I’ve
heard it said a remarkable number of times even in the last few days that you don’t
have to go to church to be Christian; that to be “spiritual” is not to be “religious”
or aligned with a religion. People tell me they believe in God and explain that
they have some notion of a higher power, but they don’t feel the need to worship.
I’m told by them that they pray, especially when times get tough and maybe
sometimes to thank God, but not often. There is a general belief in an afterlife
(I always ask this in funeral meetings to know where I stand), though the pressing
materialism of this temporal world gets in the way of thinking too much about
it. While I know what is being said in all these cases, I cannot agree with it
anymore. Faith is personal, yes, but faith in a gracious, unconditionally loving
God requires a big response, not a mediocre take-it-or-leave it attitude. It
demands a commitment. Now I’ve said it, the big “C”, commitment, so lacking in
the disposable, easy-come easy-go world today.
The
question is what is that commitment? Initially coming to faith or growing
further in faith is an individual choice, but it is not a path one can walk
alone. Rarely do people realise their faith without the guidance of another
person or other people empowered by the Holy Spirit. Nurturing and fostering the
sparks of faith is much easier if one enjoys regular fellowship, prayer and
Bible reading with other believers – not necessarily more mature Christians, as
we all know “out of the mouths of babes…” Isolated the tiny embers can so
easily grow cold, unless they are drawn together and fanned into life. This is
the big “C”, commitment to each other, a promise to love and support each other
in faith.
Moreover,
we all have our God-given skills, gifts and talents, but none of us is really
an expert of all, nor can we or should we do all. We need each other like a
body has many parts, which work to make up the whole organism. Christians together
form the complete Body of Christ here on earth now. We are his eyes, hands and
his feet, every cell of his body. Of course, this image is not original. St
Paul wrote eloquently in 1 Corinthians 12 about it. Being part of a body requires
us all to pull our weight; we need each other and God needs all of us.
For
us today I feel we need especially to share in the Body of Christ in Communion
for two good reasons. Firstly, as a Eucharist or Thanksgiving in response to
all he gives us, not the least his gracious love shown in Jesus’ sacrifice
remembered in the service, but also in sheer awe at this wonderful creation
(ah, yes, I crave silence in worship). Secondly, because by receiving the consecrated
bread we sacramentally become the Body of Christ full of his Holy Spirit,
empowered to live and work to his glory, genuinely inspired. All this requires the
big “C”, commitment to worship – regular, weekly worship focussing on Holy
Communion with other Christians as part of the church, the Body of Christ. Corporate
religion is the only way by definition; it is Christ incarnate in the world.
Accepting
that mainstream religious organisations have not always got it right (and for
that we must repent), without them our spiritual platitudes about belief in God
and saying our occasional prayers are hollow. You cannot be a Christian and not
go to church as often as you can.
