The purpose of this holiday Friday talk is to encourage you to come to the congregational dinner on October 12th, but by way of introduction let me read Peter Jensen writing in his excellent book “The Life of Faith” about the impact of the gospel.
“The evangelist is the spear-head of social reform, as those who obey and submit to Christ’s lordship cannot be content to see the suffering of people through injustice, cruelty and indifference. It is not an accident that Christians have been at the forefront of reforms to prison conditions, slavery, child labour, education, and the treatment of animals, to name just a few improvements in society. …… The gospel creates groups of citizens whose higher allegiance is to God rather than kings and dictators, citizens who will do good despite tyranny. It creates literacy and education, bringing power to the powerless. It has been at the forefront of providing medical help worldwide. It promotes honesty in business. It saves people from dependence on drugs such as alcohol. It challenges greed and confronts the societal damage caused by gambling. It speaks the truth about the horror of abortion on demand. It releases people from bondage to evil spirits and transforms their view of the world. It creates groups of caring persons apart from the government, the public service or the family, who seek to support the weak and depressed in society. It reconciles antagonists and encourages sexual fidelity and family life, thus promoting the emotional and physical health of citizens.” [P. 297 The Life of Faith. An introduction to Christian doctrine. Matthias Media 2022]
The gospel does good.
Our Society needs the gospel
Our society needs the gospel. We see people enslaved to gambling, porn, alcohol, drugs, and the cost of that on those who love them. We see a society increasingly divided and an increasing expression of hatred and anger towards others. The idols of greed, pleasure and power are openly worshipped, again with a growing cost as God gives us up to our folly.
Our neighbours need the gospel, and that means we need in our suburbs churches that are committed to the gospel – not just to its truth, although faithfulness in maintaining the gospel as it has been taught by the apostles is fundamental, but committed also to sharing it with others. A community of believers who believe the gospel, do all that our Lord teaches His disciples, and are known as His followers by the love they show to each other. A gathering of disciples who are committed to making disciples in our families and in our community.
We want to be a church committed to the gospel
We want to be and keep on being that church, but that depends not just on the leadership but on us all. And that is why I encourage you to come to the dinner on Saturday October 12th, starting at 5:00 pm. Church is what we are together as we gather around God’s Word, and so it is good if we all engage with what is going on and are informed in our prayers for each other and the church as a whole. The material covered on Saturday night – an update from Helen on her work, an update from the selection committee on their progress, a report from the BOM (Board of Management) on our financial position and our readiness to approve terms of call, and thinking about our current plans for next year in light of my retirement – concern matters that directly impact our common life. It will be helpful and I think encouraging to hear these reports, and important that you have opportunity to ask questions about them. It will also inform your continuing conversations together about the changes being contemplated next year, and your prayers.
It is a wonderful gift of God to us to be able to meet week by week in peace and freedom to hear God’s word taught faithfully and to encourage each other to persevere in love and doing good as we await our Lord’s return. It is a gift God gives us through each other, as ‘each part does its work’. We should not take our life together for granted. We should instead be determined to show our love for our Lord and His people by meeting, serving, and yes, engaging with its direction and work. Coming on Saturday night, or tuning in on the livestream, is an expression of that commitment. It will stimulate diligent prayer for our common life and be an encouragement to those – like the selection committee, Board, and Session – to whom you have entrusted responsibility for maintaining the direction and faithfulness of the congregation.
So I do hope to see many of you on the 12th.
The Details of Saturday 12th October
Details: Saturday, October 12th, 5:00 pm. A BYO dinner.
There will be a children’s program, and the speaking will commence around 5:30pm.
A livestream will be available (within the Friday News), but to ask questions you will need to be in the room.
