WINDOW ON THE CHURCHES

Taupo Times, Volume 20, Issue 7, 28 January 1971, Page 5

WINDOW ON THE CHURCHES

MISLEADING, UNF ORTUNATE The title of this weekly feature, "Window on the Churches", could be called misleading and unfortunate by some. It could lean towards a suggestion that the churches, as a set of pious clubs, carry on with their business behind walls while the rest of the world is occasionally allowed to peep through a port-hole to see what is going on.

The enlightened realise, however, that unless Christians are "up front' where the world's action is, unless men and women are living the christian life amidst politics, economics, art, communications, medicine, agriculture, education etc, then the Christian Church does not exist. When Christians are seen as Christ's followers in these settings then the world sees the Church openly and "windows' are 110 longer relevant. There is no doubt that Christians have let their Master down badly at times when they have been guilty of projecting an image of the Church as something which only adopts an identity on Sundays, or at holy synods, or at an assembly, or as an ' anti-group' criticising the unbelieving rest. This bad image deserves a continual attack, from both the believer and the unbeliever. And it gets it. The Church today is very ready to be self-critical and this is stimulating and exciting as well as quite uncomfortable. There is one vital truth which must not be overlooked. Christians group together from time to time for instruction and for inspiration. This comes from mere "togetherness" as every lonely person knows But it comes primarily from the mystique of the Christian sacraments which Christ offers to His followers.

To truly see this with one s whole being the world needs initiation. There is no quick glimpse here — such would not suffice — rather there is commitment, and involvement and dedication. For without Christ and His gift of power, the Christian as such would die and there would be no action 'up front ' for the world to see.