Page 8 - Moravian Messenger Oct 2020

STEWARDSHIP OF CREATION
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A Study for personal or group use compiled by Br David Newman
We now need to widen our focus - what can groups of Christians do at all levels, from the small house group, through the local congregation of which it is part, to the wider church nationally, ecumenically and internationally?
First, though, we need to look at our personal motivation and the call to be involved in the world, and to help us we will look at an example from the life of the early church in Jerusalem.
Read 11: Matthew 5:13-16
A familiar passage showing us images demonstrating two sides of the same truth: that the church (i.e. a collection of local believers) is called to be visible and active in the society in which it is placed.
Salt in Biblical times was widely used as a preservative to stop meat going rotten, not to enhance taste. To do this it needs to be in close contact, almost inside the meat. Light, on the other hand, shines out to show people what is going on, both good and bad.
These analogies reflect the importance of being involved in the world without being compromised by it. The whole exercise is useless if the salt loses its saltiness or the light is hidden.
The following questions are to help you to work out what you might achieve in your own situation. We then move on to
think about and take appropriate action.
(36) Jesus says we are salt and light. What characteristics of salt and light come to mind? What differences are there between the way salt works and the way light works?
(37) What do these analogies say about the relationship between the church (i.e. all Christians) and the rest of society? How can we balance being in the world (as salt is in meat to preserve it) with shining God's light on the world, which implies being separate from it?
(38) The passage mentions the dangers of salt losing its saltiness and light being hidden. How does this happen to the church, and how can we avoid it?
Read 12: Acts 4:32-37
We find a striking example of how the early church operated, putting into practice many of the ideas touched on in this short series of studies. What they did may seem daunting but remember that this was immediately after the Holy Spirit came to them.
(39) Is the way these early Christians lived feasible for today? What enabled them to live the way they did?
(40) How might you practically take
action as part of the church at these various levels:
As a small house study group:
How can you help each other to simplify your lifestyles?
Can you share possessions like cars, equipment, allotments etc.?
As part of the local church:
You might like to think about how the church can save energy. Would a recycling project be feasible? Has anything raised in these studies affected the kind of worship and preaching you might like to see?
As part of the wider church (nationally, ecumenically and internationally):
Do you know how good your denomination is as a steward of its money, property and land? What problems do Christians in the Two Thirds World face in trying to care for the environment?
Commitment
Choose one or two of the ideas you have thought about, and set yourself, as an individual, or as a member of a small group, or as part of a church, some realistic targets to achieve?
Are you prepared to commit yourselves to this before God and before each other?
Walk on By?
Several articles have appeared recently in the Moravian Messenger in respect of Food Banks and homelessness, and the Provincial Mission and Society Committee have had several long discussions on these issues. As someone who has moved from a small seaside village in Northern Ireland to north London the amount of people seen sleeping rough has been an eye opener for me. Even during the pandemic, especially around tube stations, there are people sleeping rough, many of them appearing to have mental health issues.
The Irish Council of Churches has done much work on homelessness and I share with you some questions they raised that you may like to ask yourself as you walk past:
• What is the policy of my local council towards people who are waiting for social housing or those who are homeless?
• Could I talk to someone working in a homeless charity or housing support to find out about the lived realities of those with whom they work?
• Could I volunteer to help as all charities are struggling financially during the pandemic?
• Would I be prepared to suffer a degree of financial hardship so that the homeless suffering would be reduced (e.g. pay more in tax)?
Or
• Walk on past - it's the government's job to sort it.
• Throw 50p in a cup and hope it buys food rather than alcohol.
Does this subject matter to you? As Christmas approaches we will be remembering a family who had no house at a time of great need and who were then forced to become refugees to save their child's life. If you would like to run some Bible Studies in Advent on homelessness then please contact Sr Sarah Groves at sarah.groves@moravian.org.uk who will send you by email the Bible Study resource produced by the Irish Council of Churches.
We are a long time off a general election but please keep putting the pressure on our elected representatives to work with some urgency to reduce the number of people without
a home and to help those who are vulnerably
housed. In reducing housing poverty, we are also helping to improve the situation of many families and so reducing child poverty which is another deep concern of the Moravian Church.
Br Mark Kernohan
On behalf of the Mission and Society Committee
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