As I reported recently, my usual travelling companion is jet setting without me. He reports from Paris that, being summer, the place is overrun with tourists which makes it tough for a little blue muppet. Not only that, the French, who abhor English, make no effort at all to comprehend a little blue muppet. He was pleased however to get to see the world’s largest Mecanno construction. He also wonders if the Poles will be more forthcoming.
This morning I was listening to excerpts from St Matthew’s Passion by Bach. “Kommt ihr Tochter” (Come ye Daughters). It is a glorious piece of music reflecting on the punishment that the innocent Christ received on our behalf. As with all his music, Bach wrote this for the glory of God. But to do something to the glory of God doesn’t mean it has to be spectacular.
Calvin Seerveld, in his little pamphlet “Christian Workers Unite” speaks of his father as a “seller of fish”. Seerveld describes the haggling over price, the dressing, gutting and cleaning of fish, taking the fish scraps to the dump – he describes, what for most of us, would seem a dirty and unsavoury job. He concludes this anecdote:
My brothers and I at work in the dumps, laughing and struggling, happy to be bodily alive there too: it is like a little hallelujah chorus sung by the South Bay Fish Market, the kind of earthly hallelujah, priestly service, angels fain would sing, but God has reserved for the believing man, (let me add: and woman!) the Christian worker.
It made me think that a true test of the “success” of a Christian life is exactly that – Do I live my life to the glory God? This life is not lived out of any sense that we are trying to earn God’s favour, but rather out of the deepest sense that we have understood, what Bach and Calvin Seeveld’s dad did, that the creator of the universe came down to earth and dealt with our sin on the cross and continues to prepare a Kingdom for his children. That is the motive to give all Glory to God and to sing “earthly hallelujahs!”
“… and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2
Most mirrors
are all too truthful
revealing every spot,
scar and blemish,
wrinkle and faded hope.
We squint,
cover our eyes
because the truth hurts –
aches our unworthiness.
Wincing, we turn away,
vowing inside
to run and hide
hoping that
the surrounding chaos
will hide us –
make us invisible
from the speculum’s
relentless
and enervating scrutiny.
But then …
“I am” came
and shattered
our refections
and replaced
our haunted image
with his own.
Very recently I asked for readers to respond to a query I had about how people remember church when they were children (https://pieterstok.com/2013/07/13/your-experience-of-church-as-a-child/). I am still keen on hearing your responses.
One thing I didn’t expect (maybe I should have), was the number of private emails I have received from people recalling the abuse they received. This abuse sometimes arose because church authorities deliberately turned away from events in their families and congregation, or was perpetrated by them. This abuse ranged from spiritual and emotional neglect through to the more sordid examples we see in the news on a daily basis
It reminded me that in my years as a pastor I came across too many examples of events that had never been dealt with properly. The “lets sweep it under the carpet” syndrome was all too prevalent. In an effort to protect the church’s reputation we have mired it more deeply in hidden and unconfessed sin and with no real thought for the victims.
Jesus weeps at the sins of His people but the tears must be even greater when these atrocities touch the innocent and vulnerable who are largely made up of women and children.
So far I have seen two main results of this hidden abuse revealed in the emails. Some people turn their back on the church and faith and want nothing to do with either. This is a tragedy of eternal proportions. The other result is those people who, usually through a Christlike mentor or partner, have, at some future occasion, dealt with the abuse and have come out the other side with a stronger faith and a greater awareness of God’s love for them. This is miraculous!
These emails have convinced me that the issue of children in the church is a crucial issue at so many different levels. What do we do to protect them? How do we make them feel that they belong? What is their role in the church and what can we learn from them? These are just some of the questions!
And from you dear readers, I would still love to hear what you have to say.
We haven’t had a Grover picture for a while. Currently he is travelling around Europe without me. Recently he was at the refurbished Rijksmusem in Amsterdam. Grover was particularly taken by Rembrandt’s masterpiece the “The Night Watch” or more correctly, “The Shooting Company of Frans Banning Cocq”. One lady commented that it wasn’t nice to take a photo of a work of art with that thing. Grover didn’t think it was polite to call “The Night Watch” a “thing”.
Grover at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
They are open
and innocent,
eager to please,
the vulnerable.
They have no muscles
or wiles
to parry attacks,
the vulnerable.
They listen
and imbibe our words
ideas and values,
the vulnerable.
They mirror
our thoughts,
play act our actions,
the vulnerable.
They grow up
and shape, mould
and, too often, warp
the next generation of
the vulnerable.
There are times
when we think the
broken bread
and wine
are not enough.
In the body we
break each other
with words and venom,
attitudes and stares.
As if
the world,
its sin
and ours
does not inflict
enough pain
and mutilations.
The cross
was complete
perfect
and eternal.
So when we eat
and drink
the bread and wine
and remember the
body and blood
of Him
who died and rose
We can put aside
our desires
to add our punishment
and judgment.
It has all been completed
… for us too.
While my better half is visiting family in the warmth of the northern Summer, I am tempering my jealousy by remembering our trip early last year.
A Beautiful Church Graveyard at Vartdal, south of Alesund, Norway
I must extend a big thank you to all of you who have responded to my request for childhood memories of church. (The original post here which includes an email address). One thing your responses have already done is widen my thinking and planning. I have received some emails regarding various kinds abuse upon which I have to reflect deeply. Some of you have commented on excitement and others sheer boredom. Overall, however, I get the strong impression that for many, if not most, children were incidental to church life. This collection has only just begun so I continue to encourage readers to comment and to ask friends to comment
Please keep your memories and reflections coming.
I am asking readers to recall their experience of church and worship as a child. What did you connect with, what alienated you, what activities enabled you to enjoy the community of church – in all I want to hear about the good, bad and ugly. Your memories and experiences, anecdotes and stories is what I am after.
Currently I am researching material for a book I hope to write on “children and church” and your experiences will help fill out the picture
Please email me at pstok@iinet.net.au or add your comments below.
Thank you in anticipation.
Pieter
Travels from Ur 