If I were a pastor in France
tomorrow
On
Bastille Day 2016 (July 14th) a man intentionally drove along the
delightful promenade at Nice, intentionally killing people with his vehicle and
with gunfire. This is the latest of several such events in France in recent
times.
How
could a pastor in France preach on Sunday 17th July?
Here’s
how I’d do it:
· Introduction
o
Rehearse the
several recent terrorist attacks on French soil and ask the questions: what is
going on? How can we understand this? What can we learn? How should we respond?
§ Note that such events are the normal material of life in the ebb and flow
of a fallen world in which we and the whole creation groans as we await the
return of Jesus to put all things right in his new creation (Matt 24:6-8; Rom
8:20-23).
o
Remind France
of her Christian heritage. The 177 martyrdoms at Lyon are testimony to very
early Christian beginnings, after which there has been a continuous Christian
presence.
o
Observe that
France is now one of the most secularised post-Christian nations, at the several
levels of her intellectual, cultural and popular life.
o
As a nation
that has had gospel light and chosen to walk in darkness, France does not
deserve God’s kindness (Heb 6:4-8). Her only hope is in his gracious mercy.
· Teaching
o
Point upwards
to God working from a passage that displays the many-sided richness and depth of
God’s being and deeds (eg: Ex 34:1-9; Ps 103).
o
Urge people to
consider the kindness and sternness of God in the double-edged gospel (Rom
11:22). Salvation is offered to all and extended to all who believe in Jesus, but
judgement is on all who refuse God (Jn 3:16-21).
o
Remind people
that the present events are not outside of God’s control, are being used by him
to achieve his big plan to unite all things in Christ (Eph 1:11) and are
specifically being used for the good of his people who will never be separated
from his love in Jesus (Rom 8:28-39).
· Applications
o
Urge that
people look to him for peace, comfort and meaning in these troubled times.
o
Call on
hearers to reach out to their neighbours and strangers (especially those of
different race, culture and religion) in the common nature that we share in
God’s creation.
o
Call people to
repentance and faith, resting on the overflowing faithfulness and mercy of God
and calling on his gospel promises.
o
Urge all to
readiness for their death through a living personal faith in Christ, because we
too know not the day or hour when we return to the Lord or he returns to us
(Matt 24:36-51).
