2 Timothy 1 v 1/14
Nothing clarifies the issues of life and death so much as the prospect of death does. Some of us have come close to it when we have had a near death experience, and people in such situations reflect on things most important to them. This is exactly what is in Paul’s mind as he writes what is in effect his last will and testament.

This is the last letter Paul will write as he realises his life is coming to an end, and he wants to ensure the gospel as he had preached was faithfully maintained. He trusted Timothy to take over the ministry he is leaving, but Timothy is a young and timid man, likely to be overawed by the opposition he will face.

The Church had spread rapidly across the Roman Empire after Pentecost, but suddenly being a Christian became a dangerous thing, and it wasn’t popular to mention you were a Christian in public, it was safer not to get involved with Jesus and His followers. Many people have personal experience of that today, as the careers collapsed when it became known they were declared Christians; and I can speak from personal experience myself.

In addition false teachers had crept into positions of influence within the Church, and their teachings were acceptable to those who wished to follow a loose sort of Christianity, just such a thing, again, we find when people are made to feel there are no moral restrictions.

This Letter was, and is, for those who are discouraged by the situation within and without the Church, and is a bold call for perseverance in the face of suffering and persecution.

In verses ½ Paul greets Timothy and reveals his fondness for him, he also reminds him that he (Paul) is an Apostle. Timothy would know that, but Paul knew this Letter would be passed on for many people through the ages to read.

He then in verse 3 assures Timothy that he prays for him and constantly thinks of him. We may all have someone who has inspired us, and who have care enough to pray for us.

In verse 5 Paul refers to the upbringing of Timothy by his mother and grandmother. Most of us older people will have been led to Sunday School by our mothers, something precious left out of most children lives today, which could lay a good foundation for their rest of their lives. I can vividly remember going with my mother, even into the teenage years to Liverpool Cathedral each Sunday afternoon for Evensong.

But Timothy has not only had a wonderful home background, he has also been befriended by Paul a mighty Apostle.

Paul then calls on Timothy not to let that gift be wasted, God has given us a spirit of power not timidity, This is why we must never ever be ashamed of being Christians, or of speaking of the gospel; God has called us to stand up for Him and the Lord Jesus.

Paul says he was not ashamed of the gospel, in fact he glorified in the gospel, and that is what all Christians should do. But sadly I fear we all do not. How many Church members are embarrassed when asked if they believe? Indeed how many are ready to acknowledge they attend Church? How reluctant to answer if asked to give our opinion on moral questions? If you are not ashamed, you are ready to speak out about your faith.

Some people are fearful of their friends finding out they attend Church in case they get mocked, or because it might restrict the way they want to behave. Remember the words of Jesus, ‘for whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this sinful and adulterous generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when He comes in the glory of the Father’.

Jesus in His preaching had two effects; He either saved people or upset them. If we study the preaching of Jesus the people did not always go away smiling, even His own disciples walked away from Him at one time. We like to read and hear the stories of Jesus as long as they do not place too much of an obligation on us. But many did believe in Him and went away with a different reaction.

Preachers now should be prepared to tell the Bible as it is written, telling people what need to hear rather than what they might like to hear. Preachers can however be intimidated and be frightened of upsetting modern susceptibilities. To preach fundamental truth will inevitably cause some upset. But let us take heart from Paul who faced all that could be put against him, and so caused Christianity to spread throughout the ancient world.

I have been to three services in recent times when there has been a child being baptised, with people who have not been to Church for a long time, if ever. What an opportunity of preaching the gospel, yet there has been a nebulous sermon meaning absolutely nothing.

Paul is emphasising there is nothing to be ashamed of. Whilst preaching has now become out of favour, it is nevertheless the primary way of bringing people to know Jesus Christ.

We may offer what is hard for sceptics to believe, but that should not stop us telling it. The gospel does annoy people, so the Church has tried to dilute the message to please and conciliate people to such an extent that it has nothing special to offer. If it is just another social organisation with a religious flavour there is no cause for people to support it.

The gospel is the story of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to be crucified for our sins in order to reconcile us to God. Why should anyone be ashamed to tell that story? We all no doubt are ashamed of things we have done in our lives, and the things we have said but wished we hadn’t, and that is understandable. But we allow ourselves to become ashamed of something for which there is no need to be ashamed of.

The reason he is not ashamed is because the gospel is the power of God leading to salvation for all who believe.

We have to remember we all have to look to the future for the Church is only one generation from extinction. It is easy for those in the older generation to have a spirit of apathy and think I won’t be here so there is no need for me to worry. We must pass on what we have inherited.

This letter is essentially a message for those who may be tempted to give up in times like now when it often seems that those in positions of leadership do not really know what they believe in. Paul reminds us the gospel is worth standing up for; is worth fighting for; and in this Letter Paul goes on to encourage people.

