2009 Letter No 05

Each month Bill writes a pastor's letter for our monthly church magazine called 'The Messenger'. Here is the letter for May 2009:

I watched ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ on television one recent Saturday evening. I know that some of you are keen viewers, but I have never shown much interest in the show in the past. However, on that night two particular acts caught my imagination.

Much has been written and spoken about Susan Boyle in the media. This single woman from Scotland amazed the judges with her powerful and beautiful voice, which they were never expecting after her rather awkward appearance and introduction. It is a heart-warming story that here we find a woman finding affirmation where previously her worth has been ignored, and she is now hotly tipped to win the competition.

However, it was another act that I wanted to think about here. It was a father and son dancing duo, who did a hilarious routine mimicking Michael Flatley and his Irish dancing. Not only was it two of the most entertaining minutes of television that I have seen in a long time, but I loved watching the relationship between the forty year old father and his twelve year old son. There was affection and respect and joy and celebration in their relationship, and while the sight of two rather overweight individuals with bare torsos does not usually make me think of God, in this case it did. I have watched the routine again on the internet – several times in fact – and every time it both makes me laugh and warms my heart.

The father has a large tattoo on his back which bears the words, “C’mon my boy”, and if you are going to have a tattoo I can hardly think of a better sentiment. The father clearly enjoys being with his son, dancing with his son and encouraging his son, while the son clearly enjoys being with his father, doing the things his father does. It really does appear to be a wonderful relationship that they have between them.

The reason it makes me think of God is that we are invited to enter into the most wonderful Father-Son relationship there is. The relationship between the self-styled “Stavros Flatley” and his son on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ is but a very pale reflection of the affection, respect, joy and celebration that exist between our heavenly Father and his only Son, Jesus Christ. And we are invited to enjoy that family life. We are invited to share in the status of Jesus, as children of God. When the Father spoke to Jesus at his baptism in the Jordan, it was with these words “You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11) It was not quite “C’mon my boy”, but it is not far off, and as we go through the waters of baptism we also are invited to hear God say, “You are my child, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” – not because we are wonderful in ourselves, but because we are invited to share the status of Jesus as a child of God, and when we are in Christ then the Father sees the beautiful righteousness of Christ rather than the filthy rags of our sin.

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. (Romans 8:15-16) 

We have a God who is Father, Son and Spirit. The Spirit came down upon Jesus at his baptism, and he comes down also upon us when we are in Christ.

In recent times many Christian thinkers have begun to re-emphasise that, in Christ, we can truly enter into the love that is shared between Father, Son and Spirit. I find that very exciting, and I find it to be true, at least some of the time, to my experience of prayer. It is a wonderful thing to be caught up in the love of God.