| Christ in the Holy Communion
I understand the sixteenth century Swiss Reformer Zwingli to see a “real absence” of Christ in the elements of bread and wine, despite a participation of Christ in the lives of believers who participate. What I miss is a concept of spiritual feeding that is somehow connected with the actual process of participation in the Holy Communion. There is a perceived absence of spiritual intimacy with Christ associated with the discipline of obedience in taking part in what Christ instructed us to do by having this fellowship feast.
His concept of “the real absence” is unhelpful to public worship. In this matter, Zwingli’s argument for the “real absence” falters for the same reason as Luther’s argument for the “real presence”. Both of them apply concrete thinking to the interpretation of the Bible in this matter, both miss the language of signification, and both fail to address the use of finite language for eternal truths. The fact that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father cannot be allowed to cancel his word “Behold I am with you always, even unto the end of the age”, or “I will not leave you orphans, but will come to you”: unless perchance the Holy Spirit has been exempted from attendance at Holy Communion!
Even though the elements remain exactly bread and wine unchanged, it is untrue that Christ is absent from them, any more than he is absent from the Bible when it is read. As there is a specific command of the Lord there is necessarily an implied promise of spiritual blessing attached to it. I Corinthians 11 indicates that unworthy reception is associated with the possibility and sometimes with the reality of illness and premature death. If there is an emptying and a cursing through disobedient reception, why would we doubt but that there is a feeding, filling or blessing associated with obedient participation and in some nature specially related to the sacrament? It is possible that the precise nature of the spiritual feeding may transcend definition, but such feeding or blessing is not nullified by being trans-rational.
One of the implied blessings in 1 Corinthians is health and longevity. Right participation in the Lord’s Supper is part of the healing ministry of the Church.
Lindsay Johnstone
New Deal for Asylum Seekers
“Court opens door for refugees [Mark Dodd 28 Jul 05]
MORE than 1000 asylum-seekers facing deportation may be able to stay in
Australia after a groundbreaking Federal Court judgment yesterday undermined a
key plank of the Howard Government's visa protection system.
The full bench of the Federal Court ruled that asylum-seekers whose temporary
protection visas had expired could not be deported unless the government proved
their country of origin was safe.
It means that TPV holders can no longer be forced to again prove their refugee status
when their three-year visa expires -- a process that could lead to deportation.
Under the new ruling, they could instead be issued with a permanent visa…”
Quoted from part of an Article in
The Australian newspaper on 28 July, 2005
It is clear from this Federal Court decision that there is no way that it is legal for the Australian Government to send anyone back to Iran, Afghanistan, or any other country where they would face persecution on account of their religious beliefs.
Pray that the Department of Immigration will deal favourably will all asylum seekers to
whom this judgment relates.
Lindsay Johnstone
Some Highlights in Britain and
Ireland
We were moved to quiet tears as we visited the Martyrs’ Memorial at St. Giles’s Square in Oxford. It commemorates the burning at the stake of Bishops Ridley and Latimer and of Archbishop Cranmer in 1555 and 1556. Around the corner in Broad Street a stone cross embedded in the road marks the site where the Pyres were lit and wherethey perished for the Word of God. We there prayed for England to be revived by the Holy Spirit and to return to the faith of Christ crucified for us.
The highlight of our church visits was our visit to Holy Trinity Redcross in the countryside of Wicklow, Ireland. We were taken there by a former parishioner of St. Luke’s Clovelly, Dorcas Murphy. It is in a very rural setting. Never have I attended an Anglican church that is so like St. Luke’s Clovelly: the worship songs, the gentle
balance of liturgy with openness to the vibrant ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The Rector has been there for twenty years. For fifteen years he and his wife laboured with smallness, maybe a dozen people. Five years ago the church started to grow. There are now about 120 regulars. There were about 90 in church the day we attended: people of all ages; families and children; youth. There was a short children’s talk as well as the sermon. During the sermon the children would sit in the aisle drawing or colouring in. After the sermon they went back to their parents. I asked the minister, Rawling, what program led to the turn around. There was no program. In answer to prayer, the Lord moved sovereignly, and growth commenced.
