Foundation Service 1998

Can I say this morning how grateful to God I have been for the privilege of working here for 25 years. Today is the anniversary of my own institution as vicar of Jesmond. I have written about this in the Coloured Supplement this month. And in the vicar's note in the Newsletter I have tried to say "thank you" to everyone. But I would especially like to thank Jonathan Pryke for his hand in organizing this week-end and all the many helpers. I was not expecting anything like the lunch yesterday for former staff, church wardens and lay-readers and that wonderful social yesterday evening. I was aware, of course, that it was 25 years since we moved here after I had been teaching at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. I thought a mention when I read the 39 Articles would have been enough. But thank you for all that has been organized and indeed for that generous gift last night. But this Sunday, of course, we are primarily celebrating the anniversary of the founding of Jesmond Parish Church on 14 January 1861. We should thank God for those people in the last century who had a vision, as they put it, for a place "in which evangelical truth shall be declared". How we need "evangelical truth" today. But what is "evangelical truth" and what is involved in "declaring" it? To answer that question I want us now to look at Colossians 1. 28-29. My title is Christian Ministry. That it is what I have been involved in over these last 25 years at Jesmond. But Christian ministry is not only something for full-time workers like myself and the rest of the staff here. I had a Christmas Card from abroad in December and the sender included a service sheet from their own church. On the front, under the Church's name, the first line of text read, "the ministers". Alongside were the words "the entire congregation". Below in the next line came "the rector"; below that "the assistant minister"; and so on. That church saw that everyone is to be a minister in some way - not necessarily in a pulpit, or even working full-time in a church. That is so true. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has a work for you to do that only you can do. You have contacts with people you alone can speak to about Christ and the Christian faith. The bible teaches that the job of church leaders is not to do all the ministry. No! Those full-time or specialist workers are ...

... to prepare God's people for works of service [or ministry], so that the body of Christ may be built up (Eph 4:12).

Full-time church workers are to help others fulfil their own ministries. It is when that happens - when everyone is working properly - there is growth. So with that in mind let's look at those two verses in Colossians 1 verses 28-29. They are about Paul's own ministry and so in some way they are relevant to us all. And you'll see from the outline that my headings this morning are, first, THE TASK; secondly, THE GOAL; and, thirdly, THE COST. First, THE TASK Look at verse 28:

We proclaim him [that is Jesus Christ - or as the previous verse puts it - "Christ in you, the hope of glory"].

The central task is to tell people about Jesus Christ. It is not to construct or acquire church buildings - necessary as they are and as we have done here at Jesmond over the past 25 years. It is not to minister the sacraments - necessary as they are. It is not to form synods or other networks or organizations - although some way of keeping in touch with other Christians is needed. No! The central task is to "proclaim Christ." Paul knew that it was so easy to do everything else but tell people about Jesus Christ. He told the Corinthians:

Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel (1 Cor 1:17).

And he had to tell Timothy on one occasion:

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. (2 Tim 2:8).

"Jesus Christ" - as words - are said millions of times every day. That is the irony. But they said not in proclaiming him. They are used as swear words.

Isn't it remarkable that the name of the man who founded the world's largest religion should be most familiar as a term of abuse? That does not happen to Mohammed or Buddha.

So writes Michael Green. Modern people in the West are often embarrassed about Jesus. And that embarrassment is partly because Christians (including Church leaders) often fail to proclaim him in the public world. Embarrassment depends on how confidently you talk about something. If you talk about it often enough, embarrassment goes. hen I first came to this church sex was still a subject of embarrassment. It was easier to talk about Jesus Christ. The Newcastle LEA Religious Education syllabus that was agreed in 1972 had this as its aim for secondary education (I quote):

to help the pupils towards an understanding of the Christian Faith in Jesus Christ as "the Way, the Truth and the Life" (John 14.6) and to provide a basis from which they may move toward the belief that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing they may have life through His Name" (John 20.31).

