2 Peter.1 v16

I want to turn with you to words of  Peter,. For we have not followed cleverly invented myths when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.       

     As we gather here this morning we reflect on the numbers of people who have come through these doors over the years.  There was a time when the church stood as a beacon of light in a dark world; a place where hope, inspiration and encouragement were given.  Sadly, to-day’s world thinks it can provide such things for themselves without any help from the Almighty.

  These are dark days for the Church in this country.  We live in a society which largely rejects God, and regards Church and Christianity as totally irrelevant to their lives. 

  Many of us here grew up when it was the natural thing as a child,

 to be sent to Sunday school, sing in the church choir, and accompany   parents to Church.  People may not have known the Bible thoroughly, but they knew the main stories and understood what the major festivals meant. 

Young people now know little, if any, about Jesus and the great names of the men and women of the Bible.  Easter and Christmas are times for holidays, presents, and food and drinks. The spiritual meanings of these two major days, mean nothing to them.

The Church was held in general respect, and the Vicar was a prominent member of the community. Politicians were supportive of the Church and were Christian in belief.  This is not so at the present time..                          Now that has all changed. Generations have grown up with having one government ‘Party which doesn’t don’t do God, and any religious education is nothing about the Church or the faith. 

 Politicians have enacted legislation which is offensive to Christian belief and teaching, and which is supported by all parties, .The judiciary seems intent on suppressing every expression of Christian faith by word or symbol.

Contrast that with The United States where politicians from the highest level, proclaim their faith  and respect the Church and its clergy.   

What people fail to realise is that if Christianity is erased from public life it will create a vacuum which will be filled by something else less pleasant.  

Our faith is mocked as being fairy tale stuff, fantasy, pie in the sky, and these are just the polite epithets. 

But we do not follow myths of any kind.  One day people will regret such attitudes.  Jesus made it patently clear that there will come a day of judgement, and in parable after parable warned that we face one of two destinies, one He called heaven and the other hell.  People say God would never send anyone to hell, and that is right; but people may choose for themselves by their lives. Jesus came into the world to save and we as His disciples must try to do His work for Him now.

The greatest revival of Christianity in this country came during the ministry of John/Charles Wesley    If they were alive today they would have much to say at the way the Church has failed to proclaim the message they left, that salvation was through Christ alone, the value of a person’s life was measured by their faith,   and the doctrine of heaven and hell.   They would be horrified that the

         Marriage ordinance of God was being abused.

For many preachers, these are forbidden subjects fearing they may upset people, yet they are essential biblical doctrine and were not forbidden by our Lord.  Today people are being drawn away from the doctrines of the Bible as judgement is becoming a censored word.

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 which comes from God. 

I have taken services at many villages the last few years, and see the same small congregations, which is so sad.  Residents have so much to be thankful for; beautiful homes in idyllic surroundings, without any of the social ills of the towns and cities.  But let the Church leaders state the Church in those villages will be closed, and see the uproar that would follow.   Whilst they cannot give one hour to God in worship, there is  time to be affronted that their  precious village Church which is so quintessential, and enhances the village image, has been taken away.

We seem to have lost Middle England.

     So things can happen, if we are doing what is right by God. Most of all, we need to look at our services.  I have been to services, and rather than come out inspired I am demoralised, and say to myself what was all that about. Sometimes it seems as if services are done because something has to be done, rather than create an exciting experience.

Often we find the sermon is a homily, to fill in up to ten minutes when it should be the focal point of the service to motivate, and teach and inspire.

What however must be a major concern, is false teaching within the Church.  Unfortunately, as society has turned its back on Biblical teaching, so an increasing number within the Church consider we should re-interpret the Bible to meet their modern ideas of morality.  This suggests that God has got it wrong, and He should be prepared to adjust to the age.  Gpd does not get things wrong.

When I was ordained as a priest in the Church of England, I was asked by my Bishop to affirm that I believed the Bible contained all doctrine required for salvation and I would teach only that in Scripture  and banish doctrines contrary to God’s Word.  The Bishop then gave me authority ‘to preach the Word of God’.  Why do so many preachers renege on their vow?  I heard a Vicar state from the pulpit that she didn’t think the Bible should be taken literally.  What happened to her ordination vows?  Make no mistake, she is not alone. Can you imagine a Muslim preacher challenging the authority of the Koran?

 A church which rejects the teaching of the bible loses its authority.  People have a right to expect men speaking as Ministers of the Church to do so, based on the word of God, and not expressing personal opinions or preferences. The bible must be the supreme court of the church, the final authority in deciding all controversies. Alas in some Churches this is not so.

    For years, first the Labour party and then the Conservatives, spent years in the political wilderness because they sent out mixed messages and no one knew for certain what they really stood for.  The Church by not adhering to Scripture is doing the same, leaving people confused as to what we really believe and offer.   

There is a reluctance by clergy to speak out for fear of being labelled as a bigot or being discriminatory.   It is fair to say Christian preachers tend to modify teaching of traditional values to appeal to contemporary thinking, and for fear of offending one of the many discrimination laws promoted equally vigorously by vociferous minorities, so falling foul of the law, which is not enforced against other faiths with the same enthusiasm as against Christian preachers.  We have gone along with the incredulous acceptance that marriage, ( man and woman) is no longer the bedrock of society, and  is just another form of relationship.  From the highest level of the Church there is a desire to allow same sex marriage.

     All this causes a problem for parish priests, and especially for visiting preachers.  We face a problem and none more so than those of us who want to be true to Scripture, when not everyone is prepared to accept what is written. 

     In effect there are three options open to preachers

    One is to avoid all contentious issues.

        2 To go with the flow.

          3 To be true to Scripture.

We all want to please and satisfy our audience, I can’t imagine anyone wanting to cause offence.  But if preachers are to be true to their calling, and preach with integrity and honor, there are times when I suppose some people may be upset. If, sadly, that happens, there must be doubt in the mind about the way they are living. 

  If ever the Word of God was needed it is never more so than now.  It calls for people to turn back to God who is ready and able to meet the needs of everyone who turns to Him.  The message we have for the world is centred upon the person of Jesus Christ and provides for a stable and well balanced society.

The world’s greatest need is to hear about Jesus Christ. All Christians, not simply all ministers, are commanded in Scripture to share their faith    

We put a lot of energy into fairs, fetes and garden parties, but treat them as just that without trying to reach out to the people who attend

We have parish magazines and newsletters, which mostly tell what HAS happened, and contains articles about gardening or other hobbies, pieces about where people have been, or of memories.  There needs to be also a stimulating, provocative writing on a biblical theme. For 17 years I edited a parish magazine, which always included bible teaching, and I know it was read and appreciated, even when views differed.      

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.

 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. 

 One of the biggest problems the Church faces is apathy, which is why Christianity has fallen to such low level.  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.’  We must stand firm by the Cross.

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 Savior.  We must show the same spirit.

Today, no less than in any other age, it is intense biblical integrity that is needed. Fearless courage and conviction, to stand for the truth --that Jesus Christ is the only name that saves.

 

We thank God for His Glorious Gospel and praise the Lord Jesus Christ    

  

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