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In touch
Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues
What’s wrong?
“… the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;” (Psalm 1:5)
Context
- Pete Wilkinson, the co-founder and first director of Greenpeace UK, died on 21 January this year, aged 78. He was 24 when he was given a book that opened his eyes to the risks to the environment that were posed by human activity. He joined Friends of the Earth but, coming from a working-class background, he found FotE to be ‘too middle-class’. Greenpeace gave him the opportunity to use his creativity to bring important issues to the attention of the public. The stunts for which Greenpeace became famous often led to accusations of law-breaking. However, it has often been the case that Greenpeace have won in legal actions against companies and HM Government.
- A film about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer is to be released in the UK next month. The film has caused some controversy and been accused of promoting right-wing causes. Yet there are uncanny similarities between the now famous sermon delivered by the Right Rev Mariann Edgar Budde at the National Prayer Service at Washington National Cathedral on 21 January 2025 and a scene in the film. In front of a congregation with senior Nazis in the front pews, Martin Niemöller preached that Jesus and not Adolf Hitler is Lord.
- Last weekend’s FA Cup games threw up a couple of refereeing controversies. Unusually these had nothing to do with VAR decisions as it is not used in the 4th round of this tournament. The games involved were Manchester United’s against Leicester City and Birmingham City versus Newcastle United. Having said VAR was not involved, it was there in the shadows as Manchester United’s winning goal was clearly offside, but was allowed to stand. Newcastle’s opening goal may or may not have crossed the line but, without Goal Line Technology (GLT), no one could be sure and the referee erred on the side of the Newcastle forward.
Reflection
Pete Wilkinson sailed close to the wind to achieve his aim of bringing climate justice to the widest possible audience. To make a comparison between Wilkinson and Dietrich Bonhoeffer may seem crass and, in one respect, they differ. Pete Wilkinson never seemed to be troubled by a sense that he was in any way wrong in what he did to achieve his ends. In contrast, it is suggested Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s conscience was wracked by the decisions he made that led to his eventual execution. Were either sinners or wicked?
The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) offer a course about the 6Ms - a framework to help us see how God is already working through us. In addition, a series of banners on the home page asks questions relating to how Jesus would live our lives. One of these asked ”How would Jesus play football?” How indeed. Would Jesus have said, “Actually I think I was a little bit offside” or “I’m not really sure the ball crossed the line. Maybe we should give the opposition the benefit of the doubt.”
Questions
- What happens when those whose job it is to adjudicate the Law are wrong? What happens when those who rule us are tyrannical – like Adolf Hitler and others we might think of? Does Romans 13:1-3 apply in such cases?
- Did Dietrich Bonhoeffer go too far?
- How far would you go ‘for the sake of the planet’ or to resist a tyrannical ruler?
Simon Carver is the Free Church Ecumenical Chaplain at St Albans Cathedral and a recently retired Baptist Minister living in Watford. He takes a particular interest in film, sport and politics.
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Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people
Growing deep roots
We live in what often seems like such an instant, fast-paced society:
- We can order something on Amazon today and it can arrive tomorrow; potentially even later today if we pay an extra £1.99.
- Someone famous can announce something on social media and, all of a sudden, it’s headline news.
- Or, as we’ve seen in a school in Sheffield recently, someone can get into a fight which can very quickly get out of hand, and suddenly someone has lost their life.
How is it even possible to grow deep roots in such a fast-paced, online-driven world when it appears that everything is stopping us from growing deep roots?
I’d like to suggest that we can only grow roots by intentionally doing the right things over a long period of time such as 'meditating on his law day and night' as it says in Psalm 1. Or, as Eugene Peterson called it in the title of one of his best-loved books, A long obedience in the same direction.
It’s easy to forget that Jesus spent 30 – yes, thirty years – of growing deep roots before we start to read of his ministry in scripture. His disciples spent 3 years physically following him day in, day out – and even then, they didn’t fully get it. Do we ever fully get it?
All we’ve got is today. Yesterday has gone, tomorrow is yet to come. What can you intentionally do today to grow your roots a couple of millimeters deeper?
- Listen to a worship song on YouTube before checking your Insta feed when you wake up?
- Listen to a Christian radio station whilst you’re revising over half-term rather than a YouTube play list?
Whatever you do, know that God sees you and sees your intentions.
Jonathan Buckley, Youth Development Worker at YMCA Rotherham and Redevelopment Manager at St Paul’s Wordsworth Avenue, Sheffield
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