New Church in the Highlands Part three

Movement of the true Church?

Donald Sage, William Hog, and John Kennedy all looked to the working of God in the people of their fold.

The paradox we see in these and other great godly men, they prayed for revival and awakening, but were knowingly or unknowingly locked into a restricted framework, of a Calvinistic form, designed by humans to hold things in place. This framework was not conducive to the change they desired.

In Dallas Willard's book "The Divine Conspiracy" he notices that on examination of local gatherings of Christian believers .... it seems a general law of social and historical development, that institutions tend to distort and destroy the central function that brought it into existence.

Clyde Reid, in his law of religious evasion, states "we structure our churches and maintain them, so as to shield us from God, and to protect us from genuine religious experience". Adult members of Churches today, rarely raise serious religious questions for fear of revealing their doubts, or being thought of as strange. There is a conspiracy of silence on religious matters in the Church. This conspiracy covers up the fact that Churches do not change lives or influence conduct to any appreciable degree. It was the case, in the 18^th and 19^th century and still is the case in the 20^th and 21^st.[The Divine Conspiracy][Great omission]

In the 17^th century James Morison, on his way to preach at Cabrach, read Charles Finney's "Revivals of Religion". Moved by what he read, he put to one side his sermon notes prepared and preached from the heart. As we look to the Church in Scotland, it is dogged with separations. Why so many? Is it really due to a particular doctrine or theology or is it something else? We, after some separations from the Church, because of State Intervention or of Church government or of the use of Communion or Church practise, may see it of no real consequence.

I am convinced that the difficulties of the Church in Scotland, no matter what denomination, is one of trust. If the Church is to revive the nation, it needs to be prayerful – yes, it needs to be:

encompassing

• it needs to be alive
• it needs to be accommodating
• This means that it cannot afford to have Victorian methods, or indeed Victorian double values.
• It needs to be in the culture

Those who rediscovered truth were people who were back searching in the Word of God and praying. They were not reviewing Confessions of Faith, or Constitutions, or Covenants. It is a recurring observation that when there is a moving of God's Spirit in His people, they are moved back to reading the Word of God and not a secondary document, Creed or Catechism.

Unlike England, or indeed any other country, Scotland is shaped by the particular Scottish characteristics of its people. How would some of these past people of God look upon the nation of Scotland and the Church in the 21^st century? Surprised probably yes, but in some ways they might have seen the writing on the wall for they surely lived and breathed in the same nature as we do today. The adage “that time moves faster” and we are “more sophisticated and successful” does not hold water. The new technology helps in efficiency but does not clean the heart. The political correctness looks more like one-one-upmanship than care for the underdog or the weak without true-rights. There is also a unequal right to those who wish to practise a faith based life style. There is an imbalance, which will grow if not addressed, by the focal minority against any faith based people.

Tell me that God will not be moved by thousands of praying people in this nation. Many called for less interference from State in Church. Now its in a subtle way become interference imposed by a few supposedly under the banner of equal rights.

But its not doom and gloom These praying few will be heard. God still wants to rescue the nation from all that is not worthy of Him.

Non Presbyterian alternative

1 Promotion of Baptists thinking, and past heritage – “not a sect”

Set out as something to consider as opposed to come and take on our theology.

2 Instigate localised prayer/reading groups LYFE groups see Biblesociety.org.uk website

3 Seek, encourage, create, groups who may plan to constitute in the future

4 Profile to existing Ministry – Additional supporting work not competition

5 Instigate alternative worship not based in same site!

6 Consider a purpose built organisation for potential members across the considerable distance which does not negate other church memberships.

The Sutherland and attached area is considerably sparse, and the resulting work needs to combat, certainly initially, the difficulty of distance and lack of resources. An awareness of not putting “all eggs in one basket” or of spreading too thin needs to be in the forefront. Nevertheless a flexible approach will be required to find like minded people where a blessing is forthcoming.

The staffing of any work needs to be flexible in geography and focussed on aims and objectives.

The work should look for those who have moved to the area with a wider church experience and those who have discovered either on their own or previously a Baptist perspective. (i.e. Not specifically sheep stealing)

Consideration

Is there a link to Youth for Christ who are starting an “emerging” community in the Highlands and Islands?

God is certainly at work in the North of Scotland and it is not just in one denomination or with one leader. Baptists would not want to miss out on a future blessing coming South!

Worship

In the USA there are many pastors who have tried “seeker services” and turned back and made services more of a hurdle for newcomers rather than a friendly, socially magnetic, meeting. They discovered that churches within churches or twenty-thirty something churches work for a few years but the real way forward is “Seeking the kingdom” and the life is expressed in all things and not for a “time sandwich” on Sundays and if you are really good midweek as well!

