You know not the day nor the hour – a meditation on the nearness of death

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You know not the day nor the hour – a meditation on the nearness of death

Two things today made me think about death (not a topic that is often on my mind).

Firstly, I was on a plane that had three landing attempts at Manila airport aborted by post-typhoon storm conditions. As we suddenly surged back up and circled there was time to think about what could have been.

Secondly, I was talking with some missionaries from the south of the Philippines where a Muslim insurgency continues to take lives.

And meanwhile there are the folk who went shopping Nairobi and to church in Pakistan last weekend and who suddenly found themselves at death’s door.

People die while going about the ordinary business of life. The Lord warns that he will return at an unexpected time when life just rolls along (Matt 24:36-44). One will be on a plane whose landing is aborted, another will be shopping and yet another will be sitting at worship.

The reality is, none of us knows how or when we will die. Most can expect to die in an average age band and in a hospital of a known illness and with family surrounding. But none of us knows if that is our future or whether this is the day that we die.

So what do we do? It’s simple really: you also must be ready, for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Matt 24:44).  Make a Will. Leave your affairs organised. Ensure your standing with God through a credible faith in Jesus Christ that is manifested in godly living. And then we are free – free to live and die in old age or free to die today.

In the event my plane landed safely and the event is fading from memory. Meanwhile news of the Kenyan shopping mall massacre will be replaced by sporting news or celebrity tales. And the Pakistani church killing barely made the headlines anyway.

Most of us will go on living as though tomorrow will have endless tomorrows and thinking that death happens to someone else. How soon we forget that day whose nearness and importance demands we give it attention now.

Derrida deconstructs

Derrida deconstructs[1]

Sometimes,

a falling leaf 

is 

Just a falling leaf

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[1] Written 9 Oct 2004 – death of Derrida

How often? The celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

How often? The celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

I was recently part of a church that celebrated the Lord’s Supper weekly – a simple act within the regular Sunday service. At around the same time I visited a Christian college that celebrated the Supper twice within four days (once at a commencement service and another at a college retreat). I have been a pastor in churches that did so quarterly and another did so monthly.

All this prompts me to ask: how often should the Lord’s Supper (or Communion or Eucharist) be celebrated?

Christian practice varies from daily celebration, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, spasmodically or never. A daily celebration is associated with the more liturgical churches and is probably linked to a view that forgiving grace is actually conferred in the sacrament. The Salvation Army does not recognise any sacraments. Some newer Christian groups celebrate the Lord’s Supper on no particular timing. These latter groups aside, regular celebration of the Lord’s Supper is common among Christians, however much they disagree in their understanding and administration of the event.

My Christian tradition is the Presbyterian and practice varies there. Calvin unsuccessfully sought a weekly celebration, John Knox wanted monthly and the First Book of Discipline (1562) set a rule of quarterly communion in rural areas and monthly in the towns. The latter suggests a degree of flexibility linked to the availability of authorised clergy. By the eighteenth century, an annual celebration was common. This constituted a communion season including a fast day (Thursday), a preparatory service where communion tokens were distributed (Saturday), Sunday Communion and a following thanksgiving service (Monday).

What do the Bible and early historical documents reveal?

1 Cor. 11:20 hints that the Lord’s Supper is associated with every coming together of God’s people. This is presumably a reference to the weekly meeting which had moved from Saturday to Sunday within the New Testament era (eg Acts 13:13-14; 16:13; 17:2 compared with Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2; Col 2:16-17; Rev 1:10).

A non-Biblical source (Pliny’s Letter to the Emperor Trajan, c112AD) refers to early morning gatherings of Christians on a ‘fixed day’ (presumably, but not necessarily, Sunday) at which various activities were undertaken including a later gathering to eat ‘ordinary but innocent food’. This sounds more like a common fellowship meal than the Lord’s Supper, but it may hint at something more.

Another non-Biblical source from the early-mid second century (the Didache) says: ‘But every Lord's Day gather yourselves together, and break bread’ and gives some instructions about the manner in which the Communion or Eucharist is to be kept. Assuming that ‘bread-breaking’ equates to Communion, this is evidence of a weekly celebration.

The Biblical and historical evidence noted above seems most consistent with a practice of weekly celebration. Much is to be said for this. A weekly celebration keeps the grace of the Cross, and thus the heart of the gospel, visibly before the congregation’s eyes, whatever may or may not be done to keep it audibly before their ears. The ritual (and I use the term carefully) involved with the Supper, when coupled with a weekly celebration, helps prompt a weekly examination of ourselves before Christ and a consideration of how we see his body (arguably, both the crucified body of Jesus and the body of his church – 1 Cor. 11:29).

So, there are both early precedents and arguments for a weekly celebration. Likewise, there are later precedents and other arguments for other timings.

Note however, that precedents are not precepts, however ancient they are. This is true even when the precedents are found within the Bible for it is dangerous to mount a simple argument that just because the Apostles did something (precedent) we should do the same (precept). It is wise advice to look for an independent word of Scripture before making the move from apostolic precedent to normative precept.

Although the precedent and arguments for a weekly celebration have force, care is needed on another ground. Weekly Communion may be helpful etc, but that is a far cry from warrant to enforce it.  Col 2:1-16-17 is relevant: Therefore let no one pass judgement on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. These words were written with respect to Jewish regulations, but also have application to Christian church order. Christ is the substance of our faith and compulsion in matters of ceremonies (even the ceremony most remembering him) easily undermines the gospel.

Pehaps it is best not to be doctrinaire with respect to the frequency of the Supper or judge those who timing differs from our own. Rather let us ensure that ‘as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup’ (1 Cor. 11:26) we share the body of Christ (1 Cor. 10:16), discern the Lord’s body (1 Cor. 11:29), serve one another (1 Cor. 11:20-22,33-34 and proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (1 Cor. 11:26).

