Some of these entries are off the cuff, some of these are thought through over hours and in some cases days and longer. This one is perhaps something that has been ticking under the radar for roughly ten years now.
I am from an age that remembers young people expressing themselves through grafitti. It was a form of rebellion and often it upset society. One form of this expression was to let the viewer know the artist’s presence had adorned that particular area in the eloquent words such as ‘Chris Woz ‘Ere’. Of course this was almost like branding and marking your territory and the authorities for all their knowing that Chris was there still found him somewhat elusive to apprehend and hold accountable for his acts of vandalism. Nevertheless he left his mark of that there could be no doubt.
I was thinking about in the context of the church. (Not why there isn’t more grafitti!) The thought came about through looking at that wonderful word vocation. The Call. Throughout history people have responded to the Call on their lives. Something about this Call, however, is that is not only informs what is to be done, it also prescribes a place to do it. I’m intrigued as to whether or not the church is in the right place to fulfill its call. Is it where it is supposed to be?
The age of Christendom gave a nominal nod to the influence of Christianity in every area of life – not just the rites of passage such as birth, marriage and burial. Men of faith were consulted and key developments in society from the school and hospital to the welfare state itself were birthed in Christian concepts and thus somewhat associated with the church. History states even some of the major football teams came from our church. Yet slowly and inexorably the influence of the church has been marginalised, much to the chagrin of some who pine for the old days. Now, however, in English society the role of the church and its place in the community has been challenged, isolated and in some places neutralised. It is viewed as something to be pursued privately. Matters of faith in the workplace are reduced to small prayer clubs scattered here and there and it dare not influence policy especially in the light of equalities legislation. The pursuit of the level playing field in society promotes a secular agenda and now the Church should content itself with being a paracetamol for the conscience of those who need some relief for any spiritual headache. It dare not do anything else. It comes back to the queation however of the true location of the church. Should it content itself with being a private affair refusing to upset the status quo. Is the call of the church to build facilities and expect people to go and get their stuff from these places? I read of how forces of secularisation and privatisation force the church to be inoffensive to the new public will as expressed via a neutral state. Churches must comply with these requirements to access public funds and in so doing splinter off into good causes with no evangelical zeal attached, and slowly get compromised into being a social agency of little spiritual substance.
So where is the Church to be located? Where did God say? As I read it, as the gathered people of God called to be a royal priesthood proclaiming the excellencies of Christ, that places the Church as a presence throughout all life. That light should be clearly seen in all life – political, social, educational, wherever God’s people are should be a living demonstration of the gospel and Kingdom Life and that should be costly.
I am constantly challenged as to whether that is the reality in my workplace, in my home and through my life. I am constantly challeneged as to whether the church fulfils its vocation in its location and by that I’m talking of the community and social life rather than the inner confines of its own gathering.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 