The Big "C"

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. 

Wellbeing

I preached this morning on the Israelites' need for physical water in the wilderness contrasted with their spiritual need to trust God, alongside the story of the Samaritan woman’s conversation with Jesus as she drew physical water at the well, during which she received what she really needed, the spiritual Water of Life.

Suddenly, as I spoke, I was struck by the wonderful double meaning of the word “wellbeing”. It may be obvious to some, but I had not seen it before, that “well-being” is “being by the well”, drawing the Water of Life from Jesus.

Many people feel that to have wellbeing all you need is a healthy diet and exercise regime; this is only part of the picture. We all have an innate, inner craving for nourishment for our souls. Yes, we need physical sustenance, food and water, daily, but humans also need spiritual sustenance daily. The only way to get the latter is by being constantly by the well, drawing that spiritual water through prayer and Bible reading.

In the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, his beautiful, gentle evangelism was exemplary – not pushy, not preachy, not judgmental or critical of her life, taking time to get to know her, responding to her questions and addressing her deeper needs. We can learn from this.

It is a balance of both physical and spiritual that society needs. Holistic wellbeing requires food and water for body and soul; you cannot neglect either. Of course, if people do not have access to the former it is our duty as Christians to do our best to ensure they get their physical needs first and work towards a fairer British society and wider world. But being honest in the UK most people have access to the former and many disregard the latter. There is a great thirst in our communities which only Jesus can fill.

If we always camp by the well, we will be filled and refreshed with the Water of Life.

Wellbeing is being by the well.