Thought for the Week 1 October 2023

Thought For The Week: 

 As I write this I am attending the General Assembly at St Kentigern College in a very wet and cold Auckland. The assembly opened with a very uplifting service in the beautiful school chapel with enthusiastic singing which was well led by a fellow minister who I trained with. One of the lovely things about Assembly is the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and there are a few here from my year group.

Rev Dr Andrew Calendar gave a very interesting key note address on our starting point for the gospel. He pointed out that we have traditionally begun with the idea of original sin- we are all sinners before a holy God. This approach begins with what is wrong with us and tends to lead to self-destructive cycles of guilt and shame and a focus on personal, internal sin while ignoring greater systemic sins such as injustice, war and so on. But if we start with the premise that God is love we begin with something that is life giving. Jesus doesn’t begin with pointing out the sins of his disciples. Rather he begins with an invitation to follow and see up close the work of God in healing and restoring those who are broken by sin, both personal and systemic. It is a fuller gospel that is truly good news.

Today will be Rory’s last Sunday with us for 2 months as he goes on study leave. I wish him well with that and pray for God’s rich blessing of refreshment and growth as he takes this time aside.

Blessings,

Brent Richardson