Lindsay Johnstone
In appreciation of the Rev. Hugh Scott
I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for all that he and Heather have done at St. Luke's in the past three months. I want to express just how much I have appreciated their involvement with you.I know that Hugh's preaching and pastoral ministry has been much greatly valued. The RSL folk also much valued the manner in which he took Ben Absolon's funeral. Hugh and Heather have given extended support to Jeffr in his application for permanent refugee status. I have also heard of the encouragement that folk have received from Hugh's sermons, and I know that I shall hear even more after I return.It has been deeply encouraging to me to know that the parish has been ministered to so lovingly and caringly.May the Lord mightily bless Hugh and Heather in every way.
Thank you to all St. Lukians
No words can express the deep gratitude that I feel towards all the members of St. Luke’s for the magnificent manner in which the church functioned during my long service leave. Many folk took on extra responsibilities, involving some of the tasks that I normally fulfil in the day-to-day administration of the parish. In the few days since my return I have heard of many ways in which people have blessed one another spiritually and materially. St. Luke's is indeed a church where the love of God is seen in people’s lives.
Lindsay Johnstone
Bridling the Tongue for its extensive Pro-active Use
James 1 says that “bridling the tongue” is a part of “true religion”. James 3 speaks at greater length about the tongue. James speaks of bridling a horse. The purpose is not to stop the horse doing anything, but rather to enable the rider to take the horse wherever he wants it to go, perhaps to win some races! Unless the horse has been broken in and bridled it cannot be controlled.
Our tongues can do a lot of damage when out of control. That does not imply that James is talking only about stopping the negative use of the tongue (as in defamation, cursing and heresy), but also about the need to use the tongue profitably and powerfully to achieve positive purposes and to fulfil God’s agenda for our speech.
How to bridle the Tongue
Make an act of will, every day. Find the root of our own bitterness.
Move in forgiveness. Become oriented to the interests, needs and possibilities within other people. Learn how to listen effectively.
Learn how to handle anger. (1: 19ff)
Does this mean there is no place for firm or confronting talk, or for controversy?
No way! Paul rebuked Peter publicly (Galatians 2: 11-14) for unfairness, partisanship, and for being hypocritical. Issues of justice and liberty will call us to use words to confront and to challenge. This should always be for the purpose of retrieving some good, and not for the purpose of destruction. It is sometimes better to write a letter rather than to speak verbally, especially if a letter will make it easier not to lose one’s cool. But remember, if you write a letter, make sure that it does not defy the laws of libel or defamation!
Creative use of the Tongue
Praise God
Affirm people (but do not flatter) Even James himself missed a wonderful opportunity to do this with Paul (see Acts 21: 17-20). Instead of focussing on Paul’s mission report, he quickly said, “Praise the Lord!” and asked Paul to fulfil James’ own agenda by doing something “acceptably religious”.
Release people. Speak to validate the other person’s vision from God.
Empower people. Use the tongue to draw out, equip and train others, or to impart to them the ability to do what you can already for yourself. Since the Gospel is about grace, model it by using the tongue generously.
Lindsay Johnstone
Love expressed by communication
that honours others
Relationships among the people of God should be characterised by the highest common factor rather than the lowest common multiple. Our ways of communicating should be caring, affectionate andrespectful rather than shoddy, self-centred and
careless. The same qualities should guide how wetreat people, regardless of race, religion or other demarcation. Even where a person is not “safe” to be trusted, we should remember that we are relating with someone else who is made in the image and likeness of God.
Romans 12: 9-21 briefly summarises some ways in which we can reflect our gratitude to God for the benefits of Christ’s atonement for us on the Cross, in the manner in which we love others.
Let love be genuine
The bonds of love that bind us together should bear the hallmark of truth and reality.
Mutual Affection
Are we warm towards one another? The protocols of gender and of adult/child dynamics require appropriate boundaries. At the same time, we need to find ways to avoid coldness and rejection, and ways to help others feel safe, accepted, loved and
significant as people.
Give greater honour to one another
To what extent to do we see the image of God in each other? Do we genuinely seek to be aware of and to affirm the dignity and meaningfulness of another person? Courtesy and practical care all help. Relate both to enable and to ennoble others.
Listening is a skill to develop. See James 1: 19. Children need to be raised with personal boundaries.
Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with
those who weep. How often do we hijack someone else’s joy (or sorrow)? It is all too easy to compete with someone’s story instead of hearing it through.
A person needs our acceptance, and this can have an empowering enabling and ennobling effect.
Offer generous welcome to strangers
Hospitality in Romans 9 is the opposite to xenophobia. It is xenophilia: “love of the
stranger/visitor”.
Bless others when it would be easier to curse
Them.
Lindsay Johnstone
Discipline and Growth (John 15)
Jesus teaches his followers how their growth in character is related to his connection with Jesus and with the Father in Heaven.
The Vine and the Branches (15: 1-6)
Jesus the illustration of a grape vine and its branches. There is the vine that holds it together. There is the farmer who looks after the vine, prunes it and harvests it.
Jesus likens himself to the vine. God the Father is like a farmer.
Christian disciples are branches of the vine.
The fruit of love and joy appear on the branches.
Fruitful branches are pruned. God disciplines and refines faithful Christians. Dead branches are cut off and discarded.
To remain in connection with Christ, the disciple needs decisively to remain in fellowship with Christ. A person who would not remain in Christ would face eternal destruction.
The Results of continuing to live in relationship with Jesus
(15: 7-11)
Answered prayer (verse 7) See also verse 16
God the Father is glorified (verse 8)
Manifesting the love which is received from Christ (verses 8-10)
Obeying the father’s commandments (verse 10)
Fullness of joy (verse 11)
Progression from the Father to Jesus, from Jesus to his followers; from his followers to one another (15: 9-12)
Love (verses 9, 17) Obedience (verse 10) Joy (verse 11)
The New Commandment (15: 12-14)
Love one another, as I have loved you.
The greatest example is seen in sacrifice. This will be seen supremely in Jesus (verse 13)
Friendship with Jesus goes with Obedience of Jesus (15: 14-17)
No friendship without Lordship (v.14)
Who chose whom? (verse 16)
The Cost of friendship with Jesus (15: 18-25)
Suffering with Jesus.
Being treated with contempt as are Jesus and the Father.
Partnership with the Holy Spirit (15: 26-27)
Picks up themes from John 14 that will reappear in John 16
The Comforter will testify of Jesus. He proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Disciples will also bear witness.
Lindsay Johnstone
Short Articles Below
Responding to the Tsunami Tragedy.
Prayer
Pray for the nations of Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka,
The Maldives, Burma, Kenya. All of these have been
affected directly by the tidal waves.
Pray for the rescue of all who can be rescued.
Pray for all who are seeking missing people,
And for those who have lost loved ones.
Pray for access for all who bring aid and relief.
Pray that disease will be checked.
Pray that there will be no outbreaks of lawlessness.
Pray for the efficiency of local government agencies in
all places affected.
Pray for justice in the giving of help.
What has God said?
We share a common humanity with all who suffer,
despite race, politics and creed.
We have a responsibility to help and to share.
God is sovereign over all, even though his purposes in
specific situations are impossible for us to know.
We are all affected by the “fallen world” in which
happens inexplicable tragedy.
Life is short.
God has a plan ultimately to create a “new heaven and
a new earth” where there is no more pain or tragedy.
Is God speaking to us personally, and in what ways?
Material Care. Donations
Archbishop’s Overseas Aid Fund
The be contacted at PO Box 1416, Parramatta 2124; by
telephoning 1800653 903; or on their website
www.anglicare.org.au
World Vision
13-30 42
www.worldvision.com.au
St. Luke’s in 2005
Major Emphases
Reaching families and individuals with the Gospel
of Jesus.
The main outlets that we have to reach people are:
Sunday Services
Wednesday Bible Study/ Home group, with
overseas English language students participating
eagerly
Clovelly School Scripture (Tuesday mornings in
school term)
The Clovelly RSL Sub Branch
Annual Remembrance Day Service
Contacts through baptisms, funerals; hospital,
home and hostel visits
Prayer Ministry for Healing and other personal
Issues
Responding to needs wherever they arise and however able we are to help
Our people pray earnestly for a mighty outpouring
of the Holy Spirit so that people will respond to the
Gospel.
Lindsay Johnstone
|
