I grew up in New Zealand, in a time when the churches were full on Sundays and the shops were closed. Yet over the years, I have watched our country change. The former Presbyterian theologian, Lloyd Geering, made a similar observation more than 20 years ago:
What are we witnessing? Not the death of spirituality, not the death of belief, not the death of meaning, but the death of religious institutions, the death of organised religion, the erosion of Christianity's historical core, its hold on the heart of the West... It is the death of Christendom 1
It is the reference to 'the death of organised religion' that caught my attention because I have been part of the Church for the whole of my life. My father was an Anglican Vicar, and I followed in his footsteps along with two of my brothers. However, I have also noticed a slow decline in Church attendance during my ministry. There have been many reasons: The advent of sport on Sunday mornings; the stand the Church made against the Springbok Rugby tour in 1981 that resulted in a lot of ill-feeling among some parishioners. As one parishioner said to me: 'You will not see me in Church again because the Church has no right to stop me from enjoying my Rugby'. Then in 1990, our retail laws changed to allow Sunday trading. The impact of political decisions on religious practice is not new. It even occurs in the Gospel reading for this Sunday which comes from Mark 8:27-38.
Jesus was aware political opposition towards him was increasing. So he reminded his listeners about the cost of discipleship. Anyone who wanted to be his follower would ultimately 'lose their life'. Taken at face value, they are challenging words. In a way, he could foresee his death, but his words also applied to what was happening in the early Church when the Gospel of Mark was written. They apply to us as well, and cause us to ponder: 'What does it mean to be a Christian in our day and age?' Should my values and faith influence my political choices? And to what degree should politics affect the way I express my beliefs and faith?
The Gospel reading also reminds us, that the values Jesus stood for were for justice, compassion and peace and he was quite prepared to challenge those in political and religious leadership regardless of the cost. It also reminds us when we take a similar kind of stance to Jesus, we also take a risk.
The reason being is that Jesus and the religious and political powers of his day represented two different sets of values. Jesus valued compassion, beauty and truth, and these values found their fulfilment in what he called the kingdom of God. We see another set of values reflected in every self-seeking political power system in history. When we decided to take a stand for the values Jesus promoted, we also take a risk that remains as valid today as it was when St Paul wrote to Timothy:
'Indeed, all who wish to live God-loving lives in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution'.2
So what does it mean to be a Christian? How do we keep our faith alive? Can Religion and Politics mix? I find living a God-centred life is like any other valuable relationship we may have in our life – it is a daily practice. The Jewish-Christian tradition reminds us that the whole of creation is already God-created and God-breathed. Every person, animal and plant carries the Divine life-giving breath within it. Sometimes we may catch a glimpse of this in the beauty of a sunrise or sunset or when we witness a new birth. Or when listening to a piece of music that captures our attention and wraps itself around us, carrying us within its melody. What we may lack is the constant awareness of this Divine Life-giving Presence.
If we see this way of living as something we long for then how do we foster that awareness? Jesus gave us the answer in many of his parables. It grows and flourishes within us as we begin to want it, look for it and value it. Jesus spent a lot of time outdoors. Perhaps following his example and spending time in creation may be the easiest place to start, because nature is not complicated by other people's ideas. Then we may begin to look for glimmers of the same Divine energy shining in the life and life-giving actions of other people. Then one day, we may discover the same life-fulfilling presence deep within ourselves. Enriching and delighting us with peace, love, and joy; faith and faithfulness, hope and self-giving to others. Qualities that are all windows and doorways into the Divine Mystery that is already surrounding and enriching our lives. As St Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said:
Seek the face of God in everything, everyone, all the time, and the Divine hand in every happening;This is what it means to be contemplative in the heart of the world.3
Kia mau te rongo me te pai ki a koe i to haerenga
May you find peace and good will on your journey.
Phil
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1 Ward, K, Religion in a Postaquarian Age, https://www.presbyterian.org.nz/about-us/research-resources/research-papers/religion-in-a-postaquarian-age#_ftnref1
2 2 Timothy 3:12
3 St Mother Teresa of Calcutta.https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/252963-seeking-the-face-of-god-in-everything-everyone-all-the
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