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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

To engage or not?

Focus on Christ’s victory (Col.2, 6-8) and ignore civil society’s concerns, fads and priorities! Really?

What are the modern equivalents of those societal forces Paul warns (verse 8) about, ‘empty deceit’ in ‘human tradition’, and ‘elemental spirits’?
Social media? 24-7 news? Conspiracy theories? Influencers?

 

Context

I came home from holiday last week to see in social media that a woman had been attacked in my quiet hometown. I wanted details! They were not reassuring. The attacker had a knife. I walk the path where it happened; my daughter too. Ignoring it isn’t an option. Engage, but how? By showing concern for that woman, for all fearful local women – and for the perpetrator. And with a will to press for the actions that will improve matters. That’s not un-Christian, surely?

The shortcomings of the water industry was big news this week. Is this hysteria? We live near the coast and fear sewage spills. People are made ill. Behind the catastrophic problems of the industry lurks the climate change that brings sudden rain and overflows, heatwaves and water shortages. Immediately or longer-term, environmental concern can’t be written off as a mere worldly distraction, or a failing that reveals lack of trust in God.

 

Reflection and ideas for a sermon, talk or conversation

Let's consider that phrase,  ^'See to it that no one takes you captive...' (Colossians 2:8). A local knife attack on a young woman inevitably causes unease and draws attention to the currently high-profile topics of misogyny and toxic masculinity. You could be led down a rabbit hole – as dark as the one explored by the incels who are encouraged by influencers to embrace toxic masculinity – and find a reality where every man is a threat and to be feared. You would lose sight of the good in both men and women, and overlook selfless acts such as that of the man who helped in the Exmoor coach crash. But verse 6 tells us not to do this. Christ is our rootstock and our foundation. Hang on to his teaching and the rabbit hole won’t be so tempting!

But the opposition between Christ’s teaching and that of the world is not always so clear-cut. Focusing on God’s triumph (verse 15) can produce controversial outcomes in some Christian quarters. This view suggests that we should disengage with – or, at least, downplay – worldly preoccupations with respect to climate change. Many would disagree, feeling that the perceived role of climate change in causing damaging rainfall, drought and wildfires means that we should be guided by the mantra of St Teresa of Avila: ‘He has no hands but our hands.’

Renewed in our Christian faith we must discriminate between godly concern for the planet and despairing or misguided panic that denies change or blames others for it.

We are seeing the change. While some consequences are fun we have a part to play: we can use water carefully, and press for far-sighted environmental policies and the promotion of renewable energy. Look wider too! Worry about the less-developed world whose problems with flash floods, droughts and wildfires can make our frazzled lawns, hosepipe bans and even flooding problems look trivial.

Instead of asking whether we should engage with worldly concerns, ask what mindset guides our engagement. The love we find in Christ will lead us not to blame and despair but to engage and hope; whether our concern is climate change, alienated young men, or disarray in the most basic societal infrastructures, here and abroad. Many years ago – probably fifty plus – an American academic addressing a student study group characterised Christian conversion as ‘metanoia, attitude change’. Says it all!

 

Questions for discussion

• Consider the potential for good or evil of social media campaigning.
• Is it enough of a Christian example to model being a truly loving and faithful community within the church? Or must a church engage more directly with social problems such as violence against women and girls, or climate issues, before it can claim to be living the new life in Christ?
• Are smart phones with their access to social media and the wider internet the curse of modern society? Or a boon?
• Any ideas for countering ‘toxic masculinity’?

 

Brenda Vance is a retired university teacher and URC Elder living in Sussex.

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

The opening line of a novel is vital to capturing the reader’s attention. One often-cited example comes from Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina: 'Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' While this may oversimplify complex family dynamics, it is an interesting view.

Research in Japan published this week found that optimists have surprisingly similar brain patterns when thinking of future scenarios. People were asked to imagine both positive and negative scenarios. MRI scans showed that optimistic thinkers displayed consistent brain activity patterns, suggesting a shared mental processing style. Those with a more pessimistic outlook followed lots of different mental pathways. Researchers propose that optimists may be better able to separate what’s good from bad, and visualise future difficulties in less detail than the positive outcomes.

Paul’s writing to the Colossians is to help them to discern what really matters, and to do that by centring their thoughts on Christ. Christianity is not specifically optimism, but it is about recognising the good news that in Christ we have come to fullness, and we can place our trust in Christ. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, the Holy Spirit can help us put off our old ways of being overly concerned about things, especially things that don’t align with God’s purposes. Paul teaches that Christ offers solutions that go beyond human reasoning. And when we choose to make Christ the head of our lives we can respond better to challenges and fears. Cultivating gratitude and reflecting regularly on God's goodness and love can also transform how we navigate life.

Question: Has thinking about Jesus ever helped you to see a situation differently?

Discussion idea: You may be facing upcoming changes after the summer. Consider talking to a friend or family member if you are ruminating over one of these.

Activity idea: Try crafting an opening sentence for the New Testament to engage readers in the life of Christ.

 

Dr. Angela Mak is a Licensed Lay Minister in Holy Trinity Shaw Church in West Swindon. She is also a schools worker, and retired biology teacher.

 

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