12. It Takes Courage

Click on the below "Continue reading" button to see this post in it's intended form as a 5 minute video.

Also click "Continue reading" for a short summary written summary - though we strongly recommend the video for the full content.

This was written for audio rather than reading but the following is a summary of the main points.

“Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened of dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9) resonates today, not because we need physical courage or military strength, but because we need the courage of faith.

The courage of faith endures the hardships and uncertainties of the present to press on to a better future; not to be downcast in the face of challenges.

In seeking to listen for God as well as listen to each other, we need to remember it takes courage to be real not just polite. Being real requires more than polite acknowledgement because listening is not the same as agreeing.

Being real about our feelings and defence mechanisms because pruning elements of our denominational life will be painful; things that have flourished will not continue, for some people their dreams and the good things they have achieved may feel undervalued when they stop.

It takes courage to recognise the scale of the challenges we face. I wonder if our model of wider church life is broken; the view that if we just work harder then giving to Home Mission will rise and all will be well maybe built on false and outdated assumptions.

The days of church as a Victorian society with a secretary, treasurer and chair are gone. The C20th Free Church ideal with centralised structures, public profile and desire for political influence is crumbling. The millennium’s managerialist, pressurising persuasion and interventionism with its focus on presentation rather than substance has disabled us; at exactly the moment when we needed to be distinctive, radical disciples.

The church needs reformation, refining what we believe as we interact with the world around us. If we avoid the hard work of engagement our solutions will be shallow, inadequate and disposable. We need to take the courage to value creativity and risk, resource the pioneers and missional entrepreneurs.

It takes courage to have faith for the future. The future of the Union should be like a fishing net; neither totally fluid nor institutionally static. Flexible with multiple centres where the lines cross, it will have shape and definition as a national movement made up of those who recognise and own their part in it.

What if Associations were responsible for mission support, the majority of grants and ministerial development? What if the BUGB charity releases and facilitates Baptist life rather than being the provider? What about a limited central resource providing specialist technical help and a General Secretariat which gives voice to and leadership for a national movement?

When Ridley and Latimer were burnt at the stake in 1555 for their commitment to Scripture Latimer encouraged Ridley with the words “Be of good courage Mr Ridley, we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, as I trust will never be put out”.

Let us be a people of courage.