In the third installment on this subject, we get to the heart of the problem the Church is facing. But first, we go back a long way to establish our base point.

We read in the Acts of the Apostles chapter two, that the Holy Spirit comes down. Peter declares that this is the Spirit of Jesus, crucified and risen. Thousands are baptised. They are taught. They share bread. They pray and witness miracles. And they give money to those in need. They discover incredible power and the Church came to lead the society of its time to the extent that by the 4th Century the Roman Emperor said, if you can't beat them - join them!

By the 19th Century, faithful Christians realised that the Church had lost its edge and had relied on the state too much for leadership. So they exploded into life; in foreign missions, building churches, setting up schools and charities. Their members led in the abolition of slavery and in social reform. Once again the Church led the way, by going back to Acts chapter two and "from each according to their ability, giving to each according to their need". 

The tragedy of our era is that the vision of the Victorians has been lost. We are called to be disciples, but have allowed almost every aspect of our lives to be dominated by the market. We have lost the power that comes from sharing our money and become obsessed by getting good value, getting a bargain. We don't expect our politicians to lead us in a debate on how we live, but to run our health, education etc. efficiently. 

The rest of the time we shout "leave us alone". But to do what? To spend our disposable income on conservatories, holidays and DIY. Meanwhile no one is leading society in talking about what makes for a good life, which is what the Church should be doing if only it had proper Christian support. In a survey published this Holy Week, nearly half the country's population say that they believe in the Resurrection. In the Acts account, Christians put their heart in God and they put their money where their heart was. NOT TODAY. We want a Church, most of us, but not if we've got to pay for it. We talk a lot about heart but forget the wallet bit. So when we talk about leadership people laugh at us. We are laughable.

It is time to get strong again. I believe that the death and resurrection of Christ is the most powerful force in the universe; more powerful than armies and markets, more powerful than sex and bombs and football. The Church witnesses to the nation by its presence in every community. It should be praising God, searching out the poorest, staying with those in pain, making beautiful that which hurts, seeking the places of darkest fear and loneliest despair and making Christ's name known in word and gesture. To be about His work in faith and hope and love.

We need to strengthen our witness in the community. It is no answer to give one clergyman more and more parishes to minister to. Christians may not be on the hard benches of churches on Sunday mornings(Pity!), but at the very least they should open their wallets to support what they believe in.
God loves me - How much do I love God?

In a final article on this vital subject in next month's issue I will summarise, give some personal views and invite your active participation in getting our priorities right. For those who cannot wait to get started, speak to your church treasurer or a church member!
 

[Based on Rev'd Dr.Sam Wells' paper - "God Money and the Church; a Theological Perspective".] 
John Harvey
 

Dear Friends
The following is a somewhat condensed version of an article featured recently  in The Church of England  Newspaper.

At his trial at the Old Bailey, back in February, a 21 year old Negro man was sentenced to 4½ years  in gaol for carrying a loaded gun at Notting Hill Carnival.  He admitted that he had also equipped himself that day for pick-pocketing and burglary and possessing cannabis,  having just completed a two-year sentence  in a Young Offenders Institution for robbery.  His name was William Njoh.

Eight years ago this same William Njoh had been lying on a London pavement bleeding from a stab wound to the heart.  Philip Lawrence, Headmaster of William’s school, was murdered when he intervened to stop the bloody scuffle outside his school gates.  He had sacrificed his life in William’s defence.

What would you feel if  your spouse had sacrificed their life  to save the life of someone who would appear  to be set on a life of crime?

The point of my question is this:  Frances Lawrence, widow of the murdered headmaster is , like  her late husband, a practising Christian and Roman Catholic.  She not only attended all three days of the trial but when William Njoh left the court after being sentenced, she blew a kiss to him across the court.  ‘I should like to visit him in prison,’ she said afterwards, ‘but that is up to William.’ She went on to say that it was quite wrong to say that her husband wasted his life on William Njoh simply because,  to date, William had not turned out well.  ‘We have  to help sinners as well as saints,’ she insisted  when interviewed on TV (surely an echo of Jesus: ‘I came not to call the righteous, but sinners,’ Matthew 9:17.

After all, what about  the penitent thief?  If they  had seen him enter  Paradise with   Jesus that Friday afternoon, would people have said to Jesus, ‘You went through all that just for him?!’  And when we look at our own lives, are we not frequently tempted to believe that Christ died in vain when he sacrificed His life to save ours?  ‘But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners   Christ died for us.’ Romans 5:8 .  How amazing is the Grace of God.  How good to see the same Grace of God at work in Frances Lawrence.  How wonderful if the Grace of God were visibly at work in all of us too.

May the events of Good Friday and Easter Day spur us on.