Monthly Letter

  August 2009

Dear friends,

I frequently get involved in debates about religion. And when the subject remains ‘religion’, I am almost bound to lose. Living in secular Britain, most people have a very limited grasp of what Christianity is about but they know they don’t like ‘religion’. The Crusades are sometimes mentioned, some believe that the ‘only cure for religion is education’ and many have had a bad experience with the ‘Church’ although when pushed, they will concede that Christianity might be not all that bad. We are very much misunderstood. And I can’t prove that God exists in an era when people are increasingly cynical about many institutions and think that science can explain everything.

How could any reasonable person who came to a service in Christ Church think anything but kind thoughts about Christ’s people? I guess the answer would be to get them to come to a service in Christ Church to see for themselves.

At the start of a new season, in fact, for me it almost feels like a new year – a feeling that I have kept since school days over 30 years ago – can we make a resolution to talk to others about our Church and our faith? Is there anyone you know who would possibly like to come to worship with us? Or do you ever see those who were frequent attenders at one time but are now rarely seen in church? It would be great to let more people know that practicing Christians are normal, sensible people. Like them really – but with something extra and amazing.

How can we, in our daily lives, show God’s love, the presence of the Holy Spirit within us and demonstrate to others what our faith really means? We have a long way to go to correct all the misunderstandings that are present in this country at the beginning of this century. Talk to others about God and Jesus! It is a Good News story and one that we should be excited about.

And whenever discussions with friends moves from ‘religion’ to Jesus and what he did for us, people see things in a different way, even though some may not admit it at the time!

Yours in Christ

Duncan