For the Scots this seems hard to digest simply because the culture is so different and in particular in the Highlands. The reaction is most probably nothing. The danger of this reaction is relevant. The established churches, including so called modern churches, needs to take stock.

The church grew in past ages with the printing press. The church led the culture as it taught people and the masses to read and write. Therefore the reading and text were educating the people. The sermons, as we know them, were used to advance the teaching style and help engage the masses. 

SPCK (Society Promotion of Christian Knowledge) by 1846 was in decline. The Court of Session decided all agents must belong to the church established by law. At that time funds that had been allocated for education were now being moved to mission work. - a sign that the masses were now educated.[Memorabilia Dom]

The SPCK was popular and efficient with progressive good school and mission work but saddled with not so progressive management according to Donald Sage.

Today's culture is leading the Church. With Multi media be it film clips or blogs etc how will the church address this new situation? The church needs to waken up and see that it will be even more marginalised if it does not address how it will be in the community of the culture of this post-modern post-Christendom era. It has lost its place as leader of change and it is in danger of losing credibility in the very near future. Being marginalised means that no seeker service will be near touching those who have no Christian experience. The Boys' Brigade in 1970 had no signs of closing but in a few years it was struggling to maintain basic cover for boys.

The Money Charity latest figures May 2018

The latest figures from The Money Charity...

Striking numbers  114.4%: The average debt to income ratio per adult in the UK. £123,870: The outstanding mortgage debt per mortgaged household. 90: The amount of LINK cash machine transactions per second in April 2018. 0%: The stagnation in First Time Buyer house prices in February. £49m: The fall in Public Sector Net Debt per day in 2018. 0.1%: The estimated growth in GDP in Q1 2018 - the lowest growth since Q4 2012. 9.614m: The amount of workers auto enrolled in workplace pension schemes in April. 3.1%: The fall in house prices across the UK on last month according to Halifax. £58,240: The average total debt per household (including mortgages).

Israel Palestine situation

Israel Palestine situation

The news on the BBC is showing graphic pictures of the latest trouble in the Middle East.

Right before you get on a rant I do not have the answer to the problem. I was read an article that suggested two country states on the one piece of land. This was an interesting suggestion but how would either side be able to "give up"  its total right to the land( from its neighbour). Pray for peace and may be a breakthrough will come from somewhere.

New Church in the Highlands part two

Emerging groups

Local focussed activity will bring a closer fellowship that should be promoting the positiveness of the Gospel and Church as a body of Christ. Many denominations need to be in dialogue with their office bearers and members to persuade them to be active in their locality, trying out new ways and activities to accommodate the church in their area and culture. It will surely be different, for the Church in Caithness, Glasgow, Stornoway or Dunbar.

There is a need to lay down prejudices from the pastors, ministers and leaders to show brotherly concern among the churches for the sake of the kingdom. Perth Christian Centre's, Monthly leaders meetings in Inverness is a step in the right direction.

The aspects of “Renovare”, focus prayerfully and intelligently on supporting the Church. Their encompassing work has a contemplative form of which will be mentioned later. In the meantime it is encouraging to see work in the Americas and now in Europe (Renovare Britain and Ireland) that embraces a wide spectrum of practises in a spiritual manner. “The Spiritual Formation” is at the heart of the work. This work will grow in the following years.

The way forward is spirit filled work across Churches and communities engaging both Christians and those with no present faith. The church has not learned the lessons of the 19th century that Christians need to be involved in community life.

In Scotland and the rest of the UK there is a gap, which has arisen during the past two generations, of no real involvement in the community (there are some exceptions) plus the change in culture. The culture change is one that needs address.

We have less and less social/nominal Christians going to church which clears the way for a genuine work of the spirit. People are less interested in turning out to be seen as a community figure head. Added to this we have a culture quite different from America. In the UK the post-modern era requires a different form of Evangelism!

For church to work in this new age its not simply a lesson of four laws, a template, a plan. In fact internationally the emerging church is looking at how to be the community first rather then look at plans.

The tee shirts in America that say “Don't go to church” and on the back say “Be the church” says something very profound - its not just going to meetings its giving over to God.

There is a danger here that meetings, agendas, time allocated work, compartmentalised church life, in turn this creates a church and non-church divide, this so called secular and non-secular arena. Again rather than a subculture that acknowledges the God spots in the week and all else is “worldly”,how about a culture that has input from practising Christians in the community. Elizabeth Fry's influence on community came from her community life driven by her personal faith.

