1 John 1 and Johras window - Food Bank
My search for the God of my youth in the church of to-day
continues with more reflection on 1 John 1 and Johras Window (my blog dated 5
Feb) there’s much in the private box Window 2 that I am aware of and in this
exploration in such a public way moves the items talked about to window
1 where the whole world can now
see. Maybe this willingness to walk in
the light as the first letter of John talks about can create an uncomfortableness for many people in the church, for it forces them to confront their own
feelings and private world. To look
again at why Jesus came, forgiveness of
sins and the difference between law and grace. We talk a lot about it but find it
difficult to live it. Maybe this openness
means people have to chose between what God’s says in His Word and our own natural instincts. Window 3 in which there are things known
to you but of which I am unaware of.
What do you do with those? What
does scripture says you should do as opposed to what we would like to do. For instance Galatians 6 v1 says “Brothers
and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should
restore that person gently.” Do we or
would we rather turn a blind eye telling ourselves God will deal with it. Or if not God then someone else. Better still, have nothing to do with that person. Ostracize him, vaguely recalling a
scripture that says something about having nothing to do with that person or
even putting him out of the church. Could
it be you are thinking of Matthew 18 v15 "If your brother or sister sins,
go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to
you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two
others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two
or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church;
and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a
pagan or a tax collector.” Somehow
though we jump to the last part of v17 “treat them as you would a pagan or a
tax collector” without taking the time necessary to give the other stages a chance to work first.
The things in box 3 (things I am unaware of) can be embarrassing
to draw attention to. I come out the
toilet forgetting to zip up my flies before leaving. I am therefore unaware of my exposure but
everyone else knows. “Is my bum big in
this” How many of us are too polite to
say yes and so the girl goes out to a party totally unaware how unsuitable or ridiculous
she looks in that dress. Body odour or
B.O. In the days of my youth there used
to be a TV advert with the tag line “B.O. even your best friends won’t tell you so
use....” Do we often find sins people
do, equally embarrassing to talk about.
Well to their face anyway. We
have no problem tut tuting to others
about them or whispering behind their backs.
Yet how can a person change, stop
what they are doing, change unless they
are told. When there are things in box three, until you tell them and move them into box 1. Of course that does not mean I will stop
doing it or change. I may now know I
have B.O. but that doesn't mean I will start bathing more regular or using a particular deodorant. But I
no longer have an excuse and have only myself to blame if people
stop sitting next to me. The same with
sin. How can I repent unless you tell
me what I have done wrong.
A couple of years ago now, someone recently told me that his
wife, a prominent member of Lydia
Fellowship said she had had a word from
God that I had no spiritual connectivity and shouldn't be part of a group. I don’t know what this spiritual
connectivity is or what I can do to gain connectivity. It did though knock me back and was puzzled
about but didn’t say anything further at the time, I was though determined to reflect on what he had said
and pray about it. Later when I did
ask him, he said he didn’t recall saying
it. Whether or not he did, it does seem to offer a possible explanation for the struggle I have in trying to connect with churches
especially in Plymouth in recent years.
What is this spiritual connectivity.
Have I ever had it or is it something I lost through a sin or wrong
doing on my part. Again the first port
of call is to God and ask Him to show me what it may be We of course all sin. Every day as we journey through life,
failings weakness and rebellions constantly beset us and so each day we need to
do as John said “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will
forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (but) If we claim
we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1
John 1 v 9:10). I have always believed in and try to practise keeping short accounts especially with God, so surely it is not
those day to day sins that so easily beset us. The only thing buried deep in the recesses
of my mind though is the row Julie and I had with the minister of
the Methodist Hall over the Plymouth Food Bank. Julia and I had helped Eunice Halliday set
up the Food bank in mid 2008 having just returned to Plymouth from
Stroud. Previous to coming to Plymouth
we had both worked as volunteers for 4 years or so at the Gloucester Food bank. The Food bank was then launched in September
2008 with Julia as secretary and me as treasurer.
The original concept of the Food bank when set up in Salisbury by Trussell Trust in 2003 was as a practical Christian outreach, demonstrating God’s love by distributing free foods to those in particular need. Food donations in those days were difficult to come by and so they had to be fairly strict on who and the number of food parcels a person could have. It was also felt that by taking an interest in the person needing the help, whilst the food parcels were being made up, would show they were cared for and other needs could be identified, which could either met by the organisation or the person pointed in the direction of others who could. It was also felt that a valuable part was the opportunity to pray with people before they left if they so wished. To that end food parcels were not made up in advance but only when the person arrived. As this could in busy times take 10 or 15 minutes, it provided time for volunteers in the Food bank to talk to the people whilst they waited. Gloucester City church was very keen on working that way. Other churches also joined in and took turns in being responsible for the Food bank and all agreed on the necessity and benefits of staying with the Trussell Trust policy and procedure.
