On a day in which we marked the movement of some of our young people into Secondary School and away to University, we thought about belonging and hence I explored something about belonging to the Reformed Tradition and to the United Reformed Church looking at the five classic marks of a Reformed Tradition - Grace, Faith, Scripture, to the glory of God, reformation we added two more that more recent documents and thinking seem to be highlighting - Ecumenism and Inclusive Justice.

Sola Gratia - By grace alone

Sola Fide - By faith alone

The United Reformed Church acknowledges that the life of faith to which it is called is a gift of the Holy Spirit continually received in Word and Sacrament and in the common life of God's people. (The Nature, faith & Order of the United Reformed Church). Today we have given some of our young people gifts - it is up to them whether those gifts are used and valued or tossed in the corner of some cupboard, neglected and forgotten. We have been offered the gift of grace - faith is about taking hold of the gift God has given us and letting it be part of our everyday lives.

Sola Scriptura -  

The United Reformed Church acknowledges the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments, discerned under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as the supreme authority for the faith and conduct of all God's people.

disclosing new worlds reflects on last weeks reading.

The role of the preacher as the conveyor of the word of God is to proclaim Jesus Christ. Good news is brought alive to hearers in their context. Preaching is a creative activity of bringing scripture into dialogue with the contextual realities of hearers, this is what is valid within Reformed worship, not oratory or a rational intellectual discourse. Who are We called to be?

Soli Deo Gloria - to the glory of God

Ecclesia Reformata, semper Reformata - the church reformed is always reforming

Reformed - The church is a creation of the Holy Spirit who continues to create. As a pilgrim people on its way to God's future we are not bound to the contents of thoughts and contexts of our ancestral history. The Reformed churches of the 16th century themselves could be seen as the result of their sensitivity to the word of God in their particular context. The church continues to meet new challenges in different contexts - cultural, social, economic and geopolitical. These encounters impact the churches' understanding of the word of God and its self-understanding as a pilgrim people. We are freed to participate in this continual recreation by the Holy Spirit as a result of our belief that ecclesia reformata est semper reformandaWho are We called to be?

Ecumenical

- mission orientated - unity in diversity - affirming our differences as gifts we offer one another - sharing our experiences with others who explore the ecumenical journey.

Inclusive Justice -

We have a structure which is essentially democratic and we have always seen social justice at the heart of the gospel. Growing emphasis on including all people without regard to gender, race, age or background. Exemplified in a  commitment to an open table - 

Matthew 5:1-16

At the end of Tim Severin's book Viking:King's Man (p315-316) the central character proclaims "the worship of the White Christ suits men who seek to dominate others. It is not the belief of the humble, but of despots and tyrants" His statement and the arguments which support the statement have too much truth for comfort - and in wishing for a return to Christendom - are we really wishing for a return to a place of power & glory? Such a role does not sit comfortably to the way of Jesus - the one who rejected the temptation of power and glory - look at those blessings in Matthew 5- they are for the meek, the grieving, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers - not those who seek success on the the terms of the rich and powerful. Salt is good in small does what’s the effect of too much salt - too much light? 

Should the church be small but effective? small enough to know one another, care for one another, large enough to support one another? That is where we are but with weighed down by the past - emotionally, resources, structures, - it is time for liberation - for people to once again gather around God’s word and be faithful - not to be afraid -  I’m not sure I should be standing here in lecture mode having picked the theme, the hymns, the scripture, led the prayers - I’ve done it because it’s expected - why do you let me do it? 

There are times when I can’t believe I work for the institutional church - and yet this imperfect, flawed, exasperating church and it’s annoying people seems to be the way God has called us to work, to share, to know fellowship and learn of God, be strengthend to proclaim good news, live out good news, be good news - that shouldn’t stop us wondering, developing, reforming - Ecclesia Reformata, semper Reformata

Be salt, be light, be good news.

Once upon a time I was a Policeman and there was no way that I could enforce every broken law I cam across or be expected to know every law that was supposed to be enforced. Like everyone else I had my favourites,  particular bees in my bonnet and from time to time found that the law was inadequate for the situation particularly when faced with domestic violence. I hope that the way I worked was within the Spirit of the law and played a part in maintaining safety, security, peace.

Interpreting biblical law can create similar problems. Do we Interpret the literal word or the Spirit of the word?  Open Leviticus and we will find a whole series of laws some will cause a lot of head scratching viewed from our context others will seem to make sense - but can we pick & choose? Jesus is not just debating cleanliness - but how do we interpret Scripture? and here is a situation which  may have begun as sensible issues about cleanliness but has become the power to include and exclude - Jesus seeks to break the bonds of that system and include everyone - beginning with those who have been excluded. When we engage with Scripture we need to do so with our brain switched on - what is the context, what is relevance then & now, and how is this reviewed in the light of Christ’s gospel

The constants are grace, mercy, forgiveness -  that God gives life to be enjoyed, to be fulfilling and life-giving - if all the law, all the piety produces hatred, conflict, dis-ease amongst God’s people - surely it is not of God, certainly not what Scripture intends for us - so wash your hands - good hygene sense but it will make no difference to your purity before God, watch what you eat - makes good dietary sense - but it will not defile you before God - however to take in hatred, suspicion, abuse will affect the way you think, the way you behave - so take in the love of God, the goodness of people around you and let God's goodness flow from you into a world that needs the love of God.