A former Muslim is spearheading what is set to be one of the largest Christian prayer gatherings in the UK ever when thousands of Christians from all over Britain will stream into the 35,000-seater West Ham Football Club Stadium to take part in the Global Day of Prayer on Sunday 27 May 2007. Read more
Sunday, 25 February 2007
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“The Global Day of Prayer aims to send out a strong message to the wider community that Christianity in the UK is alive and well and vibrant. It will also serve as a demonstration of unity of purpose and vision among Britain’s churches and provide an opportunity for churches to join together to pray for societal ills and to pray for revival across the country” – yeah, right – I mean (1) if “Christianity in the UK is alive and well and vibrant”, why the “societal ills” and why the need for “revival” – and (2) given the wide diversity of denominations and traditions represented, what “unity of purpose and vision”? I mean, hello, just look at one denomination for example – the C of E is split over women’s ministry and homosexuality – and I dare say there are conflicting views on such things in all the groups.
OK – how about this? Mr and Mrs Churchgo live just round the corner from their parish church St Eggs, but they drive across town to another parish church St Bogs – during the Communion Service they will take part in the “Peace” – reconciliation and unity in the body of Christ – excellent idea – though it doesn’t include the members of St Eggs, whom they have effectively snubbed by commuting elsewhere.
Mr and Mrs Churchgo are also keen about doing something about “societal ills” – for example, they are keen on doing something about the environment – although their regular drive across town (when there’s a perfectly good church round the corner) somehow doesn’t contribute to carbon emission.
Interesting order of priorities here: sending out a message, demonstration unity – and finally prayer. And the agenda for prayer: first “societal ills” and then “revival” – hmm. What’s “revival” anyway?
I might be wrong, but here’s a guess at what’s going on: the overwhelming support given is a response to the increasing pressure felt by the churches. On the one hand Islam is growing and has a higher profile – it is being taken seriously by the politicians; on the other hand the forces of secular liberalism are becoming more assertive. The forces that are against the churches are greater than the forces that have divided them. I mean put it this way – Granny Smith and Granny Adams have a long running dispute about the boundaries of their property, but they each have grandchildren in the local primary school. When the Council decided to close the school they were united – against the council. They tirelessly worked together on the committee, distributed leaflets and lobbied councillors. Then the council backed down and the school was saved – and (much to the delight of the grannies’ respective solicitors) the ceasefire ended.
There you go then – there’s a Mission in town and we are “All one in Jesus” – a bit like weddings and funerals – we’re all family, but thank God you can choose your friends – hmm – I suppose that’s what church is all about really – friends as opposed to family – pickenMix religion in which people commute to a church full of “people like us” – Matthew 5:23-24: before you bring your gift to the altar, go and be reconciled to your brother – or – (modern alternative) find another altar.
“A demonstration of unity of purpose and vision among Britain’s churches” – doesn’t that sound like the inclusiveness of a Billy Graham rally of the 1950s: one the one hand you get the declining establishment wanting a slice of the action; on the other you get a keen and dynamic evangelicalism in need of the respectability and endorsement of all the right reverends, left reverends, wrong reverends, moderators, presidents of conference, chairs, etc. A bit like a certain kind of Victorian marriage: the Duke’s son gets some money and the New York heiress gets respectability.
But to return – what’s in it for the declining establishment? OK – thousands go forward at the rally – and passed on to participating churches – won’t the presence of keen young converts be like salt and light? Well, er, not quite – “you convert them and we will teach them” – hmm – notice any difference, say, between bishops with an evangelical background and bishops without?
The problem, however, that led to the Global Day of Prayer is pressure from two groups that believe in absolutes – they are not prepared to do deals: on the one hand you have Islam which believes and lives out absolute Truth; on the other hand you have secular and religious liberalism – determined to impose, shall we say, er, non-evangelical lifestyles – e.g. gay bishops
Scary isn’t it? I mean, gone are the days of pragmatism when you could do deals – I mean if you don’t believe in the Resurrection you could still “affirm” – still can – “Depends what you mean by “Resurrection” innit – as long as you aren’t too inyerFace or upfront about it.
Well there you go then – pressure from two pro-active groups with a vision of how things are to be run and a RE-active group with no vision except they don’t like what the other two groups are doing – well I guess the smart money is on the reactive group being marginalised and possibly eliminated, leaving the other two groups to fight it out
"Thousands of Christians from all over Britain will stream into the 35,000-seater West Ham Football Club Stadium" - but who's paying? Perhaps the organisers will raise the money, or the punters will pay admission or a collection, or perhaps the Club is offering the facilities for free - the point is someone is paying. How much is it costing in time and effort for people to get there?
I don't know what the total cost will be, but imagine what Tear Fund, Christian Aid, the Bible Society or Church Urban Fund could do with the money? I mean that would be a practical way of addressing "societal ills" and perhaps some of the problems faced by poor people throughout the world
What about the cost to the environment by thousands of journeys many of them by car from all over the country?
Who’s lis’nen’?
Is God lis’nen’?
I dare say this isn’t the first time churches have gathered to pray about society and revival. Let’s get real – what exactly are we expecting and when? C’mon – look at previous experience – given the amount of prayer over the years, what’s changed? Look, for example, at the Middle East, our inner cities and our declining churches
Is the public lis’nen’?
Hmm – given our declining churches, no – and take a gander at current and proposed legislation, neither are the political and chattering classes. But then the message of the church isn’t exactly clear. OK – take a representative sample of the leadership of the various denominations and groups that have signed up for the Global day, make up some key questions about the basics of the Christian faith, and then ask these guys to give their views clearly and concisely – and as simply as possible – yeah, right – “a demonstration of unity of purpose and vision among Britain’s churches” – hmm
There you go then – church leaders think of themselves as managers and the love playing politics; if you want to run a business or a political party, you need something to sell and something you can persuade people to buy – what have the churches got?
But to return – who’s lis’nen? Maybe it’s something to do with God – what do the churches believe about God – is there really someOne upThere – and – interested – I mean able and willing to answer our prayers? I dare say if we really believed that it might have some effect on our prayers. The problem is that someone powerful and clever enough obviously has definite plans and an agenda of his own. The next question is whether he wants us in the loop – I mean has he or hasn’t he communicated with us – and how? Back to the old question of ultimate authority – it would be interesting to hear the views of the various groups involved in the Global Day – and I mean clearly and concisely enough for ordinary people to grasp
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