There have been ominous predictions as to the future of the Church in this country as politicians and the judiciary seem to be trying to eradicate Christianity from the public domain. But we can resist and defeat these attacks. If every Church member could bring one family member or friend to attend Church, we can double our membership at one stroke.

There will however as Paul intimates be suffering, for boldness and suffering go together. There is a growing list of people in this country who are suffering for merely allowing their faith to be known; for offering help in Christ’s name; for preaching the gospel in a public place. But we can be assured of God’s grace and protection. As the hymn reads, ‘be bold, be strong, for the Lord your God is with you.’

If we are going to stand up for God we must also be sure and confident in the purity and truth of what we stand for. This is not a popular stance to make in this generation. We have to concede the Church is ever ready to supplant God’s law for the law of the State.

In the stated aim of the government to deal with the prevention of terrorism, a consultation is taking place. Under the proposals universities and colleges will be required to have policies which would require notice to be given by anyone speaking there, so that the authorities could make checks and cancellations if they saw fit, and contents of what would be said with outlines submitted of words to be use have to be made. This means Christian Unions would have to submit in advance what speakers planned to present. Bearing in mind much of the educational establishment is anti-Christian, in the present cultural climate there will be those who will object to any reference to same sex marriage; sexual ethics, abortion, the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, and other biblical teaching. Already some Universities’ Christian Unions have been banned, or had restrictions placed upon them, even to the extent of requiring non Christians to have places of leadership.

In the mainline denominations there are those who are willing to water down the truth of God’s Word and we end up casting doubt on major doctrine and people begin to wonder if Jesus is the only way to heaven, which is in effect to cast doubt on the words of the Lord Himself.

We are at a crossroads in the history of the Church. The Bible states there are two roads, one broad, one narrow; one leads to destruction the other to eternal life in heaven. Be sure you are on the right road.

Last week I wrote about the fact that our Archbishops were more vocal about economic issues than cases where Christians were being discriminated against; and practices were occuring which were distinctly opposed to Christian values and standards.

I read that writer from a Conservative party website had written an article for the Times newspaper in similar vein, but in more strident terms. This caused one commentator to voice criticism that the Archbishop of Canterbury was being unfairly treated.

I accept that Justin Welby is a nice and kind man who works hard and travels much, and also makes many sermons, most of which go unnoticed beyond his particular audience. But I am sure if he was as forceful in protesting at the treatment of Christians and anti-Christian practices as he is when speaking about Wonga, food banks and Credit Unions, many Christians would feel happier and encouraged.

A short while back eighteen bishops wrote a letter to the ‘Times’ referring to the number of people having to use food banks. There are a few regular bishop writers pursuing social matters, which one could normally assume were the province of politicians. No one can deny them the right to also comment, but one could expect the same protestations when Christians are treated with disdain by politicians, judiciary, and over egotistic public officials.

Consider, for example, some dreadful cases over the past few weeks. A man in his spare time held a board condemning same sex marriage and was suspended from his job.

A Muslim woman went to a Christian colleague with a personal problem and the friend tried to help her, but in doing so used Christian words. Although the Muslim woman did not have complaint, she was pressurised by anti Christian attitudes of other (non Muslim) women into making a complaint against her friend. This resulted in the (Christian) woman having her career prospects damaged and led to her being transferred to a lesser work.

This means that Christians are the victims of political correctness gone berserk, and work places become like vocal minefields, where people cannot even hold dearly held beliefs without threats of penalisation. Where is the free speech our politicians were bleating about last week?

A long serving magistrate passed his opinion in a private discussion that a child being placed for adoption should be placed in a man/woman home rather than in a same sex partnership. He was complained against and the Lord Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor were so horrified they took action against him.

The magistrate was the victim here of prejudice and ideological grounds by the very people who complained and want to force a climate in which alternative relationships are enforced. It has been well documented by sociologists and child specialists that children should be brought up by a mother and father wherever and whenever that option exists

Now we have a programme being initiated by what is called CHIPS, Challenging Homophobia in Primary Schools. In this unbelievable outrageous programme children of tender years are made to participate in cross gender dressing, creating a wedding scene featuring two men and screening a US news item about a 7-year old boy, who identifies as a girl, winning a legal battle to use the girls' toilets at school. Children are being worked on in the classroom, to praise a particular sexual orientation. Policies have been developed and teaching is being delivered that did not involve any consultation with parents.

The Education Secretary has closed a school and put another one under special measures after in one a young girl did not know what a lesbian meant. Other questions were asked by Inspectors of a diverse nature to young children. It would be more appropriate for the Education Secretary to be put under special measures.

These are the matters we should expect our Christians leaders to be speaking out on. It appears the only man prepared to come out and do so is Bishop Nazir-Ali.

The Conversion of Paul (Acts 9)

Sunday is the day the Church honours the greatest name in the service of Christ, the Apostle Paul. The passage from Acts tells the story of his conversion. It is unique in the sense that Paul himself was unique.

