Part of my training involves preparing and delivering sermons; to give you an idea of my 'preaching style' I thought I'd put one up here (comments always welcome):
Sermon-for the service on
the 3rd Sunday of Easter
(@Saint Michael-in-the-City, Liverpool, 21st
April 2013)
[Acts 9:36-43,
Jn. 10:22-30]
Grace
to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen (Rom. 1:7 et.al.)
So this is our scene:
Its winter in Jerusalem, and it can get cold there,
even snow a little in the hillside. Its the period of the Festival of
Dedication, or Festival of Lights (khanukah),
a Jewish celebration marking triumph over foreign invaders centuries earlier. Jesus is walking in the Portico of
Solomon, on the eastern side of the Temple He is walking in His Fathers house.
And something very peculiar Jesus seems to be on His own, there is no mention
of His disciples.
Then
the Jews corner Him and surround Him.
--We should be careful with this notion of the Jews
in St Johns Gospel which by no means reflects on the Jewish nation as a whole,
not then and not now!--
Imagine, though, youre walking home alone, one
winters evening, when suddenly youre being surrounded and questioned
relentlessly, perhaps even verbally abused. What do you do? Certainly no try
baffling them with subtle theology!
How long, Jesus assailants demand, will you keep
us in suspense?; literally the Greek reads hold our soul (tèn phychèn hèmon). Tell us the plain truth!. Jesus keeps His
composure and repeats what He has said before, that He is the Good Shepherd.
Now, we could go on for days
if not weeks about how interesting our Gospel passage is for theologians; about
the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, about Jesus as both God and man; about the
councils of the Early Church; about the implications this text has in our
relations with Judaism and Islam.
And of course our passage does reveal something for us
about the nature of the relationship between the Father and the Son in the
Godhead, but rather than emphasise the doctrinal or technical, we could explore
a bit more the inherent intimacy this text today seems to carry with it.
This very close relationship, this cooperation if you
will, between the Father and the Son is summarised when Jesus states very
plainly that He and the Father are one. I and the Father are one., He
concludes, or more literally in the Greek I and the Father, one we are. (ego kai ho patros en esmen)
Now this notion of such a proximity to the divine was
unheard off to Jewish religious sensitivities and understandings of God, and
had Jesus not escaped, they would have stoned Him to death. To Jews the
one-ness of God doesnt allow for a mere human to intrude on this.
To us as Christians however, this intense bond between
the Father and the Son goes deeper than doctrinal statements of faith; they are
a model for our own relations to God. Jesus literally says that He knows
us, just like He knows His Father! We are be no means strangers to God and
neither should He be a stranger to us! When we look at Jesus we see God the
Creator of all, and when Jesus is looking at us, the divine is looking back at
us.
The
result of this intimacy can only be an eternal life in the Resurrection!
Thats why the story of the Book of Acts today ties in so wonderfully, because
the story of Peter and Tabitha/Dorcas obviously mirrors the events of Jesus
Himself with Lazarus (incidentally in John 11, the passage following our
text today!), and that of Talitha Kumi(Mk. 5)... resurrection stories!
The promise of eternal life when we follow the Risen
Lord isnt one of arrogance or of self-righteousness, but one of the plain
truth that because the Father knows the Son intimately and closely- and the
Son knows us intimately and closely- we too may know the Father in the same
way.
Jesus takes this task, this responsibility greater
than all these entrusted to Him by the Father very seriously. Jesus knows that
the Father carries and testifies to this mission and to the works; His
opponents are just too stubborn to believe it.
How
do we then respond to this amazing promise? How do we reply to this wonderful
call to eternity, of an existence beyond time in the presence of the divine?
Often like bleating sheep truth be told! Treading
along with the other masses of sheep.
