The Rich Heritage of the General Assembly, 2014

          A view from the visitors gallery of the 2014 General Assembly  
of the Church of Scotland                               

Despite the last six months being one of the busiest periods of time I can remember, I took seri-
ously my responsibility to participate as a  commissioner to the 2014 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The annual General Assembly has always taken place the third week in May, most of the time in the Assembly Hall on the Mound in Edinburgh, Scotland. When I first learned 
that I was a commissioner to this General Assembly, I saw it as a major interruption in my busy schedule that was focused on St Fergus Parish Church. It meant nine days away from where I 
really wanted to be. I even looked into asking that another minister from presbytery take my 
place. But I decided to go and take it seriously. 

I was one of roughly 850 commissioners who attended the 2014 General Assembly from May 17-23. Eight of us from the Presbytery of Buchan joined other ministers, elders, and church workers to attend to the business of the Church of Scotland. The first General Assembly took place in 1560 when what we now know as the Church of Scotland arose out of the turbulent times of the Scottish Reformation. There have been very few years when the General Assembly did not meet. I was greatly moved to consider I was joining a great deliberative body that had been meeting annually for over 450 years. There was a profound historical depth to the General Assembly. I was humbled by the privilege and responsibility of taking part in a great heritage.

Participating in the General Assembly is not the first time I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the rich heritage of a Scottish institution. I was just as overwhelmed and humbled when I was living and studying at the University in the town of St Andrews. The town was one of the top sites for Christian pilgrims in medieval times. The University was founded in 1413, the third oldest university in the English-speaking world. In the mid-16th century St Andrews was home to John Knox, the leader of the Scottish Reformation. This rich heritage oozed out of the stones and mortar and was heavy in the air of the town and university. I sensed it wherever I went in St Andrews. 

What I sensed in St Andrews I sensed in Edinburgh and the General Assembly. Edinburgh is a world class city, both in this day and age as well as in history. I had a profound sense of rich history as I stepped for the first time onto the floor of Assembly Hall the day before the start of the General Assembly. It is hard for me to describe, but during the week of the General Assembly I was drawn into a reality that combined the debate of issues of the modern era with the profound spiritual heritage of a community of saints stretching back to 1560 and John Knox. I was involved in something far bigger than me. I was in awe at times. I hope I can write more about my participation in the General Assembly in the days to come. 

Blessings to you and yours, 

Christ is risen! Christ is risen Indeed!

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!

I Corinthians 15:1-8 (ESV)

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

I know, I know. Or as they say here in Buchan Land: I ken, I ken. It is nearly two weeks after Easter and just now am I getting up a posting on Easter. Well, I have been super busy, and sometimes I find it too easy to keep putting off a posting for another day, and the days of putting it off just keep stacking up. But I perceive that my busyness has been a good type of busyness. 

I Corinthians 15:1-8, the biblical text printed out above, focuses on the Cross and the Empty Tomb as a message of first importance for God's People. The Apostle Paul proclaimed that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared' to over 500 witnesses. 

As believers in Jesus Christ we are called to proclaim the Good News of the crucified and risen Jesus Christ and appeal to people to put their trust in what God has done through Jesus. If the proclamation of his death and resurrection are diminished in any way, our Christian faith is thereby diminished as well.  The Cross of Christ and the Empty Tomb are at the heart of the Scriptures and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I acknowledge that I have neglected the Cross and the Empty Tomb throughout much of my time in ministry. I certainly did believe that Jesus died on the Cross for the forgiveness of my sins and that God raised him from the dead on the Third Day, but it was just a belief without much substance to it. Six years ago when I was working on my thesis, the crucified and risen saviour Jesus Christ came to the foremost place in my life as well as in my theology. I have always believed in the Cross and Empty Tomb. But from that time they took central place in my life whereas they were off to the side before. Now the Cross and the Empty Tomb stand solidly at the very heart of my life. The Gospel changes things and changes my life. The Gospel is at the centre of God's People. 

Last year was my first Good Friday and Easter at St Fergus Parish Church. Besides myself, only one person, an elder, from the church showed up to join in Holy Week services in other  churches in nearby Peterhead. Fewer people attended the Easter Morning service than we normally had on other Sundays. People seemed distant from the Crucified and Risen jesus Christ. There was little awareness of the death of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin and his resurrection from death to life. 

From Easter 2013 onward I vowed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as often as I could. Sunday by Sunday I pointed to Jesus' death on the Cross for the forgiveness of sins and his being raised from death to life on the Third Day. That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is what we proclaim. The Gospel of the Crucified and Risen Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is at the very heart of the Christian Faith. Without trusting in what God has done through the death and resurrection of his Son Jesus Christ, we have no faith, no life, and no hope in this world. 

As I preached through the Gospel of Luke through most of 2013 and through the Gospel of Matthew since November of last year, I sought to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ every Sunday. The gospel message is embedded in the Scripture. Whenever I lead in the service of Communion I proclaim the Mystery of Faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. 

I have sensed that change is taking place in people. It is a slow change, but a noticeable change in terms of their view of Jesus.  I sense that the Good News of Jesus Christ is slowly seeping into their lives and changing things in their lives. My hope is that they will start to see the crucified and risen Jesus Christ dwelling in the very core of their lives. 

This Good Friday and Easter Sunday I sensed that God is at work within the people. There was a sweet spirit in the air on Resurrection Sunday that I hadn't sensed before. Things are happening. May the dear people of St Fergus Church know and put their faith in Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins and his resurrection from the dead. Come into our lives and our congregation. May it be so, Lord Jesus. 

Blessings to you and yours,