Can you imagine that today? On the other hand nearly 20 years ago I wrote The Church and Homosexuality in 1979. This was at the beginning of the sad and sordid debate on that subject that was started then and that national church leaders have refused to end 20 years later. At that time some people were reluctant even to pick my book up off the bookstall. They were so embarrassed. Now all that is reversed. Intimate sexual details are openly discussed, but people are reluctant to talk about Jesus Christ. But Christ must be proclaimed, for Christianity is Christ. And remember, he is not just one of the world's great figures. Carnegie Simpsom put it like this:

Talk about Alexander the Great and Charles the Great and Napoleon the Great if you will ... Jesus is apart. He is not the Great: he is the Only.

And remember also that is still the conclusion after two centuries of the most brutal and critical scholarship. Archbishop William Temple, himself a great scholar, put it like this:

It is now recognized that the one Christ for whose existence there is any evidence at all is a miraculous Figure making stupendous claims.

So what do you proclaim in particular about Christ? Look at the earlier verses in Colossians 1. There are six things here. One, proclaim that Jesus Christ has universal significance, verse 6:

All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing.

Two, proclaim that if you want to know what God is like, look to Jesus, verse 15:

He is the image of the invisible God.

Three, proclaim that he was fully human but fully divine, verse 19:

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.

Four, proclaim that he is God's agent in creation, verse 16:

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth.

Five, proclaim that he is the sustainer of the universe, verse 17:

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

And, six, proclaim that he is the redeemer and the head of the Church, verse 20:

[He has made] peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

But you say, how do you proclaim all that? Is it just "saying the words"? No! There has to be explanation. Paul says, verse 28, you must ...

... admonish and teach everyone with all wisdom.

Notice that Paul is saying two things are necessary. First, people have to be told they are wrong. And it is "everyone" that needs to be told that. That is difficult to do today. It makes you uncomfortable. And it is unfashionable. But that is at the heart of the Gospel. That is what Article 9 of the XXXIX is all about - that every human being from birth is spiritually diseased. This is what is meant by original sin. By nature you reject God. By nature you are self-centred. And by nature you are in potential conflict with others. That is what sin is. And sin is the root problem with the world. So the problem will not be solved by education, important as education is. The answer is not education, education, education! Archbishop William Temple again got it so right:

I am the centre of the world I see; where the horizon is depends on where I stand ... Education may make my self-centredness less disastrous by widening my horizon of interest; so far it is like climbing a tower, which widens the horizon for physical vision, while leaving me still the centre and standard of reference.

Sin or self-centredness has to be dealt with. That is why Jesus Christ is good news. He is the "saviour" - that is what "Jesus" means - the saviour from sin. On the cross he bore your sin and my sin, in our place. He took the punishment we deserve to save us. So people need to be "admonished" or "warned" that they fall short of God's standards, that they are under judgment, but that Christ is the saviour. Secondly, they need to be "taught ... with all wisdom". Proclaiming Christ must not just be negative. If it starts with sin, it must go on to teach about new life through the Holy Spirit. And followers of Christ do live new lives. There are famous people like Charles Coulson, former convicted Nixon Watergate aide. He has thrown his whole life into serving US prisoners; or people like David Wilkerson. He was converted from a life of crime, but now has the most effective drug rehabilitation service in the world. But there are millions of less well known people who are effective for Christ. And over 25 years I've been privileged to see many such people in this church. And teaching is the way to help them continue to live for Christ. And notice it is "teaching ... with all wisdom". Yes, your mind matters. You must think. But the teaching must be balanced. How we need Christian people who are taught the whole truth, not just some of it. We need BBC Christians - "biblically balanced Christians". So that is the fundamental task of Christian ministry, to "proclaim Christ". Negatively it involves "admonishing" and positively it involves "teaching"; then "everyone" needs to be open to that admonishing and teaching; but it must be "with all wisdom" not just "some wisdom". We must move on. Secondly, THE GOAL What then is the goal of Christian ministry? Look at the second half of verse 28:

