"But emptied Himself"  

"For let this mind be in you [individually] [or, "among you," [collectively] that was also in Christ Jesus. who subsisting in the form of God thought it not a thing to be grasped at to be on equality with God, but emptied Himself. taking a bondman's form, taking His place in the likeness of men, and having been found in figurer as a man, humbled Himself even unto death, and that the death of the cross."

What depths of divine profoundness, it is infinitely surpasses all the mind of man; and is, with difficulty, barely comprehended by the believer. And that is why there is so much controversy surrounding our efforts to apprehend it. Any thoughts as to it will certainly be challenged at best, derided at worst. But that must not deter us from casting ourselves upon the Lord that we may know all the help of the Holy Spirit as our Divine Instructor.

I would like to focus attention upon the phrase at the head of this paper, "emptied Himself." If I cannot explain, find words, to express my understanding of  this phrase, I nevertheless trust that the following statement may convey my poor thought in some suitable measure: He emptied Himself to incarnation. It is in absolute harmony with the context. He speaks clearly of the magnitude of His down-stooping to manhood.

The main thrust of this brief paper is to refute the teaching that Christ "laid aside, set aside, His glory" when He entered this scene. His glory was an intrinsic element of His Person; He could not divest Himself of that which an integral part of His personality. I speak in trembling reverence as human language and my grasp of it is feeble in setting forth divine things. Notice please: "And the Word became flesh, [entered into manhood] and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory a glory as of an only-begotten from a father, full of grace and truth."           John 1:14.

I believe that what Charles Wesley wrote "veiled in flesh the Godhead see," is a beautiful expression of this truth. The Lord "out of heaven," veiled His glory, He did not relinquish it. That His "flesh" acted as a veil is incontrovertible, "The new and living way which He has dedicated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh." Hebrews 10:20.    

I remember a well-instructed brother saying on one occasion, referring to this wonderful scripture, "I could no more lay aside my personality than Christ could have laid aside His glory."

The Lord Jesus even as the Son of Man "subsisted in the very form of God," thus not as single attribute or feature of Godhead was relinquished by Him here below. he conjoined His intrinsic deity with His impeccable humanity in one indivisible Person.     Personally He remained in perfect equality with the Father and the Spirit, only in position had He take voluntarily the subject place, "the form of a bondman's form."

This paper is solely my responsibility, I do not claim it is in any way unique, but I alone can be made accountable, none of my fellow brethren. 

Opioid Deaths: A Crisis in England and Wales 

I have very little knowledge when it comes to drug addiction, by grace this awful enemy has never touched my immediate family. I do know of one young lady, a professing believer, the beloved daughter of a couple in Assembly fellowship, and the terrible consequences of this enslavement. It is beyond unbearable to see.

I believe we are still seeing the aftermath of the pandemic, its continual "fall-out" as it has been described. And this only enforces my view that obeying the Government in surrendering our divine right to gather to the Lord's Name, during so protracted a time was the most disobedient act of the responsible Assembly here in this scene, the Church universal. Since when has the Government of any nation had the authority to denounce the will of God for the obedience of His believing people? A prohibition to gather to Christ, as I would speak of it, was deemed unlawful. To excuse our failure in this by reference to Romans 13:1-4 is invalidated by the verdict of the High Court, the very "body" to which we are directed to comply. But far infinitely above that political  "argument," we read in the Word of God, "God must be obeyed rather than man;" Acts 5:29. One such Scripture should suffice; but notice how Peter and John addressed the Council at Jerusalem "If it be righteous before God to listen to you rather than God, judge ye." Acts 4:11. The most compelling of all pertinent scriptures in regard to my interpretation of this contentious issue was spoken by the Lord Jesus Himself and is a wonderful example of His divine wisdom: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." Matthew 22:21.