When we came to Plymouth Julie and I was therefore keen to set up and run the Plymouth Food bank in the same way. Which in due course was to cause difficulties between several of the Management committee and ourselves, especially as Foodbank manager did not realise until half way through setting up the project that the Food Bank was a Christian project set up by the evangelical arm of the church. The initial leg work needed in setting up the Foodbank was also carried out by 3 University students as part of the social side of their degree course. The three students were not themselves Christian and couldn't therefore see the relevance or need for praying with the clients. They also initially struggled with the notion of restricting who could have food parcels, arguing in particular that some of the university students could benefit from food parcels from time to time. A couple of other people who although sympathetic to the Christian views were not Christian. One of them apart from being uncomfortable with the idea of praying with the clients also felt it was undignified for the client to have to wait 10 minutes or so for the parcel and so pressed for parcels to be made up in advance so that they could be given out without the person needing to wait in the Foodbank. There was also a notion put forward on a number of occasions that food parcels could be given to Social Workers and Health visitors so they could take them round to their clients without the necessity of the people having to come to the Foodbank and collect in person. As Julie and I came from a totally different point of view we often found ourselves at loggerheads with other members of the committee and eventually we were both asked stand down from the committee although asked to remain as volunteers at the Foodbank. This I found difficult to get my head round especially as the reasons given especially for both of us standing down put a slur on our character, especially on Julie and left a question over our honesty and integrity. Something I felt particularly sensitive to how it might reflect on my professional integrity. The disagreement therefore between the Minister, Manager and Chairman a became quite acrimonious resulting in action I later regretted
The original concept of the Food bank when set up in Salisbury by Trussell Trust in 2003 was as a practical Christian outreach, demonstrating God’s love by distributing free foods to those in particular need. Food donations in those days were difficult to come by and so they had to be fairly strict on who and the number of food parcels a person could have. It was also felt that by taking an interest in the person needing the help, whilst the food parcels were being made up, would show they were cared for and other needs could be identified, which could either met by the organisation or the person pointed in the direction of others who could. It was also felt that a valuable part was the opportunity to pray with people before they left if they so wished. To that end food parcels were not made up in advance but only when the person arrived. As this could in busy times take 10 or 15 minutes, it provided time for volunteers in the Food bank to talk to the people whilst they waited. Gloucester City church was very keen on working that way. Other churches also joined in and took turns in being responsible for the Food bank and all agreed on the necessity and benefits of staying with the Trussell Trust policy and procedure.
When we came to Plymouth Julie and I was therefore keen to set up and run the Plymouth Food bank in the same way. Which in due course was to cause difficulties between several of the Management committee and ourselves, especially as Foodbank manager did not realise until half way through setting up the project that the Food Bank was a Christian project set up by the evangelical arm of the church. The initial leg work needed in setting up the Foodbank was also carried out by 3 University students as part of the social side of their degree course. The three students were not themselves Christian and couldn't therefore see the relevance or need for praying with the clients. They also initially struggled with the notion of restricting who could have food parcels, arguing in particular that some of the university students could benefit from food parcels from time to time. A couple of other people who although sympathetic to the Christian views were not Christian. One of them apart from being uncomfortable with the idea of praying with the clients also felt it was undignified for the client to have to wait 10 minutes or so for the parcel and so pressed for parcels to be made up in advance so that they could be given out without the person needing to wait in the Foodbank. There was also a notion put forward on a number of occasions that food parcels could be given to Social Workers and Health visitors so they could take them round to their clients without the necessity of the people having to come to the Foodbank and collect in person. As Julie and I came from a totally different point of view we often found ourselves at loggerheads with other members of the committee and eventually we were both asked stand down from the committee although asked to remain as volunteers at the Foodbank. This I found difficult to get my head round especially as the reasons given especially for both of us standing down put a slur on our character, especially on Julie and left a question over our honesty and integrity. Something I felt particularly sensitive to how it might reflect on my professional integrity. The disagreement therefore between the Minister, Manager and Chairman a became quite acrimonious resulting in action I later regretted
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