Come, sinners, to the gospel feast

Reflections on 'A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodist' #2 - Come, sinners, to the gospel feast 

The text to the hymn can be found here

Life can be tiring. The emotional drain of global conflicts and local issues, of trying to be good enough, of balancing all the competing calls on time can leave you feeling like a restless wanderer. Always pressing on, always keeping going. 'If only I can get through this pile of admin...' 'If only I can get through to next week...' 'If only this national leader would disappear...' If only...then life would find a new equilibrium. Yet you never reach that state. There's always something else, always another burden, always something else to sap the energy from you.

Wesley's hymn is an invitation to all who feel drained by life, and especially drained by the constant toil of finding contentment in life, to come to God's banquet - there is a place for all. Christ waits to offer a hearty welcome as the host of the feast. For any who feel that they are not worthy of a place at this banquet table, this message as from God receive - you all may come to Christ, and live. 

Sadly, the Church hasn't always been good at proclaiming this message. In fact, the opposite has sometimes been true - you are not welcome if... People are excluded, some are made to feel less worthy than others. As the opening of the hymn makes clear - none of us are worthy, all of us are welcomed through the undeserved love of God.

This love of God isn't some shallow sentimental expression of love, but it is persistent and powerful compelling all to accept. Joining with Wesley, the Church should have that desire that our voice could reach you all, that all may taste the goodness of God, experience that love which proclaims we don't have to earn our way in, and find the rest for which our hearts crave.

 

Reflections on 'A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists' #1 - O for a thousand tongues to sing

The Collection of Hymns was first published by John Wesley in 1780 and was almost exclusively made up of hymns written by his brother, Charles. It was designed to be 'a little body of experimental and practical divinity.' They were designed to be reflected on and prayed through by the Methodist people, and not only used for corporate worship. I intend to offer my own personal reflections on each of the hymns - at least for as long as I have time. Who knows how long it might take to work through! 

I couldn't find a version online that quite has all the verses in this Collection, but here is a link to the nearest: Hymn Text Comparison | Hymnary.org

The opening section of the hymn book is entitled 'Exhorting, and beseeching to return to God.'

This opening hymn, which has become a classic of Methodist hymnody and beyond, was supposedly written on the first anniversary of Charles' experience of the Holy Spirit. Its opening line comes from something his Moravian friend, Peter Bohler, had apparently said to him, 'If I had a thousand tongues, I would praise God with all of them.'

What difference does faith in Christ make? Sometimes it can be made to seem as though it is only about believing certain statements, praying in particular ways, or being involved in particular programmes or activities. 

This is not Charles' belief. Instead, for him, although doctrines and practices would be important throughout his life, the important thing is the experience of God's Spirit. What might someone experience when placing their trust in Christ?

This hymn sets out a range of experiences. 'He breaks the power of cancelled sin, he sets the prisoner free.' There is a liberation from the baggage that might hold us back. Those nagging voices in our heads (or even on the lips of others) reminding us of past wrongs, or times we have struggled or failed. In Christ all that can be left behind - if we would but let the Spirit remove it from us.

'Jesus, the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease.' Sometimes it may be that we are filled with sorrow that we will never be good enough, that we are not worthy of being loved. In Jesus we find an end to those sorrows and fears.

This all sounds very good in theory, but the reality can sometimes be anything but. The story of both John and Charles Wesley is that theirs were lives that had their share of ups and downs, of being able to let go of the baggage, and of struggling to set it down. What they had come to realise by the time Charles penned these words was that it wasn't in their strength, but only by the grace of God that they could experience this forgiveness, rooted in the death and resurrection of Christ. It is God's triumphs, not their own that they celebrate.

So, to close, the final experience of the Spirit to note is that it is not only about dealing with the past, but also looking to the future. To those open to receive of God's Spirit there is music in one's ears, which brings life, health, and peace. It is not only about a legal transaction of forgiveness, but Christ brings medicine for our souls. As we open ourselves to receive of it in this life, we can discover even here a slice of heaven on earth.

The moment to move has arrived

  And so, after months of preparation, the moment to move has arrived.  It seems like only 5 minutes ago that I was sitting, tired and jet-lagged, in my principal's office as I was told that I was being stationed in Sheffield; rather than the 7 months it has actually been.  In that time I have studied, pondered, relaxed, packed, prayed and tried to ready myself for this next step.

