In the face of an increasingly nihilistic, relativistic world, I want to be part of that Church that carries out the anchor of Christ into the middle of the maelstrom. I want to be part of that Church that is expressing a Gospel oriented life-style that is the only hope for this world. I want to be part of that Church that continues to recognise the reality of individual and systemic sin, and that while we remain ignorant of it or party to it, this world is destined for destruction. I want to be part of that Church that offers warning to those who do not live under the grace of God, through Jesus Christ. I want to be part of that Church that says there is not one of us immune from the cultural viruses of modernity and indeed, postmodernity. If the twentieth century has taught us anything, it has taught us that there is not one of us who, under certain circumstances, could not be conditioned to support the hero-leader who would “redeem” the world at the push of a glowing red button. I want to be part of that Church that insists that Jesus of Nazareth, the God of the margins, the God of the poor and powerless, is the only solution for the world. But as I listen to so many of the dominant voices of our era I tremble at how quickly the contagions of aggression and self-interest and unreason are spreading. I want to be part of that Church that continues to warn our children about the corrupting nature of power, the dangers of wealth and the need to handle both with great care. I want to be part of that Church that recognises that the rich language and heritage of the West has been debased by misuse and maleficent manipulation. I want to be part of that Church that warns its children not to be swept up by all kinds of new teaching; that the secular sages have even invaded the sanctuaries and God is invoked with equal shallowness by politician, patriot and prosperity preacher. I want to be part of that Church that responds to this world of aggression, deception and self-interest with forgiveness, truth and goodwill. I want to be part of that Church that says that success is not distinctively Christian, but rather teaching our children to freely accept and give love. I want to be part of that Church that teaches its children to live at risk with mystery and to live with at peace with mortality. I want to be part of that Church that demonstrates hospitality to refugees, prisoners and the survivors of torture. I want to be part of that Church that is moving out into the unknown of God’s future with confidence. I want to be part of that Church that is intentional in its sowing of the seeds of the Gospel; but that resists the temptations to manipulate and coerce. In the words of the novelist, the late Morris West: “Where they [the seeds] fall, God knows; but some take root and flowers bloom in strange places, a beauty in miniature, a tiny cosmos defying the lunatic chaos of our time.”

Blessings in Jesus’ name

KIM THODAY, HEWETT COMMUNITY CHURCH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

http://www.hewett.org.au