WHAT MAKES violence and lawlessness suddenly erupt across a nation?

'Fat cats' - Bankers greed

One upset church minister in Liverpool tweeted “What we are seeing is EVIL”. Who can disagree, when people turn feral, and smash, loot and burn?

But what does “evil” mean?

First, social evil. As one London-based youth worker said: “To pretend has nothing whatsoever to do with the erosion of our social fabric, the closing of youth centres, and the sense among a mass of people – not least the young – that they have no real future in a country where the poorest are being made to sacrifice most while bankers get away with murder… that’s pure fantasy.”

If Britain is “broken”, its brokenness has injustice close to its source.

The Jesus Army speak for those without voices. We cannot just shout “thugs” and call for tough measures. We must work for justice and stand alongside and among the disadvantaged.

But to leave it there risks excusing the inexcusable. There is another level of evil at work here:  moral evil.

“I’m not really bothered” said a Manchester rioter. “I’ll keep doing it every day until I get caught.” “We can do what we want” crowed a female London rioter. Gangs smash and loot shops – for greed.

But it’s not just the gangs. Bankers gambled with economic stability – for greed. Politicians helped themselves to public money – for greed. Media moguls turned a blind eye when journalists were immoral – for greed.

We’ve got to embody something better – and call people to join us.

Because, deeper still, under social evil, under moral evil, there is spiritual evil. As the Bible says “We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil spirits” (Ephesians 6 in the New Testament).

Spiritual powers, by their very nature, hide behind human evil – whether it’s greed expressed in violent looting or greed expressed in high-level corruption.

So how can the people of Jesus engage in a spiritual “clean up” campaign?

We can pray. We can share the good news about Jesus and see its transforming power, changing selfish people into new people. We can speak out for justice and against unfairness (giving the voiceless a voice may prevent them from finding a voice through wielding a baseball bat).

Pray, share, love, speak. And embody something better.

That’s what the Church of Jesus should be about.

CCTV footage from the riots in London last year captured their shocking nature vividly.

A dazed young man, profusely bleeding from his face, is helped to his feet by another man. Others stand around. Are they concerned?

Bad Samaritan?

They are – they are concerned to gain any valuables that they can from this victim. They don’t want to help him; they want to help themselves – to his stuff. A man rips open his backpack and empties it of its contents. An iPad is taken out and the robber swaggers off.

It is the exact reverse of the story Jesus told – the Good Samaritan – in which a wounded victim is helped by a stranger. On London’s streets it was more like the Bad Samaritan. Forget neighbourly care. This is selfishness run riot (no pun intended).

“Self will run riot” is how the Alcoholics Anonymous handbook describes the root of alcoholism. Words that could also be used to describe the motivation of thousands of young men and women out for violent fun as the riots spread around the UK.

The Bible calls this “sin”. A dusty, old-hat, outmoded idea? Think about it: “sin” has ‘I’ in the middle. It is “self” running amok.

Sin expresses itself in many forms, not all as in-your-face and newsworthy as riots. One thing is a common feature, though: we sinners don’t want to acknowledge that we are sinners.

Why should I? I am the important one, and to hell with the rest of them.

Self is all. Self is God. Self must be obeyed, and just let anyone try to stop me!

But for those who want to break the addiction to self, there’s good news. We can be “freed from sin” says the Bible. Jesus can break its grip on us. Time to humble ourselves, ask for help, and Jesus, like a Good Samaritan – the best Samaritan – will help us start a new life.

COLOURFUL JESUS parade turns heads in Liverpool’s city centre.

Several hundred Jesus Army enthusiasts took to the streets of Liverpool recently.

Christian hymns like “Amazing Grace” mixed in with snatches of the Beatles’ hit song “Hey Jude”. It made a colourful impression on Saturday shoppers in Liverpool’s busy city centre.

Jesus march in Liverpool

Chris from Liverpool, who saw the march, said “It’s nice to see happy, smiling people; makes a change.”

“This isn’t a protest march” said Laurence Cooper, 36, march organiser. “Nobody’s marching because they’re angry. It’s more like a carnival. We’ve got something – Someone, in fact – to celebrate. We want to share the life and excitement we’ve found.”

On social media site, Twitter, Dylan commented “Saw the Jesus Army today. They said ‘Bless you’. I didn’t even sneeze.”

Jesus Army leader, James Stacey, 35, himself from Liverpool, said “Dylan’s ‘tweet’ made me smile, but he’s actually hit the nail on the head. The Jesus Army do want to bless people – and they don’t have to do anything to deserve it. After all, that’s what God has done – He’s given us love whether or not we deserve it.

