Pope Benedict and all that

So this morning history was made with the Pope giving the "Thought for the Day" on Radio 4 after which John Humphries quizzed a leading English Catholic, Archbishop Bernard Longley,  with an emphasis on the issue of "change".  It was, of course, inevitable that if a Christian speaks out then there is likely to be some criticism following.  But i think it is worth reflecting a little on what was said, and I do this from my own theological understanding.

A few months ago the Pope visited the UK.  While I respect the view of the Roman Catholic Church regarding priestly ministry and the authority of the Pope it is not an opinion that I hold.  Indeed I hold one that is strongly opposed to both concepts, but one aspect of my ministry is to engage in dialogue with the RC church (and other traditions) and I do so expecting that dialogue to lead to change where change is needed (in me and my tradition as well as theirs).

One aspect that most - possibly all - reading this blog will not know is that ahead of the Pope's visit we received an exhortation from his office stating that when he came to the UK he hoped to share something of the message of the gospel and hoped that other Churches would be ready to exploit any interest that might be stirred through his visit.  This message was conveyed to me personally at an ecumenical meeting concerned for the evangelization of the people of the UK.

For me the outstanding feature of the Pope's visit was the biblical content of his talks and his encouragement that all people should seek a relationship with God in Christ.  Social and political issues he touched on were never divorced from that central message.  By contrast an other Christian leader made hardly any reference to scripture or the gospel beyond his comments on social issues in which there was no overt connection with the gospel.

This seamed to me to set out the Pope's position as one who clearly placed biblical authority above his own.  Again, for me, this was an interesting and encouraging revelation.

In today's "Thought for the Day" the Pope again asserted the biblical record of what Christmas is about and why Christ came into this world - it was for us and our salvation.  Since he had proclaimed the old traditional message of Christianity it was not surprising that in the interview that followed John Humphries brought up the opinion that the Catholic Church needed to change with regard to such matters as homosexuality, contraception and women in the priesthood.

In response Bernard Longley asserted that the Catholic Church had changed and was changing, citing two examples.  He firstly spoke of the Catholic Church's ecumenical dialogue and attitude to other traditions.  As one who has had a small part to play in that I can confirm that this has been interesting.  For example when at a meeting of Churches together in Britain and Ireland I was called on to present the case for "Lay Presidency at the Eucharist" at ecumenical gatherings (the Congregational view that anyone authorised by the local church can preside at a Communion Service) a Roman Catholic Archbishop was first to his feet supporting what I had said.  The second to his feet in support was a senior Orthodox cleric.   Ecumenical dialogue does produce change - or at least moderates attitudes.

The second defence that Bernard Longley drew upon was the Beatification of John Henry Newman.  He pointed out that (a) Newman sought to develop theology within the social context of his day, and (b) that Newman believed in hearing the voice of the laity. Here there are two interesting parallel's with my own tradition as a Congregationalist.

The first of these relates to a developing theology rather than one that is set in stone.  On the departure of the Pilgrim Fathers, Pastor John Robinson commented that "God has yet more light and truth to break forth from his holy word".  Some significant early influences in my Christian life held a more fundamentalist and fixed view but I am grateful that my own journey has brought me to an experience of developing theology.  The journey has been exciting and has made me more passionate about scripture, and delighted by those moments of the breaking of light and truth previously unrealised by me.  It has also made me unhappy to be identified by any label other than Christian (i.e. I do not want to be labelled as "conservative", or "liberal", or "charismatic" etc).

As to the second point relating to John Henry Newman since I do not recognise priesthood other than that of all believers and especially that of Jesus Christ in heaven, I believe strongly that all Christians are part of the laos (the Greek word meaning people) and play a part in the mediation of the understanding of truth.  But this is not the same thing as political democracy nor is it saying that what the Church should believe and stand for should be determined by the whims of secular society.  The abandonment of an understanding of the importance of scripture is a recipe for anarchy.

