Sermon at the United Service - Hobkirk Church, Sunday 3rd June 2007

THE LOVE OF THE LABELLESS

Galatians 3, 26-29; 2 Corinthians 13, 5-14

On this Sunday when traditionally the Church of Scotland lectionary teaches us of the essential unity of our 'three in one God' - our triune God - it does not take much of a leap further to speak - of the unity of all christians throughout the world. We often use the phrase glibly "all one in Christ Jesus". What does that really mean to us I wonder?.

An extract from the latest "Life and Work" magazine cites one correspondent's experience, a David Simpson of Hamilton.

"When I was being documented by the PRO after I arrived at Fort George in 1946, one of the questions I was asked was, "What is your religion?"

When I answered "Christian! The officer said, "Don't be funny!" When I explained that I was a Christian and had been since September 1943, I was told, "For the next two or three years you will be a Presbyterian."

Many people often feel frustrated entrenched in their own inherited belief systems: Church of Scotland, Church of England, Episcopalian, Methodist. I know them all. The beauty of the Church of Scotland is there is home for everyone. In our congregations in both Hobkirk & Ruberslaw churches, I have found few 'died in the wool' Presbyterians. In fact many of our members are from diverse backgrounds. In our own churches locally amongst our regular attenders I know, ex-Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists and Congregationalists!

'Denominationalism' - there is no greater evil. We all have to comefrom somewhere. What was it that was said in Jesus' day "what good can come out of Nazareth?'; 'a prophet is not without honour except in his own country'?

Surely, there was no such thing as 'denominationalism' in Jesus' day. Oh, yeah!, look again: scribes, pharisees, religious factions. Christ himself had heavy language for them. He called them "whited sepulchres!". We are 'one in Christ Jesus'..just as the different modes of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are part of the same God. We do not preach ourselves but, Christ Jesus!

As a minister, I do not preach the Church of Scotland, still less myself. I preach the gospel of Christ Jesus. He is Lord of all and it is His Spirit that pervades all and, is in all. When we were born we did not arrive with a rubber stamp on our foreheads dictating our church allegiance or belief system. At baptism each oneof us is introduced to the christian faith and in the creeds of the christian church throughout the world - we profess belief in the 'holy catholic church' of christian believers.

So why do we get bogged-down by tradition and custom. Why must the dry bones of tradition beggar our belief?. The world has moved on and the church must move in step with the Spirit and the times.

Today, we are here to celebrate or to somehow emulate our togetherness. Those of us who are present are trying in our own small way to fly the flag for christian togetherness and unity. While we acknowledge the fact, the crude facts that there are processes and procedures in every denomination. Yes, Hobkirk and Ruberslaw are a linked charge (not a Union). Hobkirk is a parish linked to Ruberslaw (unlike the churches of Ruberslaw that are happily or unhappily for some - a Union). That aside the reality is wherever we live, whether 'hefted' to our own territory or not - we do so first and foremost as christians!.

If we are not christians, then we are most to be pitied. Christians first (denomination later and that maybe way down the list). We are always christians first and that not in name only. Wherever we come from, whatever our particular faith system, in whatever part of Scotland or Britain we live - we profess the faith of Christ. It is that faith that keeps us going, that makes us, shapes us and defines us - not the denomination to which we claim an often flagging allegiance.

The Church of Scotland is like so many other denominations burdened by practice and procedure. And what did Christ say?. He came to fulfil the law and scriptures. He brought us all to a new commandment to love God, to love one another and our neighbours.

One of the enriching things about being a christian, whether a minister, pastor or lay-person today is, to be ableto move around the country, to witness a varieties of worship and above all to experience the revolutionary spirit at work - breaking down barriers of formality. In short as a christian we should feel "at home" wherever christians worship together.

As a church we want to welcome the stranger into our midst. To do this effectively, we ourselves have to be at peace together. Being a christian alters your perception and behaviour. You do not continually judge people because of where they came from. We often are doing this, whether it is their religious inheritance, background or even the particular church building to which they claim allegiance - this church or that church. Christ's Church is His Church.

We welcome each other first and foremost in the name of Christ and, as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. When we accept each other in His light, all the barriers slip away. I believe when (and if!) we get to heaven the biggest noise we will hear is all the labels falling-off.

There is neither slave nor freeman, Gentile or Jew, Male or Female for all are one in Christ Jesus.