I was recently at a meeting of the Urban Theology Forum when some words of Jesus sprang into my mind: ‘be wise as serpents and innocent as doves’. The Forum was discussing the future of the Church and how it could be true to its mission in a rapidly changing society. During the discussion a story was told of a very influential politician and elder statesman whose character and calling had come through the church he attended. From his childhood he had admired and respected the senior people of that church, many of whom were local politicians of considerable integrity. When the Church seeks to live the Kingdom values of justice, mercy and compassion it can have a tremendous influence on the world.
The Forum reflected on the benefits and disadvantages of being drawn into social action. Examples were given where religious groups were pulled into political initiatives to add respectability to a policy or the politicians involved. Instead of being able to influence and change circumstances for the better, the religious presence was used to validate cosmetic change.
Hence those words of Jesus: ‘be wise as serpents and innocent as doves’. The Church (which means all its members) should cultivate integrity, commitment to justice and compassion that shines like a beacon on a hill. It should understand and be clear about its core values not least of which are love, faithfulness, mercy and forgiveness. A Church that lives by these values can inspire and shape society.
This will always be a long process requiring patience. We need to be wary of being used and manipulated to bring respectability to worldly schemes and agendas, which seem attractive but offer only illusions of the Kingdom. Receiving praise is not the same as earning respect; status is not the same as influence. As Christians we know that our salvation was won through the Cross, and not through a victory parade. Faithfulness to the Gospel and the Kingdom requires us to be wise as serpents as well as innocent as doves.
Yours in Christ.
Tony
Every now and again it’s good for me to sit in the pews instead of presiding over the service. We were invited to a wedding at the beginning of last month and it was a wonderful service in a packed church – the singing and music was really uplifting and there was a tangible sense of God’s presence. It’s always a privilege to conduct a wedding, and this summer we have more weddings in church than for the past few years – who says romance is dead?! One cynic wryly commented after getting married, ‘I now know what true love is, and it’s too late to do anything about it!’