St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

What kind of Christian?

In the Bradford Diocesan News inset (in the middle of this magazine), in January and February, Bishop David asked us to consider two questions:
What kind of Christian do I want to be?
What kind of church do I want the one to which I belong to be?
He invited us to dedicate our Lent Groups to a study of Jesus' teaching, in the Sermon on the Mount, asking these questions of ourselves.

I wrote last November about setting a vision, and finding God’s purpose, for our church. But, of course, bishop David is right. The first question is about what kind of Christian I ought to be?

Bishop David came to talk to the clergy of the Deanery, and explained some of his hopes for Lent 2001. Surveys in our nation report that 60-70% our our population have had some sort of religious experience, and 60-70% think that religion is important. But the institutional church is perceived as much less relevant. More people attend church than go to football matches, but nothing like 60-70%. Why?

The Bishop had visited America, where they elect bishops at Diocesan Synods. This often means one of the local clergy becomes the bishop. Bishop Powell noted how the attitudes of “friends” changed overnight when he was elected. “I soon learnt to pray for my enemies!”

This begs the question of our own spiritual maturity. Is it that people have not realized that Jesus has answers to their spiritual search? Or is it that they can see people whose spirituality is lacking but who claim to be committed Christians in the life of the local church? It is worth our while pondering the answer.

So here is a four-pronged attack on this question:

• We should all individually find somewhere quiet and go and read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7) right through ourselves. There will be a suggestions box in church for us to write comments about the two questions.

• We should study the passage weekly in Groups during Lent. There will be some short notes to help us. Some of the groups will be the housegroups, others may be different. I will ask for feedback.

• After Easter we will have a course of sermons looking at our “values” as a church. What is important to us here? What we think we’re doing? Feedback again!

• In early summer the PCC will put together a “Vision Statement” for our church. It will then help us to measure the usefulness of what we do, and how we can do better.

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. March 2001, Page 8.
Home Page. Index of articles. Vision & direction: index, Catch a vision, Why vision? I want to be... Manifesto. In this issue: (March 2001) Vicar's Letter, Manifesto, Sidesmen, Vision, Healing, Question.	What kind of Christian? In the Bradford Diocesan News inset (in the middle of this magazine), in January and February, Bishop David asked us to consider two questions: What kind of Christian do I want to be? What kind of church do I want the one to which I belong to be? He invited us to dedicate our Lent Groups to a study of Jesus' teaching, in the Sermon on the Mount, asking these questions of ourselves. I wrote last November about setting a vision, and finding God’s purpose, for our church. But, of course, bishop David is right. The first question is about what kind of Christian I ought to be? Bishop David came to talk to the clergy of the Deanery, and explained some of his hopes for Lent 2001. Surveys in our nation report that 60-70% our our population have had some sort of religious experience, and 60-70% think that religion is important. But the institutional church is perceived as much less relevant. More people attend church than go to football matches, but nothing like 60-70%. Why? The Bishop had visited America, where they elect bishops at Diocesan Synods. This often means one of the local clergy becomes the bishop. Bishop Powell noted how the attitudes of “friends” changed overnight when he was elected. “I soon learnt to pray for my enemies!” This begs the question of our own spiritual maturity. Is it that people have not realized that Jesus has answers to their spiritual search? Or is it that they can see people whose spirituality is lacking but who claim to be committed Christians in the life of the local church? It is worth our while pondering the answer. So here is a four-pronged attack on this question: • We should all individually find somewhere quiet and go and read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7) right through ourselves. There will be a suggestions box in church for us to write comments about the two questions. • We should study the passage weekly in Groups during Lent. There will be some short notes to help us. Some of the groups will be the housegroups, others may be different. I will ask for feedback. • After Easter we will have a course of sermons looking at our “values” as a church. What is important to us here? What we think we’re doing? Feedback again! • In early summer the PCC will put together a “Vision Statement” for our church. It will then help us to measure the usefulness of what we do, and how we can do better. John Hartley
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