My views on The Times view on the C of E

The Times view of the C of E is that it is behind the times. 

They pointed out that (A) only 1% of people in the UK regularly attend an Anglican church.

They then go on to express surprise that (B) "only a quarter of Anglican priests describe Britain as truly Christian, with seven in ten of the opinion that this aspect of national identity is a thing of the past", calling this defeatism.

But in fact (B) is only a perhaps partial and late recognition of (A)! We must face facts that the vast majority of people in this country are not (or are not yet) committed Bible-believing Christians. The task that faces the church is enormous. It can be exciting, but the challenge is huge.

It is not surprising that morale amongst the clergy is low.

It is hard to adjust to the long decline of Christianity and Christendom in the UK and the changing social position of the church and the Vicar. A church must do amazingly well to stand still. Some places see real growth, sometimes by moving believers round, but still, praise God, by conversions too. Perhaps more and more people will consider Christ again as the confusion and emptiness of contemporary liberal postmodernity plays out.

Clergy sometimes want it both ways with respect to the senior clergy. (1) There are too many senior clergy, they are too expensive, and there should be more frontline parish clergy (2) The senior clergy and the diocese should do more to support me.

To say that the church is behind the times is to assume a trajectory of history which is at least open to question. The Times presumes on a god-like knowledge of the end from the beginning.

The Times suggests that the answer for the C of E is to get with the spirit of the age on such matters as female clergy and gay marriage. These issues seem rather different to me, and I won't get in to the specifics here. But if we seek to change the spirit of the age, and to win the world, the last thing we should do is to be assimilated to it.

We should of course remember what Gloomy Dean Inge wrote in his diary in 1911: "if you marry the Spirit of your own generation you will be a widow in the next."

It is possible, therefore, that some of the symptoms the Times detects are in fact results of the prescription it proposes. Has some of the decline been because the church has sometimes failed to have a striking prophetic voice? Have people thought, "Oh, what is the Vicar / Bishop saying about the great issues?". Or do they expect us to say only what is bland and comfortable and which we might have read in the Guardian already?

The church should and must continue to stand for something distinctive. Only as salt and light can we affect the world. If we are just like the village hall or the golf club, there is no need to come to us. Our unique selling points, Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and for ever, and the sure and sharp Word of God, need to be put front and centre.

How can the church regain her confidence?

Partly by a return to these things. By prayer. By looking daily to Christ and the Scriptures, empowered by the Holy Spirit. We need deep roots for troubled times. We must drink of Christ, for here is living water to refresh and sustain us for life in a largely pagan and pluralistic world. Back to the New Testament, because we face a situation not so unlike that of the early church.

Also by a warm and committed fellowship in which clergy and people have a sense of joint mission which goes beyond keeping the building open and the show on the road on a Sunday morning. Church is not a club but a team with a purpose.

And by a historical and global perspective. The church may be at a low ebb in some parts of Western Europe, but it has grown and continues to grow in a way that is frankly supernatural. A small band of committed believers won the world once. They could do so again, under God. The Word of God grows and bears fruit 30, 60 or even 100 times what is sown. Jesus will build his church. The yeast will work through the whole lump. The mustard seed will produce the largest tree in the garden and the birds of the air shall come and nest in it. The rock not made by human hands will be a mountain that will fill the whole earth. The world shall be full of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

There may be defeats, but the battle belongs to the Lord. Life and love will win. Despair will die.

No doubt there are may administrative and financial changes that could be made to the beloved C of E. Reforms of all sorts would be beneficial. For myself, I would stick with Establishment because I think it works okay much of the time and it is much easier to break than to build. We should be careful what we wish for.

The C of E may face great change. But a clarification and a purification may lead to her renewal and to the transformation of our nation once again.

* * * 

These comments respond to the Leader Article / Editorial / Opinion piece linked to above. The Times also published a news story on its front page and gave some more details of the survey results. 

As The Revd Dr Ian Paul (on Times Radio) and others have said, the methodology of the survey may be questioned. The sample was random (of C of E clergy contact details available in Crockfords, I believe), but not representative. There was a very high non-response rate. And some of the questions are arguably of the "have you stopped beating your wife yet?", type. One may want to refuse the dilemma or say that none of the options given really represent what I would say on this subject. In fact, we might do well to ask what would count as a Christian country?  

