The Hardest Question?

A Jewish theologian called Hessel recalls a story of an old Jewish Rabbi.  The Rabbi was telling his young students about Abraham and Isaac – how God told Abraham to offer up his own son Isaac as a sacrifice.  The Rabbi had his class on the edge of their seats as he built towards the climax of the story and the old man was about to plunge the dagger into the boy … “but then in the nick of time the Angel of the Lord came and saved Isaac.”  There was a pause.  Then one of the boys spoke up, “But Rabbi, what if the Angel of the Lord had come too late?”  “The Angel of the Lord never comes too late”, replied the Rabbi.

Yes (comments Hessel) the Angel of the Lord never comes too late … except at Auschwitz … there the Angel of the Lord came too late six million times.

The problem of evil and suffering, especially unjust suffering, will always be the biggest problem for those who believe in God.  If God is good and God is powerful how can God allow such suffering as there is in this world?  Why does he not step in and prevent it?  Many books have been written to excuse God and resolve the problem, and some are quite plausible, but the power of that simple question will always remain.

Having faith doesn’t make these questions go away unless it’s a faith that has closed eyes and ears.  But, on the other hand, having these questions doesn’t exclude us from the possibility of coming to faith.  No one can prove beyond doubt that God exists, but then again even the problem of suffering isn’t proof that he doesn’t.

So, if having faith seems hard sometimes or if you have questions that aren’t yet resolved, don’t conclude that you can’t be a Christian.  It’s the same for all of us.  Real faith will always be a struggle and a journey of discovery.  If we set out on that journey then through the doubts and difficulties we will keep coming back to the conviction that there is someone there, someone who loves us, someone we can trust.

The Shape of Things to Come

Churches come in all different shapes and sizes, and so do people.  What shape are you are and how is it changing with time!

Shape fascinates us when we are young – trying to find the right shaped piece to complete the puzzle; looking through the right shaped window to see the story unfold ...  Maybe we tend to take shapes more for granted as we get older but they are vital nonetheless.  If you buy shoes that are the wrong shape you soon know about it; if your key is not cut to just the right shape you’ll end up locked out of the house; if you get ‘out of shape’ its very hard to get back in again.

The Diocese of Sheffield is working on a strategy for the next five years.  In it there are lots of recommendations.  Surprisingly, only one of them relates directly to church members: “That all church members seek so to shape their living and worship together as to attract at least one new person to their faith community over the next 5 years.”

How does that sound to you?  I think it is vital.  It needs to be worked at and needs our careful thought.  To those who have been to church regularly and have done so all their lives, church might seem to have a comfortable shape – perhaps too comfortable and easily leading to sleep!  To those who come in for the first time I think it appears very different.  It probably seems to be a spiky shape that is not very welcoming or easy to understand.  We need to learn to put ourselves in the shoes of these people and find out what it’s like for them.  All churches are different but our church-life must be shaped in way that attracts people and makes them want to come.  We must get on and do this instead of bemoaning the fact that people don’t come.  It applies in the same way to us as individuals (and it’s got nothing to do with fitness of fatness).  Do people look at us and think “That person goes to church – it obviously doesn’t work!” or “That person goes to church … could there be something in it after all?”. 

Anyway, we’ve got nothing to lose by taking the recommendation seriously.  One person in five years – it doesn’t sound over ambitious – but think of the difference if it actually happened.

Meet your new Vicar

Name: Geoffery Robert Holmes, but usually known as Geoff.

Age: 31

Places lived: Jersey C.I., Fornham ST Genevieve (Suffolk), Brinkley (nr Newmarket), Nottingham, Liverpool, and Rotherham.

Family: 2 parents, Anne & Nigel,  2 sisters, Naomi (married to Mike with children Joel & Joy) & Sharon, one brother, Matthew.

Marital Status: Single, but engaged to be married July 1999 to Rebecca

Hobbies: Travel, Sport (especially squash and tennis but occasionally golf and cricket), Walking, Days out at the Coast.

Other Likes: Spending time at my parents’ chalet at Snettisham, Norfolk

Dislikes: Shopping

Favourite Food: Anything apart from kidneys

Previous Jobs: 2 weeks in a Chivers Jelly factory,  2  months at Pye telecommunications, 2 months for the Open University (all during a gap year), 1 year as a youth worker in Liverpool, 2 years as Curate of St James, Clifton, 3 years as Minister-in-Charge of Eastwood View Church.

Fond Memories: As a teenager when we lived in Suffolk and kept a smallholding including a Dexter cow, Jacob sheep, Gloucester Old Spot pigs, Light Sussex hens, Anlo-Nubian goats and a tame Red-Legged partridge!