Paul was a deeply religious man, a strict Pharisee, a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, who studied at Jerusalem University under the distinguished Rabbi Gamaliel. Prior to becoming a Rabbi he was by trade a tent maker.

He was a dedicated persecutor of Christians who he hunted with much determination. It was his sincere belief that in doing so he was pleasing God. He could not accept as a Jew that Jesus could possibly be the anticipated Messiah, for anyone executed by crucifixion was thought to be beyond God’s acceptance. He was not satisfied with hounding Christians in Jerusalem, but sought to go beyond that city.

Whilst on a journey to Damascus, without any warning, he was struck by a dazzling light and heard a voice asking him, ‘why do you persecute me?’ Paul said, ‘who are you Lord?’ Such a light caused blindness as a sign of divine revelation. The voice is accepted to have been of Jesus, enabling Paul always to claim to have heard from the risen Christ, so being called by Jesus in a very special way, and being given special authority and commission.

Paul would eventually write 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament.

Jesus was demonstrating to Paul that his attack on Christians was in effect an attack on Jesus. This was God’s plan for a change in Paul’s life, in which he would offer such zeal and lead so many to know the Lord, creating Churches around the ancient world. Paul would become an Apostle to the Gentiles. God wants us to see in this conversion the most unlikely people can be converted, and not only people from respectable families are called into God’s service. His conversion was a work of divine grace.

The Lord prepared for a prominent Christian, Ananias, to got to a house in the city where he would find Paul. This shook Ananias for Paul’s reputation as a persecutor of Christians was well known, but he did as God had told him, for the Lord had indicated that He was going to use Paul. Paul would later claim God had marked him out before he was born.

Paul would spend days of fasting and much suffering in the service of his Lord; beaten, stoned, chased out of cities, imprisoned, yet he never wavered in his devotion.

Following his conversion Paul travelled widely across the ancient world planting Churches and arranging financial aid to those in need. Finally he arrived back in Jerusalem with money collected, but against the advice of his friends.

Paul was told it would be dangerous for him to go to Jerusalem for Jewish Christians objected to him allowing Gentile Christians to worship in the Temple. Despite this he went and a riot broke out which resulted in Paul being arrested and taken to a Roman fortress. When he claimed he was a Roman citizen the commander released him, and he appeared before the Jewish Sanhedrin. When he there spoke of the resurrection of the dead he further upset them and was taken back to the fortress.

It became known that forty Jews were dedicated to killing Paul, so he was taken under guard to the Roman procurator Felix in Caesarea, where he was kept for two years. A new procurator was appointed and Paul demanded to appear before the Roman Emperor so was sent to Rome, but if he had not so demanded he would probably have been freed.

Eventually he arrived in Rome where he was kept under house arrest for two years, and his ultimate fate is not really known. It is a legend that he was beheaded.

The experience of Paul has been mocked and ridiculed and all sorts of explanations offered to try and discredit the story, but Paul always insisted and testified for the rest of his life, as to what happened on the road to Damascus, when it would have been easier for him not to do so, and would have saved him much hardship.

Never let us challenge, but rather thank God for this great Apostle whose writings teach us so much to the benefit of our faith.

+FREEDOM OF SPEECH. (British style)


Last week world leaders gathered in Paris to express solidarity in the right for freedom of speech. Amongst those was the arch-hypocrite David Cameron representing of course the United Kingdom, that ‘so called’ bastion of free speech.

There could be not justification for the murderous attack on the Paris newspaper; or for the action in burning down over 45 Churches in Africa; but at the same time the action in mocking religion was deliberate provocation.

Christianity is daily the subject of vile mockery and ridicule, but nowhere in the world would Christians even consider violence against the perpetrators.

What does offend Christians is the fact that criticising us is perfectly acceptable to the present government in this country, but not a word nay be uttered even in a mild way against same sex marriage, homosexuality, race or gender without the threat of prosecution.

A few weeks ago whilst answering questions in the House of Commons, Cameron was asked by a Northern Ireland member, if in view of the fact that a devout Christian baker who refused to bake a cake with the words ‘support gay marriage’ engraved on was threatened with prosecution, he would allow a conscience clause to be added to the law, to allow this man to express his view. Cameron replied that he was not aware of the case, but no.

Last week the Chief Judge and Chris Grayling the Cabinet Justice Minister ordered a magistrate should undergo diversity training because he had expressed a view, privately in a magistrates’ room, that he felt it was in the best interest for a child who was to be placed for adoption, to be raised by a father and mother. This was a man who had been a magistrate for 15 years, with a lot of experience of real life.

When the Mail on Sunday tried to enquire about the case, they were warned by the Clerk of the Court not to pursue their enquiries.

In fact, the real cause for complaint about prejudice and discrimination relates to those who are constantly striving to involve same sex couples on ideological grounds. Research by eminent sociologists and medical experts
All suggest that a child needs, and benefits, from being raised by male and female parents.

