Empty Ritual

I was reading an article in the Times yesterday by Sathnam Sanghera in which he was concerned that "Sikhism, the most modern and liberal of religions, is succumbing to fundamentalism".

What really struck me most was one of what he called Sikhism’s fundamental teachings, "that empty ritual is meaningless, and that believers should concentrate on things which really matter, namely ‘Nam simran’ (meditation on and awareness of God) and ‘Sewa’ (community service)."

As Christians, we have the Great Commandment where Jesus tells us we must, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12: 30-31).

This could be regarded as very similar to ‘Nam simran’ and ‘Sewa’ although one fundamental element is missing in Sikhism – love. That is not to say that Sikhs do not love - I'm sure they do.

However my point is that love is missing from empty ritual. Going through the motions of institutionalised church ritual does not require any love, and has become quite simply a habit. If we are to really do what Jesus calls us to do in the Great Commandments, empty ritual needs to be replaced with intentional loving commitment to God and our neighbours. He loves us, but as I said in my previous post, we have to decide if we truly love him. Then we have to show that love to our neighbours and no amount of ritual will ever help us do this.

Trinity - 3 in 1

I have over the years written many things about Trinity related ideas (see http://intheson.xanga.com:80/?nextdate=8%2f3%2f2005+18%3a31%3a1.293&direction=p)

However when a friend asked me about some of these ideas this week - this Sunday is Trinity Sunday - it got me thinking again. The link above goes to a page where I talked about 3 in 1 oil which cleans, lubricates and protects - a bit like God really. It got me thinking that the whole church could do with some 3 in 1. The old machinery, the old rules and regulations of the institutionalised could do with a bit of cleansing, and lubricating. And we as members within the church  would benefit from this too!

However no amount of 3 in 1 will work unless we decide to use it. He comes so far to us but we have to make the final move. We have to decide. He sent His Son and His Spirit, but unless we truly welcome and receive Him we can't be cleansed, lubricated and protected.

Just think if we all accept Him the church could be a really well oiled machine - just think what we could do then - the sky's the limit as they say!! 

Trinity Sunday

Its been 3 months since I posted! I just have not had the time! However today I feel I need to share the following.

If you have read some of my very early posts on this site you will know that I have a certain fascination with the mystery of the Trinity. Today I was leading at Church. As I was preparing I decided to make reference to a couple of ways of communicating the concept of something that we can never fully understand.

I may have shared this before but I think it can be said again.

God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but ONE God. But if you add 1 + 1 + 1 they = 3! Difficult concept if you treat it logically, but then that's the mystery of God that we will never fully understand.

However if you multiply 1 x 1 x 1 you get 1. One God!

If you add yourself to the equation 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 you still get 1. That does not mean that you and I are equal to God! No way can that ever be, but we can be at one with God. We can have a personal relationship with Him.

If you go one further we can apply this to the Church. If we are all individuals (1) with gifts to use and we multiply with each other we get ONE.

1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1x 1

=

ONE CHURCH

MULTIPLYING and UNIFYING

No matter how many new individual, unique Christians you multiply into the equation the answer is alway
ONE CHURCH

We also shared communion today and the bread suggested another expression of the Trinity. Bread can be made from Flour, Water and Yeast. The flour (F), the water (S) and the yeast (HS), together create the bread of life. Amen

Kathryn

Today would have been the 30th birthday of my 1st daughter Kathryn. To find out more click on the shoes.

Currently Listening Coles Corner By Richard Hawley see related

Stalybridge Methodists are following .
Check it out at www.ashtonunderlynemethodist.org.uk