But what if we were to listen more carefully and
listen out for that one calm voice amidst a screaming nervous crowd? What if we
were to look out for that one man, seemingly surrounded, and yet perfectly in
control and powerful in His humble way? What would happen if we were to say
yes to Jesus call to all His sheep, His children, His followers, and enter
into that relationship offered to us, that same relationship the Father has
with His beloved Son?
What if as followers of the Shepherd we are also
called to witness to this intimacy, this closeness from and with God: in
prayer, in worship, in fellowship with others. If the Father testifies of the
Son, we ourselves are called to testify of the Son in return.
Jesus is calling us to be
His sheep; not that that means we should be a bunch of mindless, submissive
creatures, but that we should accept that as far as God is concerned we are all
equal and equally important, and He is our Good Shepherd, we dont
shepherd ourselves.
Jesus is calling out to us, not screaming or
commanding, but in an intimate, knowing, manner, calling out for us to
believe and follow Him, through a life close to Him and close to the Father,
close to others, all the way to an eternal life of Resurrection.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus. Amen (Phil. 4:7)
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen) Tags:sermon, St Michael in the City Liverpool, sheep, Father, Son, intimacy
28-05-2014
Why I love Ascension Day
I love Ascension
Day, I really do, always have and Im assuming always will.
Not just because
I grew up in a country where its a public holiday, so no school, and a long
weekend, though granted that is a major perk! Not just because when I was
living in London, Ascension Day evening meant live radio broadcastinf from the
service at St Martins in the Fields. Not just because its one of the Big Four
(Christmas, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost) and therefore simply part and parcel
of the Church year. Not just because after Easter we still get days off,
hurrah!!
Its because on
a Ascension Day it feels as if we get a day to organise, to step back and view
the events and take stock.
While at
Christmas Heaven came down to Earth, on Ascension Day Earth is lifted up to
Heaven; and when Jesus ascends (lifts off, takes off, flies home, whichever),
once again its God who is taking the initiative.
Jesus goes to
prepare many homes for many peoples, Ascension Day is a very inclusive feast in
a way that perhaps the Incarnation of Christmas and the Resurrection of Easter
theologically not always are.
Jesus is our
very own, very personal High Priest, this is our feast; Ascension Day is very
individual that way, while at the same time of course its for everyone.
In the movement
theres also a call and reminder for us, especially as Lutherans: keep moving,
keep celebrating, keep going, keep reforming (semper reformanda)... it doesnt stop, there is more out there and
not in a scary X-Files way.
With Jesus
returning to the Father, everything falls into place, everything is put right
and back in its place. Gods in His heaven alls well with the world (Robert
Browning). It feels as if order is restored, a bit like the order that overcame
the chaos at Creation; Ascension Day gives a place, puts in the right place, in
the right perspective the new creation of Easter. First we couldnt go there,
now we will!
And still...
even now... theres still more to come, God still has more in store...
Ever noticed how most
of the Church calendar exists out of waiting periods?
Some personal thoughts on Holy Week and Easter put in prayer (some of you might recognise these)
As we approach Your banquet, o Lord, we do not
claim to have come by ourselves, but solely by the invitation of Your life-giving
word. When Jesus spreads open His arms at the Father´s table, may we come to
realise the mystery of bread turned Body and wine become Blood. May the
elements of our Eucharist grow as a part of us and may they work in us to the
Spirit´s bountiful harvest. So that we -in truth and gratitude- may start to acknowledge
the Fount from which this sustaining strength flows forth.
Only at the ninth hour, o Lord, do we realise
that we too slept when prayer was needed, that we fled when courage was asked,
that we too denied when the truth was obvious. If only we could clutch the base
of Calvary cross, dig the splinters in our fingers or pull the thorns over our
head. Perhaps then we can learn regret and thanksgiving. Yet, unable to do this
by ourselves, Lord, we ask You to extend the unconditional love of there and
then to the here and now. On this day You do not withhold Your only Son as the
sacrificial Lamb for the world and its shortcomings. Teach us this compassion
and mercy, and help us to wait for the third day.
