This Month's Pastoral Letter

Towards a mended society

It is widely accepted that we live in a ‘broken society’. Lots of people are trying to find out what has gone wrong and come up with solutions. One idea, that is getting a lot of attention at the moment, is the government’s proposal for ‘Big Society’, based around social responsibility and community action. The government wants to give citizens, communities and local government the power and information they need to come together, solve the problems they face and build the Britain they want. They believe that only when people and communities are given more power and take more responsibility can they achieve fairness and opportunity for all.
This sounds great, but there are just as many people totally opposed to it: “The effect will be a more troubled and diminished society, not a bigger one.” “The sink or swim society is upon us, and woe betide the poor, the frail, the old, the sick and the dependent.” So, it remains to be seen whether this grand idea improves things or not, or, indeed, whether anything actually happens.

Some 4000 years ago, God gave His people some rules of how to live together in a harmonious and supporting society. Most people have heard of them; the Ten Commandments, God’s basic instructions for our lives that, when followed, help us live in freedom every day. These core principles are designed to equip and guide us through life, keeping us on the right path, and helping us navigate through the tough times. But are they really relevant to us today?

Throughout the autumn, along with most of the churches in Leamington, we will be using the just10 series to look at the Commandments, to understand them and what they mean to us as Christians in the wider society of 21st century Britain. Each Sunday morning, we will look at one of them, starting with number 10 and working backwards to number 1. We will do the same in the Home Groups, but taking more time to look at each commandment in greater detail.

This is an excellent opportunity for each of us to refresh our understanding of this important teaching about how to live our lives. But it is also a way for us to share with friends and neighbours how faith in God, through Christianity, can change people and so repair society.

The details of the Home Groups are on here. As well as joining one of the groups yourself, why not think who you could invite to come with you to one of the services or one of the Home Group meetings.

Paul Newton