Church News STANDING ON THE THRESHOLD

This weekend we remember the National Health Service was founded on July 5, 1948.

The NHS and the scheme for National Insurance were the two most important developments in post-war Britain.

The core principles of the NHS were: To meet the medical needs of everyone, free medical care at point of delivery, and based on clinical need and not the ability to pay.

There can be no doubt that these two acts in post-war Britain added greatly to the quality of life for the British public.

They were like open doors and the public stood, albeit in a ruined country, on the threshold of a better future.

Then what was it like for the first Christians, the original generation of Christ-believers?

There was a time when and a place where men and women were actually identified as Christians.

“It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians”(Acts 11.26).

But what was it like to try to live as a Christian in a secular society? Let us study‘1st Thessalonians’, Paul’s first letter written about 50 AD. This was actually the first Christian literature ever written.

The letters of Paul were written before the gospels.

Mark’s gospel, the first completed gospel, was written about 65-70 AD long after Paul had died.

Thessalonica was an major seaport where every foreign language could be heard. It was also a free city with no billeted Roman soldiers.

As such it had its own popular assembly and magistrates.

But supremely Thessalonica was built along the great Egnatian Way, the Roman Empire’s version of our motorways. Their road systems enabled them to move troops rapidly into areas of trouble.

The Egnatian Way stretched from Italy to Turkey and then to Asia. Paul was a great strategist. He knew that if he could establish a Christian community in Thessalonica with its seaport and road system he could more effectively spread the gospel.

Paul had established a Christian community and, satisfied they were sufficiently strong, had moved on to Athens.

But he heard that the Thessalonians were suffering persecution.They were being socially ostracised.

It was evident that their new faith prevented the Christians from worshipping idols, sacrificing to pagan gods, and trying to live by higher moral standards. They now seemed different to their neighbours, so they were shunned by friends and family alike.

“You have received the word (of the gospel) with joy and with affliction”(1 Thessalonians 1.6).

This is actually a sharp challenge for us modern day Christians. Are we distinctive enough in our faith that people notice we are Christians? Or are we practicing diluted Christianity, what Bonhoeffer called‘cheap grace’?

Paul opens his letter by setting their Christian life and example within a trinity of favourite Christian virtues, faith, hope and love. Remember,“And now there remains these three, faith, hope and love, but the greatest of them all is love”(1 Corinthians 13.13).

Here Paul remembers the Thessalonians for “their work of faith, their labour of love and their steadfastness of hope”(1 Thessalonians 1.1-3). Paul then highlights the quality of the Christian gospel in which they trusted.

Their gospel was not a mere word but a message full of power and conviction (1 Thessalonians 1.5).

Many commentators emphasise this feature of the Christian gospel.

It appealed to ordinary men and women because it was real, personal and helpful in their harsh daily life. Christianity was so different from their pagan artificial worship. The gospel told them of Jesus’caring God. Jesus’unchanging gospel still assures you of God’s care and protection.

But despite their troubles and hardship the Thessalonian Christians had become an example to others.

Paul could say of them:“You have become an example to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia”(1 Thessalonians 1.8).

These Christians were standing on the threshold of their new life.

Their example and behaviour were the first steps in the march of Christianity to the Promised Land.

Our modern church stands on the same threshold of personal commitment in an uncertain future.

Let us be as committed to Jesus as these first Christians.

“We give thanks to God always for you all”(1 Thessalonians 1.2).

HOLY TRINITY & ST BARNABAS’ CHURCH

In common with many others, we have now suspended worship in our churches – but we have made alternative arrangements.

The Scottish Episcopal Church has been broadcasting video coverage of Eucharistic services via its website, social media channels and YouTube channel.

The web page for the broadcast is located at www.scotland.anglican. org/broadcast-sunday-worship.

The next service is at 11am tomorrow, and marks the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost.

There will also be a Service of the Word on Thursday at 6.30pm.

The website will also contain a downloadable video and audio format of the service.

We are conscious of the need to offer as much assistance as possible to those who have no access to the internet.

We encourage people to distribute the video/audio recordings and the Liturgy widely within their own personal networks.

In households with no internet or playback capacity, people who can be helped by others through the provision of printed materials will have the opportunity to read the words of the Liturgy to themselves close to the appointed time, praising God along with others in the church.