The Vicar Writes

DON’T STICK WITH CAESAR                                                                                                     

The Archbishop of Canterbury recently urged politicians to go beyond the demands of Caesar for a sustainable and trustful society. He said, “For a social model more clearly focussed on the flourishing of creative and committed citizens, we need a strong ground for the affirmation of fixed and non-negotiable dignity in all human beings”. Jesus said don’t be content with giving to Caesar – give God what God asks too. There’s evidence around that in our society there are many looking again at spiritual values as a way of building capacity for cooperation in a society where human dignity for all is key.

DISAPPOINTMENT

But of course many see Christianity as a spent force, looking instead towards Islam or other religions. But disappointment may be a common thread. Many of us can easily see areas in our personal and common lives where we have known disappointment. The Christian Church is often disappointing – in comparison with its aspirations – but also if we sense that God is also disappointed with us, that’s another reason for staying away from God’s visible representatives in church or clergy. Why would we want to go to church to have our sense of disappointment compounded?

WHAT JESUS DIED TO SHOW

The Gospels show that faith in Jesus Christ is simple and attractive.  It’s about the heart, a way of transformation, to help us remain alive, reach out to others, be in touch with God who comes close.
Jesus’ God delights in being among us and healing us and releasing us from fear, anxiety and guilt, especially when we are at our deepest point of need. Despite external circumstances, to be a Christian is to be “burdened” with joy, a joy that you cannot explain, and you know you did not work for, yet continually as if from nowhere, it bubbles up like a mountain spring.
In this cynical and sophisticated age, joy is a test of our belief in Jesus Christ.  The Gospel is about freeing us up from old habits of reducing everything to legalism. Its about a church always re-emerging, in which joy and forgiveness are the key to everything.
 
Instead of old anxieties, complaints and legalism, we’re offered a new life, a new way of seeing things, that’s so amazing we can’t help but want others to have some too. When people say, “things aren’t what they used to be; its not like it was in my day”, we need to remind them that our task as a church is to make disciples and the old way of church isn’t attracting people of all ages, backgrounds, variations of sinfulness and beauty who we want to share with and share our being loved by God.
Churches down the ages have always flourished by inventing themselves over and over in ever new circumstances through the power of the Spirit.  Vincent Donovan a missioner who learned the hard way knew about God’s spirit working in each of us when he said
Do not try to call them back to where they were, and do not try to call them to where you are, as beautiful as that place may seem to you. You must have the courage to go with them to a place that neither you nor they have ever been before.  
If we’re lovingly in touch with the Spirit, we’ll be constantly growing and expanding in your way of seeing life. And God comes to us precisely in our deepest need
– if we can admit it and be broken open – that’s what Jesus means when he says, “blessed are the poor in heart; for they shall see God”
Getting ready for the life of heaven is to expand more and more – to 360 degrees – so you can see things as God sees them. That’s how things are seen “in heaven”. Any system of measuring and weighing virtue does not give joy, just order, predictability and grimness.
The Good news is that we can have JOY
Joy is what happens when you suddenly find an excess of life and a surplus of love within yourself!  Overwhelming blessing…
Come and join the growing community of faith at St Mary’s and experience some joy and be part of sharing it.

Robin Greenwood
Vicar of St Mary’s Monkseaton