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Some of the neighbourhood dogs have been making fun of Chester recently. Something about him not being able to back up his tough-guy looks with any action. One dog even accused him of “writing cheques that his ass can’t cash”. Which is such a labradoodle thing to say…

Anyway, in response to the aforementioned taunts, Chester and I have been doing some extra combat training incase the need to kick some ass ever arrives.

In the words of Martin Lawrence: “S**t just got real…”

Disclaimer: Forgive me if this comes off a little arrogant. That’s not my intention…

Let me give you a window into a recent conversation I had with an atheist friend. I reckon this is pretty representative of dozens of conversations, debates, arguments, fights I’ve had in recent years:

My Atheist Friend: How can you believe in a god?

Me: Because it’s the truth.

My Atheist Friend: How do you know.

Me: The Bible is God’s word to us. We can trust what it says to be true. The Bible teaches that there is one God who created everything that exists. He also entered human history as Jesus Christ to redeem all things through his death on the cross. That’s why I believe in the Christian God.

My Atheist Friend: All of that is bulls**t because you’re relying on ‘the bible’ to tell you what is true. You can’t appeal to ‘the bible’ as a reason for your belief. It’s a circular argument to say that you believe in god because you read “god’s word”.

Me: Ok cool. So what are you relying on for your belief that there is no god.

My Atheist Friend: It’s not a ‘belief’. It’s fact.

Me: Don’t avoid the question. What do you base your understanding on?

My Atheist Friend: I base it on REASON!

Me: And what is your reason for trusting your reason?

Me (interrupting): You see? You’re doing the same thing as me.

My Atheist Friend: Huh? No I’m not.

Me: You are! You’re making a circular argument. And you’re appealing to an objective standard – every worldview does! In this case you’re appealing to the ‘objective’ standard of your own reason -  and furthermore, you’re appealing to that objective standard constantly – you can’t avoid it!

My Atheist Friend: …….

Can any of my Atheist Friends fill in the gaping blank in my (other) friend’s (non)response? I’d love it if you could contribute in the comments section below…

One of the highest rating posts I’ve ever written on this blog was titled “Call me pastor Jono” – you can read it here.

Part 2 is mainly concerned with some clarifications from Part 1:

1. The original blog title is misleading. I’ll never ask anyone, and kinda don’t want anyone, to call me “Pastor Jono”. It’s a little too ‘Yanky’ (& wanky?) for Aussie sensibilities. There are a couple of young guys at church who call me “Pastor Jono” and I’ll never tell them not to… but there you are…
2. I’ve received some mail on this from some Anglo-Catholic colleagues who claim that if I want to be known as “pastor” rather than “Priest” (their capitalisation) then I should join another denomonation. Seriously? There’s close to a kajillion reasons why this is dumb thing to say. If I find the time, I’d love outline 0.001% of them with reference to traditional Anglicanism and the role of the, errm, ‘priest’ (read with biblical glasses: ‘presbyter’). If any of you Anlgican-geeks can spare some time, back me up in the comments section…
3. In the original post I said: “Priest calls to mind catholic clerics, or intermediaries between God and man – I’m neither.” You said: Yes you are – we are all intermediaries between God and men. I say: Yes, that’s exactly my point. We’re all intermediaries – you don’t have to go through me because I’ve been given the keys to heaven, or whatever.

So then, I’m sticking by it. I think “pastor” is the best term to use in identifying what I do. If I’m speaking to an unbeliever I’ll flesh-out what it means to be a pastor. If I’m adressing the congregation at HTD I’ll intro myself as “one of the pastors at the church”. If I’m reflecting theologically on my role, I’ll go to Ephesians 4:11-13 -

11The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some PASTORS and TEACHERS, 12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

In my church I’m “the pastor” and you’re “the minister”.

So then, you don’t have to call me “Pastor Jono” – just know that, as far as I’m concerned, “Jono is a pastor”.