so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Paul unashamedly has heaven in mind. This world is not going to last for ever. One day Christ will return or you will first die. And you will have to face God's judgment. Over 25 years I have conducted many funerals. There was a funeral I had to take this Friday. It was of a remarkable woman who had fostered over 50 children in her lifetime. I have taken the funerals of people who were linked to the great industrial age of the North East. There was the last personal research assistant of Sir Charles Parson - the inventor of the turbine engine. There was the great-grand daughter of Stephenson's associate in developing The Rocket locomotive. But those Articles that I read make it clear that what is going to matter on the great day of judgment is not the good works you have done in this life - because none of them will be good enough for God. Jesus taught that it is not just the outward act that is important; it is also the inward motive and attitude. The Pharisees were very good men - in the world's terms. But Jesus condemned them because inwardly they were concerned with themselves and their reputations. So how ready will you be for Christ when he comes again? The key to answering that is in those words at the end of verse 27:

Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The hope of glory - the confidence of eternity with God, being in his presence, accepted and made new - that hope starts now with "Christ in you". What does that mean? It means that by faith you receive Christ into your life. As you put your trust in him, so the Holy Spirit unites you with Christ. He takes your sin. You receive his forgiveness. True, this is a spiritual reality and so it defies precise description. But it is a reality. Perhaps there is someone here this morning and you have never yet, by faith, come to Christ. Why not do that on this anniversary Sunday? Jesus still says those words:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Mt 11.28).

So the goal of Christian ministry is to "present everyone perfect in Christ" on that day when, as we say in the creed, Christ "will come to judge the living and the dead. These are serious matters. Jesus says there are two roads - a broad and a narrow one. The broad road leads to hell and destruction; the narrow road lead to heaven and life. And "Christ in you" is the only "hope of glory"; it is the only way onto that narrow road. Finally, THE COST There is a cost to Christian ministry. And it is twofold. Look at verse 29:

To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

First, there is "labour". The word in the original means "hard work" - late nights and early mornings. There is time, energy and money required for Christian ministry. It is not an easy ride. If you are going to proclaim Christ it will mean hard work and a lot of effort. Secondly, there is "struggling". The word in the original means "conflict". If you are going to proclaim Christ faithfully, you will be opposed, slandered and attacked. Jesus said:

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me (Mat 5.11).

If you are going to proclaim Christ there will be conflict. You don't seek it. As much as possible the bible says, "live at peace with all". But you can neither deny Christ nor compromise the truth. If others want to reject him or deny the truth there will be conflict. Recently since the publication of the Jesmond Statement there has been huge support for the church from around the country and the world. This is for the stand we have taken for biblical morality. But equally our church is being opposed. It is being opposed by some here in Newcastle. There is a serious attempt to stop Ian Garrett preaching and Jonathan Redfearn assisting. The bible talks about "savage wolves" who "will not spare the flock". Oh, yes! They can wear dog-collars. The bible says, "even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth" (Acts 20.29-30). But if you are in Christian ministry - of what ever sort - you must follow Jesus, the good shepherd. You mustn't be, what Jesus calls in John 10.12, the hired-hand who ...

... when he sees the wolf coming ... abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.

The hired hand might feed the sheep but at the end of the day he cares more about himself and his own safety than he cares about the sheep. The good shepherd, on the other hand, is the one who fights the wolf. Are you ready to fight the wolf? All that is the cost. And that cost can seem frightening when the work seems impossible and so hard; or when you first face opposition. But really it is an easy cost. It's a bit like having a huge bill to pay which you cannot meet and then receiving an unexpected gift that enables you to pay it. There is hard work; there is conflict; but there is also "all his energy which so powerfully works in [us]". You are not on your own in Christian ministry. That is the good news. I must conclude. Time has gone. Let me just read those verses again - Colossians 1.28-29. They are so clear; and they summarise what I have been trying to do over the last 25 years, and what I trust we all will to try to do in the days and years ahead:

We proclaim him [Christ], admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. {29} To this end I labour [that means hard work], struggling [that means conflict, but it is] with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.