“God has a preferential option to the poor…the church has a preferential option to the middle class”- Professor Anthony Reddie

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Dear Friends,

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I wonder how you feel about the above statement? Does it make us feel uncomfortable? As I reflect upon it, I do wonder if one of the reasons that so many Methodist Churches are now struggling to survive and wondering what their purpose is, is because we are no longer interested in people who are poor or who are struggling to get by. Perhaps too often we are more interested in people who know when to stand up and sit down during a Sunday service than we are in people who have nothing to bring to us but problems. Perhaps we are more interested in how much money we can raise from putting on a coffee and cake sale than wondering who might need coffee and cake for free?

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In one of his final journal entries, John Wesley became aware of this direction of travel that Methodist people were taking. He lamented the fact that although Methodist people were involved in “Saving all they can” they were no longer “Giving all they can.” Even then, Methodist people were becoming socially upwardly mobile. Perhaps that is why God raised up the Salvation Army.

 

Let me be clear that I am talking to myself as much as anyone else. I am just a council estate kid. Perhaps to my shame I no longer know anyone who lives on the estate where I grew up. It is so easy for all of us to become out of touch with what is the reality of every day struggles for some people.

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As Christian churches we believe we have good news to share. The Psalmist declares (Psalm 27) “I believe I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.” What does that look like for people who are struggling to get by? How are we showing the people of this generation the goodness of God?

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Whichever community you belong to, somewhere, someone will be struggling, someone will be troubled or worried. These things may be hidden, but look beneath the surface and they will be there somewhere. People look at the events in the Middle East and the are fearful of how that might escalate. They are already troubled by the impact said events have had on the price of fuel and the price of food. If you live on a fixed income and suddenly your weekly shop goes up by 20% then you will soon notice.

 

Perhaps the quotation at the top of the page will be the beginning of a conversation within your church. Perhaps some churches and the people therein need a change of mindset. God has set us within our communities for a reason. And that is not to hide away in a Holy huddle – it is to show his goodness to the people around us. And that might mean getting our hands dirty – getting to know people and understanding their needs.

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Our calling is to preach Good News to the poor and to do so in word and deed. Can the church of today live up to that calling?

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Blessings

Peter

Rev. Peter Barnett – Superintendent Minister