April 30th 2017
Acts 2: 36-42
Luke 24: 13-35
A friend invited us out for a meal on the Mornington Peninsula. It was to be a treat as we hadn’t been long in Victoria. Fantastic, we thought, and pondered what the restaurant would be like as our friend said it served slow food.
Great … the patrons oozing at the seams, a vast menu to select from and possibly, just possibly a hint of Fawlty Towers service. But, a slow meal wasn’t like that at all. The restaurant was small and intimate, the menu was brief – just three dishes and the service was … well, the waitress asked if we would like seconds!
I have never forgotten that experience. It stands out from the many takeaways and meals I have had over many years. Why? The whole experience allowed for time, cultivated conversation and was highly enjoyable.
Fast Church
The bible readings set for today are quite a contrast.
Luke, in his second volume Acts, offers a preacher’s scenario. It’s set on what will become a high church day – Pentecost. A large crowd is listening to him as he proclaims the gospel about Jesus the crucified one. Many have a pressing question about what it all means for them.
It’s an evangelist’s dream: turn from your sins, be baptised and receive the Holy Spirit. No one seems to dissent, and the text tells us three thousand were convinced and baptised on the same day. What a problem to have!
Can you imagine what we might happen if 1% of that number were to respond similarly in Australian churches today, never mind a possible 10%!!
But, in his gospel he tells a very different story. Only two people are involved – much more the numbers we are used to – and they are burdened down with sadness. As they keep step with one another and share their feelings, their disappointment, and the rumours they had heard a stranger came alongside of them and drew them into conversation.
They shared what they knew, and what they had heard and the stranger talked to them about the message of the prophets, and the books of the Torah. He spoke with confidence and assurance and they were puzzled and also pleased.
Daylight saving had finished only a couple of weeks before and by the time they reached Emmaus the sun was almost down, the takeaway shops would be closed and there were no hotels in the town. What to do? They took a risk and invited the stranger to stay the night and share a meal with them. Talk about meeting angels unaware!
They don’t know who the stranger is until he breaks the bread, gives the usual blessing and shares it. THEN THEIR EYES WERE OPENED …
This is their conversion, their transforming experience, their resurrection surprise, their burning bush moment when they hear the divine voice through the scriptures. A fire is lit as they leave the house and rush as fast as they can back to Jerusalem – almost 12 kilometers by foot.
In one story 3000 believe and are baptised. In the other 2 people are transformed at the breaking of the bread. It’s a contrast in numbers.
Slow Church
I grew up as a young adult in a church which preached revival. It was the 1970’s, and the wave of church recession had not really been noticed by the mainstream churches. There was still a lot of conventional churchgoing, as that was culturally expected. Everyone knew what the church stood for and believed, even if many were not terribly enthusiastic.
The Pentecostal church I knew , was very keen on conversion, spiritual transformation, a vital experience of the Holy Spirit. Every week the pastor preached his heart out – no printed sermons, no time limitations, no traditional hymns, but the people ( mostly under 30) kept on coming for a time at least. The rumour was a spiritual revival was at hand.
Churches multiplied, as others receded. The scene shifted from knowing that a particular denomination had a distinctive style. Everyone “knew” what was to be expected at a Methodist service and its hymn singing. The Anglicans used the prayerbook. Baptists didn’t baptise anyone until they were well into their teens, and could make their own decision. Pentecostals – they were the ones that dreamed of an emotional revival, where hundreds and thousands would turn to the Lord.
That has never happened and in the old western Christendom countries almost the opposite has happened. People have left churches in their thousands over the last few decades, and the average age of congregations is well above 50. When I was first ordained a video was released about the greying of the Uniting Church – and overnight it seemed I found I had joined their ranks.
However, to go back to experience of the slow food restaurant I think it is really important that Christians think about church life, its development and nurture, as something that takes time, care and conversation.
The two sad disciples trudging along the Emmaus Road were overwhelmed with their sense of loss. Perhaps they talked about what they had hoped Jesus might achieve. Or possibly what they were going to do next. Maybe there was a sense of letdown, grief and depression – if only we had known? Certainly they found it hard to believe the rumours which were already being spread about Jesus being alive. What unfolds is a practice of slow church.
The stranger engages them in an exploration of the prophets, the Old Testament for us, and perhaps through using the great servant passages of Isaiah, and other messianic texts interprets the meaning of his life.
Their lights are still not on, but their hearts are engaged. Their minds are thinking, and they just want to continue the conversation. Look, it’s getting dark – why not stay overnight and tell us some more? And, so it happens – and its while they are eating a meal together, giving thanks to God in the traditional way that the LIght goes on.
“Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him: and he vanished from their sight.They said to one another, Were not our hearts burning within us, while he was talking to us on the road…”
Slow church. Conversational church. Hospitable church. Walking down the road church.
What has come to an end is franchised church where everyone knows what is on the menu, and comes knowing what they will ‘purchase’. What has come to an end is the easy assumption that being a Christian is a matter of beliefs without doubts. What has come to an end is that the culture supports the institution.
Once again we are a people which reflect the early christian communities – a people on the Way, exploring the Jesus Truth and living our lives in the trust and faith He is risen.
“The primary work of Slow Church is not attracting people to our church buildings, but rather cultivating together the resurrection life of Christ, by deeply and selflessly loving our brothers and sisters, our neighbours and even our enemies. As we .. embody Christ’s love, we find joy that we pray will draw people closer to Christ.” (Slow Church Smith & Pattison p 33)
Sharing conversation, supporting one another, discussing the scriptures, breaking bread, exploring our faith and doubts is core to being a slow church in the way of Jesus. Let’s be that kind of community to the best of our abilities.
Rev David Carter