Faith lift
In 2016, St John’s and King’s Park Church in Dalkeith (Scotland) put up a sign during renovation works on their building:
CHURCH IS NOT CLOSED
WE ARE UNDERGOING A FAITH LIFT
Four years later and here in 2020, church buildings are closed again but are we undergoing a faith lift, allowing God to do renovations in our hearts and minds? Some of us have found this period of lockdown a time of growth in our relationship with God, praying more and finding a renewed joy in reading scripture. Others have found it a real struggle, being separated from gathering together on Sundays and during the week. How has your personal relationship with Jesus been affected by this period of lockdown?
As I think about life before lockdown, I thank God for His timing of leading us towards the themes of ‘Whole Life Discipleship’, as we did the groundwork for scattered living – though at that time we had no idea we would be doing “scattered” without “gathered”. Do you remember those 6M’s of Fruitfulness on the Frontline? (Your Frontline is the place where you spend significant time through the week in contact with non-Christians)
‘Modelling Godly Character’
On our frontlines, godly character is both modelled and displayed
‘Making Good Work’
There is dignity and value in the everyday tasks we do
‘Ministering Grace & Love’
God has shown us grace and love, how might we minister to those around us?
‘Moulding Culture’
How can we influence the culture on our frontlines so people flourish more?
‘Mouthpiece for Truth & Justice’
Becoming champions of right living and fair dealing on our frontlines
‘Messenger of the Gospel’
Growing in confidence in talking about Jesus with people on our frontlines
Now, read these 6Ms again and consider how each one might apply to your current daily life? For me, I’m thinking about ‘Modelling Godly Character‘ in the way I relate to others in my household, in my relationship with my wife and with my son. I think about how I can ‘Make Good Work’ as I work from home, having pastoral conversations over the phone and preparing resources for online church. ‘Ministering love and grace’, I had to grow in grace towards others in my longing for a refund from the big family holiday we had to cancel at Easter. For ‘Moulding Culture’, I think about the culture of my street, talking with my neighbours during those weeks of the NHS clap and then thinking about how we might develop local community now that the clap has ended. When it comes to being a ‘Mouthpiece for Truth and Justice’, our conversations have focused on racism following the death of George Floyd. As for being a ‘Messenger of the Gospel’, my continual prayer is that my friends will come to encounter Jesus.
Where have you seen God at work on your frontline? What opportunities have you had to put into practice any of these 6Ms in your ‘scattered’ life? Please do get in touch and let me know.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed during lockdown is the increased number of telephone conversations with people in our church family. It’s good to catch up and to discover where people are at, so please do give me a call on 01403 217 204. I often find trends across the conversations when I ask how people are feeling at this stage in lockdown. There’s anxiety of what the future will look like. There’s an increased awareness of the impact of lockdown on our mental health. There’s a thankfulness for the online services which have united us and a desperation to be with one another at the BEC. Sadly, I don’t yet know when that will be, but we will certainly be celebrating the day when we can! And until that day comes, let us ask God to give us a faith-lift, strengthing our faith in Jesus and our love for others.
Blessings in the Name of Jesus
Pete