Business Principles Abandoned With Gay Pride

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I was recently in Charlotte NC, went for an afternoon walk and stumbled into an area where a gay pride rally was being held.

It was a multi-layered experience.

City streets were blocked and police were on hand to help manage the mostly young crowd. There was a lively, earthy and good-natured feel to the event. People were enjoying themselves.

At every turn there were people whose dress, chosen companion and behaviour revealed their sexual orientation. I’ve seen this before on a smaller scale and don’t find it especially disturbing.

There were booths from some churches proclaiming endorsement of the GLBT community. These were not just the Metropolitan Community church, but also an Episcopalian and a Presbyterian Church. Other Christians were there with a Cross and proclaimed repentance, faith and forgiveness. I admire their faithfulness and courage but wonder at the effectiveness. Yet other ‘Christians’ stood in front of this group with banners proclaiming GLBT support and citing the text ‘nothing shall separate us from the love of God’, presumably as an endorsement of the gay community. I take it that the church booths reflect knowing intentionality in their apostasy. I guess that that some of the other ‘Christian’ voices were naïve, deluded and ignorant.

For me, the most disturbing memory from the day was the booths set up by businesses. Companies such as the Bank of America and Norton software indicated their support for gay pride. These are not marginal businesses, but corporate America.

Whoa ... what is going on here?

To me it was a sign that the gay community is now mainstream. American business sees profits to be made and perhaps stands intimidated by the gay community. The key business principle seems to be that business is business.

The expected corollary is that Biblical Christianity may be increasingly marginalised and then persecuted through legal action for refusing the gay agenda. On the same day, I read a report that a court in New Mexico ordered a Christian photography business to pay a penalty for refusing to photograph a gay commitment ceremony. I guess that we can expect more of the same.

Earlier on the same day I visited the Billy Graham Museum. The welcome was warm and the exhibits well presented with the latest available multimedia. The crowd was much older and subdued. There was an air of artificiality about The Barn, starting with the fake talking cow and ending with the Graham Brothers Dairy Bar selling the Billy Frank hot dog. I know this is America, but I found the whole scene hard to stomach!

To me there is a huge disconnect between the two scenes that day. The gay pride rally exalts in sin, but seems to represents the future and is on the streets. The Graham Museum exalts in righteousness, reflects the past and in housed in a fake barn amidst manicured surrounds.

For me as a Christian the day leaves many questions.

* How to position a protective perimeter against the expected wave of litigation?

* How to witness effectively at such events?

* How to maintain the rounded balance of 1 Cor 6:9-11:

 ⁹ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practise homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

That’s a text applicable to every human being and certainly starting with me. However, it also applies to the gay community and to the corporations at the gay pride event.

The Facebook posts I should not make.

I think that Facebook is great.  My family and friends are scattered all over the globe and Fb is a wonderful means to keep track and keep in contact wherever I may be.

However there are appropriate and inappropriate uses of Fb. It's not the place for personal put-downs. Or divisive disputes.  Or the show-off kind of remark: 'thanking God for my new Ferrari' or ' checking in from the titanium lounge before my first class flight'. Or for things best said or seen in private between loved ones.

It's not hard to get it right on Fb.

Just remember that there are people made in God's image at the other end. Ask: 'how can I love the Lord and my neighbour in my post?'.  Or, use the Bible guidelines (here adapted) from the  Puritans: does my post glorify God; does it build others up in the gospel; does it avoid giving unnecessary offence; is it in decent and good order?

I thank God for the tool of Fb.  However, like all tools it's up to the user to use it in a way that reflects who we are and what we stand for.  Let's use it for good and think before we post.

Why I went where I went to church today.

I went to church today in Montreal Canada.

My church of choice was one I visited two weeks ago. Its a different tradition to my own, the congregation meets in an average building, the service is not highly polished, there are no musicians and the sermons are given by lay preachers of varying quality in the pastor's absence.

The alternate was a church I attended last week. It was of my own denomination, in a grand building on a prominent city-centre street. The service was presented with well-oiled precision, the pastor well-schooled, the robed choir was technically good and the thundering organ was magnificent.

So why go to the first church? Jesus is central, the Bible was taken seriously and there was a warmth between the people there and towards me, even though I had a taken a conscious choice to remain low profile. That's the kind of church to be.

Why I will go to church today.

Its Sunday morning. I am a stranger in a city distant from home and tired despite a night's sleep. Family activities are planned for the day and there are many things to do.

But it is Sunday and I shall go to church.

I have visited this church before. It is small, has no music and the preacher was faithful but struggling when last I visited. Its more a little company of God's people than a triumphant gathering of the heavenly assembly.

So why go? I have already read my Bible and prayed at home. Isn't that enough?

I will go because of Heb 10:25. Its part of me to meet with God's people and all the more important when other routines of my life are disrupted by travel. Its because my attendance may be an encouragement to those who attend ... that a stranger should bother to attend. Its a quiet witness to the unbelievers around me that I make church a priority today. And its an encouragement to me as prayers, songs, sermon and fellowship reinforce who I am and what I stand for.

In short, I go because Jesus has come and is coming again and my attending is a response to what he has done and an anticipation of what he will do.

Postscript (written after the service).
I'm glad I went. Its now my second time at Ville Emard L’église du Christ. Some people remembered me and engaged with me. The pastor is on holidays and an older Afro-American man preached from the passage quoted above about the importance of being in church and what we should do when there. It was a good word and I spoke with the preacher afterwards about the link to my personal text that morning and how his words were a good encouragement.