There were times of revival to touch Caithness in the Church’s history. Perhaps most notably was that of the 1920s when the ministry in singing and preaching of Jock Troupe, of the Salvation Army, saw churches, including Wick Baptist Church, and places like the Braehead and Market Square in Wick, packed out. It cannot be denied that the Church as a whole in this country has declined in numbers since those days but many believe there are signs of change.[Wick Baptist ]

Going back to the 1830's, and the Ten Year Conflict, this maybe a large concluding step, the result of underlying movement from the Irving, Erskine, Campbell revisit of Scriptures and the New Testament church? In these years in question there was a change in Society, a moving away from old style thinking and doctrine. This gave a fresh opportunity for Godly things that may have been curtailed in the Calvinistic straight-jacket. 

New Church in the Highlands ...Take stock Part One

A brief look at the Baptist Witness and increase in particular for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland by Brian Robertson

Background

With some years working in the Highlands, then away and back again several times, I have had the opportunity to be in church circle and observe the changing state over a 25 year gap.

During that time I have been in leadership in Alness, Thurso, Perth, Dingwall, Pitlochry and now back in Perth. In two of these situations I was privileged to see a fresh growth in maturity and numbers in the Church. I have also spent time South of the border and seen other church situations. I draw on this experience with also my Baptist origins in Stirling to comment on the Highlands and Islands work.

But before that, it is important to consider the current situation in the Western world.

Why must the Western Church study Culture today?

• Because of the incarnation. Jesus did it.
• Cultural understanding is essential as good mission practise
• Christendom and Modernity are in rapid decline
• The West is in the midst of a huge cultural shift
• The Church is in decline (numerically)
• Current church practises are cultural accommodations to a society that no longer exists
• Primary modes of communications in the Western world and culture have changed.
• New culture means new organisational structures are required.
• The “Boomers”(over 46's) are the last generation happy with “modern Church”
• Increase appeal of Spirituality derived from other religions
• Many Christians no longer follow the religion of their parents' 2^nd generation not coming through!

However it would be worth the Baptist community considering the future “state of play” so that we can be effective where we are in the changing world. This, with the Spirit of God blessing the plans, and activity could turn the community around and increase the Kingdom. This is particularly relevant to the Highlands who, as a new generation, are looking for spirituality but all they know is Presbyterianism.

The days of Sankey we know are over but, so too, the days of Hillsong and other Modern large praise events are probably on the decline.

Some churches are doing a “new” old church, when maybe the answer is a “new” new church!

I sense with others that the new generation of believers are looking for reality in Christian practise, no religiousness, more reflectiveness, less clutter and a strong “missional” discipleship under the code name in America of “Spiritual Formation”. (“Google” Spiritual formation!)

It is not a simple matter of the Church re branding. The changes in culture have been too great for church to change in “window display”. Recall in the past the printing press and the education of the community linked to the church. The corresponding requirement for an engaging church in the community, that is not a sub-culture, but is, or changes, the culture is clear. This has not to be a liberal or compromising stance but rather relevance, rediscovery,and, in fact more biblically based mission. The “Hillsongs” mega churches might not survive even if they don't ever make an impact in Highland Scotland.

The church needs to be looking at ways to deal with those who want to be submerged in the culture and not seen to be different from others and to the individualists who make a stand on their pet conviction. A tough task. Yet I think there are those being groomed by God for the job, some closer than you think.

What is happening

Pockets of interest have been formed who want to move towards a commitment together. In November 2007 15 were baptised as believers in Brora- did the Union know? Were they invited?

There are “Baptistic” gatherings in Castletown, Dornoch, Lairg, Brora, Tain.....

Thirty years ago it was impossible to think of a Baptist Church in Dingwall , yet it has been constituted for more than 10 years. In fact there is another “baptistic” Church in the town.

Stornoway, New Elgin, Argyll, and Fort William have glimmers of hope. Kinlochbervie has like-minded folk.

Possible future

So how does the Church invest in the future in a new church framework that caters for the Highlands and Islands? How does the Baptist Union look at the Highlands?

Is it a duty we better do something or is there a burden to help those who want to press their heads above the Presbyterian plateau? How do Scottish Baptists facilitate the “promotion” of “baptistic” gatherings in areas where Scottish Baptists are simply not known? Especially when these groups have not considered all the Baptist principles that Baptists adhere to. How does a Union accommodate Baptistic groups still on a road of discovery, without it looking like the Union is shoving the group through a Baptist programme, like a mincing machine with groups coming out with the same inclination at the end. North of Inverness Baptists are placed in the group of “strange” people like Mormons and JWs.

