Zetland Park Methodist Church Pastoral Letters
Too much - too little - too late?
The world and its peoples never cease to amaze me at what they can make as ‘topics of conversation’. If it’s not the proverbial ‘weather’, then the ‘beautiful game’ takes centre stage [football to those NOT in the know!]. Whereas Saturday, 3p.m. was THE time for all games to ‘kick-off’ with the results read in those strident tones over the BBC by the much-respective James Alexander Gordon at 5p.m., now we’re all over the place and the ‘purist’ is left absolutely flummoxed. No wonder there is the ‘cry’ that ‘There is too much footy on the box!’ for that is the primary reason for the higglty-piggilty mess we are currently in. We giggle about with the ‘tried and tested’ seemingly at our peril. And we are left with the question, ‘Where does it get us all in the end?’ The few a lot of money, and the many left in their wake! Is it all going to end in a calamity of frustrated fans and players, and bankrupt clubs chasing too many highly priced ‘players’. Oh yes, I use that latter word advisedly.
It remains a topic that will grace many a conversation and,
unfortunately, be the cause of many an argument and relationship
break-up. We can point the finger at probably causes of the core
complaint, but we need to ask ourselves as Christians if we ourselves
are ‘clear-cut’ in our approach to all things, and that we
are not tainted by love of all things material and the like. ‘Too
much’ can and will detract from the ‘true nature of
worship’ which is God, Triune and Triumphant.
‘Too much’ naval gazing will take our eye off the
‘ball of faith’; ‘too much’ attention to
material things will ‘draw our defence’ and allow the
opposition in and dispossess us of the good things; ‘too
much’ clamoring for positions of power will please the Devil, BUT
we can never get ‘too much’ time to praise and pray, if we
give it priority.
Television remains the main plank of conversation when it comes to religious broadcasting. News has reached the manse that the television networks are pulling back on funding for these programmes to further fund the ‘soaps’. So, what have we done about it? Is there not ‘too little’ religious programming already without a further cut-back? Is it not time we wrote to the broadcasters and complained that ‘too little of a good thing, namely the sharing of the Good News’ is not good for the nation’. I’m sure that other faiths would make a fuss, and us? I am aware that there are a considerable number of folk in the broadcasting world who have a faith in Jesus Christ, but ‘rules’ prevent them from sharing that, at peril of loosing their job, BUT that should not stop us from making the complaint on the ‘too little’, that is if we think it is worth the effort anyway?
Let me gently remind you that television in particular is THE most
influential part of the present media set-up, and if it remains the
‘vehicle’ for pulp and clap-trap without complaint from the
‘viewers’, then that diet will increase on the basis that
it is ‘popular’ as many people like it [on the basis of few
complaints!] We cannot afford as a Christian community to allow the
broadcasters to squeeze the presentation of our faith and its ideals
into a remote satellite channel only accessible to those with
‘loads of money and a sophisticated system ‘ ---- we need
freedom to both share and to receive. ‘Too little’ should
NEVER be an acceptable alternative for our faith.
Others may be all too happy to try and squeeze us off the planet by
whatever means they have at their disposal, but the ‘question and
practice of faith’ is one which will never be destroyed, unless
it is through sheer apathy.
I have been more than satisfied with the response to our recent Lenten special services and the fellowship enjoyed by those who have been ‘itinerant’ has been much spoken about. Its heartening too, that the numbers seem to be on the increase from 2004, and that can only be a good sign and clearly evidence of the working of the Holy Spirit among us all. The theme has been a thought-provoking one which has left a number of people with important questions about their faith journey and their relationship with Jesus Christ. Yet there is always the argument that we have ‘left it too late’ and that all we are doing at the moment is plugging the hole like the little Dutch boy. Reacting against seemingly impossible odds, as the world around us crumbles and threatens. Raises spectres of fear and disquiet, so, have we ‘left it too late?’ There are many tales within Scripture which are there to remind us all that the People of God have been subject to such ‘challenges’ many times before, and the Lord in whom they have placed their trust has ALWAYS brought them through, whatever the situation, and on that we can rely, yes, even today!!!!
It is ‘never too late’ to have one’s heart ‘strangely warmed’ by the Spirit of God, and it is ‘never too late’ to acknowledge that same Lord as your personal Lord and Saviour. He has never ‘set’ particular times for any one of us to come to Him. He’s a ’24 hour person’ believe it -------
Some thoughts to cause us to think, act, but above all to PRAY and to do that unceasingly. For by doing that we ‘keep our hearts and minds on the task of the Kingdom, and our channel open to God, our Father’.