You may well ask what connection the period of the pandemic has to do with the heading of this article. A very relevant question. My simple answer is that we, that is the vast majority of Assembly-based believers, closed our doors, literally, to tens of thousands who were in desperate need. Never during my lifetime, nigh 79 years, has there been such a need and such an opportunity to dispense the love of Christ to the poor, needy, afflicted, and those "ready to perish." Where could the ones who were hungry, cold, sick, sorrowing or enslaved by addiction, an instrument of the evil on, possibly go for compassionate ministry for their bodies, and their never-dying souls?

The answer is practically nowhere, because we had shut up "bowels of mercies," when we shut them out from our halls and rooms, and hid away cowardly from possible contagion. We should be ashamed in the light of the love, grace and mercy that the Saviour has lavished upon us. How we thank our good and great God that His only-begotten Son never concealed Himself from all who sought His blessings, and that He never will.

I close with the quotation that brought about this unburdening of my heart . 

More than 13,000 heroin and opioid deaths have been missed off official statistics in England and Wales, raising concerns about the impact on the government's approach to tackling addiction.

Research from King's College London, shared exclusively with BBC News, found that there were 39,232 opioid-related deaths between 2011 and 2022, more than 50% higher than previously known.

T.W.

As ever I would state that these are my own thoughts alone.

The Dismantling of Family Life in the U.K.

This may appear to be provocative to some, but that is not intentional on my part.

I was reading an article dealing with the obsessive reliance upon social media that characterises so many young people here in the U.K.

The Word of God reveals the mind of God concerning the preciousness of the family relationship; and it is alluded to right from the commencement of Creation. And immediately after the universal flood, mankind was exhorted to "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth." Genesis 2:24; 8:1.

 This divinely-devised relationship mirrors that of the intimate one enjoyed by the believer: "He came unto His own (things) and His own (people) received Him not. But as many as received Him to them gave He the (right)authority to become children of God, to those who believe on His name."  John 1:11,12.

John's First Epistle is replete with the expression of family connections especially in chapter two. He uses the phrase "children of God" a number of times also.

We are so familiar with the lovely setting forth of the Hebrew Servant, especially as a beautiful type of our Saviour in His unspeakable love for His master, His wife and His children. Exodus 21:5.

I feel this is enough to confirm God's design for family relationships to be held in much honour as pleasing to Him.

To return to the article I referred to at the beginning of this post. The obsession with "social media," which plagues society, (that is a contradiction in itself,) especially the youth of today, has been thoroughly researched. It is not my purpose to extrapolate any statistics, but simply to record that which I find so disturbing in dismantling family ties.

it seems that a vast number of young people spend an inordinate total of hours in their own room in the family home. Spending excessive periods in the use of social media platforms, on their mobile phones and in "gaming." Their parents hardly see them when they return from school, college or the workplace. There is no opportunity for the family to share any kind of loving relationship, nor engage in conversation, as the younger members of the household spend their communications with their peers.

Social media is not inherently evil, but its few benefits are hugely outweighed by its nature to enslave almost anyone; it is not young people exclusively, you only have to walk abroad to see countless folk in constant conversation etc. on their mobile phones as they walk. Often oblivious to all around them; and sometimes rudely remaining on the phone while being served in the shops. it is a national malady. 

I am sufficiently intelligent to realise I am practically ignorant of the "digital world," if that is and acceptable phrase. But what is causing me so much distress is the general disfunction of family life, and no hope of arresting its progress. but I am appealing to my fellow saints to exercise discipline to prevent this sad behaviour from breaking down the family unit. We are in danger of "losing" an entire generation. 

May the Lord grant wisdom to every believing father and mother in order that family life will be characterised by family love, in the Lord.  

Camp Mystic 

Nothing can diminish the horror of the disaster at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas; and only the Father of compassion, the God of all comfort, consolation and encouragement can meet the awful anguish of soul of all the bereaved, most especially parents who lost beloved children. The hearts of all believers go to all who suffered irreplaceable loss, in unreserved sympathy and love in Christ Jesus. Well we know words will never suffice, but behind our words there is the deepest sincerity of each heart. How we long that you might know the peace that surpasses understanding as enfolded in the bosom affections of the God of love. We continue to pray for you, the ones who are left to sorrow.

