NO OTHER PLANS
There is a very old legend, and all legends that persist speak truth, concerning the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to heaven after His Ascension. It is said that the angel Gabriel met Him at the gates of the city. ‘Lord, this is a great salvation that Thou hast wrought,’ said the angel. But the Lord Jesus only said, ‘Yes.’ ‘What plans hast Thou made for carrying on the work? How are all men to know what Thou hast done?’ asked Gabriel. ‘I left Peter and James and John and Martha and Mary to tell their friends, and their friends to tell their friends, till all the world should know.’ ‘But, Lord Jesus,’ said Gabriel, ‘suppose Peter is too busy with his nets, or Martha with her housework, or the friends they tell are too occupied, and forget to tell their friends – what then?’ The Lord Jesus did not answer at once; then He said in His quiet, wonderful voice: ‘I have not made any other plans. I am counting on them.’ George MacLeod From Daily Readings with George MacLeod, Ron Ferguson (ed.) Wild Goose Publications www.ionabooks.com
I’ve cribbed the above quote directly from the Iona web site, unapologetically, as I’d love the chance to chat about it
on one level, it feels like plain manipulation, a ploy to get the overworked to give more, and the broke to cough up. on another it feels like an honour to be given the task of sharing God’s love with our generation
the thing is, though, how do we feel called to do this? is it about sourcing food for the hungry?, or is there a sense we are called to inspire our generation with a vision of a just and magnificent God?
and where does the tenderness of Christ come in, how can we build the love of Christ with others a little outside our immediate circle?
I hope to hear your thoughts on the quote, and any practical experiences of doing God’s work, as in the tales of the Street Pastors, and a big thank you to all the fab people who’ve shared so much love and faith on this blog over the last few months
It is, as ever, an interesting question, Subo. Fact is, we can’t all be Mother Teresa, and that is not everybody’s calling. I think it is very easy to feel as if being a Christian demands a lot from us in the way of physical effort and I think this is a view often perpetuated by other Christians. I also feel that ego is sometimes a big motor for the ‘busy’ Christian. I know people who thrive on being told by others how wonderful they are. They would be distraught if someone said, “No, you’ve done so much already, maybe X should do that now so that you can have a break.”
What do I feel called to do? To spread the Good News – I could do this from a pulpit or casually over a cup of tea, at the other person’s prompting, which may take months but God hasn’t given me a deadline. I’m called to love my neighbour and I also feel called to have a conscience and respond appropriately to that. Sometimes an issue may fire my passions and drive me to more obvious action, other times issues don’t inspire me so much and I accept that it is somebody else’s thing. That is good – if we were to take on every cause that came along, we would end up burnt out and very quickly.
By: Carole on May 25, 2009
at 11:38 am
sharp one Carol, noting where not superhuman, infact we’re called to be human, i think i need your reminder to chill
yet, even though I agree with you about not doing everything, I bet you do more of the things you mention, than you let on.
last time I tried to share my faith, I got such a blank look – maybe it might have helped if I’d not got quite so jumpy and keyed up
By: subo on May 25, 2009
at 6:27 pm
I love the bit in the story where Jesus says “I am counting on them.” Makes me think of times when you (well, I) ask things of people and know that they will be there for you. To be able to count on someone is such a joy, and yet there’s always that risk involved too where you’re letting youself go and truly trusting someone.
I like the fact that Jesus was happy to count on mere mortals to spread the word. He knew their failings – Peter denied him after all – he knew their troubles and yet he still entrusted them with the message. Beautiful.
By: dadube on May 26, 2009
at 8:17 am
cheers Dadube, – yep, I need those people, the folk who notice I’m slipping off the edge
I like the way this story makes me feel included, so although I might be very needy most of the time, there maybe times when I can give a little
By: subo on May 26, 2009
at 10:06 am
Ahhh but like the widow, when you’re giving a little if it’s all you have its a lot…..and that really doesn’t have to be about money
By: dadube on May 26, 2009
at 6:01 pm
Love the story as I think there is so much ‘church knocking’ in present day and I think that whilst a discerning critical comment offered in love is a good thing a lot of it seems more rooted in cheap cynicism (spirit of the age). I remember Gerard Kelly preaching regarding the church and saying that the amazing thing is that it is God’s plan ‘A’ for the redemption story to continue and there is no plan ‘B’ !! The issue is how to engage with the mission of redemption in a real way that is not a knee jerk reaction to any guilt complex and which is authentic? Best advice for me has been – act justly, walk humbly and love mercy… and it seems wonderful to me that the grace of God even seems to incorporate my MANY mistakes!
Going back to stuff I am learning as a Street Pastor … I find that when I demonstrate and talk about my beliefs to young people on the street as a Street Pastor and when they feel the care, concern and compassion of Christ I find that they admire, seek to understand and they will even emulate that kind of faith. It seems to me that tired debates about the social and spiritual divide in mission are silenced by the way that young people respond to a God that they can feel, touch, smell and see in mission that takes seriously and applies sermons from the mount!
