A word of wisdom that has stuck with me for years is that church leaders often want to make themselves into a ‘name’ when what they should be pursuing is becoming a ‘voice’. The most obvious biblical comparison is John the Baptist who is said to fulfil the prophetic words of Isaiah;
“A voice calling in the wilderness ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for him’”( Matthew 3.3)
and who compares himself to Jesus with this statement;
“He must become greater and I must become less important.” (John 3.30)
John the Baptist is a good model for ministry in the present time- we still have the same responsibly to prepare the way for Jesus, this time to come again, and have to exercise the prophetic voice for which John was known. I believe that in our current climate, there are three key conversations that are currently ongoing and which the church must earn the right to speak into. They are conversations that the church throughout history has always had something vitally important to say, yet we are in danger of being marginalised, of having our voice drowned out, ignored, or worst of all not speaking up at all.
It seems to me that the Lord has initiated these three conversations worldwide, and is expecting, even relying, on us to be His prophetic voice. These conversations are happening in governments and authorities, in communities, amongst friends and families, and throughout the media. I’m defining these conversations as follows:
1. Life/Death, Fear/Hope.
Covid 19 has forced many people to face the prospect of their own mortality, or the mortality of a loved one, in a way in which society as a whole probably hasn’t had to do since World War 2.
Add into that the trauma of not being able to visit dying relatives in hospital, not being able to say a proper goodbye, and having very limited numbers at funerals, have left thousands of folk in the UK alone in a sense of grief, shock and despair that they don’t know how to deal with.
One of the biggest challenges facing us is that the church needs to reclaim its voice as the body that offers people hope when they face despair, that offers comfort when they are broken, and invites them into eternal life when they face death. Matters of life and death, and more importantly eternal life, are back on the agenda- for how long no-one really knows! Church leaders in New York said that after 9-11 they had a limited window of opportunity to pastor and support people, and speak into their grief and pain, before the busyness of going back to life as normal took over.
Let me remind you of a conversation between Jesus and his disciples:
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life……Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6.63 and 68)
If Jesus lives in you and me by His Holy Spirit, then we too have the words of eternal life!
It seems that prayer is on the rise, and that many churches have seen visitors aplenty to their online services- some people at least are searching for answers to life’s big questions- and online Alpha has exploded onto the scene.
Our communities will need valid ways of giving thanks for loved ones who have died and for which families weren’t able to pay their respects. Our communities may well need a way to join together for a moment of remembrance and reflection once we are through the pandemic. These could be great opportunities for us to speak life and hope in the name of Jesus.
2. Caring/Serving/Compassion.
Who could have imagined 4 months ago that for 10 or more weeks, at 8pm on a Thursday evening the vast majority of the population would gather on their doorsteps and clap for carers?
Who would have imagined that frontline healthcare professionals would have become today’s heroes? Who could have imagined Capt. Tom Moore would have energised the nation into raising over £33M for the NHS? It’s taken a worldwide pandemic, but for the moment at least we have put a high premium on those who selflessly serve and care for those in greatest need. Through foodbanks, helplines, and other creative ways of serving their communities, some churches may have been shut for worship, but have remained active in caring and serving throughout the lockdown period; yet many churches have slipped into online anonymity and have been out-served by other groups and organisations in their communities. Rather than be idle on furlough, many people have volunteered in whatever why they could in order to help others and to make a difference.
Jesus describes the scene when he comes in glory, the nations gather before him, and he separates the sheep from the goats:
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25.35-36)
Christians who have been demonstrating the love and compassion of Jesus, who faithfully serve in the caring professions, or who have volunteered for this particular season, have earned the right to be that voice which speaks eternal life.
3. Black Lives Matter, Justice/Righteousness
Although not directly Covid 19 related, this is a massively important conversation that is demanding response and action. To the extent that some specific ethnic groups in the UK are suffering proportionally higher than others from Covid 19 this conversation is doubly important.
I’m thankful that I served on the leadership of City Church (formerly City Temple) in Cardiff for 15 years or so, and that for most of that time there were regularly over 50 nationalities represented on a Sunday, with significant numbers from Asia and Africa. Whenever I hosted American friends and they came to church, they felt they’d had a glimpse of heaven- often churches in the USA didn’t see anywhere near as much ethnic diversity. Many other city centre churches around the UK could tell the same story, but there is still much to be done to eradicate racism, to contend for justice and to stand up for righteousness.
As professional sports teams return to the field, many are wearing Black Live Matter logos on their playing attire, demonstrations have taken place the length and breadth of the UK, most have been peaceful, some have erupted into violence. Many churches have spent time in their online services, or convened special forums to discuss this issue, but we must aim to be a voice that speaks of God’s justice, God’s love, and to raise up the marginalised and the oppressed, to readjust centuries of bias and inequality not just for this season but until Christ comes again!
Lest we be too self-righteous let us remember that although the church historically played a significant role in ending slavery for example, it has often been the perpetrator and instigator of inequality and oppression. In the early chapters of Acts, the concept that God could love Gentiles as well as Jews was a radical one. Paul had to reconcile a split in the Roman church:
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, (Romans 10.12)
And remember the words from Isaiah with which Jesus announces himself in the Nazareth synagogue. What would it look like for the Spirit of the Lord to release us into a new season of ministry as described here by Jesus:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4.18-19)
We must begin to have these conversations inside our church family- partly to demonstrate how important they are, partly to make sure our own thinking and practice in these areas is honouring to God, and partly to equip our people to engage in these conversations OUTSIDE the church sooner rather than later. These conversations can and should happen at every level of life and society. Some Christians will be influential in national dialogue or with local councils and authorities, for others it will be an ‘at the school gate’ or ‘over the fence’ conversation. Right now we need to be asking the Holy Spirit to lead us to whichever of these conversations most needs our contribution in our own situation, and pray that we will use our words and our actions to demonstrate the faith, hope and love that only Jesus can give.
As a friend of mine said, after reading an early draft of this post: ‘Hope, Compassion, Justice. Praying today I lend my voice to nothing less.’
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