Glory to you O Lord, glory to you.
Today has been an interesting day and a somewhat long one at that.
Knowing that I had signed up to attend a lecture hosted by the
Inclusive Church organisation, I headed into London in the early afternoon.
A much too humid day, but enjoyable never-the-less for a stroll round the great capital.
After satisfying my cultural appetite at the National Gallery and the British Museum, I headed to Southwark, for the cathedral which appears even less in stature after the completion of 'the Shard'.
The subject of the talk was: 'On Being Together: The Possibility of Church', and it was delivered expertly by Martyn Percy, Principal of Ripon College, Cuddesdon.
It became apparent through the lecture that Christianity is the continuing result of conflict and difficult meetings (synods/councils). Indeed, as early on as in Acts, we learn of the differing opinions of the apostles concerning the practice of circumcision (Council of Jerusalem, Acts 15).
It is clear that unity of faith is not the same as uniformity of practice. Which is not to give ammunition to those decrying liberalism, but is rather an earnest plea to recognise the natural diversity of human life. The natural desires of those who live in this society call people to fulfill essential roles, butcher, baker,
candlestick maker energy company representative etc.
Furthermore, along with the natural desires for fulfilling these roles, people enjoy the great variety of life which forms them as individual. The church, if it is to connect with the English of today and not just with those who already have a taste for the Church of England as it is, must be welcoming of all persons, and that includes personalities, prejudices, passions, and pleasures. The body of Christ is a living body, not to be analysed by rule or stick, but to be nourished with ever increasing awareness of goodness and acceptance.
It is a tragedy when a person believes that they must convert to be part of a church. True, it is good to convert from sins, but to become a different person in order to see God, that is unjust, and is likely to result in hypocrisy. To change personality to appease partisan mentality is, in effect, to join a cult. The church is not a cult, but a living expression of the goodness which God has for his creation.
Let the church be for us the means by which we grow in acceptance of others, and a way of attuning ourselves to listening carefully and without judgement, as if the person we converse with is our own dear soul in need.
Affirmation is a great sign of life, an outpouring of goodness, and the plenteousness of fuel. As the leaf unfurls from the vine. We should be the first to love, to embrace, to care. To never see people as labels or persons within categories, 'gay', 'pagan', 'heretical'. Rather, consider their life, consider their coping, and be with them as you may wish someone were with you as things looked bleak and society made a step back.
Alienation is not within the nature of Christ, it must not be found in the church.
As the church, courage needs to be found to make ourselves more visible in places where Christ is considered not to be found. Bring the light into the darkness, though the darkness may not be dispelled entirely, it has no power over shrouding he light.
Make Christ real. Welcome all.
C. S. Matthew, MMXIII
.JPG)