By: Dave on May 27, 2009
at 11:04 am
Very true, Dave. Thank God for His grace, eh? I’ve never done the street preacher thing – I just don’t know if it fits my personality. But, on occasions when I feel that people have given me permission to express how important my faith is to me, it is quite liberating…and they don’t seem to mind at all! They certainly respond better to what it means to ME and how I wouldn’t be without it than fire and brimstone. I don’t know if we discussed this the other week, so forgive me if I repeat myself. There was a documentary on TV a month or so back about a family who have a strong Christian faith and try their best to live that faith out, as they see it. Of course we have to keep in mind the fact that programme makers have their own agenda but anyway…the programme focused on the daughter – I think she was about 13. She expressed herself in an incredibly mature way, but when she was ‘witnessing’ to others, she was scarily intense and very full-on. And it felt like a very tighly scripted ’sales pitch’. Most people she encountered found that a turn-off. We need to remember, sometimes, that God does ’subltle’ too.
By: Carole on May 27, 2009
at 2:22 pm
subtle, that is.
By: Carole on May 27, 2009
at 2:23 pm
Hi Carol – did you mean ‘Street Pastor’ OR ’street preacer’ !!! Very different things!!
By: Dave on May 27, 2009
at 5:21 pm
hell yes – they are VERY different dave! street preacher always brings to mind that scary guy who used to be outside maccie d’s in bath all the time. Eeek!
By: dadube on May 27, 2009
at 6:16 pm
Yeah, sorry Dave, what you said!
By: Carole on May 27, 2009
at 8:05 pm
Actually, now I think of it, I haven’t got what it takes to do either!
By: Carole on May 27, 2009
at 8:06 pm
Carole – if you fancy a night out as a street pastor to check it out (as observer) do let me know – you never know! I think I couldn’t cope with the street preacher thing!!
By: Dave on May 27, 2009
at 11:56 pm
Thanks for the offer, I’ll keep it in mind!
By: Carole on May 28, 2009
at 8:39 am
I really like the idea of street pastor but I can’t do late! ( 11pm in paris was really late for me!!) I am such a sad doormouse! – shame cos I would like to experience it.
By: soniamain on May 28, 2009
at 8:54 am
Just been thinking about this a bit more, we can’t all do the same thing, as we all have different skills. Dave I think you will be ideal for street pastor!, I imagine there is something very comforting about seeing a big ( don’t take that the wrong way
) smiley man who isn’t scary and who has flip flops for your sore feet and some kind words when you are pi*** and feeling ill!. I guess the challenge is for us all to work out what we can do, that uses our own individual unique skills.
By: soniamain on May 28, 2009
at 9:10 am
Loved the way you slipped the Paris reference in there, Sonia. Was it fantastic?
By: Carole on May 28, 2009
at 11:31 am
Thanks Carole it was fantastic!- Clare and I really could have done street pastors flip flops for our tired and blistered feet!
By: soniamain on May 28, 2009
at 12:38 pm
absolutely Sonia – sorry to keep harping on about SP’s – but it is the social-spiritual connectedness i am really excited about – amen to doing what we can do!! … well if you will 4 inch hills up the Champs-Elysées what do you expect!!!!!!!
By: Dave on May 28, 2009
at 7:26 pm
Hiya folks,
I need a touch of SP’s in my life, I could really do with feeling some loving recognition from someone right now.
I just read a ‘daily reading’ on ‘how good it is when people insult you and scorn you’!!!, which felt a bit close to the bone as have been on the reciving end of lost of scorn recently,
- no, it’s not good, and the idea of a distant, intangible God in the same readings not much good either!, oh, for a friendly face or a smile
By: subo on May 29, 2009
at 7:40 am
I find those passages so depressing!. You have so much to offer Su and bring great insight and wise words to this blog. Sounds like you need some love and grace in your life not cross words and retribution.
By: soniamain on May 30, 2009
at 10:05 am
Su – so sorry re the daily reading – think some of it was written by psycho sado-masochists if you ask me! Have started to read my bible as the true story – but at times fallible in terms of the political, social, cultural and psychological content! Hope that doesn’t sound too heretical but I am tired of it being misquoted, misused, misapplied – often out of context and often by control freaks who want to play at god in the lives of other people… sorry… rant over!! I do hope you feel a bit better now – take care. Dave x
By: Dave on May 30, 2009
at 12:03 pm
cheers for your posts Sonia and Dave
I think it’s been a ‘changing’ time for me over the last few months. I think I’ve had to face some of the ‘condemnation’ from my childhood, revisit it, explore it, and find the freedom to enter a more human place.
I think for me, learning to trust God, has at times involved unhooking some of the fear from growing up with asthma. In a culture that doesn’t want to acknowledge the difficulties asthma brings. taking me through a journey of fear, rage, self-blame, resentment and frustration. somehow though, that learning to trust, is a good place to be
By: subo on May 30, 2009
at 1:43 pm
dave… as much as i agree with gerard’s quote re church being plan ‘a’ and there is no plan ‘b’… i think gerard and i may have slightly different views on what church is. i’ve heard that kind of thing said to make people feel a bit guilty for not attending a sunday service. the sunday service and church are not the same, even though many a vicar may want to persuade us otherwise.
subo… learning to trust is where i’m at too. thinking of you. x
By: jonbirch on June 8, 2009
at 10:56 pm
cheers Jon.
By: subo on June 9, 2009
at 11:47 am
Jon – glad you agree with the quote… of course there are differing definitions and understandings and these need exploration through itterative process to look at application. I don’t think Gerard was interested in giving guilt. I think it is cheap and easy to knock church – much easier than engaging with it constructively and authentically. davex
By: dave119 on June 9, 2009
at 12:46 pm
yeh, i wasn’t meaning to suggest that’s how gerard used the quote. authenticity in all we engage in sounds like a good approach to me.
By: jonbirch on June 12, 2009
at 9:58 am