  So how do I feel?

  Excited... Nervous... Frightened... Calm

  It has been so many years since I first felt the call to ministry, and now I am taking one big step towards realising that call - moving to the place where I shall be minister.  One thing my training at college has taught me (among many things obviously!) is how big the role of ordained minister actually is.  This is the reason for my nerves and apprehension.  Yet in the final service at my home church in Berkshire we sang the Lord's my Shepherd including the chorus 'And I will trust in you alone/ and I will trust in you alone/ for your endless mercy follows me/ your goodness will lead me home.  Definitely reassuring.

  But it is not only apprehension - there is real excitement.  Excitement to serve and to lead.  Excitement to be among the people in Sheffield and being part of the very large Sheffield Circuit.  I can't wait to live in a part of the country with great walks and bike rides on my doorstep and yet also near the centre of the city.  One thing about which I'm quite thankful is the couple of weeks to settle in and find my feet before I actually begin.

  I believe God has called me, and now I must trust him to equip me.

'The Wilderness State'

Got a bit behind with my Wesley sermon reflections!  Sadly, not enough time to go and take any pictures.

The Wilderness State

It is easy to end up there - in the wilderness state.

Have you been there before?

Are you there now?

It is...

 A place where doubts surface, and faith subsides;

 A place where the love of God, and the love from God - 

   a love which had burned so bright and felt so warm in former days -

   fades into the darkness;

 A place where joy in the Holy Ghost is but a distant memory

   and peace which once passed all understanding now feels like a dream;

 A place where power over all sin has crumbled.

And one is just left.

Feeling alone.

This is the wilderness state.

But how did it come to this?

It is easy to end up there - in the wilderness state.

It may begin with the neglect of private prayer.

  It won't hurt if I just miss one day will it?

  But one day leads to another, and another.

  Without prayer, our life in Christ will gradually die away.

It may begin with a sin - just a small one - innocuous surely?

Or it could be allowing pride or anger; desire or temptation to build within us.

Are we ignorant about the truth of God?

Have we just given up?
There needs no more than not to fight, and we are sure to be conquered.

It is easy to end up there - in the wilderness state.
But do we have to remain there?

NO WE DO NOT!

Arise, and shake yourself from the dust.
Find the medicine which will cure your illness,
Find the light that will guide you out of darkness.

For each the medicine will be different:
But for each illness there is a medicine.
  Was it through a neglect of prayer?
  Then start praying!
    Was it through allowing pride or anger or desire to build up?
    Then confess it all to God.

Being renewed in the image of God is a lifelong process,
Temptations will come.
But when they do pray - pour out your souls before God.

It is easy to end up there - in the wilderness state.
But do not stay there.
The Scripture nowhere says, that the absence of God best perfects his work in the heart.
God desires that you choose life.
God desires that you leave the wilderness state.
For it is when you leave the wilderness state that you can experience God's love, joy and peace. 

'Free Grace'

As with last week, this is a reflection on the John Wesley sermon we are considering today at college.  Again, any words in italics are words from the sermon.  Please do read to the end!  Feel free to comment.

Free Grace

Who may enter the kingdom of heaven?

On what condition is someone granted entry?

Can one earn their way in?

Surely no-one is good enough for that.

Maybe, God chooses those God would like.

Maybe, before the dawn of time,

before any person ever lived or breathed,

God picked those who would live, and those who would die.

Maybe, out of all the world, it is but a little flock that are the special ones.

Maybe people will strive and search,

looking for a way in;

but are told that the doors are closed,

you are not welcome,

there is to be no entry.

This is not the God of Scripture!

Jesus said 'Come to me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden'

Was Jesus an hypocrite, a deceiver of the people, a man void of common sincerity?

Surely not!

The grace given by God is grace for all.

We are presented with "life and death" and encouraged to choose life.

All have the option to accept or reject the grace of God,

nothing is forced.

If we make the choice for life, it is a life which starts now.

A life which involves holy living, making choices each step of the way.

Each day we must choose life anew.

We must be wary not to stray from the path;

it may involve danger;

but will also bring blessing - in this life and the life to come.