The Cabinet Minister had himself at one time expressed the view that a person should be allowed to express their conscience concerns when he sympathised with a couple who refused to allow a homosexual couple to occupy a double room in their B&B.

Why can't the voice of Christians be heard? One voice which you can rely on not to be heard is that of the Church establishment.

The Archbishop of York has just published a book of essays compiled by various left wing writers (naturally), criticising the government’s economic policy. The Archbishop of Canterbury has thrown in his contribution, suggesting the cities and towns are being ignored at the expense of middle England, despite all the evidence being to the contrary. All this timed of course to be released just prior to the general election

Notice how silent the Archbishops are when such cases outlined above are revealed, and I could quote numerous others in similar vein. They would prefer to play at politics instead of leading the Christian and moral protest at the way the government aided by the judiciary are forcing Christianity out of the public domain.

However, there was one voice we can always count on for Christian support, and that is from the man who should have been our Archbishop, and I include his writing on the 'MAil on Sunday' newspaper.

Michael Nazir-Ali, former Bishop of Rochester, said the Lord Chancellor had 'declared war on faith'

By MICHAEL NAZIR-ALI, FORMER BISHOP OF ROCHESTER
So, it has come to this!

For more than 1,500 years, Christianity has formed and undergirded the public law of this land. Now, the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice, by disciplining Richard Page JP, have declared war on even residual notions of the faith having any place in our legal processes.

Until the recent ‘equality’ legislation, the teaching of the Book of Common Prayer was reflected in the law on marriage. Now, even to allow such teaching to be taken into account, in reaching a legal decision, is said to be ‘bigoted’ and ‘prejudiced’.

This is but the latest in a long line of cases having the effect of excluding Christians from public service and holding public office.

Both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention guarantee not only freedom of belief and conscience but also the right to manifest such belief in public or in private.

In spite of subscribing to the UN Declaration and the European Convention, and contrary to our own Human Rights Act, the Government and law officers, it seems, are intent on preventing Christians from manifesting their belief in the public sphere.
The implications are wider than that for what is said about Mr Page could apply equally to Jews, Muslims and others.

The chief law officers of the Crown allege that Mr Page has improperly allowed his religious beliefs to influence his decision.

It is true that Mr Page cannot exclude what his faith teaches from his consideration of these matters but, as he says, his decision was not based solely on his religious beliefs, or, indeed, simply because of the sexual orientation of the couple involved.
It was taken for objective reasons in the interests of the child and for the common good.

The highest law officers of the land have not only issued a reprimand to Mr Page but require him to receive remedial training. This smacks to me of the ‘re-education’ camps so beloved of totalitarian Marxist states.

Is this the way to promote liberty or is freedom of speech and belief only for a liberal elite with politically correct views?

Almost a Christian
I want to turn to a verse in Acts of the Apostles, ‘almost you persuade me to be a Christian’.

During my years of ministry I have interviewed many people regarding baptisms, weddings or funerals, and the most common statement made is ‘we don’t go to church, but we are Christians’; or,’ ‘you don’t have to go to Church to be a Christian as long as you are a good person’. This is always volunteered, sometimes challengingly, indeed even aggressively; I suppose to ease the conscience. For someone who has no religious association or commitment to say this to a clergyman may seem to be both arrogant and impertinent.

A lady who was a stalwart of her local church once said to me ‘Vicar, I heard a man say on Songs of Praise last week that he had attended Church for many years but had only just become a Christian. What did he mean?’
This is a popular reaction. It is just assumed that if one is not an atheist or member of another faith one is per se a Christian. There is a little more to it than that.

The word Christian was originally a term of derision against the first followers of Jesus, and it is fast becoming an abusive term in this country by public officials, secularists and the judiciary, who want to eradicate Christianity from public life.

To become a Christian there must be an encounter with Jesus Christ. People have been urged to declare themselves a Christian without being told what that entails. Being born in a Christian country, to Christian parents, in a Christian home, does not make one a Christian. You cannot inherit Christianity. It is more than living up to a system of morals or ethics. Even Church attendance, however necessary and how much it is part of Christian life, does not on its own make you one. There has to be a conscious decision made, in which one wants to invite Christ into their life. You realise you have been offending against God and now want to live a life as laid down by Jesus and have Him come in to your life to give it new direction.

The Bible says we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and so we need forgiveness, and the only way we can get God’s forgiveness is through Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross to pay the penalty for our misbehaviour. You need saving from your sins, and the only way is through Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made on the Cross. You have to realise that and decide you need His forgiveness. You then make a positive decision that you will turn to Christ and follow His way of living.

That deliberate decision, and subsequent commitment, may come from
hearing a preacher. A lady used to visit my Church very irregularly and one day she came and after the service said, ‘whenever I come here I feel you are getting at me’. I pointed out that as I was unaware she would be attending it may be that someone higher than me was getting at her.

