(A) 18 August
Some of us may be familiar with the famous dream speech by Martin Luther KIng in Washington DC.
John Stott concluded his sermon at the dedication of a church to mark its150th anniversary with his own dream of a living church (with apologies to Martin Luther KIng). I find what he said regarding his dream as truly inspirational , comprehensive, and relevant for all of us who truly long and pray for such a dream to be a reality for the church of God:
I have a dream of a church which is a biblical church – which is loyal in every particular to the revelation of God in Scripture,
whose pastors expound Scripture with integrity and relevance, and so seek to present every member mature in Christ,
whose people love the word of God and adorn it with an obedient and Christ-like life,
which is preserved from all unbiblical emphases,
whose whole life manifests the health and beauty of biblical balance.
I have a dream of a biblical church
I have a dream of a church which is a worshipping church –
whose people come together to meet God and worship him,
who know God is always in their midst and who bow down before him in great humility,
who regularly frequent the table of the Lord Jesus to celebrate his mighty act of redemption on the cross,
who enrich the worship with their musical skills,
who believe in prayer and lay hold of God in prayer,
whose worship is expressed not in Sunday services and prayer gatherings only but also in their homes, their weekday work and the common things of life.
I have a dream of a worshipping church/
I have a dream of a church which is a caring church –
whose congregation is drawn from many races,
nations, ages and social backgrounds, and exhibits
the unity and diversity of the family of God,
whose fellowship is warm and welcoming, and never
marred by anger, selfishness, jealousy or pride,
whose members love one another with a pure heart
fervently, forbearing one another, forgiving one
another, and bearing one another’s burdens,
which offers friendship to the lonely,support to the
weak, and acceptance to those who are despised
and rejected by society,
whose love spills over to the world outside, attractive,
infectious, irresistible, the love of God himself.
I have a dream of a caring church
I have a dream of a church which is a serving church –
which has seen Christ as the Servant and has heard
his call to be a servant too,
which is delivered from self-interest, turned inside
out, and giving itself selflessly to the service of others,
whose members obey Christ’s command to live in the
world, to permeate secular society, to be the salt of
the earth, and the light of the world,
whose people share the good news of Jesus simply,
naturally and enthusiastically with their friends,
which diligently servs its own parish, residents and
workers, families and single people, nationals and
immigrants, old folk and little children,
which is alert to the changing needs of society,
sensitive and flexible enough to keep adapting its
programmes to serve more usefully,
which has a global vision and is constantly
challenging its young people to give their lives in
service, and constantly sending its people out to serve.
I have a dream of a serving church.
I have a dream of a church which is an expectant church –
whose members can never settle down in material
affluence of comfort, because they remember that
they are strangers and pilgrims on earth,
which is all the more faithful and active because it is
because it is waiting and looking for the Lord to return,
which keeps the flame of the Christian hope burning
brightly in a dark, despairing world,
which on the day of Christ will not shrink from him
in shame, but rise up joyfully to greet him,
I have a dream of an expectant church.
Such is my dream of a living church.
The dream John shared is based on the revelation of Scripture regarding what a living church is like and it certainly warrants us to examine and dream the same dream to make it a reality today in God’s church.