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This week we witnessed on television some pretty
dramatic scenes from Northern Ireland where proceedings were under way
to create a new governing body for the Province. The Nationalist terrorist
Michael Stone attempted to enter Stormont and cause murder and mayhem
and it was only the courage and determination of the unarmed security
guards that prevented him from succeeding. Already sentenced to 700
years (yes, you read that right) for previous crimes, including six
murders, he has had his licence, granted under the Good Friday agreement,
revoked and faces the prospect of another 18 years minimum in prison.
As I watched the pictures and listened to the commentary I wondered
what possessed him to do this. He seems to have acted alone and has
already said that he did not represent any group. His cause seemed hopeless,
his efforts futile, and the consequences for him very serious indeed.
Who is Michael Stone? Michael Stone was once the most prominent and
dangerous Nationalist terrorist, scourge of Republicans and icon to
at least some Nationalists. The problem is that he can't be anything
else, and maybe no one will allow him to be anything else. In the words
of the U2 song he's 'stuck in a moment and can't get out of it'.
I think that is, at least in part, why he did it. Michael Stone was
being - Michael Stone. This is his identity the sum of who he is and
he could be none other. The problem for him is that politics in Northern
Ireland has moved on and he hasn't. The main players in the game and
their followers in the most part are already finding a new, different
identity for themselves and creating a new order and there is no room
for Michael Stone in this New World.
Whatever your views on the issues, indeed whether you hold views at
all, there is a lesson here for the church and one that has been on
my heart for some time. Our text sums up very well the new status of
the believer:
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners
and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God's people and members of God's
household… (v.19)
Tragically, it is my experience that this is not always true of everyone,
and especially not those coming out of the cults into the church. I
don't normally make direct reference to the cults in this weekly word.
It is meant rather to be a simple encouragement, occasionally a goad
to help us think about our faith and our walk with God with the view
that a more thoughtful understanding of our faith will make us better
witnesses. However, I feel strongly that something needs to be said
to the household of faith about the way we keep house.
Lets look at the steps to becoming a member of the household of faith
as described in our passage:
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions
and sins, in which you used to live…Like the rest you were objects of
wrath (vv 1-3)
The first step is recognising that we are sinners before God, objects
of wrath, and deserving of condemnation for the way we live, for ourselves
and subject to Satan. This applies to everyone and there are no exceptions.
Sadly, there are those who are told that they need to be saved from
the cult when they really need to be saved out of the cult in order
to be saved from their sins. The cult is an obstacle but the sinful
nature is the problem - just like everyone else.
But God, who is rich in mercy, made us
alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by
grace you have been saved (vv 4-5)
The second step is an act of grace on God's part. Where once we were
dead in our sins we are now alive with Christ. Each Christian is alive
in Christ - and there are no exceptions because of background.
And God raised us up with Christ and
seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus in order that
in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,
expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (vv 6-7)
The Christian is now seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. This
is possible because, by God's grace, we are now united with Christ ('in
Christ') and robed in his righteousness (Philip.3:9). This in order
that God may demonstrate in the coming ages his true nature (Ex.34:6-7).
We are reminded that this is not because of anything we have done. Not
because we have realised something, or done something, or said something
- this not from yourselves, it is the
gift of God - not by works so that no one can boast.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared for us to do (v 10)
The new Christian is a new creature, born again, or from above (John
3:3). This new creature is created by God according to a design. The
Greek used here sometimes has the connotation of a work of art, a masterpiece.
Each new life is created by God, a masterpiece of God's making - whatever
they once were.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought
near through the blood of Christ (v13)
This whole passage (vv 11-18) is reference to the bringing into covenant
relationship with God those who once were far away. There are wonderful
words here:
Remember that at that time you were separate
from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the
covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought
near through the blood of Christ (vv 11-13)
For he himself is our peace…
His purpose was to create in himself one new man…
He came and preached peace to you who were far away…
Through him we both have access to the Father…
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens
with God's people and members of God's household
So why are my fellow-citizens CHRISTians while I am an exMORMON?
Why is it that when I express a contrary view in discussion people say,
"Well, you would say that because you're an ex-Mormon"?
Why is it that when there are jobs to be done in the church I am the
inevitable testimony, the prize trophy in the church trophy cabinet
but not altogether to be trusted with anything more involved - like
teaching, preaching etc?
I can almost read people's minds as they feel instinctively that they
can stick me in a category and get on with their lives. I can almost
hear them tell themselves that this guy is not to be trusted because
he already made a spectacularly stupid decision when he joined the Mormons.
I mean who knows what residual nonsense he might bring to the job?
The truth is I love and am fascinated by my new-found Christian faith
(although new-found is not exactly the right adjective after more than
twenty years) and not by what I used to be. I am tired of being known
by what I was and not by what I am in Christ. The sad thing is that
this is a common experience among those who leave the cults and that
is why I write this. For all those former JWs, Mormons, witches, etc.
who find themselves eager to serve but their fellow-citizens
less than eager to trust them.
For all those who have come from a background in which they were once
well thought of, perhaps held positions of responsibility and now find
themselves sitting in the pews wondering how much more they have to
do before leaders are prepared to take a risk and ask them to do some
of the work that God has prepared beforehand for us to do.
Like Michael Stone, people like me find ourselves in a new world with
no role to replace the one we once had - not the ex-Mormon, nor the
expert in what we once were, but a Christian with a Christian role among
our fellow-citizens. Unlike Stone, we love our new world, but still
find ourselves attending church with people who see us for what we were
and not for what we are. Unlike Stone we want to fit into this new order,
be the new creatures that God has made, and serve the God who made us.
The household of faith? We need to do some serious housework.
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