Today, many hundreds will be walking through Harlow Town Centre, following a large wooden cross. This year the cross will be carried by some of the leaders of churches in Harlow, symbolic of our unity in Christ
Why do we walk in witness - as so many will do so today across the world?
For one, it is anticipation of the day when the work of the cross and the resurrection will be completed - when Christ returns and all heaven and earth shall be renewed. We live in anticipation of that day, and as we do so, it brings the day nearer. Nelson Mandela lived towards the future, which enabled the future he hoped for to come.
It also brings us together in unity. I love the recent post by Bishop Nick Baines:
And here we come, I think, to the heart of Christian discipleship, once we have stripped away some of the million things we find with which to complicate it all. The nature of Christian witness is not to be found in our unanimity, but in our unity. That is to say, we are together whether we like it or not, whether we like each other or not, whether we agree with each other or not, and whether we find it comfortable or not. We simply cannot walk away from each other any more than we can walk away from Jesus.
Unity, not unanimity. The world, and we, often bemoan the church's lack of agreement. And, yes, we need to strive towards this. But it cannot be totally achieved this side of a new heaven and a new earth. Our is the unity of a family. Families are always pulling this way and that. It is an important part of family. There are often disagreements, but there can be totally unity.
Finally, we walk that the world may see Christ. A large community needs large symbols. This is self-evident in architecture. I think it is also true of witness. There is real gain in real visibility. Not a visibility for the sake of power, but so that, in the large context, Christ may really be lifted up - and so draw all to himself. Amen.
Why do we walk in witness - as so many will do so today across the world?
For one, it is anticipation of the day when the work of the cross and the resurrection will be completed - when Christ returns and all heaven and earth shall be renewed. We live in anticipation of that day, and as we do so, it brings the day nearer. Nelson Mandela lived towards the future, which enabled the future he hoped for to come.
It also brings us together in unity. I love the recent post by Bishop Nick Baines:
And here we come, I think, to the heart of Christian discipleship, once we have stripped away some of the million things we find with which to complicate it all. The nature of Christian witness is not to be found in our unanimity, but in our unity. That is to say, we are together whether we like it or not, whether we like each other or not, whether we agree with each other or not, and whether we find it comfortable or not. We simply cannot walk away from each other any more than we can walk away from Jesus.
Unity, not unanimity. The world, and we, often bemoan the church's lack of agreement. And, yes, we need to strive towards this. But it cannot be totally achieved this side of a new heaven and a new earth. Our is the unity of a family. Families are always pulling this way and that. It is an important part of family. There are often disagreements, but there can be totally unity.
Finally, we walk that the world may see Christ. A large community needs large symbols. This is self-evident in architecture. I think it is also true of witness. There is real gain in real visibility. Not a visibility for the sake of power, but so that, in the large context, Christ may really be lifted up - and so draw all to himself. Amen.
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