My wife and I made a special summer visit to the Kent coast in order to re-connect with old friends, and I agreed, somewhat reluctantly, to call in on Canterbury on the way back to see the famous cathedral as I had never been there.
We’re talking about the ‘cradle’ of Anglican Christianity, or, in some respects, of the Christian faith in England. And although my very first sight of England over 50 years ago was the white cliffs of Dover, and I came to a personal faith in Christ soon after arriving here, I had by-passed the iconic Canterbury Cathedral.
You can imagine our surprise, however, to have the door of the famed church shut in our faces. As we joined the milling throng of eager tourists outside the entrance to the precinct, a group of uniformed staff was busy explaining that the building was closed on account of the Lambeth Conference, the gathering of worldwide Anglican bishops held every few years. We were rather disappointed not to be able to look around.
Running the race
I had been joking with Linda that we would not be shopping as there was no time to spare, and neither of us particularly like shopping anyway. But, sure enough, we ended up shopping!
The first thing we noticed was a specialist running shop and, as I needed a new pair of trainers, it was a perfect fit. As we later emerged with my ‘shiny’ new purchase, Linda quipped: “I think the Lord is saying that it’s movement he wants, not monuments!”
Running, by the way, has been crucial to my life – first, in restoring health to my asthmatic body and, later, by leading me to Christ through a fellow runner.
More recently, as I was approaching my 60th birthday, the Lord reminded me of my marathon days and how fit I was then, and said he wanted me to start running again. He wanted me to be a ‘helper of Israel’ – a spiritual calling which always needs to be matched by physical strength for endurance and clear thinking. And now it was time for a new pair of running shoes with which to proclaim the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15).
A movement of people
We are called to join a movement of people sharing good news with a lost world facing no end of crises. We are not called to retreat into a pseudo-Christian social ghetto. We have a dying world to win for Jesus, who will raise up new disciples to lead fulfilling lives of meaning and purpose.
We are called to join a movement of people sharing good news with a lost world facing no end of crises.
And it’s not just those in the traditional established church who risks retreating behind doors – even legendary healing evangelist Smith Wigglesworth once accused his fellow Pentecostals of turning a movement into a monument.
As England captain Leah Williamson said after her team’s famous 2-1 victory over Germany in the UEFA Women’s Euro final: “We talk and we talk and we talk; it’s about doing it on the pitch.” Yes, as Christians our pitch is on the highways and byways of our towns and cities, offering the fresh hope only Christ can give.
Witnessing boldly
The reason I was in Kent was to honour a couple, now celebrating Jesus’ triumph in heaven, who helped to build up my faith as a new believer 50 years ago with incredible kindness, hospitality and encouragement.
The husband died only recently, aged 100, and I learnt from his family of his dramatic conversion at 45, when he was so overwhelmed by the presence of God while driving his car that he was forced to pull over to the side of the road. He duly vowed that he would never let a day go by without witnessing his faith to someone new. He kept his promise, sharing Christ on a one-to-one basis with no less than 20,395 people (according to his son’s calculation).
God is on the move, and will use whoever is willing to deny himself.
God is on the move, and will use whoever is willing to deny himself (perhaps by crucifying his timidity and self-consciousness) and take up his (or her) cross for Jesus.
Delivering the good news
I was delighted to read the story of how journalist and former MP Matthew Parris was ‘curiously moved’ by a young Deliveroo cyclist who asked him if he believed in Jesus.
In his regular Times column, Parris wrote: “I replied that I’m sure Jesus existed, and love and respect the character whose description has come down to us through the ages, but that I do not believe he was the Son of God, and do not believe in God at all.”
After a further short exchange, the cyclist said: “Well, Jesus loves you even if you won’t acknowledge him. I will pray for you.”
“And with that,” Parris wrote, “he cycled off. I walked on, curiously moved.”1
This Deliveroo cyclist reassures us that the gospel message is on the move.
A temple of living stones
Jesus shocked his contemporaries with his prophecy of the Temple’s destruction (Mark 13:1f), fulfilled within a generation. It was beautiful and magnificent, the holiest site in Israel, where God made his presence known. But in referring elsewhere to his own body as the new temple, the Saviour said it would be raised up in three days (Jn 2:19-22). And we can all now be part of that temple, built not with the hands of men but with the Spirit of the living God – a temple that is open to all (1Cor 3:16).
Notes
1Evangelicals Now, August 2022