The gate stands open

God is ready to welcome you in.

Choose life.

'Catholic Spirit'

As part of our formational studies at Wesley House this year we will be considering some of the sermons of John Wesley.  As such, I have decided to write a reflection each week on the sermon we will be considering.  My aim is that they will be more devotional than critical and will also use photos from wherever I happen to be that day to consider how the words of Wesley may still have relevance to the world today.  Any words in italics are the words from Wesley's sermon, and taken from Albert Outler and Richard Heitzenrater's anthology of Wesley's sermons, unless otherwise stated.

Catholic Spirit

Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge

We don't have to agree, you and I.

We may think differently about God or worship;

but though we can't think alike, may we not love alike?

May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion?

We don't have to agree, nor should we be concerned to do so.

We can respect each other's differences;

We can allow each other to worship in which ever manner we believe most honours God;

Yet we can remain united as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Great St Mary's Church, Cambridge

This unity does not mean uniformity.

You may believe the episcopal form of church government to be scriptural

and I may not.

I may believe infants ought to be baptized

and you may not.

We must both act as each is fully persuaded in his or her own mind.

Eden Chapel, Cambridge

So to whom will we unite today?

How will we decide with whom to share this united love?

Are there any beliefs which can not be passed over?

Wesley Methodist Church, Cambridge

Is it enough or too much to say we can share a catholic spirit with all those who

believe in and love God;

believe in Jesus Christ;

are involved in doing the works of God;

serve God with fear

love their neighbour as themself

demonstrate their love in action?

Who else might we include or exclude?

Parker's Piece, Cambridge

So I offer you my hand.

Will you take it?

Will you also place opinions and practices to one side,
as I vow to do,

not as though they are unimportant,

but because they are not most important?

All Saints Church, Cambridge

Will you join me in love of one another,

in prayer for one another,

in encouragement of one another,

in service with one another?

St Andrew's St Baptist Church, Cambridge

We all have a story to tell

The final part of my bereavement training last week has left me with lots to think about. At the moment, the thought going round my head is that we do all have a story to tell. Our course leader encouraged us to engage bereaved people in their story, including the deceased person for whom they are grieving.

However, I think it goes wider than that. We are all in need to share our story, to see how our story fits in with those around us. The web of attachments each of us has is far reaching, and there will be points where they interlink. Church should be a place where stories are told and heard. It is surely as we tell our story, and listen to the stories of others, that meaning is given to our lives, and to the lives of those around us.

After all, those of us who are followers of Jesus are people of The Story. The story of God coming to earth to live among his creation. The story that continues through today and on into the future. It is as we gather and here the story of God, that we find our place in it, and our story, and God's story, merge together.

Bereavement

Yesterday I started a three day course on bereavement. It is going to cover many different angles that I may need to consider as a potential presbyter of the church. Here are some of the things that came out of the first day:

• Confronting my own death. We did an exercise imagining we were dead and watching what was going on. The interesting point was that I reacted far more when it came to my family finding out, rather than the part where I actually died. This was a really useful experience as it made me realise that I needed to plan more for if I died. It may be a bit morbid but it could be useful to my family to have planned some kind of funeral service. Do they know if I would prefer to be buried or cremated? Do they know if I would prefer a funeral service or a thanksgiving service? Do I know?
• We also considered the attachments that we build up. Some initially are for survival, but others are purely for affectionate reasons. The web of attachments is quite vast. This means that when someone does die, the loss is felt by many and in different ways depending on the attachment.
• It is important if someone knows they will die within a certain time span, for them to talk with family and friends. So all can be prepared. Talk about death - it is a natural and inevitable part of life. Encourage children to talk about death, maybe even attend the funeral, make it a positive experience - a chance to acknowledge loss and say goodbye.
• While it may be preferable to hold thanksgiving services and think only of the positive side of things, it is also important to acknowledge that people are mourning. Feeling grief isn't a weakness, it is a natural reaction, and we should be encouraging people to journey through it, not just skip over it because it is painful.
• What a minister says at funeral needs to speak to the immediate family, and to the other mourners. The family need comfort, permission to grieve. For them it is not a time for theology. However, the others present at the funeral may need some theology. So a funeral service needs to contain both. There does then need to be follow up where possible, because the time for theology will come.
• What we tell children about death is really important. We may want to make it sound better (e.g. Daddy has become a star) but often this just confuses them

Not bad for the first day! Although it often is heavy going, it is also really important stuff. Hopefully more to reflect on today.

