The World Parish – A Moving Temple
John Wesley has a few very famous quotes, and perhaps one of the most famous is this from his journal: "I look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation."
We've spoken this week about the importance of people in the Christian life – how we are called not be lone ranger Christians, but community people, meeting with others and serving others in Jesus' name. But let's not forget that this is not just about going to church. It's about taking church with you wherever you go.
Beyond Church Buildings
Somehow, over the years, the people of God have gotten the idea of church a little wrong. We associate church with the place that we meet for our society gatherings, our class meetings, our band meetings. And so we talk about "going to church", and this is certainly not the way that the New Testament understands that word. Instead, we are to be the church wherever we may be.
Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3:16, said this: "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" We are church. And Wesley said it so well, that all the world is his parish, his church – wherever he goes, he sees it as his great duty to declare to all the message of salvation.
The Sacred in the Everyday
Now, for Wesley, this meant something particular. In those times, the church building was seen as sacred, and Anglican preachers weren't permitted to preach outside. But Wesley, in the early days of Methodism, was being banned from Anglican churches because of his message of salvation by faith. And so eventually he rebelled against the rule of the church, said that the world was his parish, and began preaching in fields, on street corners, and anywhere he could.
Maybe you're a preacher, and God is calling you to go and tell the world of Jesus – not in church, but in all sorts of other places. Or maybe you're not a preacher, but God is calling you to show Jesus to the world in your actions. It always makes me shake my head when people get nervous about swearing or doing something sinful in church! As if the location makes the action more sinful! But if all the world is our church, then we should be living with a sense of the sacred presence of God everywhere, and we should be spreading His word and telling of His glory and love everywhere.
So, is the world your parish, your church? Is your home your church? Your office? Your car? The shops? The theatre? Restaurants, sports grounds, halls? Is the whole world church to you?
Don't go to church this weekend. Gather with your society, yes, and then be the church wherever you find yourself, and like Wesley, consider the whole world to be your church.
May God use you richly, to spread His love and grace, wherever you find yourself.