How does the Baptist Union promote to non-baptists that there may be similarities in thought?

There are many in the Highlands who watch God TV and want to participate in modern worship. Many have moved to settle in the Highlands with a wider church life experience.

 

I carried out a small survey with a group in Brora who were considering setting up a fellowship. They marked high, Worship, and regular Communion - Baptism was an agreed assumption - their conviction was “believers baptism” .

Reasons for a Baptist Church - Brora feedback Oct 2006

  

Missional

In an age after the post-modernist the structure and effective communication of the Church to the unchurch, requires a total re-think. This is particularly hard for the Highland Presbyterian churches who work from a dated template that in some quarters has lost its relevance. Activities to the unchurch that worked say 20 years ago will not work these days. While the message must stay the same, and there was a danger in the 1970's that the method change messed up the message (not a problem now), the presentation must be appropriate to the audience and age. In a culture of switches, electronic media, i-pods and downloads, there is a clear need for a professional presentation to the masses that engages them before they even enter a church building.

When the large PLC market a new brand or product there are hours and hours of getting the message across and the need for the product goes before the product launch. The hype for X-box 360 started before a box had been created.

I would suggest that today the norm should be power point presentations to support the preaching and words for all praise on visual screens.

One cannot consider the "neglecting the saints .." as a constructive way forward but new ways of communicating new ways of fellowship are inevitable for future generations. 

 

Electronic communications

Role of Internet-Hyperspace is not as relational as face to face.

There are many Internet Churches throughout the world and, although this form of fellowship is good, it does lack the personal relationship with the face to face. Scottish Christian website is a solid communication assisting the church. Interestingly the logs linked to the website have a large number of Scottish Episcopalian contributors. I wonder if this is a denominational preference or an aspect to the age of the ministerial staff. It might also be that one individual had an influence on other clergy colleagues. Nevertheless the use of logs is widening the communication among themselves, their sheep and the wider bloggers. One American church leader said “I engage with the community. If they want to hear me preach, I preach on my blog!”

Thank you..back on the Blog

Thank you all for the many views recently in April early May. You are keen to see me back on the blog!

Starting point for Church

Starting point

So where do we start? back at the basics? or at prayer? or at the existing plan, or Vision or Pastors wishes or Secretary/ or a deacon/s pet theories or all of them?

May be you know what you want but how to get there?

Its not about targets?

Its not about submissiveness?

Its not about bulldozing?

Its about agreement its about consensus.

When a Youth goes in to a job for the first time you don't empower them you instruct them.

As they develop you review and instruct and ask how they see it and how they might develop the role and the job? As time progresses one can take the hand off the tiller and seek consensus with them. ( but the responsibility is still yours).

But, leadership should seek consensus in their meetings and in Member Meetings.

Are there no Guitars in heaven?

Recent years and especially in the United states there has been a back lash against “purpose driven” church styles. The reasons for this are: too prescriptive, seen as professional business approach from outside coming in and “tainting” the churches. Whether the community in the area are Baptistic or not, there is a sense that many of the challenges Churches are facing in this millennium are derived from the last century and the previous Victorian age.

How does a Church implement its Strategy for the short and Medium term without losing sight of the long term and ultimate long term in complete communion with God- Where there is no electric guitars! ?( Ha ha!)

How are you going to build your church?

Fulfilling the Will of GOD in the community.

A look at how a Church might implement its agreed mission in this changing world.

For many Churches, the process of discovering themselves and implementing their desire to follow God is a hard one.

This is caused by many different distraction as diverse as members not “buying in” to the mission, conflict of time use,- be it work or family or worthwhile causes. Mankind creates a busyness that stifles the Work of God in the community. This is seen so often in the activities of organisations and they view expressed in actions ...” I am busy therefore I am important and needed”.

This expression comes from the wish from most people who have a sense and need “to belong”.

The early church had that sense of belonging meeting regularly to share in meals. Whilst life seems more complex in this decade the sense of belonging is still important. If leadership could harness the sense of belonging and gifting of their flock the work would be easier and perhaps move on quicker to complete the plan to fulfil the purpose of the community known as “such and such” church.

Part of the challenges after agreeing how the community should be, is the method and structure of such, I hesitate to say, an organisation that has control yet flexible to the changing needs of the community and its people.

Who wants to be a millionaire feedback

Like him or not Jeremy Clarkson is doing a good job on "who wants to be a millionaire?".