Universal

Lisa and I got invited the Indian Orthodox Church last Sunday, to a service attended by their new bishop. It was an important service for them and it was a privilege for us to invited. We were invited because the Indian Orthodox Church meets at Green Fields Baptist Church. We had no real idea of what would happen, how long it would last, or what we might be expected to do, if anything. We knew there would be food afterwards because we were aske if we had any allergies! We rushed over the Green Fields after the service in West Green and arrived as the whole congregation was on the march! We watched them walk along the road from the church, cross the road and then walk back to the church on the other side of the road. They were, they told us, doing a symbolic walk around Crawley as a way for praying for Crawley! Which got me thinking…They have a different way of worshipping, a different liturgy, a different language, a different culture, a different expression of their faith, a different way of organising church, a different set of expectations on their congregation, but they have the same heart for God. We sat through their service, at the front and the only people with shoes on, listening to a language we couldn’t understand, watching people who in many ways we have nothing in common with, who have a different culture and understanding of the world, and yet who worship and serve the same God! It turns out they have many of the same challenges we do. They were extraordinarily welcoming, presented us with gifts and invited for a holiday in Kerala (God’s own country). I heard one scholar recently say that the most important word in the book of Romans, is “all”. Paul is writing a cosmic gospel: the Gospel that Jesus brings is for everyone. Everyone. That was new to the Jews who thought it was only for them. Jesus changes that. I wonder sometimes if we struggle with the very same truth. Not that we don’t say the Gospel is for everyone. We do. But I wonder how many barriers we put in the way of welcoming everyone: people who might be vey different to us, with a very different way of understanding God and very different ways of expressing their worship. it’s a challenging thought. But perhaps one we would do well to think about it.