We are a church, an ekklesia, an assembly or gathering, which means that part of our identity comes from being together physically as one people. The nature of the church has no real meaning if we aren’t able to make contact, to love one another, to speak to each other and allow the word of God to spread among us and infect us and do its dangerous and transformative work in our lives.
If you’ve been around Grace for a while, you’ll no doubt be aware of the value that we put on community. We’re deeply committed to the idea that church shouldn’t be a crowd, but a community of brothers and sisters invested in each others’ lives.
Alongside committing to community, I’d encourage you to develop spiritual friendships in the church. It’s easy to confuse this with community, but I have something different in mind.
Many Christians struggle with the Old Testament. It feels like an alien book (or set of books). When you consider the Levitical purity laws or the detailed history of the people of Israel, most people assume that it has limited relevance for modern life. Some of you have given up reading the Old Testament. Others persist with reading it but with a limited understanding of how it connects with your life.
When you consider the popularity of Christianity in a country like the UK, the dominant trend is one of religious decline and secularisation. According to the British Social Attitude Survey in 2019, a majority of Brits do not belong to any religion (52%) or attend religious services (66%). There is a prevailing sense that religion causes conflict and is out of step with modern morality. It’s easy to get the impression that Christianity is on the way out.
As we approach Christmas, it’s easy to forget that it has become something of a secular festival in the UK. For most people, Christmas has become detached from the Christian story. Of course, the things that secular Christmas is focused on - family and feasting - are no bad thing. But I do think we should consider how to distinctively engage with this season of celebration.
Jesus was deeply acquainted with the Scriptures. At the age of 12 he’s so engrossed in discussing the interpretation of the Bible that he misses the bus home, leading to much panic among his family. When he goes to church, he’s able to open up a portion of Scripture and deliver a spontaneous and compelling sermon on the spot, stirring up heated responses.
I’ve recently been re-reading AW Tozer’s short book, ‘The Pursuit of God’. It’s very challenging! He’s particularly scathing about the way modern churches have lost their sense of hunger for God.
The priests of the Old Testament were given a special recipe from God, a patented concoction of frankincense and various other ingredients that were only to be used in temple worship. We no longer have a temple, and Jesus is with us by his Spirit but not in his physical body. Yet there is still incense. The book of Revelation speaks of the scene in the heavenly throne room where there are ‘golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints’ (Revelation 5.8).
One way in which the modern experience of church can be radically different from the New Testament is in the relationship between local churches. We can be passionately engaged with our own local church, its community and mission, but have little idea about how churches are meant to work together in the common mission Christ has given to us.
London is a strange and wonderful beast. It’s a multicultural, diverse melting pot which pulsates with energy and innovation. It’s an incredible privilege to live here. But with the many strengths, there are also significant challenges. Despite living in a city of millions of people, it’s very possible to live a lonely and isolated existence. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of London life and to fall out of healthy patterns of rest. Here are my five top tips for doing church in the city.
Recently I spoke with someone who told me a fairly common story. She’d arrived in London having grown up in the church and confident of her faith in Christ. As she encountered the dominant culture of scepticism in her workplace and among friends, she started to question what she believed. She set about deconstructing her faith until she was left with a husk of what she had believed.
As I speak to Christians who are wrestling with questions and doubts, I’ve been fascinated to hear that so many of them have struggled to find a space to express these thoughts. As soon as they’ve started asking questions, their churches have made it clear that such questions are not welcome. Perhaps this comes from a fear that the Christian faith can’t stand much scrutiny. Or a concern that they’ll influence others. This feels counterintuitive to me. How can you find answers without questions? And surely the Christian faith is robust enough to withstand careful and reasoned examination?
When we created the Salt Course last summer, we were focused on secular Londoners who want to explore life’s big questions. That’s been great. We’ve had a good number of non-Christians do the course. Many have found it thought-provoking and stimulating. Some have even found faith in Christ.
However, I’ve also been intrigued by the number of Christians who’ve joined us, looking for a space to explore their doubts and questions. Each week we have a (free) meal, a short talk on a big question and then just under an hour for discussion in groups. We’ve tried to strike a balance between engaging with the biggest objections to the Christian faith and the major existential questions Londoners are grappling with. Here are the questions we'll be addressing :
Religion: Aren’t we better off without it?
Proof: Isn’t faith irrational?
Morality: Why do we even need God?
Satisfaction: How can I be happy?
Love: Where can I find it?
Hope: Is there a future for humanity?
I’d love to invite you to the Salt Course if you're asking significant questions about your faith. And of course, do have a think about non-Christian friends and colleagues who might be open to exploring their questions with us too. It starts on Wed 12 February 2020. You can find out more and sign-up here.