“John Lennon once famously said The Beatles were ‘bigger than Jesus’. Well – no disrespect, John, but we want to shout from every roof top that Jesus is bigger than us all. And that that’s a good thing because His great love rescues us and gives hope.”

Latest track from the Jesus Army: “He’s given us the spirit of the ruler”….

He’s given us the spirit of the ruler by Jesus Army

FIFTEEN per cent of UK babies are born into homes with no resident dad. Half of them have no registered father on their birth certificate.

Absent dads

Family breakdown affects many more children, spearheaded by rising numbers of unmarried parents. By a child’s fifth birthday, a shocking 43 per cent of cohabiting parents have separated. In the vast majority of split families, children stay with their mother.

The consequences of fatherlessness for children can be serious. According to statistics from UK think tank, The Centre for Social Justice, children who grow up without fathers are: 75 per cent more likely to fail at school; 70 per cent more likely to be drug addicts; 50 per cent more likely to develop an alcohol problem; 40 per cent more likely to have serious debt problems; and 35 per cent more likely to be unemployed.

So, not good.

Why is a father so important in a person’s development? Of course, mothers are vital. Usually mum is, to use the sociologists’ phrase, the “primary carer” in a child’s life. Is the importance of dad sometimes overlooked because he is the “secondary carer”?

“Secondary” doesn’t mean “unnecessary”.

Radio presenter, Jonathan Bellamy, commented recently: “The single most destructive effect on how many of our young people have been brought up is that they have been fatherless.

“The effect of fatherlessness is not just to be seen in violent behaviour, it is not just revealed in the absence of respect for the authority of our Police, it is not just expressed through mindless vandalism; the darkness also shouts loud in our teenage binge culture, addictions, abortions, STDs, eating disorders, self harm, knife crime, suicides.”

The Jesus Army, along with others, want to play their part in fathering a fatherless generation, and building a better, less broken, Britain.

Joy at healing tent

A TEAM from the Jesus Army in Northampton recently ran a “healing tent” during a Green Festival in a local park.

It was a great success. People who came to the tent reported healings including relief from shoulder problems and chronic stomach pain.

One woman who had been wheelchair-bound after a car accident took her first few steps since 2009.

As a result of the healing prayer, several people expressed interest in the Christian faith.

The team is seeking to keep in touch with as many of the people as they can.

A PHONE company got in trouble recently after featuring a cartoon image of Jesus Christ on an advert.

The advertising watchdog received 100 complaints that it “mocked and belittled” the Christian faith and banned the advert. The phone company said it had aimed to create a “light-hearted, positive and contemporary image of Christianity”.

Tis the season to be jolly!

Sadly, Jesus is often depicted as a ghostly figure, or as a kind of alien with light coming out of His head. Other images show Him dripping blood or looking stern and judgemental, or effeminate or just downright weird.

But people wanted to be with Jesus. He was kind, full of life, and one for a party. People liked to be with Him.

Do we find it difficult to think of Jesus being a cause of great happiness?

A writer told of an experience he had at Chicago airport. It was just before Christmas. The fights were delayed due to a bad storm. People were at the ticket counter demanding a projected departure time, children were crying, some people were sat vacant and staring.

Then he noticed a middle-aged black woman cradling a child in her arms and laughing. The writer asked her “Would you mind telling me why you’re so happy?”

“Sure,” she said. “Christmas is coming and that baby Jesus – He makes me laugh.”

In October, Jesus Army members travelled to Sheffield for a day of praise, celebration and friendship. Hugh Osgood, the President of Churches in Communities International, was the guest speaker for the day and describes his experience here.

On arriving at Ponds Forge in Sheffield, everyone who was willing had their photo taken by a team of photographers. During the event, these photos were put together and formed a picture of the face of Christ. It was a powerful demonstration of the Body of Christ. Take a look at this video below!

Latest track from the Jesus Army: I am convinced that neither death nor life can separate us from the love of Christ.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

I am convinced by Jesus Army

MULTIPLY DIRECTOR, Huw Lewis gives us a roundup of what’s happening in the Multiply International Christian Network.

There is movement in Multiply! We’ve seen a growing sense of ownership and partnership by the Multiply Apostolic men in various parts of the world over the past year.

The AMEN (Apostolic Men Empowering the Nations) Conference in June was a time of deeper bonding and growing vision. A Multiply Fund for greater support for our overseas partners has now been established and visits are planned for India and Nepal (November) and Switzerland (October).

Meanwhile, our Multiply UK Conference will be held for the first time at our London Jesus Centre in November.

Next year will see Conferences in East Africa in February (Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania) with a youth team supporting local projects Kenya. We are expecting a first Western European Conference in the summer, to be held in Switzerland and hosted by Multiply partner, Mark Fels.

We value and appreciate all your prayers and support!