As the stone is rolled before the entrance, o
Lord, we remain behind grieving, despairing, in disbelief. As Jesus descends to
Hell to free the righteous, instil in us, Father, patience to accept the
silence and darkness of the tomb. Prepare us for the festival to come, give us
hope to look forward to the joyous revelation at hand. Grant us faith, to be
certain that this patience and hope, this vigil, will not be without reply.
Friend of the Last Supper, Victim of the
Crucifixion, Victor of the Tomb and Bringer of Freedom, we hail You. In Your
rising we find all our shortcomings atoned, we find our faith rekindled. In
Your resurrection we see clearly the way to come to the Father. The old has
gone, a new creation is revealed. As mourning is turned to happiness and night
flees a glorious dawn, we pray: rise in us that we may rise up to You, shine on
us that we may lighten the world with Your glory and majesty.
It's been a while since I last posted on here; I had plenty of ideas but somehow none of them seemed to come to fuition or seemed just right at the time (I'm keeping them on the back burner though for future possible posts).
So here's a little something:
As part of my training I spent over a week in the lovely South English town of Ringwood, not very big but certainly not very sleepy either. I was staying with a lovely couple of vicar and mrs vicar (the wife originally being a priest in the Church of Sweden, hence the Lutheran connection) and I am very grateful for the warm welcome and interesting time I had. Just like my time in Liverpool it made my training a very ecumenical, Porvoo Agreement, Anglican-Lutheran Society event.
Now Ringwood is a parish comprising three active Church of England congregations, which means a lot of running, driving and rushing around for the priests. It also means that they look after baptisms, weddings and funerals (to wet, marry and bury) of anyone who lives within parish borders, even if they never -and I do mean NEVER- set foot in a church. The whole thing seems a bit odd to us coming from the Napoleonic system but it's all part and parcel of being an Established Church. You can't refuse requests, and while it allows for great opportunities from a missionary point of view, add to that the trials and tribulations of the 'regular crowd' and you get some idea of the work load it all presents.
I attended all the Sunday services practically possible (7 in total), 3 Morning Prayers, a baptism celebration for 3 kids, 2 wedding rehersals and consequent matrimonies, 2 funerals, and funeral, wedding and baptism visits both at the vicarage and at people's home. Add to that a trip to Christchurch Priory, an ecumenical Christian Aid meeting and a Lent Group and you can understand that I enjoyed a pretty busy week (exhillirating and exhausting). If this is the 'avarage parish week', phew!?
During that week an article appeared on The Guardian's website about a vicar's wife (not ordained herself unlike my hostess) complaining about all the hours her husband, by all accounts a kind and spiritual man, put in for his congregation. The lady blistered at what she felt was the blatant disregard for all the time and effort her husband was putting into the parish without as much as a shred of thanks and appreciation. You could feel the life being sucked out of these people and it was really sad. Remeber all the effort and ceromony they put in by request from 'non-churchy occasional punters' mentioned above?
They don't tell you these things at Seminary/Theological Faculty!!
They don't tell you about the faulty electric wiring, the eratic sound system or the bursting plumbing; neither do they tell you about the energy, time and soul you are expected to put into this kind of vocation, this type of life, more often than not without any gratitude or recognition in return. Ministry can indeed become soul-sucking work! Perhaps they don't tell students and ordinands this for fear of them dropping out, perhaps it's because the people who teach have been away from parish ministry too long... who knows. Fact is, that this experience has NOT made me waver, but it does make you aware that this is not something to be taken on lightly (a bit like the marriage vows, come to think of it).
This is not a life to be taken for granted, just like any other job, any other vocation, is not to be taken for granted!
Perhaps we all need a little less "Vicar of Dibley" and little more "Rev.", which apparently is being used in some parts as examples for future pastors and priests.
Now there's a thought, perhaps one of the next posts should be about that fab series?
