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Introduction:
The Church and the Kingdom of God
Derek Poole
Comment:
A Question of Belonging
Peter Wilson
From
the Director
David Porter
Colosse
Michael Whitley
Revisiting
the Kingdom of God and the Church
David McMillan
Faith
and Practice - Baroness May Blood
Ruth Hutchinson
Ephesus
Heather Morrow
Lead
us not into temptation
Alan Wilson
Galatia
Priscilla Reid
CEPU...a
personal testimony
Ken Irvine
Econimail
- Fancy Models or Straw Dolls?
Book
Review
Ethel White
A
QUESTION OF BELONGING
Some years ago in a Bray hotel a fellow guest asked me if I belonged.
It was not quite as blunt as the question “Are you sure you’re one of
us?” All of us have experienced this kind of subtle interrogation when
meeting a group of strangers for the first time. My inquisitor could not
satisfy himself as to my cultural identity (because I would not let him)
and in his frustration had gone straight for the jugular. I felt quite
at home in the hotel’s busy lounge but no, I did not belong and I was
glad not to.
Glad, because I do not want the belonging he offered, that which holds a sectarian plumb line up to people and weights it with history, race, religion or culture, all of the things we have no control over and can do little or nothing to change. Why did this man want cultural proofs before he granted me the gift of belonging supposedly within his control?
Both our communities use the most suspect tools to measure a person’s merit by judging their right to belong, and tools turn to weapons as we berate each other with points of history, politics or religion. All of this is arrogant and stems from a pride that surely grieves the Spirit of Christ.
The proofs that we deem so important are but works of men to be tested by a divine fire. In the midst of all that would confuse us and lead us astray we must remain true to the principles of Christ. His kingdom is not of this world; neither as Christians is ours. Christians, more than anyone, should neither have nor seek permanent belonging or identity here.
If we would really serve and be light and salt for the world we must not be of the world. It is not only the brighter lights of the world that dazzle, but also the comforting glows of darkened patriotism and unseasoned love of country and community – ‘my’ people. Think of those this excludes: Asians, the travelling community... what proofs must they show?
The word ‘belong’ is a verb. It implies action, a sense of the doing of things, a task to be taken on afresh each day. It is not passive, merely a state of being. It means being in the right place, fitting in.
How can Christians ‘belong’ in the Ulster of 2000, yet still hope in the Kingdom to come? Christ has wrung the last drop out of this word ‘belong’. When he met the Samaritan woman, or Nicodemus, or Roman centurions he showed us the way to this most wonderful belonging. He said, “Love thy neighbour as thyself”.
Peter Wilson is a member of 1st Armagh Presbyterian Church.
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