Another hymn - this time from Hymns and Psalms

Here is another hymn that I have come across recently. It has been one used as a bit of a running joke at college, but as we decided to sing it this evening during community worship, I actually read the words - and they are very inspiring. It's just a shame that it hasn't been included in Singing the Faith.

Through the night of doubt and sorrow,

Onward goes the pilgrim band,

Singing songs of expectation,

Marching to the promised land.

One the object of our journey,

One the faith which never tires,

One the earnest looking forward,

One the hope our God inspires;

One the strain that lips of thousands

Lift as from the heart of one;

One the conflict, one the peril,

One the march in God begun;

One the light of God's own presence,

O'er his ransomed people shed,

Chasing far the gloom and terror,

Brightening all the path we tread;

One the gladness of rejoicing

On the far eternal shore,

Where the one almighty Father

Reigns in love for evermore.

Soon shall come the great awakening,

Soon the rending of the tomb;

Then the scattering of all shadows,

And the end of toil and gloom.

Bernhardt Severin Ingemann (1789-1862)

A hymn from Singing the Faith

I'm preaching on Sunday and the church have asked me to use Singing the Faith for the hymns. Added to that the circuit have asked all preachers this week to preach on vocations. While choosing hymns I came across this one. Although we are not going to sing it, I am considering using it as a reflection after the sermon. It certainly gives a challenge.

Would I have answered when you called,

'Come follow, follow me'?

Would I at once have left behind

both work and family?

Or would the old, familiar round

have held me by its claim

and kept the spark within my heart

from bursting into flame?

Would I have followed where you led

through ancient Galilee,

on roads unknown, by ways untried,

beyond security?

Or would I soon have hurried back

where home and comfort drew,

where truth you taught would not disturb

the ordered world I knew?

Would I have matched my step with yours

when crowds cried, 'Crucify!',

when on a rocky hill I saw a cross

against the sky?

Or would I too have slipped away

and left you there alone,

a dying king with crown of thorns

upon a terrible throne?

O Christ, I cannot search my heart

through all its tangled ways,

nor can I with a certain mind

my steadfastness appraise.

I only pray that when you call,

'Come follow, follow me!',

you'll give me strength beyond my own

to follow faithfully.

Herman G. Steumpfle, Jr (1923-2007) © 1997

We will remember them

I passed Cambridge War Memorial at just the right time to take part in the Act of Remembrance at 11 o'clock. It was just a simple, short service, consisting of a couple of prayers, a short reflection and the act of remembrance. What struck me was the end, after the blessing and dismissal, when people respectfully went their own ways. For me, it was a picture of a city, just for a moment, setting aside all the hustle and bustle of the day, and uniting together. Young and old, rich and poor, child, student, business person, unemployed, construction worker, retired - all together. Those who had served in the forces, and those who hadn't. Those who agreed with the wars we have been, and are involved in; and those that don't. All united. United to remember those who have fallen, those who were injured, in the course of their service to this country. Also, we were united in our praying and hoping for peace in our time.

They shall grow not old,

As we who are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Practical Theism

I'm reading a book at the moment called 'Windows on Wesley'. It's one of these books which has variety of contributors writing on different subjects. The chapter I've just read is by the editor of the book - Philip Meadows. He writes about a faith that is alive and is based on right action and not just sound doctrine, that seeks to know God as well as just know of him, that notices God in the whole of creation and not just in the supposedly spiritual bits. It leads him into a spirit of optimism for the world around. He writes:

"Thus, the pessimism of an Augustinian assessment of human nature, which considers the vast bulk of humankind to be reprobates on their way to damnatino, is overthrown by a Wesleyan optimism of grace which sees every human being as a 'candidate for heaven,' to use (Rev. John) Fletcher's expression, or 'a probationer for a blissful immortality." ('Windows on Wesley', ed. Philip Meadows; Applied Theology Press; 1997, p.40)

Wouldn't it be great if the whole church grasped some of that optimism. That saw all people, not as miserable sinners, but as 'candidates for heaven?' That actually saw something of the grace and image of God in all who we meet. Meadows continues to say that conversion is vital, and is concerned with enabling people to recognise the grace of God in them already. A grace that goes before any commitment to follow God.