The sweet spot of blagging

Many people say they sometimes feel like an imposter.

And all of us are to some extent "pretending". No one "naturally" puts on a suit and gives a presentation on the Q3 sales figures. We all play a part and mostly we don't want or need total honesty or transparency about everything you might think or feel. 

Few people, by definition, are the world experts in anything. And no one knows everything. 

Strictly speaking, no same person stands in the same river twice. You have changed. The river has changed. But if you are always only doing the same thing in the same way, you might might be very good at always getting it "right" but you might be ripe for replacement by a robot. Maybe you should risk giving something else a go? There may be an easier or better way of doing the thing you do well in your usual way. 

Of course you should (almost!) never lie. (That's a different blog post).  

And some specific matters of detail matter a great deal. A legal or technical point could make all the difference between jail or explosion and it can be very important to check very thoroughly. This is an area where blagging must be shunned, exposed and deplored. "Of, yeah, I'm confident, don't worry, it'll all be fine" is sometimes very far from good enough. 

Often it is good to admit ignorance and ask for help. A reasonable person can be impressed with, "Good question! I'm not 100% sure. Let me go and check that and I'll get back to you this afternoon with the definitive answer." 

We need to learn to live with a degree of uncertainty and flexibility because the universe demands it. 

Take the world I know best. One might say in a sermon, "The Bible never mentions X". Well, I have read the Bible several times. I may well know. But perhaps the only way to be totally sure is to read the original languages looking for X. Searching and English version can let you down. And secondary literature can sometimes be misleading. The Bible may not mention X, but it may include something which amounts to X, or implies X. But this level of checking would normally be excessive and silly. 

Some kinds of preparation are unnecessary. Quite likely most people don't need to write out every part of every speech, presentation or sermon word for word. 

And some types of preparation can even be counter productive. If you do write out your talk word for word, you may be tempted to read it out in a rather boring mechanical manner. Perhaps better to throw away the full text and preach from notes. An extra step of preparation! 

We may rightly reject the language, but there is a sweet spot of blagging which accepts ordinary certainty, and sometimes good enough over perfection, and which allows space for risk, creativity, giving it a go and getting on with what needs to be done now the best I can.

If something is worth doing, it is worth doing adequately.   

Have we made church too user-friendly / consumerist?

 One Lord's Day this summer we found ourselves in a small seaside town in Normandy. As far as we could tell, there was no Evangelical and Reformed church meeting for miles around so, rightly or wrongly, some of us attended the service at the local (Roman Catholic) church. 

There were no screens or books. We were given a photocopied sheet which seemed to contain all the hymns for the month. 

Two cantors led the singing and the congregation joined in with the liturgy they had memorised. The whole service was traditional with organ accompaniment. I was amazed they couldn't find two more tuneful singers! After the three Bible readings, the priest preached for it seemed about 20 minutes on The Transfiguration and the Eucharist followed. My French is rubbish and the congregation laughed mildly once or twice, but it seemed like a serious attempt the preach and apply the Bible. There was no children's work. And after some notices we were sent away. No coffee was served, though many people stood around in the square outside afterwards to chat.

I cannot tell you what percentage of the town were in church that day nor whether the congregation is growing or declining, nor how devout and well-taught the people are. But the church was full and it included many young people and families. Parents walked around with any screaming babies. 

I wonder if there is something to be said for a church which says that we are going to worship God on a Sunday morning in the way we believe he wants, and we want you to come to what we are putting on, whether you like it or not, whether it is the style you would choose or not, and whether or not you find it fun and convenient. And trust that this is good and right and glorifies God and will bless you.  

Covenants, Work, Rest and Sabbaths

 

 

One of the major theological issues for Christians to think through is continuity and change between Old and New Covenants.

 

One major change is from the Jewish sabbath (Saturday, day 7 of the creation week) to Resurrection Day, The Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, the Christian sabbath.

 

What difference might this make to our conception of work and rest?