Recently an acquaintance of mine told me I was often very negative about
her religious affiliation on Facebook, and that my language was just as populist
and insulting as the ones I oppose. Now, I realise that in the instantaneousness
of social media my anger, frustration or zeal can get the better of me (that
why theres an Edit button) and some messages are on the forceful side, though
I reckon not with intentional insult. So
I apologise!
Although I still disagree with her about the arguments in the debate, it
did strike a chord with me and for that Im grateful to her (he admitted
grudgingly). So I thought I would share some thoughts with you on the language
of love.
The whole parlance in conversation and debate and the issue of what is courteous
go beyond the scope of FB and the like, it are matters that touch public
opinion but also academic research and even the democratic process.
Let me illustrate by referring to those (in)famous cartoons of Mohammad
in Danish and French newspapers that sparked a huge uproar in certain parts of
the world, led to demonstrations, destruction, diplomatic rows and even murder.
Ive seen those cartoons and either didnt get them or didnt think they were
funny (the Flemish and French apparently have very different senses of humour).
I reckon they were tacky, crude and un-contributing to the debate they
pretended to want to start off. BUT... there was of course an underlying issue:
freedom of speech.
There is no freedom without responsibility and without limitation (else
you infringe upon the freedom of the other) that much is evidently clear to any
logical rational thinking person. So, where does the limit lie then? Ah, and
there we have it: when does something become insulting or degrading, and when
is it a means to spark conversation or does it have something useful to
contribute in religion, science, wider society? Do I have the constitutional
right to be insulting, mocking or otherwise? Do I have the constitutional right to be a dick?
My point is this: while being respectful and using a language of love
how can we be in conversation openly, honestly and in all frankness... with no
limitations on subject matter! This is especially important for academic and
political engagements!
If so-called political correctness (in itself a useless term because
again who will decide what is correct?!) starts influencing the topics of
debate deemed correct and acceptable then thats not debate, thats deluding
ourselves. If from the very start of the conversation some topics are untouchable
and unmentionable, we might as well all go home! It also ends up becoming a
rehashing of things that weve all nicely and friendly already agreed on.
It all turns a language of love into bland platitudes, and lets face
it, we wouldnt speak out, not out of respect but out of self-censuring fear
and a false sense of propriety.
Another illustration. Father Guy Gilbert, a biker-priest who works with
delinquents, once said in an interview that he always engages the youngsters
into conversation with all the kindness he can muster. BUT... when stepping out
of line, he would definitely use a firm une droite évangélique an Evangelical
right hand hook- to get the conversation (and rehabilitation) back on line.
Here there are no limits on topic, neither on partners for debate.
In the Gospels Jesus called the religious leaders a brood of vipers
and compared them to dogs and swine (both unclean animals in Judaism). And
yet... He was constantly in conversation with them, asking questions, answering
questions... no topic barred AND no discussion partner barred (even the ladies)!
And of course, there was a purpose to all these discussions and fights and
bitching.
So, after all these ramblings, it seems to me that it very much depends
on a persons tolerance level in what they are willing to discuss...
mine is pretty high, also because Im naturally cynical and critical (as many
willing people will affirm). Must I therefore, in the name of love, keep my gob
shut? Never gonna happen, peeps! The language of love to me therefore is uninfringly free, frank, uninhibited and
useful.
And perhaps that last one, useful, might to me become more of a
guideline in the language I will be using hopefully from now on. After all, St
Paul added, everything is permitted but not everything is helpful (I Cor.
10:23, ISV).
So thank you again, my acquaintance, even though I still disagree with
you.
I've been back in Flanders' Fields now for just over a month and a half, and I've just finished writing the first draft of the first essay requested by the Vocations Committee. Another step taken.
I realise that I've missed doing this: research, reading, puzzling information together and pouring it into a neat essay-mould. But while it is a very rewarding feeling (I did this on my own!), it can also at times be a very lonely one (I did this all alone!).