I need to draw attention to the claim that this camp is a "Christian" camp for girls. The epithet, designation, the title "Christian" is used, bandied about constantly, without any regard as to its true meaning and implications; often without a fragment of  understanding or discernment; Used for so much that exhibits not a single distinguishing mark that would demonstrate that it has a Scriptural basis to at least have some resemblance to that which is Christian in its origin. 

I tentatively looked at their website after a brother had spoken about this appalling  tragedy during the prayer meeting. At that time i knew virtually nothing of the details, but naturally I felt an affinity with all who love Christ.

I will not enter into any details regarding the camp. But I was horrified by what the text that I read, and the photographs I saw. I have three grown-up daughters of my own, and I would never have allowed them to go near that place. I am sorry if this distresses any one who reads this "Post," but it is clearly time we exercised far more discernment when "things" are labelled as being "Christian." 

Just one final thing. I tried hard to learn whether there is a place in North America named "Mystic," or a river ,perhaps. But my research afforded me no help at all. I only wondered, as it seems to me to call a "Christian" camp, "Camp Mystic" is totally inappropriate.

These thoughts are mine alone, no one else has input anything. 

T.W. 

A Worrying Discovery about our Monarch

The U.K. has a self-confessed atheist as Prime Minister, something that would never have seemed a possibility even a decade ago. it is a frightful commentary on the ungodliness of our much favoured nation; a nation blessed of God, perhaps blessed more than any other; with a heritage of godly men and women down through many centuries; many of whom have left an indelible influence on the believing people of God found within its boundaries. We have a wealth of precious literature based on the Spirit-breathed Word of God. Along with a treasury of beautiful Christ-honouring hymns.

Now I find that our present King, Charles 111 is I suggest at best a humanist, at worst an idolater. Many of my brethren have somehow concluded that he is a Christian. How they can come to such a conclusion on the basis of his disgraceful behaviour, publicly aired, I cannot fathom. 

But today I discovered an article which leaves me candidly horrified and I make no apology for pointing this article out and pasting some of its content to this "Post."  

Under-linings for emphasis and context are all mine.

It wasn't exactly a run-of-the-mill royal occasion.

In the sunny gardens of the Highgrove estate, I stood in a circle with King Charles and an eclectic group who were attending his first "Harmony Summit".

We raised our arms in honour of nature as we stood around a fire, which was burning within a ring of flowers.

Presiding over the fire ceremony, in which we rotated as we honoured the north, south, east and west and then Mother Earth, was an Indigenous leader - an Earth Elder - wearing a headdress and a dazzling robe of blue feathers.

A conch shell was blown. Butterflies flew around the flowers. And, in a concession to modernity, as well as holding up feathers in a blessing for the King, the elder was reading his incantations from an iPhone.

Image source,Courtney Louise/The King’s Foundation

The summit was a celebration of the King's philosophy of harmony with nature - an inaugural event that the King's Foundation hopes will become a regular gathering.

It brought together representatives from Indigenous peoples, including from tribes in the Amazon, along with environmentalists, climate campaigners, organic farmers, herbalists, educators, crafts people and philanthropists.

There were other visitors from Amazon too: a film crew from Amazon Prime, making a documentary for next year, who were poring over every moment as the sacred smoke coiled up over the apple trees in Gloucestershire.

The King, in a light summer suit, spoke a few quiet words of welcome, wearing a circlet of feathers and a scarf that had been draped ceremonially around his shoulders.

Image source,Courtney Louise/The King’s Foundation

A humane, ruminative, humorous and quietly radical figure, he was at the centre of what he hopes will become the first of many such gatherings.

But it raised the question - and perhaps opened a window - into what the King believes. What is this thoughtful man really thinking about?

Harmony is the King's philosophy - it means that we should be working with the grain of nature rather than against it. Or "her", as he describes nature in his book on the subject, published in 2010.

