I have had a few positive comments about Sunday's sermon which I post hereunder.
Synergy is an
interaction between two different entities usually living which involves an
exchange of energy between the two and produces an outcome which is greater
than the two individuals added together.
A choir with
a musician, a football team with their supporters each egging the other on.
A good
marriage is another good example of synergy.
We have two
groups of people which we have been following since Easter. The disciples and
the Israelites and visitors to Jerusalem who witnessed the crucifixion and are
still present at the time the disciples receive the holy Spirit at Pentecost.
There is
synergy between these two groups, the disciples as we heard last week, after
hearing Mary’s account of the empty tomb, the angels, and seeing Jesus and
Peter and John’s experience, likewise finding the tomb empty and the visitation
by Jesus to the 11 and then including Thomas, added to by the account from Luke
today of the experience on the road to Emmaus and the breaking of the bread.
The
disciples were grasping hold of the indescribable glorious joy which Peter
spoke of in the reading last week to a
point where they were being transformed into action.
Preparing
their minds for action, being sober in mind, with their hope fully on the grace
realized at the revelation of Jesus Christ. In other words, keeping their
sights set on seeking first the kingdom of God.
The crowd were
cut to the heart, as we heard in Acts last week had witnessed Christ’s death
after having seen or heard about all his miracles and teaching. They had
received a good dressing down by Peter for having been swayed by the Pharisees
and other leaders of the Jews of the day. Peter’s convincing relaying of the
prophesies of Joel as well as David respecitively about the Gifts of the Holy
Spirit sent by Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. They were
cut to the heart as they realized their error.
What shall
we do, they asked,
Repent and
be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and your sins will be forgiven Peter
told them and you will receive the Holy Spirit.
And some
three thousand were added to the number of the followers that day. Not bad from
a base of about one hundred and twenty we are told.
The energy
was transferred to the group by the disciples, and the outcome was salvation by
the bucketload. Much more than the total before the interaction.
This was Social
change happening with huge consequences.
Thinking
about some of the great social changes of modern history, the suffragettes and
a more recent version of the same movement, the womens rights movement in
Australia. When I was a real estate agent in Glebe we rented premises to the Womens
Electoral Lobby of whom two of the foundation members were Eva cox and Meredith
Bergman. Meredith was also the cousin of our receptionist at the time.
I wasn’t
around for the suffragettes but there are some characteristics which seem to be
true of much major social change. The stopping of the Vietnam war amongst those
changes.
Society has
reached a point where it is predisposed and ready to change. Even if only a
portion of society is convinced of that at the outset.
Through constant
exposure and education, along with suffering and often incarceration for the proponents, certainly
with ridicule and alienation the message gets through and slowly, sometimes
quickly change happens.
There is
usually synergy involved. A group of initiators and a pool of recipients of
knowledge and encouragement which can be mobilized into action. Gender equality
has not finished its journey yet.
Social
change has been happening in the Church also, not unfortunately of a positive
nature.The proportion of committed Christians in most western countries has
been progressively falling for a long period now we know from NCLS data that about
8% of Australians are regular churchgoers, down from around 41% in 1960
This has
been a momentous social change, putting aside the spiritual nature of church
attendance. That 32% less Australians are influenced by being Church members.
If one third
more citizens became communist or took up crochet the media would be awash with
analysis and comment.
The church
accepts responsibility for this change acknowledging that we have not been relevant to society. The
church set itself up to be the arbiter of right and wrong and gave the message,
do as I say not as I do.. not to mention the misdeeds which have received ample
publicity over recent years.
Those
Christians who attend Church regularly know without a doubt the benefits of
doing so. Our relationship with God is sustaining and strengthening. Helps through
bad times, equips us for life and helps our journey of growth in the Lord.
We know that
there are churches which are packed. Some of them Pentecostal, but some
Anglican also.
Spirituality
has not died. Just as many if not more people are searching for spiritual
fulfillment.
Decline of
family is one of the striking changes of modern history.
The tendency
of children to be technology oriented has challenged family even further. What began in the
industrial revolution, movement to the cities and and with increased prosperity
the loss of extended family in the home,has now that extra dimension of
technology which reduces family cohesion.
McCrindle
research indicates that for life priority and life satisfaction, the first
being aspirational the second objective, that relational i.e. family ranked highest
at about 8/10 and physical and emotional health about 6/10 each while
spirituality at about 2/10
Objective
measurement of the same characteristics showed that family is around 6/10 and
spirituality of second importance at
around 4/10 significantly higher than security and health issues.
A huge
disparity between what is perceived by society at large and those who are
practicing Christians or other faiths.
The recent
survey conducted in our congregation showed keenness to engage with mission
needs of our local society, specifically to support families.
To observe
the shift away from family by society and the importance with which it is
perceived creates the opportunity for the Church to be more relevant by filling
that vacuum, by creating contexts which draw families together.
We as a
Church have also expressed the willingness to use different styles of worship
which are “user friendly” and the recent holding of Soul Food in the church is
a significant step in this direction. Many will find worship services too foreign
to engage in but The holding of fellowship occasions which can be attractive to
local families is the kind of engagement with community we can do. Ann is
advertising a showing of “when Mary meets Mohammed” on June 15th which is a
great initiative.
We can be an
instrument of social change, a catalyst in our district to restore church to
the centre of the community, or certainly head it in that direction.
The
interesting thing about this type of change is that it is not change to the
new, it is restoration of what used to be. That is the nature of Christianity,
to restore the Kingdom of God in the world.
We might not
be able to change the way families interact In their own homes, but we can
provide the opportunity for families to interact in contexts which we can help
create.
As well as that. St. Marks is family and we
may be able to be family to some who cant find it elsewhere.
“Be ye holy,
because I am Holy” said God, and Jesus opened their eyes after he walked with
them on the road to Emmaus.
We always
ask for God’s help to be holy and draw closer to God through obedience and faith
and we need to know that Jesus is walking with us always and will open our eyes
to see Him in all those in our community who
he would draw into his family here at St. Marks.
Amen