 

In the Old Covenant, the people of God are invited to be imitators of God the creator. God works, and human beings are to be sub-creators, guarding and keeping the world which God has made. They were as God’s vice-gerents, exercising loving rule over the world as his image bearers. They are gods over the world under God and are to do so in a godly manner.

 

The goal and climax of creation is for human beings to share sabbath day rest with God. He has completed his work of creation. His house has been formed and filled and so he dwells with human beings to bless them. It is very good and God enjoys satisfaction from his work: he rests from what he has done. He invites us to be imitators of him not only in work but in entering in to his rest.

 

The Old Testament pattern is work to rest. And this all remains good and true. The goal of the creation remains New Creation rest. Sabbath is the destiny and climax of all things as we are delivered from toil and curse.

 

But the New Covenant also invites us to think of the Christian Sabbath (Sunday) as the first day of the week. It is already a New Creation because Jesus Christ is risen victorious from the dead and we are in him. We no longer look forward to work done. It is finished! Christ’s perfect saving work has been completed. God is utterly satisfied in his well-pleasing Son whom he loves. Jesus gives us his rest as a gift.

 

And so in the New Covenant it is especially clear that work flows from rest. We are already loved and saved. God is satisfied.

 

Starting the week with Resurrection Day is a reminder that victory is secure. Even as we look forward to the full and final Sabbath Day rest of the people of God, even as we live with the ongoing curse and toil of the Old Creation in this overlap of the ages, we are free from anxiety. In this world, there are still thorns and thistles to contend with, but Jesus was crowned with thorns and the curse has been spent on him. The Christian lives in a whole new world, and Jesus will at last make all things new.  

 

Parish Magazine Item for September

 

From The Rectory

 

The Puritans (the hotter sort of Protestants who flourished in the 17^th Century) are sometimes seen as figures of fun, who wouldn’t have been much fun. I seem to recall an episode of Blackadder which gives a fairly typical, if not entirely encouraging impression. But who wouldn’t want a church which is as pure as humanly possible? Of course there are many other considerations, but it is surely right to be zealous for godliness and not indifferent to matters of doctrine or practice. This is one of the things that all Christians ought to be concerned about which the Puritans can help us to recover. Many of the Puritans were eventually expelled from the Established Church or didn’t feel that they could remain in good conscience, but for some generations the Puritans were an important voice within the Church of England and we do well to listen to them still. They remind us that personal, ecclesiastical and societal reformation are never done. As the old slogan has it, the reformed church is always reforming. Thomas Cranmer, the author of The Book of Common Prayer, would have agreed with that, I think.

Anyway, I took a little book of prayers which draw on the Puritans away with me on holiday this summer. Perhaps not laugh a minute beach reading, you might think, but I found it nourishing to start the day not only with coffee and a croissant, but with a few of these prayers. (Tim Chester, Into His Presence: Praying with the Puritans, The Good Book Company 2022 – an attractive hardback is £9.99; e-book also available – ISBN: 9781784987770 – see thegoodbook.co.uk/into-his-presence for free extras). Often I found the prayers contained some vivid expression. The Puritans were great preachers, after all. And there was plenty worth reflecting on.

 

One of the strengths of the Puritans is what we might sometimes call “application”, which they might have called the “uses” of a doctrine. That is, for them, preaching wasn’t merely an academic exercise or a kind of entertainment. They didn’t want the Rector to give mildly interesting, diverting sermons, but rather to preach the Word in a way that would make a difference. The teaching of the Bible was meant to be transformative. They wanted to spell out the implications of what God was saying for all their hearers and for all areas of life.

 

The prayers in this little book can help us to meditate on Christian truths more deeply. Rather than a mere going through the motions of a form of prayer or a prayer list, they seek to stir up our souls to a passionate love of God and his ways. For example, with Philip Dodderidge, we might pray: “Oh, in what language shall my flame break forth? What can I say but this, that my heart admires you [Lord God], and adores you, and loves you? My little vessel is as full as it can hold; and I would pour out all that fullness before you, that it may grow capable of receiving more and more.” (p47)

 

And I was struck by prayer number 28, from Thomas Watson, which is given the title “Holy Fire”. We pray that our obedience might be free, cheerful, willing, devout, fervent, sincere and not merely for outward appearances or recognition. That we might love our duty. That our hearts might boil over with hot affection for the Lord, that there might be fervent fire upon our sacrifice.  May the beauty, wisdom, holiness and mercy of Christ draw out our love like a magnet. May we ardently desire communion with Christ and hate all that grieves him or separates us from him.