It's about the inter-connectedness of all life, infused with a strong sense of the spiritual, and the idea that the human and natural worlds can't be separated.

It's the philosophy that stitches together his many different pursuits - on the environment, climate change, sustainable farming, urban planning, architecture, protecting traditional craft skills and building bridges between different faiths.

According to a source close to the King, it's "perhaps the single most important part of his eventual legacy", bringing together different strands of his work that might seem separate into "one philosophical world view about creating a better, more sustainable world for future generations".

In his book, Harmony - A New Way of Looking at our World, the King describes his purpose as a "call to revolution", and writes that he recognises the strength of the word.

Image source,Courtney Louise/The King’s Foundation

His book moves from the importance of geometry, with patterns rooted in nature, to the designs in Islamic art and the inspiring dimensions of Gothic cathedrals.  

A sense of the sacred in nature, as well as in people, seems to be an important part of this world view.

At lunch at the Harmony Summit, grace was said by the Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher.

The King's idea of harmony dovetailed with a very deep personal Christian faith, he said.

"My sense is that he draws much of his energy and ideas from spending time in prayer and contemplation," said the bishop.

He said the King sees his role as serving others and a sense of this "is seen in how he is always keen to learn from other religious traditions, building bridges and fostering good relationships built on respect and understanding".

Within strands of Christianity, the King is also said to be have been interested in the Orthodox faith and its use of icons.

Image source,Courtney Louise/The King’s Foundation

Image caption,

A fire was lit within a ring of flowers

The focus of this inaugural Harmony Summit was drawing on the wisdom of Indigenous people, tapping into their knowledge and pre-industrial ways of working with nature.

Survivalist Ray Mears was there to welcome representatives of the Earth Elders group, who work to defend the rights of "original peoples", who have become the threatened guardians of the natural world. They were wearing traditional headdresses, face paint and ornaments, in among the flowers and trees of Highgrove.

"People's selfishness has taken them away from nature. They can't feel the breeze, they're too focused on the clock," said Mindahi Bastida, of the Otomi-Toltec people in Mexico.

The cacophonous modern world has broken our connection with nature, said Rutendo Ngara, from South Africa. She described our era as a time of "loud forgetting".

"It's well-being for all human beings, all living beings, visible and invisible, it's Mother Nature… Everything is connected and there's mutual respect."

These were people from forests and rivers who talked of the destructive pressures on them, from mining, oil and urbanisation.

Ailton Krenak, from Brazil, talked of rivers that that had been "erased by money" and seeing the dried-up, polluted waterways was like a much-loved "grandfather in a coma".

Image source,Courtney Louise/The King’s Foundation

Image caption,

Rutendo Ngara described our era as a period of "loud forgetting"

Highgrove, winningly wobbly with its crooked tiles and trees growing through holes in the roof of a shelter, is a lyrical sight on a summer's day. It's a model of harmony with nature.

How does that message work, when you step outside into an often angry, noisy and brutal world?

What makes the idea of harmony relevant, is that it puts ideas into practice, it's not just a "thought exercise", said Simon Sadinsky, executive education director at the King's Foundation, which teaches crafts skills to a new generation.

"It's not just a theoretical concept, it's not just a philosophy, it's grounded in practice," he added.

"There's a lot of awfulness going on in the world, it's hard to stay optimistic. You can feel completely powerless," said Beth Somerville, a textile worker who completed a King's Foundation course.

But she says the idea of "harmony in nature" inspires her work and helps to create things which can be both beautiful and functional, in a way that is "all connected".

"It does drive me to carry on and have hope."

Image source,Courtney Louise/The King’s Foundation

Image source,Courtney Louise/The King’s Foundation

I trust you will see why I have felt it necessary to inform a larger audience with this information. The departure from even a semblance of Christian values hastens on at an alarming pace. May our God have mercy on a ungodly and ungrateful nation, would it please Him. T.W.

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• A cruise ending catastrophically