Thoughts From The Cottage
Dear Friends
We are called to be witnesses to Jesus Christ. Right at the start of Jesus’s ministry he said this. “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.” “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” You will find it in Matthew chapter 5. Fascinatingly it is at the start of Jesus’ ministry not the end. Like it or not people should know that we are Christians and they will judge the church and God by what they see in us.
A witness is called in court to tell ‘the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth’ as part of the process of determining what actually happened. Other forms of witness include giving details following a road traffic collision or being a character witness for someone. All of our lives as Christian we are witnessing to the truth about God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is not optional. It is a role given to all believer’s when they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and it is worked out individually as well as corporately through the church.
Of course there is nothing new in what I have written, we all know it, but sometimes it is good to go back to basics and remind ourselves of them. Just as a car needs servicing and topping up with fuel, water and oil we need regular servicing and spiritual top-ups.
Where the church has become weak is equipping its members to be the best witnesses they can be. This means good quality worship where the sermon expounds the Scripture and relates to the contemporary situation of the worshippers. It means having the opportunity for Bible Study, fellowship groups and small group prayer as well as a social and spiritual support networks. It also means continually reviewing the life and programme of the church to ensure that it acts as a witness for Jesus in the world. And it is not just about church members it is also community activities on church premises, they also witness to the community. Hallowe’en activities and martial arts, even for self-defence, are out. Jesus said if someone hits you then offer them the other cheek, he promoted passive resistance not self-defence or attack. So out go children’s activities involving water pistols or other toys based on weapons because they promote a culture of violence. Individually and corporately we have to be uncompromisingly different to the world. Being witnesses for Jesus is counter-cultural, it is not the way of the world, it is different.
Ian
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