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The Supremacy of Jesus Christ
"And he is the head of the body, the Church: who
is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in
all things he might have the pre-eminence." Colossians
1:18.
Time was when people spoke of "our church", "your
church", "the church," in explanation and commendation.
The words are still used, but much less frequently, for to
very many, religion and the church is not what matters to
them. Their focus in our largely secularised society is on
the material; and personal and familial relationships, which
can do without the extras religion offers them.
A fair generalisation, perhaps, but with many there is the
heritage of bits and pieces on the Christian faith learned
in childhood, and kept in cache to be used for comfort and
hope, then more than the secular is required to meet a need.
The continued use of the church by those with little or no
attachment to it is witness to that. And the church responds
in the hope that by the services it provides these people
will come to faith in Christ.
Time is when people ask "Why the church?" and in
their attitudes show indifference, refusal to see value in
it for them. The cynic says this is because the church is
no longer of interest to people, adds, the church is no longer
interested in people. If the prognosis is true it is a most
serious indictment of the church. The signs of an unattractive,
disinterested, church are lack of fellowship, of care and
concern member for member, and a loss of commitment to the
place and purpose of the church in the plan of God for people.
Its primary task is to bring people to faith in Christ, "to
seek and to save the lost."
The church of today and yesterday are markedly different
in emphases and attitudes. Worship modes are more liberal;
pastoral visitation less practised; organisations absent or
little valued. Changes have come by pressures in a society
breaking from the past and embracing new means of communication
common in it. How these are used and to what advantage, is
the question confronting the church?
Changes are necessary, of course, in the worship, work and
witness of the church. They are best when the old ways are
valued. To discard the old is a nonsense for what is most
valuable, and memorable, in human thought and action is timeless,
forever relevant.
There is a problem when changes are forced against the wishes
of those who find them an intrusion on the forms and ceremonies
which distinguish their church from others. Dr. Billy Graham
encourages thought on the subject when he says:
"There is a kind of unity in diversity, a unity compatible
with variety, and it is this pattern which Christ lays down
for the church." Another added, "Stop confining
Christ to the church, start taking Him to a world that needs
hope and salvation."
F.W. Boreham, while speaking of himself and his ministry,
described the task of the church: "to proclaim the magnificent
virtues of the Christian gospel - with absolute certainty,
and with unwavering confidence about the sin of man, the cross
of Christ ..... Because there is nothing else to be said."
When we think of the strengths and weaknesses of the church
we realise that strength comes with action, success by work,
weakness is failure. It is to recognise that a lazy, indolent
church tends to uncertainty and inaction while an earnest
busy church, facing up to the problems in society, sin, misery,
inequality and injustice, grows stronger in faith and fellowship.
Whatever is said about changes in the church: "Neither
a person, nor a church, nor a nation, can live on the achievements
of the past."
Angus McVicar, a modern prophet warns:
"If Christ's message is eroded by inaction then the
whole structure of our civilisation will tumble back and down
into a pagan chaos."
Billy Graham says it too: "Unless men of purpose,
integrity and faith stand together in uswerving loyalty to
Jesus Christ the future of the world is bleak indeed."
Canon Dr. S.E. Long
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