It reminded me of a lecture from a few weeks back on 1 Corinthians 1. In the opening verses Paul writes to those 'called to be saints' (v2). Now I don't speak Greek, but our lecturer informs us that the correct translation should be that they are saints. His challenge was, how many people sitting in our congregations think of themselves as saints? So often we focus on the need to confess and repent, and they are both very important, but it is also important that people recognise that, in God's eyes, they are already saints.

It sometimes feels as though our beloved Methodist Church needs life breathed into it. Well I suggest, rather than spending so much energy on restructuring, let's proclaim the message of optimism based on God's grace. Let's see the potential in all and encourage them to recognise the grace of God already in their own lives. Because I'd be willing to bet that it would be pretty infectious.

Light of the World

It was our fortnightly Community Worship at Wesley House this evening. This week the Methodist Lectionary theme is 'Receiving the Light' and so we carved pumpkins and placed tealights in them. It was an activity that all ages could participate in and the creativity of the pumpkins was amazing. Then without the need for a sermon, or even a reflection using words, just by having 8 pumpkins a-glow around the room and the lights off we could reflect on the words of Scripture we had heard:

"...I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life... As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 8:12, & 9:5)

and

"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a

lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

Photos taken by Revd. Dr. Jane Leach

CPD - A gift of God

At this evening's Methodist Theology and Spirituality seminar each student received their copy of 'The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church' - obviously 2011 edition rather than 2010, but I couldn't find a picture of the 2011 edition! This gift was received with about as much enthusiasm as receiving the last decade's worth of Church Council, Property and Finance and Circuit Meeting minutes all neatly collated and bound!

However, our speaker for the evening was Janet Morley - an Anglican who has worked for the Methodist Church for many years. She was bringing her views of Methodism from an Anglican perspective and was very insightful in her observations - even if some were uncomfortable to hear. However, the thing that stuck with me was her enthusiasm for CPD. Janet stated that Methodism was able to articulate it's faith. We have a document that is updated year by year as we discuss areas which may need updating. From this point of view we have a living, evolving faith. We are able to ask the hard questions of ourselves, to discuss, debate, disagree but ultimately to maintain the Connexion between us. She pointed out that the Anglican church still abides by the 39 Articles, which clergy have to swear to at their ordination and as they start at each new post, which apparently is quite anti ecumenism and supports the death penalty. Janet added that in CPD it states that 'The primary purpose for which the District is constituted is to advance the mission of the Church in a region...' (SO 400A) and that 'The Circuit is the primary unit in which Local Churches express and experience their interconnexion in the Body of Christ, for purposes of mission, mutual encouragement and help.' (SO500) How great would it be for all ministers and congregations to see the practical outworkings of our theology in such a way.

The Feast of St Luke - an Orthodox celebration

As part of life in the Cambridge Theological Federation we have fortnightly Federation Worship led by the various institutes that make up the Federation (I realise that was probably a slight over use of the word 'federation'!). This evening was the turn of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies. This was the first time that I had ever been to an Orthodox service, and it certainly was an interesting experience. There were some aspects I found challenging, standing up for an hour and a half being one! However, there was also the lack of involvement by the members of the congregation. This was very much something that we watched as the priest and a few others participated on our behalf. Added to that there was the lack of singing and the fact that only members of the Orthodox Church were able to take Communion. This did help me get clear in my mind some of the things I value about Methodism.

Having said that, there were a lot of things that I found useful and inspiring. The theatre of the whole service as the priest moved around from the altar, down into the nave, around the church built a sense of drama and anticipation. Maybe it didn't reflect the meal between friends that I like to think of as Communion, but it did portray something of the wonder and awe-someness of God. Their repeated prayers for themselves, their church, their community and those in authority was also something that made me think. While I don't believe that we need to repeat our prayers over and over, Paul does tell us to pray without ceasing, and this was a great expression of that. The homily was short and to the point - we are part of an unbroken chain of witnesses going back to Luke and beyond. It was uplifting and done in about a dozen sentences - do we really need to always have great long complicated sermons when a few well chosen words will do? Finally, there was the point where the congregation said the creed. It was a long way through the service and was the first point for the congregation to speak. At first people were unsure, then gradually it built up and up as more people expressed their faith together. The sound of so many people, from so many different denominations and traditions, professing together a shared faith, for me, is a sign of what ecumenism is all about. We may have gone our separate ways after, but we did so having reminded ourselves of the things that unite rather than divide.

