Deeper shade of grey | lost themes 5

Lost themes of mission… Agape

C

atherine Booth – writing in an era of wanton nominalism and ‘run wild’ philanthropy talks of ’sham compassion’ and ’spurious charity’. Her use of words 120 odd years ago has had me ruminating over what ’spurious charity’ might look like.

Mission surely is more than just an act of charity, or perhaps something is lost in the nuance of the contemporary use of both words - mission and charity? Caritas in the vulgate is translated from Agape love (1 Co 13:13). Agape speaks of unconditional love an attribute God’s own heart, a kingdom value. Agape speaks of a love that exceeds passion, friendship and benevolence. Agape speaks of a love that goes beyond self yet is more than an unselfish feeling. Agape speaks of a love that acts. Agape speaks of a love that loves unlovables. Charity - or mission for that matter - without agape certainly is spurious!

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Deeper shade of grey | 11 across

T

he advantage of Salvation Army uniform is that it draws questions. Kate and I rushed out at lunch time to the supermarket to get some food for the house. I went for the bread and was aware of the member of staff bearing down on me.

As our trolleys pass in the bread aisle he fires a broadside! “Salvation Army?”

“Yes!”

“Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

I pump myself up. He’s an older guy - perhaps wanting to find out more about how faith can impact his life; perhaps searching for something that has been missing in his life; perhaps some deep regret eating away at his sense of peace. I - resplendent in my uniform - am in the right place and the right time for him.

“Sure” I look expectantly.

“Who is the General of The Salvation Army?”

Not the question I was expecting - nevertheless I am able to give him the answer to 11 across in the crossword puzzle he was doing.

He goes away happy! Whistling.

Deeper shade of grey appears every Wednesday on theRubicon. Find past posts and a bio of Capt. Gordon Cotterill here.

Deeper shade of grey | Faith House 7

Another periodic update from Faith House

F

rank is only three years older than me but looks like he is nearer to 60. Drink in his life has taken its toll and he knows it. Frank is one of the miracles of Faith House, when he first arrived, apparently he was all you would expect from an alcoholic whose life was drink and sleeping on the street.

I ask about his training … “they stopped me in case I cut myself!”

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Deeper shade of grey | gangster

I’ll be worse when I die

I

t was interesting to sit with Jadin last night. He is from the Peckham area where to survive on the streets you have to have the right persona. He did his gangster walk/skip towards me - the walk that supposed to indicate some kind of gunshot wound; scowled; did that sucking ‘cha’ kind of sound to indicate respect for no one but himself; with 100% diffidence he sat down horizontally, legs splayed, his whole body language screaming out “as if I care what you think…!”.

Jadin = attitude.

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Deeper shade of grey | I met Jesus

… his stumpy nicotine smile

I

saw him again as I drove through the district of our last appointment and my mind raced back….

“Someone to see you.” Our afternoon service was soon to start. I took a quick look before he saw me… he seemed familiar. As I walked towards him I was sure I knew him: “hello… how can we help?” The guy needed a food parcel.

“No problem… do I know you?” 
 He looked up, “no… never been in here before”. I persisted, “Are you sure - you look familiar…”

He smiled - “Well they say I look like my father”.

“And do I know your father…?” 
 He smiled again, this time revealing a stumpy, nicotine-stained set of teeth. “Oh yes, you know him!”

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Deeper shade of grey | confusion

Are you enlightened?

A

s I waited for the bus to make my journey to Faith House I thought of Dan. I hoped he would be there. I met Dan for the first time last week and had quite a conversation. 
 It started when Dan asked me if I was a Christian and then proceeded to tell me that he had never met a Christian who was enlightened. I have to admit that the next hour and a half was heavy stuff!

He explains his concept of entering the ‘gap’; of techniques, methods of meditation; his desire to achieve this enlightenment.

“Dan if you are talking about fulfillment, peace, purpose I’ve found it.” 
 Dan’s eyes widen in excitement - “what’s your technique?” 
 His disappointment was almost palpable as I said “Look I’m not trying to evangelise you but, I found it in the life and purpose of Jesus and in the hope that is mine through that life and discovering my own purpose.”

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Deeper shade of grey | beggars belief

Spare change

I

don’t usually give to beggars but this guy was different. 
 With a begging Costa coffee cup strategically held, he went through his begging patter to the rest of the carriage as the underground train bounced and lurched along a tunnel somewhere under Tooting. He was genuinely funny - he made me smile. He made us all smile. The guy to my right reached into his pocket and gave him a £10 note!

Feeling somewhat inadequate to the precedent I reach into my pocket, I feel through the change for a £1 and drop it discreetly into his cup. 
 The moment of comedy changes. He looks disgusted. I feel tightfisted. He looks into the cup and back at me. I shift uncomfortably under the glare of fellow travellers. He adjusts his sellotaped glasses, scratches his head through an old football beanie, looks at me again and speaks. 
 ”Cheers mate - that’s in my bloody coffee”.

He jumps off the train at the next stop. Turns round and winks at me and we all laugh before disappearing into the reading of our choice. 
 I love London!

Deeper shade of grey appears every Wednesday on theRubicon. Find past posts and a bio of Capt. Gordon Cotterill here.

Deeper shade of grey | lost themes 4

Lost themes of mission… Jubilee

Bruggemann (2002 Reverberations of Faith: A Theological Handbook of Old Testament Themes) draws attention to the biblical concept of Jubilee, a radical ethical-economic practice sanctioned for Israel to curb greed, exploitation and the whole rapaciousness of society where the rich get richer at the expense of the poor. The general idea was that every fifty years the people were to: release all debts; set slaves free; let the lands lie fallow and lands were to be returned to their original (and rightful) owners.This certainly sounds like good news to the poor. Disappointing then that Old Testament scholars suggest that it never actually happened. I was disappointed but found myself drawn to what was however God’s intention for humanity.

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Deeper shade of grey | ordination

Where has the debate gone?

I

t seems interesting to me that within TSA we are keen to maintain a certain line that causes frequent periodic debate when it comes to our non-sacramental stand with regards to baptism and communion. Battle lines drawn between those that both argue that ‘to’ or ‘not to’ is essential to our essence of church.

I’m not sure if I have come across the same rigour of debate with similar issues. While the more contemporary sacramental debate seems more black and white - it is interesting that the whole emphasis of ordination of officers doesn’t receive the same intensity of attention.

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Deeper shade of grey | gizzard gulp

culinary mysteries

M

y first mistake was eating it, my second asking what it was, my third mistake was looking what I had eaten up in the dictionary.

I love multi-cultural diversity! The richness of the ‘lack of sameness’ is refreshing. I’m learning the importance of accepting hospitality as part of cultural exchange.

I only popped by to drop something off to Ade - I knew I would be offered something to honour my visit but nothing really prepared me for what I was about to receive. “Please have some pepper soup.”,

“Thank you” I reply, relieved - I’d just eaten at home… soup would be fine.

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