PCI General Assembly
Address of Incoming Moderator Dr Ivan Patterson
to the Opening Session of the 2011 General Assembly
The Word is Life
The 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible reminds us of the amazing influence it has had on the world. You cannot fully understand our society without knowledge of the bible.
The Bible is not a book of religious ideas or rules and regulations (though it does have some of those). Quite simply, it is a story; a love story told by God himself. In the Bible we have that grand narrative that unlocks the great truths of how God reaches out to fallen humanity calling people to himself to share in that peace which is part of his own nature. Scripture, ultimately, tells how God steps into the world in human form to reveal himself and to die on the cross to open a way for humanity to be reconciled to him and then rises again in triumph defeating death and ushering in God's reign over creation.
But though the Bible gives us the valid record of the story of God's relationship to his creation, that story isn't finished. As we read the record of what God has done, Christians ought to find themselves being drawn into the story as participants, not spectators. The experiences of the Bible characters, as they grow to understand how God loves and care for them, become our experiences and the first disciples' responsibility to take this story to the ends of the earth becomes our responsibility. Careful readers of the Bible are drawn together and slowly, and all too imperfectly, are built into communities, the Church, which are called to demonstrate the peace and justice of God to the wider world.
The WORD, the Bible becomes or should become our life as it allows us discover the life of God - about how great and awesome and amazing he is; how he cares for and deals with his creation, but it also has the ability to draw people to God who transforms them and through them transforms their communities as their lives deliver the good news of God's love.
Now that makes the Bible of immeasurable value to all people on the planet - whether they realise it or not.
Beign created in God's image means something, something external to what human beings naturally are as individuals. It imposes a different reality upon us and calls for a different way of life.
People refusing to acknowledge this and so they are tragically self-deceived and life for them is inauthentic - both in who they are as people and in how they see life. Without that God dimension then life at best is artificial.
There is a Kinks' song `Plastic Man'. Plastic, for all of its usefulness, ultimately means inauthentic, cheap sameness. As the song's final lines have it: He's got a plastic wife who wears a plastic mac, And his children want to be plastic like their dad; He's got a phony smile that makes you think he understands, But no one ever gets the truth from Plastic Man.
There is nothing plastic about God nor should there be about those who are his people if they follow the makers instructions.
Moses had some interesting words to say to the Old testament people of Israel about God's words - in Deuteronomy we read - Take to heart all the words... They are not just idle words for you - they are your life. By them you will live. (Deut 32:46)
As a theme for this year I have chosen "The Word is Life". For Scripture shows life at its best - when lived in that Trinitarian relationship with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As Eugene Peterson would say: 'this is the neighbourhood in which we are to live' and from there move out to be disciples of Christ and have our whole approach to life and to one another transformed so that we no longer live with secularized petty mind.
1. The Word is life - for it reminds us of the God we love and serve; His awesome, intimate love and power for living well.
Isaiah describes God like this -
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young... 22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth... He will not grow tired or weary... 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak... those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
What encouragement for life we should take from all of this. But all is not well with us.
A parable attributed to Soren Kirkegaad is about geese. Migrating wild geese as they fly to follow spring and summer around the world characteristically make a screechig sound as they fly. Now apparently this has an affect on tame farmyard geese, the one who have given up on rthe angerous journey in favour of farmyard food and security. However, as the wild geese fly overhead the tame geese run along the ground and flap their wings wildly, somehow trying to imitate the mad flight of the migrating geese. The squaking seems to awaken something innate in them, a memory of wildness.
As Christian disciples we can lose our memory of who we are and who we are meant to be. We live in the confines of our human limitations and forget who it is we serve. When we lose our appreciation of whom God is then we are bound to live sedentary lives while Isaiah tells us that but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Why so confident to soar - this God who made us came to live among us. The God who created everything and made it perfect is well aware of how we have messed up. Creation and her creatures are wonderful but history shows the mess we make. Since Eden sin has been a major problem for us.
2. So right here the Word is life for us - the glory of the Lord has been revealed (v.5) - the heart of this might God is fully expressed in the gift of a Saviour.
Recognising our sinfulness God sends help. God does not abscond and leave us to our sin. There is compassion in Isaiah's picture of the Sovereign God. Ultimately He enters our world in mercy to bring about salvation.
The one John prepared the way for comes and fulfils His mission by going to the Cross - in him God shows mercy, love - he sends His Son so that none should perish... in Christ - Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered; And we shall reign with Him, For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!
A ready help and a glorious future, yes, but the Cross of Christ means that sacrifice becomes an integral ingredient of what it means to be Christian. Sacrifice is not that popular! We prefer a personal God who asks little of us. We prefer a God who does for us. Yet, sacrifice is part of a Christian distinctiveness for it is the very essence of the life of Jesus who came not to be served but to serve. Its a story too good not to be told.
Isaiah says: You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
3. After the resurrection Jesus comes to his disciples and he says to them - as the Father sent me I am sending you. You will receive power and you will be my witnesses.
In Jesus the WORD is fleshed out; we are to live it out - society needs to see it every bit as much as hear it! We are better at telling it than doing it!
Jesus speaks about going extra miles; welcoming strangers; loving enemies; forgiving those who do us harm. Being peacemakers and encouragers. That's how we are called to be - witnesses who bring Good tidings.
Not an easy task these days. In our society Christians have had their wings clipped in our politically correct world. It would seem that any philosophy is tolerated except that centered on Jesus Christ.
We've seen how a Margate Doctor Richard Scott is before the Medical Council because he spoke to a patient of his faith. Now he may have to pay the consequences of which he says he is willing to do and so may we if we are to be faithful to the Lord's commission. The church needs sacrificial servants. Society doesn't need people who are a mile wide and an inch deep spiritually.
Among us there is to be a Christian distinctiveness and yet a tolerance and love towards those from whom we differ for an intolerant spirit defeats the Gospel. I hope we will all take time to read the report on Sectarianism.
Does it need to be said that the church is no longer at the centre of western culture and we need to work for our space if we are to be heard? And offer, not just a critique of society's ills, but live but rather demonstrate the way of Christ by reaching out across our divides in a spirit of reconciliation and concern for one another.
Our world needs disciples of Jesus Chirst who go about their day to day tasks as teachers and shop assistants and policemen and even church members. People who individually and corporately exhibit the life and love of Jesus. We have an amazing God to facilitate us and a good news story to share so we need to be out there where we can involve ourselves in every day life and show the difference God had made to us.
God looks for men and women of peace to build his kingdom and who don't battle for their own little worlds but for the wellbeing of others. Wouldn't it be good if people were drawn to us simply by seeing the love and mutual respect we have for one another.
In all the complexity surrounding the collapse of the PMS some have said that the mutuality that lay at its heart got lost in the selfish fear of losing a pound or two.. I believe selfishness is too much part of church life. There needs to be a greater spirit of sharing. It's been heart warming to see that those who could have left money in the society so that the small savers could get all their money back.
It's good to see something of that spirit of sharing among our politicians and however imperfect we feel the system may be - we see people so far apart in their political ambitions working for the greater good - thank God for that. We all need to learn from one another not just tolerate one another.
Jesus Christ has called us to live as His disciples; to respond to his word in such a way as to contribute to the solution of society's problems and not add to them. To the end that knees will bow and tongues confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
The Word is Life - may it instill in us all that attitude which we see in Christ Jesus - a trust in God our Father; a confidence in Christ our Saviour and a willingness to be His obedient servants.
© Presbyterian Church in Ireland. info@presbyterianireland.org Information correct at time of upload.