Old Meeting House Congregational Church (1643)

For the disciples, it was Jesus. They were led directly by their experiences of the life of Jesus, Himself.  Today, we have the Word of God and for those who have believed, we have the Holy Spirit living inside to instruct and guide, and we do in a very real sense, have to make our faith our own.  But hopefully, many of us also have those role models in our lives that we can look up to, learn from and can follow.  In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul tells his followers to “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”. Philippians 3:17 says in the NIV “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.”

I am thankful for the many figures throughout my life that have poured into me the Word of God, shared with me their life lessons, and have pointed me in Truth often without even having to say a word.  It starts at the top with my family and then builds from there with the church body and friends. The words “Whose faith follow” from Hebrews 13 verse 7 were inscribed on my father’s grave and over the years have inspired me and challenged me to be as faithful minister as he was.

In today’s challenging world perhaps, we need inspiration and role models more than at any other time. But hold on have we forgotten the early days when Congregational Churches were first gathered? They were very dark days indeed for Bible believing Christians. If you erred from the State Church, you risked imprisonment and even torture! The founders of my chapel had to spend years in exile to escape persecution.

Sadly, in the minds of many, history is a subject to be tolerated when necessary, but ignored whenever possible. Sadly, this is also true for church history. The philosophy behind this attitude is that whatever was done in the past is dead and gone, but what is happening now is living and vital. But Solomon stated in Ecclesiastes 1:9–10, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See, this is new’? It has been already in the ages before us” (ESV). Several times in Scripture we are told to learn from the things done in the past, that we may become wiser (1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4), and this is especially true regarding church history.

I am not a graduate in church history, but I am greatly inspired by the giants of faith who walked before, often in very challenging and difficult situations. The sort of faith that we read about in the Bible, the type that can move mountains is hard to find these days. Yet, if we can learn about those who founded many of our chapels, perhaps some of their faith might rub off onto us. I had never written a church history before but felt God was calling me to do it. I was really helped by reading a PDF booklet published by the Congregational Library in America. It is free of charge and you can download if from www.congregationallibrary.org – it’s called Writing a History of Your Local Church.

I have just completed writing one and it is now being published in America by Parson Porch Books. If you would like to get a copy you can purchase it on Amazon.co.uk – it’s called “A Brief History of the Old Meeting House Congregational Church (founded in 1643): Our Story So Far.”  Not only are book sales helping church funds to grow but it is helping many to capture the vision of those who first gathered the chapel. If your chapel does not have one you might consider writing one.

So, as I end this blog may I ask, whose faith do you follow?

And secondly, is your faith one that others should follow? 

I can’t say I follow Christ perfectly in my life, but I am seeking to walk with Him.  Thank you to those ahead of me, whose faith I follow.  Thank you to those beside me, who walk alongside as we stride to be more like Him daily.  I pray for those who may follow me, that I may be faithful in my walk and in pointing them to Christ (Galatians 2:20). 

The truth is we are all role models ……so who/what are we leading others to? If you don’t have any to follow why not find out some of those who have gone before. You might just find some inspiration that makes a difference in your life now.

John

Our minds have a strange capacity for adjusting themselves to unpleasant facts. I understand that during the First World War men lives in water-filled trenches, standing at times up to their waits in mud and sleeping in wet clothes, yet they managed somehow to survive. Their minds became adjusted to the seemingly impossible. It is the same with inner facts of our experience. We may find some unfortunate habit getting a hold on our lives. We begin to be critical, bitter, jealous or afraid. At first, we may realise the harm of having such thoughts or feelings, but gradually, unless we are careful, we find ourselves making excuses for these unwelcome thoughts and sooner or later we fail altogether to realise that they are wrong. We give them place in our lives and adjust ourselves to them. That is the serious element in the situation. We can keep up the forms of religion, go to church, say our prayers and yet never come to grips with the evil thig that has been allowed a place in our lives. If challenged, we may even conscientiously deny the presence of any harmful thing. To get at the sin in our lives which is keeping us from God or from spiritual vitality most of us need help. There can be no peace until we have faced and destroyed every known evil thing within our hearts. Let’s remember the words from Scripture, “Cleanse me, O God, from secret faults.”

John

It’s becoming more and more popular these days for folk to go on a pilgrimage. The BBC has recently brought out a programme that brought together a group of 8 celebrities who travel together on an ancient pilgrim route that starts in Canterbury and ends up in Rome. The programme however starts in Switzerland and unlike ancient pilgrims our celebrities travel part-way by coach. However, whilst they are together they share their beliefs, some profess to have faith whilst several others have none. It seems to me that all of us are searching for something in today’s complex world.

Have you ever considered what is the maximum contribution you can make to the Kingdom of God during your life? Is it to become an eloquent exponent of the message of God contained in the Bible? Is it to show your interest by regular attendance at church? Is it to attend meetings and give yourself to help good causes? All these are valuable, but are they the highest? In a world which has lost faith in the practicability of Christianity, the biggest contribution you can make is first of all to demonstrate that through Christ you have found the answer to the problems in your own life. Unless Christ meets the needs in our own experience we cannot present His message as the answer to the difficulties in life of another. We must reveal Him as the Master of our own lives first. In the second place, we must demonstrate, His power to deal with the circumstances of our own daily lives. He has the answer for every problem in the domestic, business, political, and international life of the world. Can we demonstrate that He enables us to become master over our own circumstances? The only gospel which will meet with acceptance in the world today is a gospel which really works. It must show its power to help men and women to become more than conquerors. The call today is not primarily for fine speaking and earnest social service, but for a faith that will achieve otherwise impossible results in the ordinary fields of human activity.

John

Houdini, the famous magician and escape artist, could get out of any jail, handcuffs, or straight-jacket that he ever tried – that is, all except one.

That one place was a little jail in England. Houdini worked at the cell lock for more than two hours. He worked with that terrific speed that usually unlocked doors in thirty seconds. But he couldn’t get the lock to spring. Finally, tired out by his strenuous efforts, he leaned against the door. It swung open – it had never been locked!

Life is something like that, isn’t it? We build up barriers in our minds that do not exist. We lock ourselves up in the jail of failure by doubts and fears, that only live in our imagination.

I meet many people who seem to think that they can sort out their own lives, but they are doomed to fail as self-effort does not open every door but when we are empowered by God in our lives, He enables us to make the changes. Sadly, some of us have stopped trying, because of past failures – we think there is no use. We assume that the door to success has been locked against us. Maybe, if instead of sitting down and giving up, we would just lean against the door and with God’s help, it would swing open.

John.