Civic Service 2009
A man was quite deaf but although he couldn’t hear the sermon in Church on Sunday, or much of anything else that went on, he continued to go to Church every Sunday. ‘Why do you go to Church when you can’t hear what’s going on ?’ asked one of his grandchildren one day. The grandfather paused for a moment and then replied, ‘I want everyone to know whose side I’m on.’
It’s a great sentiment which reminds us that, in spite of our frailties, whatever they may be, we can be on God’s side, and we can still show that fact to others, and from the readings chosen for the service this afternoon (Titus 3 and Romans 12:6-18), an emphasis is placed on being on nobody’s side but God’s.
However, whilst it’s important to be part of the Church and a fellowship of Christians, we are also reminded from these readings that showing ourselves to be on God’s side means a lot more than just attending Church. The readings offer us a challenge to ask ourselves if we are just interested in the holy things of Church, or whether we are prepared to be really changed - Whether we are prepared to move from a Sunday ritual into a way of life.
The readings challenge us to a life of service based on the model of Jesus himself. In Paul’s letter to the Romans he tells us to let love be genuine, to hate evil and hold fast to what is good. He tells us that we are to extend hospitality to strangers, to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Al l of these things sound neighbourly – any good citizen would surely try and do them, but there are a few catches put in as well !
Love one another, doesn’t mean loving those we like, those we get on with, those we agree with – it means love everyone. Now, there are lots of ways of showing love as you all know, some more obvious than others, but the love described here is a concern and compassion that involves a real interest; A love that places the good welfare of the individual above any other motivation.
And there’s another little challenge as well ! Bless those who persecute you ! Before going into the Church ministry I worked as an insurance broker – it’s an occupation that doesn’t enjoy the best reputation – moderate persecution comes with the job ! As a Vicar again there are some who will mock or try and pick some sort of argument, so I have a very moderate experience of persecution !
But that’s not what Paul is talking about here – he is talking about blessing those who want to kill you, those who really hate you or make your life a misery. And that is a challenge of any public service or ministry – to care enough about people that their attitude or behaviour means nothing. Their ultimate welfare is what is paramount.
And then we heard another of Paul’s letters, this time to Titus, and he writes to his friend in Crete and the Christians in the early Church there. He writes with words of encouragement, with words of hope and with words of discipline. The members there were to be ready for every good work – not every noticeable work, not every publicity friendly work, but every good work… They were to speak evil of no-one, again returning to the challenge to care for even those people that thought there was nothing better to do than to be awkward !
They were to avoid quarrelling, be gentle and show courtesy to everyone. And what is most noticeable about this passage is once again how demanding it is.
But which of us, as we think about these words, can’t fail to notice that actually the words make sense. Communities in this country sometimes get a bad reputation – there are so many throughout the whole of the country, but almost without fail, as we look at the causes of problems in communities, the common issues are the same.
In practice we can talk about a lack of facilities for people, we can talk about a lack of jobs or good education. We can talk about people being put on a scrapheap without ever having a chance. We can talk perhaps about the greed of people who aren’t particularly interested in helping others unless there’s something in it for them – we can offer a list of reasons for society’s problems as long as we like, but there is one over riding cause which is present in so many of them and that is a lack of love and true compassion.
When people talk about the Christian message being irrelevant today they may be looking at a whole host of things, but they are certainly not looking at Jesus himself. His message of love, his selfless dedication and commitment even to those who hurt him, his reluctance to accept credit or praise for himself, his willingness to help the disadvantaged, to give another chance to the poor or the outcasts of society and his ability to make people realise that they were worth something, is an example for us all because, perhaps only in small ways, but maybe in bigger things too, we can do every one of those things…
And if we do then our little part of the world will be a better place, and one little bit of the world that’s improved, makes the whole world a better place !
I’ll finish with a short creed which I read recently – it was written by a man from Zimbabwe with a rather unusual name, Canaan Banana, but it speaks powerfully of a world where right will overcome wrong and good or should I say God, will claim the ultimate victory…
I believe in a colour blind God, maker of Technicolour people.
Who created the universe and provided abundant resources for equitable distribution among all his people.
I believe in Jesus Christ, born of a common woman, who was ridiculed, disfigured and executed.
Who, on the third day, rose and fought back;
he storms the highest councils of men where he overturns the iron rule of injustice.
From henceforth he will continue to judge the hatred and arrogance of men.
I believe in the Spirit of reconciliation, the united body of the dispossessed;
The communion of the suffering masses,
the power that overcomes the dehumanising forces of men,
the resurrection of personhood, justice and equality.
