Memories

The Dead Sea from Masada

Miroslav Volf commented that “The past is always present with us”, when speaking at the BMS Catalyst Live (Event Website) event.  He went on to outline how we need to remember rightly if we are to find a pathway to reconciliation.  The event ended with Martin Accad form the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Lebanon focusing upon the current turbulent situation in the Middle East that is a product of the failure to cope with memories of the past. 

During the day a post from the Elders.  This group of global leaders was first brought together by Nelson Mandela and is currently chaired by Kofi Annan with the expressed aim of working together for peace and human rights.  Last week their website shared a post ( The 'Elders' Website article ) that highlighted the problems of a ‘conflict of narratives’ and a ‘clash of victim-hoods’ in understanding the Israel/Palestine situation today.  These two conflicting memories lead to a harmful polarising of opinion across the world, and give rise to conflict that spills over into the rest of the Middle East. 

Returning to Marin Accad, I was encouraged to find that he held onto hope for the future in terms of some fundamental values shared across the religious divides of the Middle East today.  He pointed to the silent majority for whom violence and hatred were not a religious inevitability, but rather they share a desire to live at peace with their neighbour.  This reminded me of my own childhood growing up in the period of “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland.  It seems that the voices for peace of the majority in both Loyalist and Republican communities were ultimately heard, and the conflicting memories in some way have moved towards reconciliation. 



The Wall of Jerusalem

Some years ago I travelled to Israel/Palestine leading a group from our church in Glasgow.  One of my most vivid memories is visiting Yad Vashem, the museum commemorating the Holocaust, and speaking afterwards to our Palestinian guide.  When asked how he felt about the place and the message it gave, he said that something terrible indeed had happened to the Jewish people but that the Palestinians had not been the perpetrators of the crime, yet had suffered for it.

My prayer is that there may be an abandonment of the memories of victim-hood that leads to polarisation of opinion and violence, and that a way of peace may be found that enables the memories to be shared and different communities to live side by side.

Reading the Bible through a mission lens

There is a danger that we domesticate our reading of the Bible.  What I mean is that we read it from a self-centred and self-interested perspective.  The lens that we read it through is can become exclusively pastoral, looking for personal blessing in a self-focused way.  This is not to say that the Bible does not speak to us in a pastoral way that brings us a fullness of life that is intensely personal way.  However, my concern is that if we only come with this lens we miss out on much more of the richness of scripture.

Studying at All Nations Christian College was a significant part of my journey in reading scripture in a different way through more of a mission lens.  In all of our biblical studies we were encouraged to read with a focus upon the underlying story of God’s mission, his continual reaching out with mercy and compassion to humanity.

More recently I was invited to speak at a commissioning service of a family going out with BMS to serve in India.  I am always delighted to be at such special occasions, and usually focus upon certain passages that have a very obvious mission focus.  However, on this occasion I was asked to stick with the lectionary reading from Judges 2.  Initially I was a little concerned as to how I would approach this without twisting the text to say something that wasn’t there.  My fears were quickly allayed as I read the text and saw again that great mission narrative shining through in clear and obvious ways.  There was God’s continual seeking and saving his lost people even when they stray far away.  Then there was God’s pattern of calling and sending out his people as his messengers of grace and love.

Can I suggest that when we read any passage we do so through a mission lens and ask what God is saying about his mission to the world and our part in this great adventure.

Tell me a story!

Telling stories brings back happy memories to us all.  For me sitting on my grandfather’s lap and listening to the ‘Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’ in his cosy living room is one of my happiest childhood memories.  Then there is sitting with my children and trying not to doze off as I read ‘The Elephant and the Bad Baby’ for the umpteenth time.  Story telling seems to be a vital part of all cultures.  It serves to entertain, to build relationship, to share truth and to instil values.

Travelling recently in China I was struck again by the power of stories.  Firstly there was the case of the missing suitcase!  One of our cases was lost enroute and took 4 days to be reunited with us.  I shared with my hosts how this reminded me of another story of a man who lost a sheep (Luke 15:1-7) and how that story teaches us about the love of God.  Our translator was so interested that she shared the story at the final banquet with our hosts from the college and hospital, who shared a common historical story with a BMS missionary from the late 1800s.

Later on our trip we visited the historic city of Weifang where Eric Liddell, of ‘Chariots of Fire’ fame, died in a Japanese Internment camp during the Second World War.  It was good to spend time with a friend who regularly visits the recently opened memorial park to share something of the remarkable story of Eric Liddell.

All this led me to reflect upon the story-telling of Jesus throughout his ministry.  He used stories to great effect, to impart wisdom, to challenge thought, to share values and to encourage faith.  All this has left me encouraged to make better use of stories in sharing faith with others.