On the shelves of my upstairs library, there sits a seven volume set, "A History of the 1859 Ulster Revival." Within its pages are descriptions of the revival itself, the theology of revival and the effects of the revival in Ireland, England and throughout the world. These volumes bring out two real truths about revival. Revivals happen, and revivals cannot be contained.
I think of these books as I contemplate the third part of the Crux 2015 theme: revive. Each Wednesday morning when our Hartland area pastors gather to pray, one of the things we pray for is revival. True, Holy Ghost Revival. And when we pray, one thing we understand is that revival has to start with us, the pastors, the shepherds of the flock. Regaining that sense of passion for the lost and the hurting. Not getting caught up in denominational politics and the overwhelming dark cloud of demographic and statistical hopelessness. The 1859 revival started with 4 young men and a weekly prayer meeting. And God was mightier than their numbers. God was mightier than the doubters. God was mightier than the spiritual deadness and apathy that had set into the church culture of 1850s Ireland.
Each period of spiritual deadness must lead us back to the foundations of our faith, the Triune God, the cross of Christ and the words of Scripture. And there our own personal revival must start: Bible study, prayer, devotion to God and to his people. That is the only sort of spiritual first aid that is able to breath new life into the church of God. I cannot predict a revival of the sort future generations will write about. But after being in Burlington with so many brothers and sisters that have a heart for the Lord, I cannot count anything out. As we all sang in our worship, "Our God is mighty to save..."
Thursday 14 May 2015
Wednesday 6 May 2015
Cruxifusion 2015: Reconcile
A continuing series of reflections on Cruxifusion's 2015 gathering in Burlington, Ontario.
RECONCILE
We all need to be reconciled. I need to be reconciled. It is part of our identity as Christian that we are a redeemed people, reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus Christ.
At this gathering I made a conscious effort at reconciliation. The overarching theme for me was being reconciled with this denomination I call my home. I have had a roller coaster relationship with the United Church of Canada. Someday I may write about why I stay within its ministry. Upholding traditional orthodoxy and traditional morality seems at times a fool's errand, a voice crying in the wilderness, or more likely a voice too timid to say anything at all.
I found reconciliation as I looked around the sanctuary and saw my brothers and sisters in Christ. I realized my denomination was not political statements, or bureaucracy, or mandated training sessions. This was the home I had searched for in the United Church of Canada for twenty years. And as I listened to Richard Bott, with whom I probably disagree more than agree theologically and ethically, I saw a fellow servant of the Risen Christ, even if we need to discuss who that Risen Christ is.
Reconciliation is a tricky business. It involves giving of self in ways that demand vulnerability. My persistent sins of cynicism and indifference needed to be named, lifted up and confessed. At the Tuesday Prayer Summit, that happened. I confessed, accepted God's forgiveness and tried to muster up my own forgiveness. It hit hard. But it opened up a way back to the fellowship of believers.
On the last day we sang "It is well with my soul." And as we sang I thought of all those behind me in that sanctuary...
Reconciled....
RECONCILE
We all need to be reconciled. I need to be reconciled. It is part of our identity as Christian that we are a redeemed people, reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus Christ.
At this gathering I made a conscious effort at reconciliation. The overarching theme for me was being reconciled with this denomination I call my home. I have had a roller coaster relationship with the United Church of Canada. Someday I may write about why I stay within its ministry. Upholding traditional orthodoxy and traditional morality seems at times a fool's errand, a voice crying in the wilderness, or more likely a voice too timid to say anything at all.
I found reconciliation as I looked around the sanctuary and saw my brothers and sisters in Christ. I realized my denomination was not political statements, or bureaucracy, or mandated training sessions. This was the home I had searched for in the United Church of Canada for twenty years. And as I listened to Richard Bott, with whom I probably disagree more than agree theologically and ethically, I saw a fellow servant of the Risen Christ, even if we need to discuss who that Risen Christ is.
Reconciliation is a tricky business. It involves giving of self in ways that demand vulnerability. My persistent sins of cynicism and indifference needed to be named, lifted up and confessed. At the Tuesday Prayer Summit, that happened. I confessed, accepted God's forgiveness and tried to muster up my own forgiveness. It hit hard. But it opened up a way back to the fellowship of believers.
On the last day we sang "It is well with my soul." And as we sang I thought of all those behind me in that sanctuary...
- broken by their congregations
- broken by the denomination
- broken by grief
- broken by sin
- broken by illness
- broken by process
- broken by uncertainty
- broken by fear
- broken by exclusion
- broken by darkness
- broken by selfishness
- broken by doubt
- broken in ways beyond measure
- broken in ways they cannot yet see
Reconciled....
Tuesday 5 May 2015
Cruxifusion 2015: Rest
It has been about a week since I attended Cruxifusion's annual conference at Wellington Square United Church in Burlington, Ontario. It was a time to re-connect with friends and colleagues from across the country. I have been trying to process some of my thoughts about the conference, and will do so over the next few days using the conference theme: Rest, Reconcile, Revive.
REST
As our closing preacher said, "I needed this." This time together. This time of worship and rejuvenation. This time of safety and friendship. This time of rest.
Being a pastor is a lonely profession. I do not say that to garner pity. I knew this before answering God's call to ministry. And I have been blessed with the ministerial prayer group in Hartland that I meet with each week. But even with that, I still feel isolation. Partly it could be my introvert personality, partly it is the nature of the job to be "on" all the time.
At Cruxifusion 2015, the masks fell away. I did not have to play a role. I could worship and sing. I could be fed, as well as feed. I could laugh and cry without self-awareness. I could be the object of my friends' jokes.
The Bible gives us an example of rest. God places it right in the fabric of creation with his Sabbath day. Pastors so rarely find an opportunity for true rest. At the conference, outside forces can intrude, but the fellowship of our time together is very powerful. We lift each other up, pray for each other, know the struggles and victories of ministry.
I do not have very many friends. I count these blessed Cruxers, who I see but once a year, as some of my dearest friends in the faith.
I needed that!
REST
As our closing preacher said, "I needed this." This time together. This time of worship and rejuvenation. This time of safety and friendship. This time of rest.
Being a pastor is a lonely profession. I do not say that to garner pity. I knew this before answering God's call to ministry. And I have been blessed with the ministerial prayer group in Hartland that I meet with each week. But even with that, I still feel isolation. Partly it could be my introvert personality, partly it is the nature of the job to be "on" all the time.
At Cruxifusion 2015, the masks fell away. I did not have to play a role. I could worship and sing. I could be fed, as well as feed. I could laugh and cry without self-awareness. I could be the object of my friends' jokes.
The Bible gives us an example of rest. God places it right in the fabric of creation with his Sabbath day. Pastors so rarely find an opportunity for true rest. At the conference, outside forces can intrude, but the fellowship of our time together is very powerful. We lift each other up, pray for each other, know the struggles and victories of ministry.
I do not have very many friends. I count these blessed Cruxers, who I see but once a year, as some of my dearest friends in the faith.
I needed that!
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