Releasing the Energy of the Whole People of God

Right Rev Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol, spoke on this subject at Bristol Christian Action Network's meeting on 28th April. For more details see the BCAN blog: http://bcanblog.blogspot.com/

The blog's intended use is to be a informal place to post general information as well as it being a place for uploading resources and creating a bit of a buzz around events: MP3s from the Bishop Mike event are also available via the blog and at http://www.bristolregionleaders.net/
About forty people met in the Upper Hall at Woodlands Church.

Bishop Mike started by telling about a conversation he had on a bus recently, where a person explained why she no longer goes to church. He spoke especially about her rejection of the authority of the church.But God loves the world and calls us to reflect that love by the way we act. The energy of the people of God needs to be released to impact the world around, rather than just benefit the church. We need to be more connected to the world in which we find themselves. We need to move outside the Christian community and to get involved in the world.
Yet there are huge pressures to run churches successfully, which leave people with little energy to be outward looking.

We need to encourage people's strengths. In Romans 12, Paul says that every Christian is given gifts by God, which should not be suppressed. Ministry is not about controlling people, but rather about pushing ministry outwards. Gifts are not only spiritual, but also include administration. People need to be released to exercise their giftedness, within church and in the “naughty” world. Giftedness is not meant to draw attention to ourselves. We need to use our gifts to glorify God, edify the church and serve the world. We need to network people to self help each other to get better in their field of work. For example, Christians started to meet in Shell and were concerned about the ethics of the exploration going on. They had lunch, discussion and prayer and became a group which became influential within their organisation. If you are looking to change the world you need to stand up and be counted.

So many people in churches feel controlled. We need a theology of empowerment, not control. We need people to be creative and energised.
We need to encourage church leaders to become a bit less risk averse. We need to bold. If we diffuse responsibility more widely, how do we keep accountability? We need to read the book by Henry Cloud, called “Boundaries”. There are tragic dangers of a lack of accountability. The devil deploys wily tricks.

To find your gifts, it is helpful to find your passion. Yet this needs to be tested by the community. We need to talk with people who love us enough to tell us the truth and be honest. Rather than people who say what they think we want them to say. How do we say things in a way which is honest and loving?

Imagine a church where people are empowered to go into the world as well as the church, to glorify God, edify the church and change the world. Jesus started a movement with twelve people which has changed millions of lives. There are more than twelve Christians in Bristol. We need to leverage our influence, using our expertise of the issues.

I would love it if our churches could set our members free for the whole of the week. A whole new world will open up to help bring back a nation to the values of the Kingdom of God. We care enough about our world to want to make a difference. There was then a time of questions and discussion, including looking at how Christians can network together within organisations to help bring change. Nehemiah asked for success in the implementation of God's plans, but God can transform even apparent failure.

At the end, Bishop Mike said he has maximum respect for people who are giving their lives for God's kingdom. He said don't give up: look again at the cross.