And in the final triumph of brotherhood.
May it be our prayer that united in love, compassion and concern for each other and for others whoever they may be, we can make a difference. AMEN
It’s a great sentiment which reminds us that, in spite of our frailties, whatever they may be, we can be on God’s side, and we can still show that fact to others, and from the readings chosen for the service this afternoon (Titus 3 and Romans 12:6-18), an emphasis is placed on being on nobody’s side but God’s.
However, whilst it’s important to be part of the Church and a fellowship of Christians, we are also reminded from these readings that showing ourselves to be on God’s side means a lot more than just attending Church. The readings offer us a challenge to ask ourselves if we are just interested in the holy things of Church, or whether we are prepared to be really changed - Whether we are prepared to move from a Sunday ritual into a way of life.
The readings challenge us to a life of service based on the model of Jesus himself. In Paul’s letter to the Romans he tells us to let love be genuine, to hate evil and hold fast to what is good. He tells us that we are to extend hospitality to strangers, to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Al l of these things sound neighbourly – any good citizen would surely try and do them, but there are a few catches put in as well !
Love one another, doesn’t mean loving those we like, those we get on with, those we agree with – it means love everyone. Now, there are lots of ways of showing love as you all know, some more obvious than others, but the love described here is a concern and compassion that involves a real interest; A love that places the good welfare of the individual above any other motivation.
And there’s another little challenge as well ! Bless those who persecute you ! Before going into the Church ministry I worked as an insurance broker – it’s an occupation that doesn’t enjoy the best reputation – moderate persecution comes with the job ! As a Vicar again there are some who will mock or try and pick some sort of argument, so I have a very moderate experience of persecution !
But that’s not what Paul is talking about here – he is talking about blessing those who want to kill you, those who really hate you or make your life a misery. And that is a challenge of any public service or ministry – to care enough about people that their attitude or behaviour means nothing. Their ultimate welfare is what is paramount.
And then we heard another of Paul’s letters, this time to Titus, and he writes to his friend in Crete and the Christians in the early Church there. He writes with words of encouragement, with words of hope and with words of discipline. The members there were to be ready for every good work – not every noticeable work, not every publicity friendly work, but every good work… They were to speak evil of no-one, again returning to the challenge to care for even those people that thought there was nothing better to do than to be awkward !
They were to avoid quarrelling, be gentle and show courtesy to everyone. And what is most noticeable about this passage is once again how demanding it is.
But which of us, as we think about these words, can’t fail to notice that actually the words make sense. Communities in this country sometimes get a bad reputation – there are so many throughout the whole of the country, but almost without fail, as we look at the causes of problems in communities, the common issues are the same.
In practice we can talk about a lack of facilities for people, we can talk about a lack of jobs or good education. We can talk about people being put on a scrapheap without ever having a chance. We can talk perhaps about the greed of people who aren’t particularly interested in helping others unless there’s something in it for them – we can offer a list of reasons for society’s problems as long as we like, but there is one over riding cause which is present in so many of them and that is a lack of love and true compassion.
When people talk about the Christian message being irrelevant today they may be looking at a whole host of things, but they are certainly not looking at Jesus himself. His message of love, his selfless dedication and commitment even to those who hurt him, his reluctance to accept credit or praise for himself, his willingness to help the disadvantaged, to give another chance to the poor or the outcasts of society and his ability to make people realise that they were worth something, is an example for us all because, perhaps only in small ways, but maybe in bigger things too, we can do every one of those things…
And if we do then our little part of the world will be a better place, and one little bit of the world that’s improved, makes the whole world a better place !
I’ll finish with a short creed which I read recently – it was written by a man from Zimbabwe with a rather unusual name, Canaan Banana, but it speaks powerfully of a world where right will overcome wrong and good or should I say God, will claim the ultimate victory…
I believe in a colour blind God, maker of Technicolour people.
Who created the universe and provided abundant resources for equitable distribution among all his people.
I believe in Jesus Christ, born of a common woman, who was ridiculed, disfigured and executed.
Who, on the third day, rose and fought back;
he storms the highest councils of men where he overturns the iron rule of injustice.
From henceforth he will continue to judge the hatred and arrogance of men.
I believe in the Spirit of reconciliation, the united body of the dispossessed;
The communion of the suffering masses,
the power that overcomes the dehumanising forces of men,
the resurrection of personhood, justice and equality.
And in the final triumph of brotherhood.
May it be our prayer that united in love, compassion and concern for each other and for others whoever they may be, we can make a difference. AMEN
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