They don't prepare you at Theological Faculty for the marathon race that vocation to ordination is, it is! No sprints, a marathon! No Jamaican firebolts, Ethiopean long-distance runners! That's a lot of steps. But when you get over the initial shock of how long the process might in fact take, there is another aspect of this process that is not often discussed, and it should be: it is a very lonely process. Let me clarify: it is a process of an individual vis-à-vis their Maker-Redeemer-Sustainer; it is a process of an indiviual vis-à-vis an institution; it is a process of an individual vis-à-vis themselves. You're on your own, and yet you're not. Loneliness, not only negative, because you learn so much about yourself during this time.
We live in a quiet suburban cul-de-sac and because I've returned home in order to prepare for the Church Exam and write, I'm pretty much on my own during weekdays between 9 and 5 (I've noticed I talk to the cat a lot, but that is fodder for another blog). After 4 months as Lay Minister intern at a busy parish, it came as bit of a shock to the system, when al of a sudden... nothing! From the pulpit back to the pews, litterally! Into isolation, to the study, to what I loved doing all through all those years at university... and yet, just that isolated academic tower is no longer enough for me! Luckily in a way, else I would be in serious trouble applying for parish ministry. And sometimes, just sometimes, that dark cloud of doubt and loneliness comes and hangs over you, ominously (still only temporarily though!) and you think: hmmmmm is it all worth it, shouldn't I help my partner bring home the bacon???!! And then this still small voice of calm, or at times a bash over the head, and of we go again, re-energised.
Someone recently asked me what vocation felt like. My reply: like a very nagging housewife, because the Holy Spirit is very patient, very persistent and very tenacious!! Anyone here seen The Big Bang tv-series? Know the character Sheldon (totally brilliant, yet socially inept)? Remember the way he knocks on people's doors? THAT to me is vocation (it took years to finally pluck up the courage and open that door)!
Coming Friday I'll be meeting the Vocations Committe in London (and will be shopping with my friend for the rest of the weekend, fyi!). My progress in this process will be on the agenda, and yet they will also go back to the beginning and ask: are you sure? Does that sound frustrating? It is! But you have to understand that not all steps back are really steps back, just another way of taking a step forward. Ordained ministry after all is a big step.
So onwards and upwards... next step, Friday, then the second essay, then the sermon, then the viva voce exam, then the advise and decision... on and on and on, one step at a time.
So my 'stint' at the Nordic Church in Liverpool has come to an end and I've returned to my native Flander's Fields. It has been a productive, affirming and confirming experience, something I had to do to be sure -as sure as we can ever humanly be- that my exploration of ordained parish ministry is indeed one I have to make. I've learned a lot about parish minstry, even though I wasn't exactly inundated with pastoral care (parisheners live to far off and to spread out for house visits unfortunately), and even though some volunteering originally planned fell through because the UK couldn't provide me with CRBs in time. But I met people and got to talk to them and that -I would say- was a very good start. It was fruitful, it was necessary and it was encouraging; every theology student should do a church placement, whether or not they're considering the ministry... it puts all the theory and theology of Seminary/University into a direct and recognisable context... it puts God back with God's people! So I've come home, and by some people's reactions (though very nice) you would think I had been away for years. And now I will spend the Summer writing papers for the Vocations Committee and preparing for the Church Exam in Autumn. I'm glad to be back! I'm sad I had to leave! I'm sure we've all felt like that at one point, that uneasy mixed feeling of going home and leaving another place, another home behind. Parting is such sweet sorrow; it's a mixed blessing of emotions, isn't it?! I don't want to dwell too much on this, because it is going to be a very interesting Summer, and by the grace of God, a successful one!
Just to finish, this was my last Andakt, the day before I left:
Often we hear it
said that life is in fact a pilgrimage towards eternity, towards God.
