Where might it end? We cannot avoid guesswork if we put ourselves into the conversations taking place at the end of ‘Acts’. What developments could be foreseen? With the tumultuous activity of the 28 chapters of ‘Acts’ to guide us, we could well expect unpredictable and disconcerting consequences to be seen.
And indeed that was the case. ‘Church’ came on to the scene. That was accompanied by its chosen international language – Greek at first, then Latin. With headquarters in Rome and Constantinople questions of leadership were contentious. Then there came all the groups and sub-groups that have adorned or sullied the story of Christianity.
England came late into the story. But it made up for it as time went by. Like Sweden and other countries, it had a national church. It also had various off-shoots – Baptist, Quakers, Methodists, (Plymouth) Brethren, Catholic Apostolics, Seventh-Day Adventists, to name but a few. Protestants of all kinds and Charismatics claim more or less authenticity as successors of the apostles.
We have to be careful. We should be chary of claiming our own chosen Christian group to be the natural or sole inheritor of the true Gospel. On the world-scene we may find that we are regarded as marginal, provincial, overweening amongst the big contenders.
The story has not yet been concluded. The western liberal democratic ideal carries all before it. That means a secular world-view. A supposedly neutral assemblage of scientists points us to many universes, cosmic history as one thing after another, determinism and the demotion of personality, including that of a creative originator.
Christians are pushed onto the back foot. Ecclesiastical differences, fascinating as they are, come a long way behind these underlying assumptions. Our evangelism has to start by reinstating as a serious possibility the idea of a Creator and then the idea of a Redeemer. We have a long journey to make.
SATURDAY WALKS
They go walking on Saturdays at Holy Trinity, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. They’re also planning for their centenary next year. A church centre is on the way and a booklet ‘Living Stones’ is looking for contributors. ‘We seek to be, first and foremost, opened up to God,’ says the website. Leading the ministry team, which includes an intern, is Tim Sanderson.
WALKERGATE
St Oswald’s, Walkergate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne has a new vicar: Ben Cadoux-Hudson. With experience of ministering among students Ben has an Italian wife and likes all things Italian.
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