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A student survey conducted at one of our local schools determined that young people see the church as being full of old people and pews. And they think that the pews have to go. There’s some good news in that survey, they didn’t say the old people should go, only the pews.
Think for a moment: How does their perception match reality?
We might immediately begin to defend the pews. They've been good enough for generations. They keep us awake. They haven’t killed anyone.
Or we might be offended that they’ve labelled us as old. We might argue that we’re not nearly as old as our grandparents were at the same age.
We might want to join James and John to ask Jesus whether we should call down fire from heaven and destroy them.
But before we get too defensive, these young people are crying out for the church to recognise and value them. They don’t think the church cares about them, they don’t think we care. They think the church is only interested in the people who’re already involved, which to them means old people.
I wonder whether they’re any different to those of any age who aren’t connected to our churches. Would the whole ‘unchurched’ and 'previously-churched’ community agree that we don’t care. Would they contend that we’re only interested in ourselves.
If we’re so busy polishing and defending our pews then they have to go. If there’s anything in our church that uses up our time at the expense of living our lives for Jesus then it has to go.
Even more urgently we have to go. Not leave the church, the community of God’s people, but go with the good news that because God loves and cares for every single person in this world so do we.
“As you go”, Jesus says, “make disciples of all nations.” Jesus cares about this because he has ‘skin-in-the-game’. He died for each and every one we encounter as we go about our lives.
How do we, as individuals and a church, need to change so that no one in our community will feel that we don’t care about them?
A Light for Our Path 2nd Monday in Advent Read: Psalm 119:105-112 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
I think one of the first songs I heard from Amy Grant was ‘Thy Word’ which is based on this Bible verse: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path When I feel afraid Think I’ve lost my way Still you’re there right beside me And nothing will I fear As long as you are near Please be near me to the end” This song made a huge impact on me as it was one of the first Christian songs I had heard on the radio – not a hymn! It was written in 1984, forty years ago when Christian music consisted primarily of hymns. Amy Grant was one of the first Christian artists who gained fame and produced albums that crossed over from Christian music into mainstream pop.
God’s Word touched Amy’s heart and she released this song on her sixth album when she was 23 years old. God’s Word provides guidance and direction in life, helping us understand and navigate our journey through our lives. It provides a way so that we don’t have to stumble and not know what God’s wants from us. The Bible provides us with both law and gospel. The law shows us where we are doing wrong and going the wrong way; and the gospel directs us lovingly through God’s grace. We need both law and gospel to understand and navigate our lives.
God knew that… giving us this verse in the Bible telling us that the Bible is our guide. Being a Christian is to believe in Jesus Christ and His teaching and ministry. God has given us the New Testament which tells us of Jesus and the incredible love of a Creator God who gave His Son’s life for all of humankind. The whole of the Bible is God’s story telling of a sinful world, that has been forgiven and loved, nonetheless.
God has provided a clear path of understanding to what God wants for us in His Word, the Bible. It is a light to guide and live by. To live like a Christian is to live like Christ, who followed God’s teachings perfectly. Prayer: Guide me Lord with your Word. Show me your path so that I can follow it. Thank you for forgiving me all the wrong ways when I turn away from you and light the path for me to follow. Amen
Shining Brightly 2nd Sunday in Advent Read: Psalm 89:5-18 “Blessed are those who have learned to shout praise to you. Lord, they live in the light of your kindness.” Psalm 89:15 (NIRV)
When living in Adelaide, I first got the chance of looking through a telescope that my brother Peter had brought home from the university where he was studying cosmic ray physics. One night he pointed it to the heavens, showing the moon, planets and stars shining so brightly. Since then, I have had many other opportunities to look through telescopes from Mt Stromlo Observatory in Canberra to the Reimann’s observatory in Loxton. It amazes me how these heavenly lights shine so brightly from so far away. I was looking up the Bible verse above and found the version written from ‘The Message’ Bible… read it and be amazed at our incredible, enormous, but personal God, who loves us so we can live in His shining light.
“God! Let the cosmos praise your wonderful ways, the choir of holy angels sing anthems to your faithful ways! Search high and low, scan skies and land, you’ll find nothing and no one quite like God. The holy angels are in awe before him; he looms immense and august over everyone around him. God-of-the-Angel-Armies, who is like you, powerful and faithful from every angle? You put the arrogant ocean in its place and calm its waves when they turn unruly. You gave that old hag Egypt the back of your hand, you brushed off your enemies with a flick of your wrist. You own the cosmos—you made everything in it, everything from atom to archangel. You positioned the North and South Poles; the mountains Tabor and Hermon sing duets to you.
With your well-muscled arm and your grip of steel— nobody messes with you! The Right and Justice are the roots of your rule; Love and Truth are its fruits. Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of God. Delighted, they dance all day long; they know who you are, what you do—they can’t keep it quiet! Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us— you’ve been so good to us! We’re walking on air! All we are and have we owe to God, Holy God of Israel, our King!” ~The Message [Psalm 89:5-18] God, you are awesome in brightness! Prayer: I am in awe of you my amazing God! Only you have the power to create all things and through you it all shines with your love. Give me understanding to comprehend this love and share it. Amen.
God’s Nourishment 1st Saturday in Advent Read: Psalm 36:5-9
“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” Psalm 36:9 (NIV) Last year when my husband and I were travelling through Salzburg, we visited an unusual summer castle. Schloß Helbrunn was built (1612-1619) by archbishop Markus Sittikus. Underground springs flowed under the castle and gardens so the archbishop, with his sense of humour, had trick water fountains installed throughout the gardens. There were fountains and spigots coming out everywhere and you would get sprayed at any time from the most unsuspecting statue.
There was also a huge, automated music display of the city of Vienna (at the time) and was all run by water – even at the end when you were entranced with the movements, water came spurting out into the audience. My favourite was the outdoor dining setting where the archbishop invited all his friends to dinner, only to have water come through the seats and all around the table.
The archbishop of course, stayed dry. Not only was there the water and the fountains, but it was lit by colour and lights. I love seeing fountains and saw many throughout Europe, but so many of these were created with recirculating the water through. At Schloß Hellbrunn, the water was fed by fresh underground springs which never seemed to run out. King David described God as a fountain, not something that just recirculates but rather a fountain of never-ending new life that gives life and rejuvenation to all around. He is the source of all life and from Him life flows like a fountain nourishing all around Him.
David also tells us that being in the light of God we see only light. Light always outshines the night. When we think of God as the light – everything we see and do is illuminated by him. In God there is no darkness, and we seek this light moving forward in faith. The Advent season is a time spoken of in terms of light and dark. Jesus was the light sent by God into a dark world to bring everlasting light. Live in the light this Advent season and drink from the abundant fountain of life. Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are my fountain of life and light. Guide and bless me in all the things I do to share your love with others as you continually bless me. Amen