AN UGLY WALL IN A STIRLING CHURCH - CROSS PURPOSES 137
AN UGLY WALL IN A STIRLING CHURCH
I recently read a sermon by a chap called Roger Lovette. He begins this sermon (Pulpit Resource September 14, 2008) by recounting an experience in a Scottish church.
“I remembered something that happened to me in Stirling, Scotland several years ago. Stirling is northeast of Edinburgh and is the gateway to the Scottish highlands. This is where Robert the Bruce fought to gain Scotland’s independence in 1314. The movie Braveheart told that story. It is a beautiful city dominated by a wonderful castle high on a hill overlooking the whole city. Near the castle is the Church of the Holy Rude. In case you’re wondering Holy Rude was a medieval term for the Cross of Christ’s crucifixion. This church dates back to the 12th century. The present building was constructed in the 15th century. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned there in 1543. Prince Henry was christened in this church in 1594. James VI was crowned king in that room. As we stood in the sanctuary the guide said: “Do you see the brick line in there?” He pointed to a line from floor to ceiling right down the middle sides of the church. “This was one our most painful stories. During the turbulent 17th century when there were so many religious and political troubles, the congregation was split into factions. An extreme and bigoted Presbyterian pastor, James Guthrie, refused to accept his more moderate colleague. After trying to resolve the conflict for a long time, the town council finally solved the problem by building a wall across the church between the west pillars of the crossing. They did this in 1656. One church became two separate churches, the east and the west. They worshipped back to back from 1656 until 1936. One altar was at one end of the church and a second altar at the other end. In 1936 the wall was removed and the church was reunited. But for 280 years they worshipped in a divided manner.”
Sad, sad, sad tale! Lovette goes on the apply it to the church at large in its human words and ways, its pettiness and its worldliness. And that is entirely appropriate. I’ve another application too.
A PARABLE OF THE HUMAN HEART.
Psalm 86:11 has a great insight into the human heart.
“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.”
That verse was written by someone who knew what it was to have a divided heart. On the one side seek to glorify God, on the other to glorify self. A wall where there should not be a wall at all. Rebellion in one part, worship in the other. Integrity on one side, dishonesty in the other. Truth celebrated here and lies propounded there! A whining little boy here and a champion for Christ there. A scheming little girl sometimes and a gracious adult woman at others. The two exist side by side, walled off from each other. This is the human dilemma, the human reality, sharpened to the point of pain by guilt and shame by the coming of Jesus Christ into our hearts and lives. We’re not stuck with this, thank God. In the blood of Christ all walls come down. (Eph 2:14) Or as Paul says so beautifully about Jesus Christ in Colossians, “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his beloved Son, (1:13)… and in him all things hold together, (1:17)!
There’s the miracle you know. It is only in Christ that the prayer of David, prayed for all humanity, finds its answer. Jesus the Messiah lived before the Father with an undivided heart, refusing to be diverted by satan in the wilderness, by aggressive/defensive threatened Jewish leaders, by thick disciples, by suffering in the garden, or at any point in-between. He goes to the place of sacrifice “whole-heartedly”.
And through the victory of the resurrection his undivided heart is given to you and me.
And the walls come tumbling down.
Be Blessed
Fred
I recently read a sermon by a chap called Roger Lovette. He begins this sermon (Pulpit Resource September 14, 2008) by recounting an experience in a Scottish church.
“I remembered something that happened to me in Stirling, Scotland several years ago. Stirling is northeast of Edinburgh and is the gateway to the Scottish highlands. This is where Robert the Bruce fought to gain Scotland’s independence in 1314. The movie Braveheart told that story. It is a beautiful city dominated by a wonderful castle high on a hill overlooking the whole city. Near the castle is the Church of the Holy Rude. In case you’re wondering Holy Rude was a medieval term for the Cross of Christ’s crucifixion. This church dates back to the 12th century. The present building was constructed in the 15th century. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned there in 1543. Prince Henry was christened in this church in 1594. James VI was crowned king in that room. As we stood in the sanctuary the guide said: “Do you see the brick line in there?” He pointed to a line from floor to ceiling right down the middle sides of the church. “This was one our most painful stories. During the turbulent 17th century when there were so many religious and political troubles, the congregation was split into factions. An extreme and bigoted Presbyterian pastor, James Guthrie, refused to accept his more moderate colleague. After trying to resolve the conflict for a long time, the town council finally solved the problem by building a wall across the church between the west pillars of the crossing. They did this in 1656. One church became two separate churches, the east and the west. They worshipped back to back from 1656 until 1936. One altar was at one end of the church and a second altar at the other end. In 1936 the wall was removed and the church was reunited. But for 280 years they worshipped in a divided manner.”
Sad, sad, sad tale! Lovette goes on the apply it to the church at large in its human words and ways, its pettiness and its worldliness. And that is entirely appropriate. I’ve another application too.
A PARABLE OF THE HUMAN HEART.
Psalm 86:11 has a great insight into the human heart.
“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.”
That verse was written by someone who knew what it was to have a divided heart. On the one side seek to glorify God, on the other to glorify self. A wall where there should not be a wall at all. Rebellion in one part, worship in the other. Integrity on one side, dishonesty in the other. Truth celebrated here and lies propounded there! A whining little boy here and a champion for Christ there. A scheming little girl sometimes and a gracious adult woman at others. The two exist side by side, walled off from each other. This is the human dilemma, the human reality, sharpened to the point of pain by guilt and shame by the coming of Jesus Christ into our hearts and lives. We’re not stuck with this, thank God. In the blood of Christ all walls come down. (Eph 2:14) Or as Paul says so beautifully about Jesus Christ in Colossians, “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his beloved Son, (1:13)… and in him all things hold together, (1:17)!
There’s the miracle you know. It is only in Christ that the prayer of David, prayed for all humanity, finds its answer. Jesus the Messiah lived before the Father with an undivided heart, refusing to be diverted by satan in the wilderness, by aggressive/defensive threatened Jewish leaders, by thick disciples, by suffering in the garden, or at any point in-between. He goes to the place of sacrifice “whole-heartedly”.
And through the victory of the resurrection his undivided heart is given to you and me.
And the walls come tumbling down.
Be Blessed
Fred
posted by PastorFredVeerhuis at 7:35 PM
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