22 November 2016 | St Albans [David Neal, Stewardship director] Impossible – because it’s not my church, It’s His church!
I’m watching the first episode of the ‘Tell the World’ film with my family. As my adult children ask questions about the background of Himes, Edson & Bates, I find myself moved by the story and wonder why? Is about being my heritage and even identity? I remember as a child my grandfather opening his bible and telling the Daniel story, over and over again – that to be a follower of Christ means taking a stand for what is true, and that Jesus is coming very soon.
It’s almost 500 years since Martin Luther took a stand towards restoring the truth of the Gospel by publishing his ’95 Theses’. That will be a big focus for 2017! As we think about our story and identity, it’s a timely reminder that our Christian heritage began well before the early 1800’s. Not least, in that we like to claim to be ‘heirs of the reformation’ indeed, a sacred responsibility.
But what is this responsibility? What are we here for? John Stott in a 1974 sermon helps find the answer. He dreams of how the Christian church should be, and sees five essential characteristics; biblical, worshipping, caring, serving and expectant. Watching ‘Tell the World’, I couldn’t help but connect with his dream for the ‘expectant’ church.
“I have a dream of a church which is an expectant church— whose members can never settle down in material affluence or comfort, because they remember that they are strangers and pilgrims on earth, which is all the more faithful and active because it is waiting and looking for its Lord to return, which keeps the flame of the Christian hope burning brightly in a dark, despairing world, which on the day of Christ will not shrink from him in shame, but rise up joyfully to greet him. I have a dream of an expectant church.” (Excerpted from The Living Church by John Stott)
If Adventism ever loses it’s ‘expectancy’, I would graciously suggest it has nothing to ‘Tell the World’, and the time has come to close down the operation. But isn’t that the spiritual challenge we face, with the ‘expectant’ people all too settled? It seems at times as if we want a church to meet our needs, more than a movement to serve His? Even – even when the world in some places, seems more dark and despairing by the day.
All this reminds me my regular flight from Belfast to London Heathrow. The plane takes off with great force, speed and power to a height of 36,000 feet. Within 50 minutes we’re above London – but we’re not landed. Instead, we’re in a holding position, sometimes for up to 20 minutes. After about 15 minutes of going around in circles my irritability turns to light-headedness. Just when I think this is never going to end, the pilot gives a beautiful message of hope, “Cabin crew – prepare for landing”.
Is it not time for His ‘expectant’ church to, “prepare for landing”?
Maranatha!
Take My Life and Let it be
Francis Ridley Havergal (1836-1897)
Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal No. 330