What the Bible doesn't tell us

What the Bible doesn't tell us

A little piece based on a small passage in Luke 4. Apologies for the mishandling of scripture. Hope you don't mind.

Jesus taught in their synagogues. He went to the synagogue I'm Nazareth as he usually did. It was his turn to read from the scripture so he opened it up to the point in Isaiah where it says

The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to people (provided that they're under the age of 18 if we are talking of any new initiatives requiring staffing or funding)

To bring new sound systems so that people who are not in our synagogues can hear the message clearly

To spend weeks and months talking in meetings and more meetings to decide what we need to be discussing in future meetings

Then he sat down and all the people said 'what did he say?' for lo they did not have a good sound system and were determined to spend a year's salary on a new one.

I know that a couple of days ago I spoke about flippancy within our conversation but I feel that sometimes there is a place for it.

I have seen so much lately of the church trying it's best to share the gospel. This is wonderful and so fantastic that I am sure that God is utterly delighted.

My question for this post is whether or not our values are the right ones. Take one church I know for example. Their missional heart is obvious and it's such a joy to see. Problem is, most of their mission is aimed at young people. What of the elderly and the housebound? What of the unemployed and the sick? I know that young people are important but not to the detriment of other groups surely?

Then there are the other churches who have plenty of money and are spending it on what? New sound systems, better TV screens, cooler computers and efficient office equipment. The truth is that these monies could be spent on alleviating poverty, solving injustice and furthering the Kingdom. Why don't they?

I used to be on a PCC and by crikey it was an education. Hours spent in meetings and Jesus never got a look-in. Why should we as Christians spend so much time doing this? Jesus has given us clear instructions about what we are to do and we don't need committees to see what it is. Scripture is clear. Act Justly, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly.

Perhaps what we need to do is to remember what Jesus really said in this part of Luke.

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour. "

This is what we need to proclaim and we need to do it to people of all ages and all classes and we don't need fancy sound systems or interminable meetings. What we need is the grace of God and the Holy Spirit and as Christians we have these things.