Articulating the Faith… Together

MINISTER’S LETTER 10/11/2022

Friends in Christ, something I’ve noticed when I visit other churches on holidays is how little I may open my mouth.

Some of you might think that’s a good thing! But let me explain. 

Generally we try to visit a Bible-based, gospel-centred church. In some other places, that means visiting other denominations, and I am glad to do so.

But a thing I’ve noticed is that sometimes the only time I am invited to open my mouth is for the songs.

The rest of the time no one says anything, except for the person up front. Everything else, apart from the singing, is done for you. 

To me, it can feel quite passive. One time in a small rural church, I was mildly embarrassed to be the only person to say ‘Amen’, when the pastor reached the end of his prayers. Apparently, it wasn’t even done to affirm his requests!

This reinforces for me the value of corporate confession, creed and prayer alongside song. That is, we can declare our faith in unison, and articulate our praise and common requests together in prayer. And they remind us that we are sinners saved by God’s grace in Jesus. 

Sometimes, the Psalms contain first person singular expressions of prayer or faith. It’s important to pray personally and privately.

But often the prayers and songs in the Bible are plural. Colossians 3:16…

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you (plural!) richly as you (plural!) teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your ((plural!) hearts to God.”

It’s very active learning and participation, and a mutual expression of relationships of love, with God and each other.  

Now one danger with shared statements of faith – like the Apostles Creed – or prayer – like the Lord’s Prayer or confessing our sins, is that we can ‘rattle them off’ without much thought. That’s to be avoided as much as passivity. Slow down. Think about those words. 

...Because those words can give us gospel shape; they can give us biblical depth; they can give us global Christian connectedness. 

May the Holy Spirit gives us each conviction and joy as we express our faith in church!

Warmly in Christ,

Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney