The Salvation Army Chatham

Major Drew McCombe writes:

Come on England, the flags are out in numbers, excitement and hope are rising.

Prayers are going up for no penalty shoot outs, no broken metatarsals, avoiding Spain, Portugal and Brazil at least until the semi final or final, no own goals and Wayne Rooney to win the golden boot of the tournament for the most goals scored

I was interested to read that the Church of England has come up with some prayers. Here’s a few:-

Lord of all the nations, who played the cosmos into being, guide, guard and protect all who work or play in the World Cup. May all find in this competition a source of celebration, an experience of common humanity and a growing attitude of generous sportsmanship to others. Amen.

God of the nations, who has always called his people to be a blessing for the world, bless all who take part in the World Cup. Smile on South Africa in her hosting, on the nations represented in competition and on those who travel to join in the party. Amen.

So far, not so bad. But, the third prayer was partly intended to be funny – giving words to those who dread three weeks of football, with all the mountaintop-valley emotions of their nearest and dearest football lovers:

A prayer for those simply not interested

Lord, as all around are gripped with World Cup fever, bless us with understanding, strengthen us with patience and grant us the gift of sympathy if needed. Amen.

However, I am increasingly interested to read how the commercial world is using ‘faith’ language. The billboard and TV adverts exhorting us to obtain a Sky HD box in time for the World Cup proclaims: “50 million believers”. Imagine…. I don’t mean England winning the world cup. That may take more than a miracle. No, I mean imagine Britain with 50 million believers. What would it be like to live in a country where 85% of the population are believers?

50 million believers. Would there be less crime? Fewer burglaries? Less vandalism? Lower stress levels? Less domestic violence? Fewer divorces?  Less drug addiction? Lower suicide rates? Fewer abortions? Less child abuse? Lower terror threats? Fewer police? Less social workers? More security? Stronger marriages? Greater harmony? Happier people? A more desirable place to live? Heaven on earth? Possible? Achievable? Could the change of government achieve it? I wouldn’t hold your breath. But could the Spirit of God do it working through 5 million believers and around 40,000 churches in the UK?

How many people do you know well? In your circle of family, your friends, your work colleagues, your neighbours? I bet you know at least ten people well enough to have an honest in-depth open conversation about what matters most in your life. At least ten people that should be on your prayer list, your watch list, your ‘please come with me to this special event’ list.

You see when Christ ascended to heaven, having died to save the world, he entrusted that message to eleven ordinary men, the number in a football team.

The fate of the world, humanly speaking, rested in the hands of those eleven 1^st Century men. What did he tell them to do?    “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Let me ask you. Has the assignment changed in 2000 years? Do we have the same Holy Spirit that they received on the Day of Pentecost? So what has changed? When you think of ‘church’ what comes to mind? 50 million believers? Why not?

The church is the hope of the world. The only hope of the world. It was true on the Day of Pentecost. It is true today!

Major Drew McCombe