Now the
Reformers, werent very keen on pilgrimages. In fact when Luther visited Rome,
he was so disgusted that he decided pilgrimages were to be abolished
altogether! He had been shocked by the state of the so-called Holy City and its
locals (not to mention the special brothels just for clergy --please don't choke on your morning coffee or tea)! He also wrote that
it was wrong to think that pilgrimages would earn people extra credit to get
into heaven.
Over the years,
most Protestants have learned that a pilgrimage can be an honest and truthful spiritual
experience, even though we hold fast to the belief that you cant earn your way
into heaven. That is Gods gift alone!
Traditionally a
community would bless and pray over one of their own who was setting off on a
journey. Today however I would like to do the opposite and leave my best wishes
and prayers for you all.
The Lord be with you and also with you.
(light the candle)
Christ who is
the Light of the World, guide your thoughts and actions, and lighten you with
love and warmth, that you may be a community of peace and acceptance, of grace
and faith.
May you be as a
city on a hill, a light shining for those around you, for your neighbours, for
the foreigner and tourist in this city.
Remember to keep
the faith, to come together in worship and fellowship, and to send out your
prayers to all those whom you know and those you are yet to meet.//
Christ said: Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give you. (Jn. 14:27)
The
peace of the Lord be always with you and
also with you.
(sign of peace
to those next to you)
Christ who is
the Prince of Peace, fill you with concord and friendship, that you may be an
example, an alternative to a world riven with competition, aggression and
violence.
May you bring
harmony to those around you, may you be a haven of tranquillity and calm for
those haunted by life and anxious about their own purpose.
Remember our
Lords words: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of
God. (Mt. 5:9). This is a Christians solemn call and duty, to be an
instrument of Gods love and peace.//
(pour out water)
Through
baptism we are all part of the one Body of Christ; this means that even though
your family, friends or loved-ones may be travelling or living far off, you are
all still connected, because we are all part of the one family that is the
Church, we are never alone, never away.
May you stay
faithful in your community, your parish, may you keep it open and prepared for
all those who will come and stay here or those who will return one day.
Remember that as
Christians we are all intrinsically linked in Christ Jesus our Lord. Remember
that you are connected to millions around the globe; one Lord, one Baptism, one
hope, one Father of all.
Let us then pray
together the prayer of all Christians which Christ Himself taught us: Our Father //
And finally:
The Lord
bless you and keep you;
the Lord
make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord
turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Num. 6:24-26)
Remembering;
re-entering into the memory; remembrance
You could
perhaps say that its acknowledging the past, of reliving it, sometimes very
painfully:
A Battle of War;
A tragedy at Hillsborough;
A sporting event attacked;
A controversial politician
All cultures tell and retell stories
of former days, of peoples gone away.
Christians
remember that Christ will come again in Holy Communion. Jews relive the events
of their peoples history, even secular Jews who dont speak a word of Hebrew.
Muslims, Hindus, Atheists it seems to be an innate human feature to remember
the past and in some way or shape celebrate it.
It is also a very human thing to
just as quickly to forget (even if we dont forgive)! So then whats the use of
remembrance? What's the point?
Remembrance has a very peculiar way
of linking past and present; but only if we let it be a two-way street! Else
remembrance can become just another way of stirring up emotions very often of
resentment, of bitterness, of regret.
As I mentioned just now, for
Christians the ceremony and liturgy that is Holy Communion is a very tangible
way and example of linking past-present-future. So if we could remember, hold
remembrance in thàt sense, that active triple link, it becomes not a thing
only of historical dates, taptoos or pageants, but also of future
possibilities. That way remembering even of past conflicts can then start to
mean reconciliation, and remembrance is no longer just a thing from the past,
its an action in the present.
