Dedicated People
Based on a sermon by Russell Stannard
A train pulls into Leighton Buzzard station. A stranger to the area looks out of the window at St Barnabas Church. He immediately knows what this building is for. It stands out from other buildings. It is a dedicated building. Its purpose is well-defined. He knows it has to be a church.
In the same way, when he earlier passed through Berkhamsted and saw the castle he knew it was a castle. Although in ruins, it has a keep and a moat. Another building that stands out, dedicated to a clear purpose.
But then he continues up the line to Central Milton Keynes. What is he to make of the rectangular glass buildings there? Offices, yes, but what for? What firm or business occupies them? He can’t tell. They are anonymous. And that is how they were conceived and designed and built.They were built speculatively. The aim was to be flexible - to fit in with any prospective purchaser’s needs. They are essentially empty shells. Their only internal walls are moveable partitions. When the present leaseholder leaves, the idea is that you rip it all out, and sell the building once more as an infinitely adjustable shell - a transparent, anonymous glass box. And the same goes for the shops in Central Milton Keynes. They can be used to sell any kind of produce depending solely on the firm that happens to be hiring that space at that time - a book shop one day, a travel agent’s another.
So, there are two kinds of building. On the one hand, dedicated buildings like churches, castles, railway stations, and schools, and on the other, versatile, infinitely adaptable ones like office buildings and shops.
The same is true of people. Some are infinitely adaptable. They conform to whatever the prevailing pressures and fads dictate. They conform to the herd instinct. But then there are others who stand out from the crowd as dedicated people. They know their own mind and do not care if that entails going against popular opinion if necessary. They have firm beliefs and principles and do not mind who knows it.
So how about you? What kind of person are you? Infinitely adaptable so as to please anyone and everyone? Or are you a dedicated person?
As a Christian, you and I, are called upon to be dedicated people. Just as our church stands out as a dedicated building to the glory of God, so you and I are called upon to be the living church - and as such should also stand out from the crowd. Jesus told us not to hide our light under a bushel, but to establish it for all to see on a lamp stand.
But that is all very well. How exactly are we to stand out as a dedicated Christian? For a building it is easy: There is the tower, arched windows with stained glass, a prominent notice at the entrance to the car park. For us, however, there is nothing about our appearance to set us apart from others. Here we have to talk about the architecture of our lives. We should be prepared to stand out from the crowd if necessary by the views we express, our attitudes, behaviour, the quality of the life we lead, selflessness, concern for others, self-discipline, reverence, and a willingness to talk freely about what we believe as when the occasion arises.
Each Sunday we recite the creed. In a nutshell, that is what we stand for, as a dedicated people. It is that belief that should shine forth in our mode of living.
Having said all that, there can be difficulties in being dedicated. Let’s go back to buildings. If a building is too purpose-built it can be inflexible and not best suited to changing circumstances. Our church was originally conceived and built with the understanding that we should all be facing one way, God envisaged as being high up at the East end. But then came the understanding that perhaps, rather than think of God as a remote elevated figure, he was more to be regarded as in the midst of us. Hence was born the idea of worship in the round.
Unfortunately the lay-out of the building, with its rigid screen and all the steps leading up to the chancel and sanctuary, posed problems. In the end we had to make do with just moving the altar slightly forward so that at least the priest could stand behind the altar and face the people. Either that, or for the All Age service, forget about the high altar, the sanctuary and the chancel, and have a portable altar in the nave. Not a very satisfactory solution but the best we can do in the circumstances. At least it shows a willingness to move with the times as best we can.
Getting rid of some pews at the back of the church was another sign of flexibility in that it opened up space at the back for displays, for the crèche, and where people can now congregate to meet the vicar and the preacher, and chat with friends before dispersing after a service. And recently we replaced some pews from the front with moveable chairs to make more room for the All Age service and for holding concerts.
Such changes are not a matter of conforming to any passing whim or philosophy. They are attempts to fulfil this building’s original purpose - but to do it more effectively in this day and age. A dedicated building, yes, but not one that is totally inflexible.
It is the same with the living church - with you and I. We are a dedicated people and rightly so. We stand for age-old truths enshrined in the creed and in our baptismal vows. But our effectiveness as witnesses to Christ in this modern age will be lessened if we are unable to incorporate an element of versatility to meet the needs of proclaiming the Gospel in the 21st century. We must be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as we accommodate to new understandings of human nature and its potential.
There has, for example, come the recognition that although there remain differences between the sexes, women are equal and in some respects superior to men. It therefore makes sense to have women priests. There has come a greater understanding of human sexuality and the modern day acceptance that homosexuality is for certain people the only way they can express sexual love for another, and surely God fosters all genuine experiences of self-sacrificing love. Perhaps the church still has some way to go in coming to terms with an appropriate attitude towards divorced people. There is the matter of women bishops still to be resolved. As for the Roman Catholic Church, perhaps in this age of over-population (a problem unknown in Biblical times) it ought to rethink its attitude towards birth control. And how about priestly celibacy? Closer to home we have ongoing questions facing our church of St Barnabas. For example, as to whether it is doing enough to attract new people in, especially young people.
In summary, as a dedicated people - the living church - we are called to be firm in our core faith and not afraid to proclaim it in the way we live our lives. But at the same time we need to incorporate an element of flexibility in our thinking so as more effectively to proclaim the Gospel in this modern age.
