120: Mike Jenner - Opening remarks for Rugby's first broadcasted service

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:00

   This is something kind of new for Good Christadelphian Talks, but this is the opening statement of the memorial service at the rugby ecclesia in the United Kingdom on March 23rd of this year. This clip has been available since then for eight months, but kind of made its rounds on the internet again on Facebook this week, and we wanted to share it on the show because Chris and I both benefited from it again, and we're talking about it because both of us live here in California, and actually California's entering into a newer level of lockdown starting this evening.

2. 0:46

   And so we felt that the message was particularly timely for us, and I think the message that Brother Mike makes is definitely one that has remained true through this very strange year since March and all the Zoom memorial services we've had since then, how we do need to be paying attention to our spiritual health as we are concerned for the physical health of ourselves and many others.

3. 1:18

   So we wanted to share this. I think it's short and very beneficial. So here it is. This is Mike Jenner's opening statement from March 23rd. We should say a few words about the situation in which the world finds itself. Brothers and sisters, not for 75 years, not since the Second World War, have people of this country faced a common challenge together like the one faced now.

4. 1:47

   Not just in this country either. All the world is in turmoil. The industry, the confidences, the pursuits, and the way of life of mankind have been replaced by fear and uncertainty. Rich and poor alike all share the realisation that this world is indeed built upon feet of clay. We know we must follow the government guidance, not just because it's sensible for us for the protection of our health, but because it's scriptural to obey those that have the rule over us.

5. 2:19

   Even this morning we've separated the Welsh from the English in our hall here in rugby. But also we know that many of our brethren and sisters are medical workers and care workers, and they're working harder than ever at this time. So they'll need our special support as they care for us and for those around us.

6. 2:38

   But we want to speak for a moment of our spiritual health. The Ecclesias were not designed to operate in this way by remote link. If at all possible, we are commanded to come together and not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Sadly, we cannot do that at present. And by some estimates, this situation could continue for some considerable time.

7. 3:04

   We should be under no illusions that this poses a real challenge for us as an Ecclesia and as a community. And if the people of this United Kingdom can follow Her Majesty's advice and come together as one, surely we can do this in our Ecclesias with our wonderful shared hope. We have a choice, though.

8. 3:24

   These events could either lead to a spiritual decline for us, or we could allow them to lead to a revival. A decline will come if we neglect to talk often one to another. If we think of this social distancing as a holiday from the truth or from the work of the truth. If we omit to keep in contact with those who are having to isolate alone.

9. 3:51

   If we don't dial in to the breaking of bread or the Bible classes or the readings, or engage with the provision being made for online substitutes for CYC and Sunday school. And if we don't answer the call for help to staff all these extra online activities. We could potentially slowly drift away, or if not we ourselves, we could watch others drift away while we take no action.

10. 4:17

    It would be a decline if we follow the advice of the world around us and use our time at home on our own pursuits. Watching extremely lengthy entertainment series on our TVs, reading novels, or perhaps even writing our own novels. Let it not be so. Instead, let these circumstances lead to a revival for each of us individually.

11. 4:42

    In our families and in our ecclesias. A revival of the love of the word of God. Where we read it and study it. To put it into practice when we re-enter circulation in the world. The scriptures are full of people who suffer dramatic changes in their circumstances. In their daily lives taken away from their ecclesias.

12. 5:06

    And they put this time into practice in the service of God. Joseph was put into prison. Moses into the desert. Elijah hidden by the brook Kareth. David dwelling in caves and in mountains. And while this situation that we face is not so dramatic, most of us do find ourselves now working at home.

13. 5:29

    And if we have them, our children are at home with us. And the cessation of ecclesial meetings drives home the point, which was always true. We cannot rely on the ecclesia to teach our children and our young people. We have a responsibility to do it ourselves. Now that we're all together at home every day, surely we can put in place daily habits and practices in our houses where the word of God and prayer to our heavenly father is central to each day.

14. 5:56

    A regime that means we read the word together and discuss its value so that it can be an encouragement and a light to our paths in these difficult times. We can also perhaps reconnect by letter, phone or electronic means with those with whom we've lost touch to check in and see how they're doing, to see what we can do to help.

15. 6:17

    We can also use this time to witness, to show our faith, to explain to those with whom we may interact why we're not afraid as others are, that this isn't going to be the end of society as we know it. For we know God's in control. Christ will return and rule over all the nations from Jerusalem.

16. 6:35

    And to those who are afraid of the worst outcomes, we can explain from the scriptures why we sorrow not as others do, because of our hope, a hope that could be theirs also. When this crisis passes, as we know it will, either by our Lord's return or the virus running its course, let us not look back with regret that we regressed spiritually during this time, or that we did not take the opportunity to witness for the truth, or that we did not look after those who are more spiritually vulnerable.

17. 7:08

    Let us not regret not taking the opportunity to regain our love for reading the word of God with our families in our homes, because we may never again get another opportunity anything like this time to refocus, to revive our minds and to rebase our lives upon that which is important. To remember whose we are and whom we serve and remember that we are heading towards the kingdom of God.

18. 7:35

    Let us occupy ourselves then at this difficult time, and until the return of our Master. Thank you for listening to the Good Christ Adelphine Talks podcast. Please subscribe for new episodes and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or whichever service you are listening from to help people find the show when they search for it.

19. 8:00

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20. 8:23

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