It may come reading the Bible; even if you have read something many times, one time God will use that word to speak to you.
It may come from seeing a poster with a religious message. The London City Mission posted many messages on the underground system, which spoke vividly to people. I found that posters with a catchy message on, placed on the Church notice board had an effect too.

People have on many occasions been introduced by a friend, which is why it is so important to let people know of our Churches and what they can offer.
However it comes, you will know it has come. Christianity is not a vague feeling, it is something you can know and you know whether you believe it or not.

This will necessitate a change in living. You know there are certain activities which are no longer acceptable; the ways of the world are replaced by the ways of Christ. This will mean you will inevitably declare yourself to be a Christian, which will involve mockery and taunting, and mean you can’t join in any falsehoods, immorality or things unethical anymore.

Of course there will be temptations to face. There will be Sunday mornings when you will not feel like going out to Church and you think, ‘oh they won’t miss me at church this morning’. Never feel you won’t be missed. Whilst I am sure your fellow Church members will miss you, God will certainly miss you. Church should come before the golf club or shopping trip or whatever. It is only one hour per week for most people, and if we can’t give that, then there is certainly something very amiss in our life.

The reason there is so much unhappiness, trouble, and broken homes in the nation, is through the absence of Christian values. Children are facing a deprived life in many homes as parents do not have the time, inclination, or belief, to teach their children basic bible stories, and so many children haven’t the faintest knowledge of any character or major festivals of the Church. A lot of schools have virtually given up teaching Christianity, often in preference to other faiths.

Be ready to take a full part in Church life and enjoy the joy of coming to share worship with your fellow Christians. The Church is here to bring people to knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is not a spiritual dispensary to hand out soothing syrup, but to proclaim God’s Message as it is written. We take the bread and wine at the table of our Lord, when we remember His blood shed on the cross for us, and as we eat the bread we remember the broken body given for us, and Jesus can become very close.

A Christian needs discipline in his/her life, for the Bible says we have to
take on those who are out to make us give in. The Bible likens the relationship of Christ and a follower to that of a husband wife relationship in marriage. When a man proposes to a woman to marry him and she agrees, they remain unmarried until they promise their commitment to each other in the marriage service. They then begin their life together facing both difficulties and happiness together. So in the Christian life it is when we declare our commitment to Christ, we become a Christian and face life with Him in all that life puts before us.

We all have to ask, ‘am I living the Christian life?’ People like to divide the world into two groups the good and bad, with ourselves of course in the good category. God is believed to judge the bad but would not judge us. It is too easy to see people behaving worse than us, and convince ourselves we are all right. The point is, whilst some are offending worse than us, we are all offending in some way. We may not plant bombs like some do, but the tongue can be equally explosive in its own way. So let us consider Christian living.

Jesus said, ‘behold I stand at the door and knock and if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me.’ In the East inviting a person to sit and eat with you infers you are inviting that person to have a special place in your life.

If there is anyone reading this message who has not yet invited Jesus into their life, then I urge you to consider making that decision and give Him that special place in your life, He is waiting at the door for your invitation.

But let us have sincerity. Today a cushy Christianity obtains in many places with the intention to say pleasant words which people want to hear. Rogue traders make goods and put the stamp of a famous name on them. Rogue Christian teachers are putting God’s stamp on their own brand of Christianity, even supporting behaviour which at one time would not even be mentioned.

We are witnessing in this country at the present time a rush of politicians wanting to put their name to Christianity. David Cameron has stated how important Christianity is, even professing evangelical zeal for the faith; yet he is the one who had a passion for same sex marriage without anyone being allowed by law to exercise their right of conscience against it. Eric Pickles has stated the importance of the faith and nobly restored the right of Councils to include prayers in their meetings following a Court’s ruling against it, but at the same time his Department which owns public buildings refused to allow Christian organisations to hold meetings because of their objection to the same sex marriage bill. True profession is matched by action.

These people are members of a government which continues the Labour government’s policy of waging an attack on the Roman Catholic’s wonderful adoption agencies, so sacrificing the chances of children from being placed into loving homes because it properly refuses to place children into care of two same sex people.

It is total and disgraceful hypocrisy to loudly proclaim Christianity and advocate and support that which is un-Christian.

Our nation so badly needs Christian men and women who are altogether Christians, not almost ones.

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The Letter of Jude
Last week I wrote that we should not be ashamed of the gospel and now I invite you to look with me at the smallest book of the Bible, the Letter of Jude which is right at the end of the New Testament. It is only 25 verses long but itsmessage is timelessly relevant and is a natural follow up to last week’s message.

This Letter does not appear in the Lectionary at any time and is seldom if ever preached upon. The only time I have heard it preached was by an old Scottish Minister on Stornoway. It is probably the most unpopular Letter in the New Testament, and it seems so wrong that it should be so neglected, but it is an anathema to the politically correct elite who dominate our society and have infiltrated our Churches, as it deals with absolutes and does not support the loose morality which exists.

