Use Words

This Pentecost the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are calling on the Church to pray for those who have not yet encountered the love of God in Jesus Christ. They are calling on us to:

USE WORDS           (click on link)

It's a great initiative because so many people tell me how concerned they are about new people coming and yet they are rarely seen acting upon this concern. Some will tell me how they just can't share their faith and get all wound up with self-condemnation and guilt. The response to this is always that the most important thing is the desire to see people come to faith and see this combined with intelligent, persistent prayer.

So I can't tell you just how pleased and excited I am that the 'Use Words' initiative has hit my screen especially because (and I quote):


The word ‘evangelism’ means sharing good news.

For Christians, it means sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ – what he has done for us, and what he continues to do in our lives.

What does that mean in practice? 

It means introducing the people around us to Jesus. We do this by how we live our lives and how we relate to one another. But we can also do it by how we express our faith in conversation.

Jesus did all of this so well, and he invites us to share the gospel not just in actions but in words too.

The website (http://www.usewords.org/) has been created to help Christians find those words.  It’s being launched with a call to prayer for evangelism by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York – please find out more and think about joining us.

But this is not a one-off, or a campaign, or a PR stunt.

It’s about praying continually that more and more people will become followers of Jesus Christ – and asking God to work among us to bring about this transformation in other people’s lives. If you’ve never prayed for evangelism before, there are so many ways you can.

Whether you’re praying alone, with a small group of friends, or with your whole church, you’ll find prayers for asking God to bring the knowledge and reality of Jesus Christ to all kinds of people.

How amazingly cool is this?

According to many* around me, St Francis' of Assisi told us to go and evangelise - using words if necessary, and whilst I have tried to live by this principle words I am aware that many around me have taken them to be an excuse for silence rather than as a spur for less words and more action. Hopefully and actively engaged AND praying Church will come out of this exciting move from the blokes at the top of the tree.

Pax

* he never did by the way!

Same Sex Marriage and plenty of Jerks to be found

Most of them a combination of the knee and/or mindset variety!

Yes I know what those two überpointyhats, Justin and John, said at synod and I know that the house of purple have agreed that this is to be their view and so I have a few suggestions:

1. Would those who are screaming that this is all thrown in the bin and the bishops are opposed by all means necessary (especially with the threat of law*) to make the church conform to the wishes of 'everyone'* please pack it in now.

2. Would those who are celebrating 'a great victory' please remember that behind the words and actions are people who feel that their church might just be making decisions that act against that which they feel is right.

3. Would those who claim they are behaving in an acceptable manner because that's what 'they' would have done if it had gone 'their way'*** seek only to display the paucity of their own Christian understanding - for 'get them before they get you' or 'treat them the way they'd have treated you' are both unacceptable approaches.

4. Let's see how ubi caritas can be more than a catchy song tile and get down to embracing those with whom we might differ (and no Colin, I don't think there's a danger some of them will like it!).

I am frustrated that this is all (apparently) about rights and the call to responsibilities (personal and corporate), submission and living out the teaching of the Church as living examples are all passing some by. We behave more and more like some secular (un)Friendly Society than a bunch of people who are called to unity, love and witness. Where's the prayer? The Compassion? The act of being a paraclete?

So in a nutshell:

STOP IT!

And pray for this man

* Think I've found something in the Bible about taking people to law - says: 'don't'

** Here 'everyone' is taken as meaning 'me and those who think like me'

***This isn't about having gone one way or the other as I understand it, merely the most unusual step of unequivocal 

Canterbury - Under starter's orders!

So here's the front runners

York (John Sentamu)

Coventry (Chris Cocksworth)

London (Richard Chartres)

Durham (Justin Welby), and

Norwich - (Graham James)



Perhaps not so odd is the fact that Slough Comprehensive and Oxbridge educated Welby is being mooted as having his nose in front as they come under starters orders. A good establishment choice and a sound man too!

Coming up on the inside is Liverpool's (James Jones) a bit of a favourite since the Hillsborough report.

Chris Cocksworth is up there with Graham James billed as a 'compromise' candidate (which must be a mixed bag for him).

Chartres is the orthodox candidate and Sentamu would (in my opinion) be exceedingly interesting and would make the communion (and the CofE) a very interesting place indeed.

But whoever it is that gets the nod, let's p[ray for the selection panel and the person chosen that the decision and the man is God's choice for our denomination here and worldwide.

Pax