Based on a sermon by Russell Stannard
A train pulls into Leighton Buzzard station. A stranger to the area looks out of the window at St Barnabas Church. He immediately knows what this building is for. It stands out from other buildings. It is a dedicated building. Its purpose is well-defined. He knows it has to be a church.
In the same way, when he earlier passed through Berkhamsted and saw the castle he knew it was a castle. Although in ruins, it has a keep and a moat. Another building that stands out, dedicated to a clear purpose.
But then he continues up the line to Central Milton Keynes. What is he to make of the rectangular glass buildings there? Offices, yes, but what for? What firm or business occupies them? He can’t tell. They are anonymous. And that is how they were conceived and designed and built.They were built speculatively. The aim was to be flexible - to fit in with any prospective purchaser’s needs. They are essentially empty shells. Their only internal walls are moveable partitions. When the present leaseholder leaves, the idea is that you rip it all out, and sell the building once more as an infinitely adjustable shell - a transparent, anonymous glass box. And the same goes for the shops in Central Milton Keynes. They can be used to sell any kind of produce depending solely on the firm that happens to be hiring that space at that time - a book shop one day, a travel agent’s another.
So, there are two kinds of building. On the one hand, dedicated buildings like churches, castles, railway stations, and schools, and on the other, versatile, infinitely adaptable ones like office buildings and shops.
The same is true of people. Some are infinitely adaptable. They conform to whatever the prevailing pressures and fads dictate. They conform to the herd instinct. But then there are others who stand out from the crowd as dedicated people. They know their own mind and do not care if that entails going against popular opinion if necessary. They have firm beliefs and principles and do not mind who knows it.
So how about you? What kind of person are you? Infinitely adaptable so as to please anyone and everyone? Or are you a dedicated person?
As a Christian, you and I, are called upon to be dedicated people. Just as our church stands out as a dedicated building to the glory of God, so you and I are called upon to be the living church - and as such should also stand out from the crowd. Jesus told us not to hide our light under a bushel, but to establish it for all to see on a lamp stand.
But that is all very well. How exactly are we to stand out as a dedicated Christian? For a building it is easy: There is the tower, arched windows with stained glass, a prominent notice at the entrance to the car park. For us, however, there is nothing about our appearance to set us apart from others. Here we have to talk about the architecture of our lives. We should be prepared to stand out from the crowd if necessary by the views we express, our attitudes, behaviour, the quality of the life we lead, selflessness, concern for others, self-discipline, reverence, and a willingness to talk freely about what we believe as when the occasion arises.
Each Sunday we recite the creed. In a nutshell, that is what we stand for, as a dedicated people. It is that belief that should shine forth in our mode of living.
Having said all that, there can be difficulties in being dedicated. Let’s go back to buildings. If a building is too purpose-built it can be inflexible and not best suited to changing circumstances. Our church was originally conceived and built with the understanding that we should all be facing one way, God envisaged as being high up at the East end. But then came the understanding that perhaps, rather than think of God as a remote elevated figure, he was more to be regarded as in the midst of us. Hence was born the idea of worship in the round.
Unfortunately the lay-out of the building, with its rigid screen and all the steps leading up to the chancel and sanctuary, posed problems. In the end we had to make do with just moving the altar slightly forward so that at least the priest could stand behind the altar and face the people. Either that, or for the All Age service, forget about the high altar, the sanctuary and the chancel, and have a portable altar in the nave. Not a very satisfactory solution but the best we can do in the circumstances. At least it shows a willingness to move with the times as best we can.
Getting rid of some pews at the back of the church was another sign of flexibility in that it opened up space at the back for displays, for the crèche, and where people can now congregate to meet the vicar and the preacher, and chat with friends before dispersing after a service. And recently we replaced some pews from the front with moveable chairs to make more room for the All Age service and for holding concerts.
Such changes are not a matter of conforming to any passing whim or philosophy. They are attempts to fulfil this building’s original purpose - but to do it more effectively in this day and age. A dedicated building, yes, but not one that is totally inflexible.
It is the same with the living church - with you and I. We are a dedicated people and rightly so. We stand for age-old truths enshrined in the creed and in our baptismal vows. But our effectiveness as witnesses to Christ in this modern age will be lessened if we are unable to incorporate an element of versatility to meet the needs of proclaiming the Gospel in the 21st century. We must be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as we accommodate to new understandings of human nature and its potential.
There has, for example, come the recognition that although there remain differences between the sexes, women are equal and in some respects superior to men. It therefore makes sense to have women priests. There has come a greater understanding of human sexuality and the modern day acceptance that homosexuality is for certain people the only way they can express sexual love for another, and surely God fosters all genuine experiences of self-sacrificing love. Perhaps the church still has some way to go in coming to terms with an appropriate attitude towards divorced people. There is the matter of women bishops still to be resolved. As for the Roman Catholic Church, perhaps in this age of over-population (a problem unknown in Biblical times) it ought to rethink its attitude towards birth control. And how about priestly celibacy? Closer to home we have ongoing questions facing our church of St Barnabas. For example, as to whether it is doing enough to attract new people in, especially young people.
In summary, as a dedicated people - the living church - we are called to be firm in our core faith and not afraid to proclaim it in the way we live our lives. But at the same time we need to incorporate an element of flexibility in our thinking so as more effectively to proclaim the Gospel in this modern age.