Pilgrim Uniting Church

Some years ago a former American astronaut took over as head of a major airline, determined to make the airline’s service the best in the industry. One day, as the new president walked through a particular department, he saw an employee resting his feet on a desk while the telephone on the desk rang incessantly. “Aren’t you going to answer that phone?” the boss demanded. “This isn’t my department,” answered the employee nonchalantly, apparently not recognizing his new boss. “I work in maintenance.”

In my Fathers house are many rooms. This passage is often read at funerals as it elicits a response of security. Not unlike the Psalmist describing his relationship with God as being one of a rock and a refuge. But it begins with comfort, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled’. There seems to be an element of trust asked of by Jesus to the disciples. A trust me and take some responsibility for your faith. Put it into action. And in putting it into action is it a faith that is inclusive or exclusive of others?

How do we steward our beliefs? Are they able to stretch and be inclusive of others? Or are our beliefs exclusive of others, Christian, non-Christian or people of other faiths (PowerPoint)

I have been asked by a person of another denomination, ‘do you speak in tongues?’ a question which held which great importance to the person concerned, their faith and belief structure. I said, ‘yes, I do but only with my wife’. We obviously had two different interpretations on the use of the word tongues. I have heard it said, that ‘unless you speak in tongues you won’t go to heaven’ as if this was the criteria. But for this person if you didn’t speak in tongues then you were a second class Christian in their eyes. Faith and its expression by individuals and communities can be inclusive or exclusive of others.

V6 I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father accept through me.

The early Christians the ‘people of the way’. A Faith statement as at the time of the writing of John the Christians who had been in the Synagogue and continued to worship at the temple have been ‘thrown out’. The way, the truth and the life is not exclusive but inclusive of having a relationship with God.

When people say they want the Church to grow? What do they want it to grow for? Is it to make clones (those who think like us) (Dolly the Sheep) or is it because it makes us feel good? Or is it because the mission of the church is to share the good news as we see it as we don’t possess it as if it can be something that is bought and acquired. Do we want to make disciples? Discipleship is long process which incorporates time, experience, study, community, solitude, silence, noise, mission, ministry. The idea that Christians are made by a short study series then baptism (instant Christian just add water) is false thinking.

I have been invited to be part of the Manningham YMCA ‘Talk It Up’ forum again this year. The MYMCA invite twenty students in years 10-11 from the high schools in the area to be part of the forum. The theme for this year is on ‘Stereotypes’. My involvement will be to conduct two workshops of around fifty five minutes. I met with a young guy from the Islamic Council of Victoria this week to further discuss with him the possibility that we could lead the workshop together. It looks positive. I think that both of our practices of faith are large enough that we can work together and not simply be in dialogue to convert each other. Pluralism[2]

[1] http://www.bible.org/illus.php?topic_id=1268

Today in the Word, MBI, December, 1989, p. 35

[2] Pluralism

http://www.theolog.org/blog/2008/04/blogging-towa-1.html

[3] Copyright unknown

This message was preached at
by Rev Darryn Hickling of Pilgrim Uniting Church, Doncaster,
20 Westfield Drive Doncaster 3108.
Phone: 9889 1138 Mobile: 0403 265 342
darrynhickling@pilgrimuca.org.au
www.pilgrimuca.org.au

Enquiries about the Christian faith are always welcome.