As Christians we have a duty to be careful about declaring what we hold to be true.  For me the scripture (OT and NT) has the important place but truth has to be exgeted (drawn out) from it.  Inevitably, we will do this from our various cultural and historical contexts and this will result in different opinions and understandings, each of which should always be considered alongside our own.  After all truth is something far greater than my mind can completely comprehend right now.

While there are some aspects of Roman Catholic teaching with which I wholly dissociate myself, I find myself not uncomfortable with people who wish to assert the central message of the gospel, that Christ came to save us and reconcile us to God, and who do not believe we should be blown about by every wind of opinion of unregenerate minds.

I welcome your comments.

The Weekly News

For a quiet week it has been very interesting.


Last weekend focused on events to support the work in Malawi of Torch Trust for the Blind, for which Doreen works as a volunteer two mornings a week.  The YP fund raising event on Saturday was amazing and we had a fairly full chapel on the Sunday afternoon and a very happy time of fellowship.


On Tuesday I was single handed at the prison for our final choir practice.  It went well.  On Wednesday the prison faith Centre was full with visitors and inmates plus governor and staff.  This was the annual Christmas Concert with Kettering Salvation Army Band and Songsters, traditional readings, carols etc.  My group of prisoners put on a playlet and a carol (sung to an old Roger Whittiker tune).  The lads were superb and afterwards I was inundated by people singing the praises of our choir.  I kept referring them on to the lads - many of who were glowing!


On Friday we managed to do carol singing around Theddingworth - well it's a small village.


To finish off the week I have been sending out my Christmas cards (not quite at the deadline) and running off copies of the new CD of "Treasured Gospel Songs".  These are mainly golden oldies.  If you don't get one in the post and would like one please let me know.  I will add a few more of these to the website at http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=1126380 as this will give you some idea of what is on the CD.


A friend tweeted me this week.  No one ever did that before!  Later the same friend sent a tweet with a link to a marvelous video on Youtube.  It really is great and I commend it to you shamelessly! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgtnNc1Zplc


This Sunday I am at Yelvertoft in the morning and singing at Theddingworth in the evening.  On Monday I will be a well known fictional character giving out presents at a local school.  I hope the beard doesn't scratch as much this year.  The burning question is, "Will any of the children know it is me?"


Then final preparation for the weekend and a few days of rest.


Happy Christmas!


Barry

Sign or Story?

As someone who has been active in rural ministry and mission all my life I am well aware that many rural Christians – including clergy – find engaging in evangelism within their village challenging.  Time and again I hear people saying things like, “Our lives are a witness” or “People know what we stand for”.  I have even heard a conference speaker state that the silent witness of church buildings is sufficient evangelism.  While our lives and possibly the buildings where we meet might well be an important sign of our faith, sign without story is never enough.

In Luke 2: 8-20 we read the story of the shepherds hearing about the birth of Jesus.  It begins with the shepherds getting on with what shepherds do at night in the fields.  They then see the angel of the Lord who tells them a story about a saviour and gives them information about a sign that will support the story he has told them.  Then comes the choir of angels with words about blessing that comes through God showing grace or favour.

They immediately determine to check it out for themselves, and find it exactly as they had been told. (You can forget about them taking sheep with them or offering lambs; sheep would have slowed them down and they were in a hurry.)

Three things then follow:

Firstly, they went and told others the story as they had been told it, causing many people to be amazed.

Secondly, what they told Mary got her thinking too.  I guess it confirmed all she had been told previously.

Thirdly, they went on their way (apparently back to the sheep) thrilled and praising God for what “they had been told”.

When Francis of Assisi said "preach the gospel always, use words if necessary" it was an exhortation to ensure that our lives provide adequate proof of the good news about Jesus.  But there are many people of faith – or even of no faith – whose lives are every bit as good as any Christian.  So sign will never be enough unless people also hear the story from our lips.

Please ponder the story of the Shepherds this Christmas and see how it relates to our lives today.  They heard a story and believed – saw the sign – and passed on the story with such enthusiasm that they too became a sign.  We have good news to share – God’s story that he wants your friends and family to hear.  Please share the story; live the sign.