Jude intended to write a letter about salvation, but noticed he faced Christianity being attacked from outside the Church and also from within. He found preachers were preaching false doctrine and advocating a gospel which fitted within their desires and approach and he saw a dishonouring of Christ which led to a deceiving of souls. They were teaching that God’s grace is so wide He will forgive any sin, but God set moral boundaries to define right from wrong. This is why it is so relevant for us today, for we have to face attack from outside the Church, and like Jude from false teaching within.

I want to just look at verse 3 and 4, but would suggest when you have time at home, that you read the rest of the 25 verses. ‘I exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.’

It is in fact a call to arms for Christians and the Church, especially in Western countries. These are dark days for the Church. We live in a society that largely rejects religion and regards God as having no place in their lives. We live in times when truth is no longer taken as read, but rather accepted as being just what you want it to be. All the boundaries have been swept away, the spiritual moorings have been eroded, and morality is no longer based on Biblical teaching.

For many hundreds of years this country has been Christian. During this time Christians have played a major role in the abolition of slavery, the development of hospitals and education, and Methodist Christians were prominent in the formation of trades unions and workers rights, and generally the Church has been a force for good.

It has become fashionable to say we have from the past and not be ‘old fashioned’, to move on

As for the term, ‘we have moved on’. That is a simplistic and euphemistic way of saying, ‘we don’t have your values any more, and they are out of date and old fashioned.’ As I look at society today, it does not appear as if the new and current fashion is anything to boast about.

These are dark days indeed in which we are living. We find our faith is under sustained attack by public service officials who would like to phase out Christianity from public life. (Other faiths seem to have privilege status)

It seems to be open season for attacks and suppression of Christian belief. Our Prime Minister is always criticising other countries for lack of free speech, but under his direct rule anyone who voices any opposition to his same sex marriage is abused and faces legal action.

Contrast that to the freedom Islam has to express its feelings on issues, which sometimes have validity, but if a Christian was to state the same words there would be outrage.

This is why I believe verse 3 in Jude’s letter is so important for all Christians of every denomination and of every age range to ‘contend for the faith’, that is, the body of truths that make up the Christian gospel. All Christians should be most concerned at the way things are going. The position is serious, and if Christianity is pushed out, the spiritual vacuum will be filled by something which might be quite unpleasant.

What Jude is saying is ‘wake up Church it is time to get back to the gospel that was once given’. The Bible states that Jesus died once and for all. It was finished complete by Him, and there is nothing that must be added or taken away. The Bible also states He is the only way to salvation.

There are preachers one hears and you wonder why they bother. What point is there in preaching if you don’t mention the Cross, the teaching of Jesus, the requirement to acknowledge the authority of revealed Scripture?
What is at stake here is the essential Christian message. The Christian message is that all people have rebelled against God and tried to reject Him. It is felt we can do a better job ourselves and say to God, ' I want to run my life my own way.' We deserve God's judgement for that, but God in His mercy doesn't want it to come to that. He wants us to be forgiven and change our ways and let him have His rightful place in our lives. That is why Jesus was sent to redeem us by dying on the cross in our place - taking the judgement we deserve so we could be forgiven.

That is the Bible’s message, the message which the Church must preach. It is the duty and responsibility of the Church to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ as it is written. God chose forty men and used their distinctive personalities to write what He inspired them to write, and that is what Christians should live by and seek to promote.. It is God’s Word and we have to defend and guard it.

There are those who teach that the gospel can be revised and re-interpreted to meet today’s culture, as if God was only for first century Christians. False teachers want to completely change the Church’s teaching, so that all religions are equal, all sexual relationships are acceptable and equal and not just marriage; that gender has no relevance in life.

This is what makes evangelism so hard. People seeking spiritually look at such wrangling and understandably say, ‘if the Church itself cannot agree on such matters, how can it teach us?’ The Bible is unequivocal that God loves all people, but is also clear that God saw marriage as the bedrock of society; that men and women are equal in His sight but have different roles in life, and Jesus is the only Saviour.

So we have a Church struggling with false teaching within, against a world which refused to accept Jesus Christ and His teaching.

What we should be concerned about is that this moral and truth decay is within the Church. We are told we live in a tolerant age but the people who call for tolerance are often the most intolerant. Well has it been said there is nothing more illiberal than a liberal. Pope Benedict made an understatement when he once said we are becoming a secularised society.

It is hard to quote the Bible without someone saying ‘Oh you shouldn’t say that.’ The Bible states, ‘salvation is found in no other name under heaven except Jesus Christ’.

The Bible states’ Jesus said no one can come to the Father except through me’, yet many preachers are dodging quoting this. If we avoid telling these verses how are people ever to come to know the gospel.

Have you ever heard a Muslim cleric deny or challenge any words in the Koran?

