airy-fairy ballpark figure of needs. No medical details, names of Medicos, or Prognoses. 

I know not were these 5? 19? 20? 59? 107? dear siblings live, work, church. Our broker may not know their names. THEY may have sought HIM out. These Brothers/Sisters (both?) of Mercy- The original genuine Monastry/Convent. The Real McCoy monks and nuns. Brother Gavin? Sister Drusilla, Brother Dwayne? A Specialist Neurosurgeon? Garbo? Surfer? Chicken sexer, Clergy person? Dunno. Domestic engineer?

But I do know ONE secret about them. 

Promise not to tell?

Just between you and me? (and all John Sandeman’s subscribers😏)

They are all…

Conservative…

Evangelical…

(heartless, Dour, Stingy,

Suspicious, cynical, Word-obsessed)…

believers.

Maybe Anglican, maybe grim Sydney Diocesans (no doubt some are, as that’s where they’re based).

Because that’s Conservative Evangelicals (incl Sydney Anglicans) for you. To a tee.

Pretty dodgy heh?

Prayers:

Our gracious God and loving Heavenly Father,

We want to give You Your worth, what You are worth, Your worth-ship, with every nanosecond of our lives. And deaths- that so many 

Conservative Evangelical Christians, incl Sydney Anglicans, Presbyterians, and Brethrens. Lutherans and Church of Christ. Methodists. Congregational and and Unitings- are not Dour, Stingy, Suspicious, cynical, Word-obsessed believers. 

For the glory of the mighty name of YHWH,

Amen.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Praise You that so many Sydney Anglican Evangelicals, including those over us in the Lord, are so remarkably caring of frightening illness patients, current, recovered and future.

For the universal honour and pride of the Names of the eternal Trinity, Spirit, Son and Father,

Amen.

Dear God, Father, King, and Lord. Judge and Lover.

Protector- Saver, Communicator.

Sacrifice and Creator, Sustainer,

Praise You that if they are true to Your Word, Conservative Evangelicals are fully committed to social and personal welfare.

That they are Prayerful, faithful, and concerned.

That Your Name may be praised eternally,

Amen

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