Thin Places

I have heard people talking about 'Thin Places', places where the gap between heaven and earth seems at it's thinnest, places where people feel closest to God. Maybe it is because I am moving away from Thatcham next week, but today I have spent some time reflecting on my thin places here.

The first is my church. It is not a very radical view, but it is true for me. This is the church I grew up in, I remember coming to Sunday School, social occasions, I became a member of the Methodist Church here, I preached my first sermon here, I became an accredited Local Preacher here. And if I walk in to the Sanctuary when no-one else is there, I can look around the chairs and picture the saints of old who used to sit in them, I can close my eyes and hear their voices. And if I walk in on a Sunday morning I look at the people sitting in the chairs now and it is like looking at my family. For me, that is what church is - a family. I don't know if I'll ever have this experience of church again, but it will be with me forever. This is one of the places where I feel closest to God, either listening to the voices of those around me, or hearing the voices of th

ose who have been and gone. We are not a perfect church, but in amongst the imperfections, there is Jesus.

My second thin place is Thatcham Lake. Again it is alive with memories of walks with Dad through childhood right up to the present day. But the reason I feel so close to God around this place is because for me it speaks of life in all it's beauty - and surely that is where God has to be. It is as I walk around it, as I sit on the benches, that I see life going on. Whether it is ducks quacking, children laughing, ripples running over the lake, there is always life. And it is there that I often choose just to go and pray, reflect, be still. It is a place where no words need to be spoken, but I can go and be still, and know that God is there. These are places I am going to miss. But I do trust that when I move to Cambridge next week, God will provide more thin places where I can meet with him.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Life Together 5

"He who is alone with his sin is utterly alone. It may be that Christians, notwithstanding corporate worship, common prayer, and all their fellowship in service, may still be left to their loneliness. The final break-through to fellowship does not occur, because, though they have fellowship with one another as believers and as devout people, they do not have fellowship as the undevout, as sinners. The pious fellowship permts no one to be a sinner. So everybody must conceal his sin from himself and from the fellowship. We dare not be sinners. Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. So we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. The fact is that we are sinners!"

So starts the beginning of Bonhoeffer's 5th and final chapter. He continues by writing about the need for confession - but not solitary confession but confession to another member of the church. Bonhoeffer believes that this is the only way of ensuring confession to God and not merely to oneself. This did make me wonder about corporate confession during weekly acts of worship. For many this is an important part of the service, but maybe for some it is just an empty routine. It also made me consider how churches could set about establishing a system of trust and accountability for this to take place if it doesn't happen already. I can imagine that many would initially be quite concerned about confessing sins to one another. However, Bonhoeffer argues that it is only when we truly humble ourselves enough to admit our faults to one another that we can have true community. I can see his thinking behind this, but I can also see the need for careful organising and preparation for the people to hear the confessions to ensure that it isn't used for harm rather than good.

Bonhoeffer concludes this chapter and the book by mentioning Communion. This is the perfection of the fellowship when the members of the community are reconciled through confession and then united around the table. I believe that confession is important. As a church I feel we have shied away from it as a subject for fear of offending or being seen to preach at people. However, sin should not be ignored. Maybe the best way of dealing with it is with it out in the open, rather than trying to appear perfect to others, while secretly struggling with sin alone.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Life Together 4

God's timing is certainly good!! I am almost starting my final week at work and it is a bit difficult. My replacement has started and I have found it hard letting go and allowing him to make changes to all I have done over the last 5 years. Today has been especially difficult as I have read through his programme for the next term and seen there are some quite big changes from my programmes. Despite knowing that the activities needed a freshen up, I didn't like reading it. I spent a long while trying to find fault with it, hoping (I'm ashamed to admit) that it wouldn't quite work out. And then, a day later than scheduled, I read chapter 4 of Bonhoeffer's book.

