Phillip North, the Anglican Bishop of Blackburn, has responded to this by outlining the preparation that is required by anyone wishing to join the Church of England. But of more significance was his argument that no matter how faithful someone might have been in their church attendance and their willingness to take vows of membership it is impossible to look into their souls to ascertain where they actually stand with Jesus Christ. In the end the granting of asylum is the responsibility of government and not the Church.
This is exactly what was going through my mind. I am not the only minister who has seen people through preparation for membership, heard them take vows of membership before God and a congregation, only to see them disappear like the proverbial snow off a dyke, usually when the wedding or baptism has taken place, or the first flush of enthusiasm has died. I never found it easy just to mentally shrug my shoulders with a some you win some you lose attitude. Questions arise as to how we do things in the Church. Have we reduced membership to the level of any other club or organisation when Jesus made it clear that discipleship involved first and foremost
Commitment to Him and the taking up of a cross?
But it’s the Bishop’s point that stands. We cannot look into people’s souls to ascertain where people stand with Jesus Christ. Jesus warns us against passing judgment on people’s eternal souls and taking precipitate action against those who may raise questions in our minds with regard to their commitment. He told a story about a farmer who sowed wheat which an enemy tried to spoil by sowing weeds. The farm hands wanted to pull up the weeds, but the farmer refused. Even more damage could be done to the crop. ‘Let both grow together until the harvest.’ (Matthew 13: 24-30)
That is a challenge to us all. But as with many things, when we find ourselves reacting against others in the Church, how do we look from the perspective of eternity, in the eyes of the only One who looks into our depths?