In that way,
perhaps, slowly, carefully, even grudginly wounds can start to heal, conflicts resolved:
The enemy of 70 years ago might no
longer be on the frontline;
The loss of so many lives in
unnameable and useless tragedy can start to heal;
The fear of terror might be replaced
by the comfort, joy and peace of life again;
And that controversial politician
might just be laid to rest
Ive
been up and down the land lately: showing my aunt around the Merseyside city;
entertaining a visiting clergyman/professor from Finland; visiting the Bishop whose
diocese comprises the entire of Britain!- in Leeds and Bradford; visiting the
university and congregation of Leicester and Nottingham, and being shown a very
beautiful piece of England by the lovely and energetic Lay Minister; saw a new
Bishop of Rome and a new Archbishop of Canterbury take up office; and the usual
but fun- routine of B&B guests, Andakts
and sermons.
I must say that
the north of England has struck a cord with me It has a completely different
atmosphere than London, one that personally seems to suit me more.
And
I can proudly announce that the Vocations Committee has invited me to prepare
for the Churchs Examination this Autumn (I feel like a student again!). It is
just a step, but an important step and I do work better with a deadline.
So thats that
for now; below an Andakt about a
topic that was also raised by the newly installed ABofC (but I did mine the day
before!):
The
old saying goes: The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.
I dont know
about you, but when I see and hear Christians in the West beating their chests
pretending to be martyrs, and claiming that theyre being persecuted, quite
frankly it makes me upset and angry, quite frankly it makes my blood boil! Just
because a court of law prevents you from forcing your religious beliefs onto
others, or because churches are stopped from directly interfering with the
democratic political process through threats of excommunication, blackmail or
bribes, does NOT mean that youre being persecuted! Real persecution means
grabbing whatever you can and flee in the middle of the night because a mob
with torches and other weapons are heading your way, or being passed over for a
promotion again because the law doesnt allow for Christians to hold a
particular office even though youre far more qualified. It means getting a
beating from your old man for going inside a church to attend a friends
wedding or funeral. It evens means getting car-bombed for standing up for
minority rights, even if youre not a member of that minority yourself.
There are
countries were REAL persecution is taken place. For 2013, Open Doors a
non-profit organisation- published the Top 50 of offenders. No Western country has made
the list!! Makes one think, doesnt it?!
In some
places being or becoming a Christian cuts you off from your family, your job,
education and health services, and in a lot of instances will cost you your
life! And then we would complain when we dont get a tax cut and shout fire and
brimstone!?
Barnabas, Open Doors International,
International Christian Concern, etc are all organisations that try to create
interest and provide information about our fellow brothers and sisters really
suffering for the Faith, in body and limb, financially, socio-economically, and
so on And if you arent sure, check out several of them to get as objective an
info as possible.
Now dont get me wrong; Im
absolutely not advocating that Christianity and religion in general should
vanish from the public arena. I truly believe that we as Christians have a
valuable input to add to the societies we live in. Secularism should not equal
atheism; instead the neutral plane secularism can offer should be a platform
for all, Christians, non-Christians, non-believers and anything in
between. But we should be careful when we take our liberties for granted and
demand even more, thats not democracy, its theocracy. Christianity is not a
political party! The danger then is that we ourselves become the persecutors!
So what can we Christians, who have it so well and easy, do? We
can financially support organisations that help fellow Christians. We can
contact our elected representatives to forget about the oil or gas for a moment
and raise the issue with their counterparts in those countries where
persecution exists, or at least allow for persecuted Christians to resettle in
the West. We can acknowledge the existence of Christians outside our own little
world and carry them in our prayers Ive said this before, but prayer is a
great gift to give and a powerful tool to use- and some of the organisations publish
prayer calendars or prayer alerts, or else just open an atlas or watch the
news! And we can most certainly stop complaining and stop pretending that the
entire evil secular world is out to get us, and that our rights are being
infringed and that were entitled to religious freedom, and be less selfish
and reflect on what persecution really means!
I was born and raised in Flanders (northern Belgium) and became actively interested in religion at the age of 15. I was baptised Reformed, confirmed Lutheran while studying in London, and worshipped with an Anglican congregation in my beloved city of Ghent. These are my thoughts and experiences connected to life and religion, theology and parish life, and ordained ministry.