One of the biggest problems the Church faces is apathy, which is why Christianity has fallen to such low level and why morality is so poor. It is so easy in the times we live in to opt out, saying, ‘there is no point in fighting them.’ Can you imagine what would have happened if Winston Churchill had have said in 1940, ‘there is no use in us fighting, the enemy is too powerful.’

Let us remember there are Christians being persecuted in non Christian lands with violence, arson, and yes even murder. Hundreds have been killed in the last few months in Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia and Nigeria. Whole villages ransacked, yet they valiantly fight on for their Lord and Saviour. How pathetic if we let some vociferous secularists silence us.

There are those within the Church who find the Bible’s commands too restrictive and wish to put forward an alternative outlook, often to fit in with their own lives.

We need to be contending for the faith, especially to any non believers in our families, and challenging those who mock. Can you imagine the outcome if Islam was abused in the same way as Christianity.

I fully recognise it is principally the clergy’s responsibility to fight to preserve and spread the (true) gospel, but Church members do have a duty to assist. I have already written that you can do that by letting your beliefs be made known and defended, and by advertising your Church membership. I think the Churches should graduate away from the regular set services to engage in a more evangelistic way by for example praise services which I have found to be very popular.

The country is in spiritual death throes and in need of intensive care. This is why we must contend for the faith. How God must weep when He sees the Church singing His praise, pretending to be holy, whilst countenancing and failing to speak out on moral issues and totally ignoring His written Word.

Idealistic people say we just have to do our own thing; God will provide and look after His Church. God will indeed provide and care for His Church, but He requires His people to do their part.

My friends, it is the duty of the Church to teach the gospel and not to budge from it. We are not to be blown by every new spiritual wind so that we drift from our moorings. We are not to be superficial believers. Hold fast to the gospel once given by the Apostles who were taught by the Master Himself. Today people are being drawn away from the doctrines of the Bible as judgement is becoming a censored word.

The Anglican Church (in the West) is too ready to fall in line with society’s attitudes and accept that State laws override God’s laws. If the Church is to be part of the truly Catholic and Apostolic Church we must keep apostolic teaching delivered to the first Christian Church. We cannot stand fast unless we hold fast the traditions. When any Church forsakes apostolic teaching it will fall into error and weakness will ensue.

We have read the Archbishop of Canterbury rejoices in the appointment of women bishops, yet we have broken away with 2000 years of tradition, which in effect is saying the Church has been wrong all these years and the Roman Catholic Church is still wrong. Is the Bible also wrong?

When I read the declaration of the Anglican Church in North America I at first thought how wonderful to see such firm statement of belief, and then on reflection thought this is in reality what the Church of England was built upon until it was tainted by false preachers. I wish the ACNA every blessing and pray it will stay firm and true in its stated beliefs.
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ROMANS 1 v 16/25
Why do so few people attend Church? Where going to Church was once as normal as going to work or any other activity, this is no longer the case.

It is generally recognised that this is largely a godless nation. Most people believe that there is a God, they just don’t want Him to interfere in their lives. We forget or ignore the fact we owe life and breath to Him, but we still want Him to be available when we have a problem in our lives. People get annoyed when He does not act to their bidding even though they have no time for Him at other times. We were created with a soul, with a spirit. All of us were made in the image of God. All of us were made to have a relationship with God.

But there is a section of people who do feel a spiritual need, as was witnessed at Christmas when many Churches saw increased congregations.

We have to also accept that the Church exists primarily for one purpose, to proclaim the Christian gospel. All other activities are subsidiary. It is good and helpful to have involvement in social activities, but the primary means of bringing people to Christ is through the preaching of the gospel. If we restrict that then we have no claim to be here; people can get social amenities from many sources, they can only get the gospel from the Church.

What has dissuaded a lot of people is the failure of the Church to preach a united message. The Bible states a house divided against itself will fall, and politicians have found to their cost that any Party which is divided in its policies will lose support. So it is with the Church; people are confused as to what we believe and teach.

People have a right to expect a positive message when they attend Church, a biblical message. This is why Billy Graham became the most successful preacher of all time. His preaching was uncompromising and people flocked in their tens of thousands to hear him, and they respected him for his directness.

The Bible should be the basis for ALL our preaching, it is the foundation of all truth. We cannot just pick and choose which parts we want, and cast out those which are not popular with society or might cast doubt on our way of living. We should all be preaching on the same lines.

The Churches have largely replaced God’s law to placate and win favour from the State and its people. Consequently fidelity to Scripture is avoided because preachers are ashamed to preach the Bible.

This brings me to v16/17 of today’s passage from Romans.
‘I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; to the Jew first and then the Gentile.. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: the righteous shall live by faith’.

Paul is writing to Christians in Rome, the mightiest city of the day, a city full of learning yet also full of immorality, where Christianity would not be appreciated, and he was ready and eager to go and preach the gospel no matter what the cost even though Christians were in danger of persecution; a sort of London of the day. He had been beaten, stoned and left for dead as a result of his preaching, but never gave up; now he is in the most powerful city in the then world. We need to look at particular words in the passage.