He opens with a paragraph dedicated to how people together will always try judging each other, will try and find fault, if they are weak people they will judge the strong; if they are strong they will show disdain to the weak. The solitary will attack the sociable whilst the sociable mock the solitary. It is human nature to judge and compare. But Bonhoeffer warns that this is the destruction of community. He says the main challenge is to control the tongue and ensure that thoughts do not get verbalised. The passage that struck me was: ' God did not make this person as I would have made him... God does not will that I should fashion the other person according to the image that seems good to me, that is, in my own image; rather in his very freedom from me God made this person in his image.' (p.71)

After feeling admonished and challenged by the opening paragraphs the rest of the chapter gave me much food for thought about being a minister. Before proclaiming the Word of God to anyone, each Christian must learn to listen, really listen, to those he will speak to. Not to see it as wasted time or an annoyance, but as part of Christ's ministry. Just as God listens to us, so we must listen to others. Also, we must learn to bear one another. Not just the burdens, but the things about others that irritate us, the things we don't like about other people. It is not an easy ministry, but it is important to then truly be able to speak to those same people.

Here's hoping for a better day tomorrow, full of listening and not so much speaking, or judging.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Life Together 3

Bonhoeffer moves on to talk about being alone. He recognises that many people become part of a church community out of fear of being alone. However, he believes that this is unhealthy for the individual and the community. In order for an individual and a community to be fully who they are meant to be every member of that community must have the correct balance between fellowship and solitude. This is something that I find difficult as I naturally prefer having people around. However, I am starting to value times alone and having periods of silence with no music and no tv on.

Bonhoeffer tells us that Christ calls each of us as individuals and that we die as individuals and face God as individuals. However, he also states that we are not the only one who is called, that we are supported by our community even to death, and that we will stand with the whole company of heaven.

Finally, Bonhoeffer instructs on daily personal devotions. Although sounding quite prescriptive and dry - much like the previous chapter on corporate devotions - he does raise an interesting point on perseverance. So often we are led to believe that if we are 'doing our devotions right' that we will have amazing spiritual experiences every day. This has done a lot of damage to me over the years as I quite often gave up for periods when I didn't experience what others say they experienced. I presumed I obviously wasn't doing it correctly - or maybe I wasn't a Christian at all. But Bonhoeffer encourages us to continue, whatever our experience because we are doing it to honour God and not to gain something ourselves. He also includes a real challenge to pray for members of our fellowship as much as for ourselves. This is certainly a habit I want to try and get into.

So - I shall endeavour to spend a bit more time in silence and alone each day and see what happens.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Life Together 2

After a break away from this book due to various activities at church and work during the last few weeks I have returned to read the second chapter - 'The day with others.'

My main criticism of the chapter was that it portrayed quite a dry structure to devotional life with other people on a daily basis. There was to be a Psalm, a reading from Scripture, a hymn and a prayer - and the prayer was to be led by the same person each day. There seemed very little scope for variety and the moving of the Spirit. However, there were some interesting points.

Firstly, he writes of having a daily pattern of devotions at the start of each day as a way of focussing on God throughout the whole day. This includes sharing meals together through the day as well. Although it may not always be possible to share devotions each morning with the same group of people it did make me realise how I often neglect my morning devotions, or see them as using up valuable time if I am busy, rather than seeing them as imperative for seeing me through the day. Bonhoeffer also writes of these devotions being done as a family. How many families spend time each day in prayer and worship?

Secondly he talks about the importance of reading larger passages of scripture each day rather than just short verses or passages. The point that interested me was that we needed to read the whole of Scripture through in order - reading from the Old and New Testaments simultaneously. While I don't necessarily think we always have to read it through in order, I have come to appreciate that so often we neglect large chunks of the Bible - especially when our Lectionary only covers certain parts of the Bible.

Finally, Bonhoeffer speaks of every meal shared between Christians as being a time of recognising Christ's presence. He mentions the unique place of the Lord's Supper, but emphasises the daily meal as a time of being aware that Jesus is present. And with this in mind, I'm off to share my meal with my family - hopefully more aware of an extra presence!