Obstacles to Church - Social Gospel

I visited an alien church - it was supposed to be alien because it was in a different place but it turned out to be alien because of much of what went on (and especially, was said) had little to do with Church and Christ! We heard of righting wrongs, prejudice and oppression to the total exclusion of the Gospel. We had the views and opinions of the speaker who totally ignored the words of Jesus!

Suddenly the complaints I'd heard of regarding other places, and the clergy there, were made flesh and to be brutally honest it wasn't a comfortable experience!

At first everything appeared to be 'business as usual' and I was set to experience much the same as Sunday service in my home church, which to be frank was a positive that brought a feeling of comfort that opened the door for the Bible readings and the sermon without distraction.  But then it all started going downhill For although Jesus appeared in the Gospel acclamation he wasn't seen again until the liturgy mentioned Him in the Communion.

Coming in at just just under thirty minutes the sermon masterfully managed to avoid any reference to the readings or Jesus throughout! The two great Bible readings (Isaiah 61-2 and Luke 14) which were masterfully ignored to the extend that had I not kept the pew sheet I would have forgotten what they were. "So what did they preach?" I hear you ask.

The sermon spoke about bias, prejudice, rights and the preacher's opinion on them - but that was it! At no time was there any reference to the Gospel. There was not even the slightest mention of reconciliation, forgiveness or the love of God as seen by the selfless act of Jesus, the Christ, on the cross. The 'sermon' spoke of redressing wrong social and societal attitudes by making a stand against those who thought differently to that which the preacher presented as right.

If it hadn't been for the (rather abridged) Communion and the creed Jesus wouldn't have appeared anywhere in the service at all!

To place a cherry on this encounter, after the communion where I would have expected something post-communion like before being dismissed with a blessing. But sadly this was not to be - for communion done, we were blessed with reports of fund raising and a final kick at the corpse of the social ills addressed in the 'sermon' (and we were reminded of the special afternoon service again)! Then with the 'important' bits done (at last) the post communion element appeared and then blessed we were sent out.

Leaving, I noticed the Paschal Candle was still burning (Actually it was the only candle left lit). For some reason I now question I asked why it was lit (perhaps there was a baptism to follow). The response, "We always light all the candles at every service." Aaaargh!

Is it any wonder that the Church of England appears to struggle so much when there are clergy who put aside the Gospel and provide in its place things secular such as I experienced?

If we lose sight of Jesus the Christ, the Eucharist and the reconciliation to God that these speak of, then what do we have?

The answer (sadly): A diminishing body of people!