Paul says he was not ashamed, in fact he glorified in the gospel and that is what all Christians should do. But sadly I fear we all do not. How many Church members are embarrassed when asked if they believe? Indeed how many are ready to acknowledge they attend Church? How reluctant to answer if asked to give our opinion on moral questions? If you are not ashamed, you are ready to speak out about your faith.

Some people are fearful of their friends finding out they attend Church in case they get mocked, or because it might restrict the way they want to behave. Remember the words of Jesus, ‘for whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this sinful and adulterous generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when He comes in the glory of the Father’.

Jesus in His preaching had two effects; He either saved people or upset them. If we study the preaching of Jesus the people did not always go away smiling, even His own disciples walked away from Him at one time. We like to read and hear the stories of Jesus as long as they do not place too much of an obligation on us. But many did believe in Him and went away with a different reaction.

Preachers now should be prepared to tell the Bible as it is written, telling people what need to hear rather than what they might like to hear. Preachers can however be intimidated and be frightened of upsetting modern susceptibilities. To preach fundamental truth will inevitably cause some upset. But let us take heart from Paul who faced all that could be put against him, and so caused Christianity to spread throughout the ancient world.

I have been to three services in recent times when there has been a child being baptised, with people who have not been to Church for a long time, if ever. What an opportunity of preaching the gospel, yet there has been a nebulous sermon meaning absolutely nothing.

Paul is emphasising there is nothing to be ashamed of. Whilst preaching has now become out of favour, it is nevertheless the
primary way of bringing people to know Jesus Christ.

We may offer what is hard for sceptics to believe, but that should not stop us telling it. When we tell how God took a young Jewish girl and caused her to conceive by the power of the Hoy Spirit; that when this child became man He performed miraculous deeds and eventually gave His life by a cruel death on a Cross, in order that God would forgive people of their sins: that three days late would rise from the dead as a sign that one day all who believe in Him and accept Him as Saviour, would live eventually with Him in heaven.

The gospel does annoy people, so the Church has tried to dilute the message to please and conciliate people to such an extent that it has nothing special to offer. If it is just another social organisation with a religious flavour there is no cause for people to support it.

Then look at what is meant by the gospel. How many Christians I wonder would be able to answer if asked what the gospel is?

The gospel is the story of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to be crucified for our sins in order to reconcile us to God. Why should anyone be ashamed to tell that story? We all no doubt are ashamed of things we have done in our lives, and the things we have said but wished we hadn’t, and that is understandable. But we allow ourselves to become ashamed of something for which there is no need to be ashamed of.

The reason he is not ashamed is because the gospel is the power of God leading to salvation for all who believe.

For all who believe. This power is for everyone who believes. This means more than just believing there is a God, the devil accepts that. It is not enough to just hear and say you believe, it demands a response. God wants all people to turn to Him.

To the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Greek is meant to refer to non Jews)The Jews were God’s chosen people. Jesus sent His Apostle to the lost sheep of Israel, for as God’s people He wanted them to have salvation first. When they refused to listen to Him God directed the Gentiles should be brought into the Kingdom. Let us remember, all but one writer of the Bible was a Jew; our Lord was Himself a Jew; and we worship the God of Israel, and we should pray for the mission to the Jews.

For in it the Righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. We cannot make ourselves righteous before God, but we can be through Jesus’ atoning death. Jesus acts as a bridge between God and us, putting us in good standing in God’s eyes, making it thus possible for us to be acceptable to God. This is God’s powerful way of bringing all who believe to heaven. We are saved by grace (Great Riches At Christ’s Expense) through faith, and when we believe fully in Christ we are in a right relationship with God.

Faith. You must have faith and believe. We are prepared to place our faith in many people, but reluctant to trust in God. We travel by plane and put our faith that the pilot knows what he is doing although we know nothing about him. If you go to the doctor for some illness and he gives you a prescription, you then get dispensed and take, trusting the doctor and the chemist, but you don’t just leave it in a cupboard if you want to get better. So with the gospel; there is no point in just seeking a spiritual prescription; you have to take that by faith, which means reaching out to God and accepting the gospel.

The key word is righteousness, which means to have a right standing in God’s eyes. It’s a legal term which means to declare “not guilty” and to declare “innocent of all charges.” When we believe, repent and have faith, we are justified, just as if we had not sinned.

When we use the word justified in normal language, we mean we try to prove we were right in our actions. But we cannot prove ourselves to God; He is the One who puts us in the right when He forgives by His grace through our faith.

In conclusion, never be ashamed of the gospel. When Paul wrote to Timothy he told him not to have a spirit of timidity, but be ready to preach the word that God saved us by His grace which He has given us through Christ Jesus.
Let us Christians be as proud of our faith as other faiths are of theirs, remembering there is salvation in no one else than Jesus, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we can be saved.