CEBC Leadership Team Update - Jan 2010

After all the excitement of Christmas we are looking forward to a challenging New Year.

 Although we are missing our former Minister and are finding during this time of interregnum that there is lots to do, we have been blessed with much excellent teaching and thank God for bringing so many wonderful preachers to us.
At the moment we are going through James and last Sunday we were able to reflect upon Chapter 2. There is a clear lesson for us all here as in one sense this is a potted guide as to how we should live our Christian lives. We wonder however whether there are any other churches like ourselves who sometimes might be afraid to admit that we can be judgmental and do not always see behind outward appearances.

 How many times do we pray for the poor and needy and will help by responding to appeals either for food or clothing etc. but when such a need hits us in the face do we justify our lack of action by rationalising that offers of help through the relevant official channels have been provided or indeed rejected. Do we then as church walk away and say well it’s nothing to do with us?

Here’s the rub brothers and sisters – right on our doorstep are examples of need therefore we must ask ourselves what would Jesus have done. If you go to a door with a food parcel and can see that the children are dirty that Mum might still be in her dressing gown in the middle of the day and that dad is a young man in his early teens what judgement do we make? Verse 8 in James says Love your neighbour as yourself” This loving can be very difficult when to the outsider this same family might in our view be abusing the social system, perhaps not trying to find work and are quite happy to live off the “state”. I suppose we need to ask ourselves “how do such situations occur” and why is society seeming to break down.
Let’s go to another door which when opened reveals a well dressed proud elderly couple, who have food, clothing and on the face of things seems to have all they need. Do we think – “they must be OK” or do we look behind the immediate - are they lonely – do they need a friendly visit now and then.

Now as a reader and you would be correct in saying “but churches can’t do everything” and you would be right, but we can pray, we can use our resources wisely and we can search our hearts to determine why we do things – is it for Gods glory or our own


As a church we are going to be reflecting upon our member’s convenant. If you read this blog we ask that you pray for our convenant group and ask for God’s wisdom so that 2010 can be a year where we do truly love our neighbour as ourself.

Church Secretary