 

Whether or not this book is for you, why not take a moment today to pray and to reflect on some great truth of the Bible: on the love of God, on the death of Christ, on the events summarised in The Apostles’ Creed? What difference might these things make to us? How might they move us to prayer and praise? Ask for God’s grace that you might live today in the light of these things with a purer love and trust for Jesus.

 

The Revd Marc Lloyd

Tim Chester, Into His Presence: Praying with the Puritans

Tim Chester, Into His Presence: Praying with the Puritans (The Good Book Company, 2022) hb with ribbon 207pp

 

I’ve been enjoying using some of these prayers each morning on holiday.

 

In contrast to Banner of Truth’s Valley of Vision, each prayer is based on the work of a particular puritan author. Citations and brief biographical sketches are provided at the back.

 

These eighty prayers are grouped in to sixteen sections such as praise to the Father, gratitude, confession, consecration, for times of temptation, need, anxiety, sickness, for the church, the Lord’s Supper, God’s word, morning and evening, for work, mealtimes etc., so readers might like to choose a prayer from a number of sections each day or look up prayers that might suit their circumstances.

 

Often the prayers express something strikingly or provoke further reflection.

 

Even if we are diligent in daily prayer, these short pieces might prompt us to pray more deeply. For example, I would normally pray for all those with whom I will meet or interact in the coming day, that I might be blessing to them today, or for forthcoming church meetings or services. But Samuel Rutherford is richer: “Lord, grant that the meeting of your people may be a trysting-place where we may feast together, and drink that pure water of life, that flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (p31)

 

With Philip Dodderidge we might pray: “Oh, in what language shall my flame break forth? What can I say but this, that my heart admires you, and adores you, and loves you? My little vessel is as full as it can hold; and I would pour out all that fullness before you, that it may grow capable of receiving more and more.” (p47)

 

Rather than praying merely for God’s wisdom and help, and for godliness, these prayers might encourage us to meditate on what Christ-likeness would mean for us.

 

I was struck by prayer number 28, from Thomas Watson, which is given the title “Holy Fire”. We pray that our obedience might be free, cheerful, willing, devout, fervent, sincere and not merely for outward appearances or recognition. That we might love our duty. That our hearts might boil over with hot affection for the Lord, that there might be fervent fire upon our sacrifice.  May the beauty, wisdom, holiness and mercy of Christ draw out our love like a magnet. May we ardently desire communion with Christ and hate all that grieves him or separates us from him.

 

Prayer 34 (Thomas Brooks) asks that we might see sin in its true colours. That we might see the sharp hook when the devil presents the tempting bait. That we might see the poison hidden in the golden cup. That we might not regard the prospective pleasures of sin, but the misery which sin brings. Let us not play with the bait which Satan holds out to us. May we see sin as we will one day see it: as bitter, ugly and dreadful. May we see what sin cost our Saviour, though Satan may dress it up in fine colours. May these considerations stir up our souls against sin, that we may flee temptation and use all holy means to subdue and destroy it.

 

A frequent theme is that Jesus meets all our needs. He is bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, shelter for the afflicted, home to the lost, rest for the weary, medicine for the sick. When our lives are so often reasonably comfortable and feel okay, we might do well to recall a time when we have been really tired, or hungry, or fearful, and to see in this a picture of the want which Jesus supplies. As George Swinnock puts it, Jesus is “a universal medicine against all sorts of miseries.” (p98) Not that Jesus is there just to make us happy, but that all our true misery can be traced to sin. Jesus is “silver, gold, honour, delight, food, raiment, house, land, peace, wisdom, power, beauty, father, mother, wife, husband, mercy, love, grace, glory, and infinitely more than all these.”