BBC Northwest Tonight: The Inclusive Church

Yesterday, Northwest Tonight ran a headline featuring St James' Church in Didsbury, Manchester. The BBC reports that this fellowship, along with its ‘sister church Emmanuel, has formally become an inclusive church - embracing everyone, regardless of gender, race, disability or sexuality.’

This change took place, we’re told, on account of the tragic suicide of 14-year-old Lizzie who ‘took her own life because she did not believe she would be accepted at her church as a gay Christian.’ My heart goes out to this girl and the loved ones she left behind. Here, though, are my observations:

• The report said the church now welcomes all people regardless of race, orientation or wealth. What was it doing before? Why did it take the death of a young lass to elicit this change? The gospel is already ‘inclusive’. All people are welcome to hear it and respond.  
• Our culture has allowed us to be categorised by our sexual inclinations. I wouldn’t want to be known as either a pea-eater or a non-pea eater. I’m more than a vegetarian or a carnivore. I’m more than the things my body desires. This church now seemingly endorses this cultural categorisation.
• Accepting people doesn’t mean we have to approve of what they do or what they desire. I don’t approve of over-weight people eating too much, but neither will I stop loving them nor deny their right to eat what they wish. I’ve met people attracted to animals, and children, and I can love them, but they will never receive my approval if they yield to their desires. Simply having a natural attraction, genuine though it is, does not confirm it is God’s plan for us to act upon it.
• We shouldn’t base our theology on circumstances, no matter how tragic. I know someone who hanged himself because his business went bankrupt. This is not a valid reason to ban money. Our theology should be based upon God’s word, the Bible, which we lovingly but honestly apply. 
• One gay man in the congregation said how nice it is to finally be “accepted for who I am”. But he has missed the point. God does not accept us for who we are, He accepts us despite who we are. I’m accepted because of Christ. And when I accept Him, He begins to change me, making me more like Him.

Rather than simply making itself more approachable, St James’ pendulum has swung the other way, and it hosted its own Pride event. 25 church members left, rightly fearing the consequences of being shown on TV as the intolerant brigade. Presumably, they don’t consider the church inclusive when it comes to accommodating their beliefs. When the vicar, Nick Bundock, was challenged by the reporter as to how he can discard 2000 years of Christian teaching, he responded

“We’re not in the realms of…theology here, we’re in the realms of child protection”.

The reverend gentleman has missed a trick here. He should be busy protecting children without throwing away ‘the faith once committed to the saints’. Whilst reacting to one tragedy, he has created a second. The Church should be a prophetic voice to the nation, not just the spiritual voice of the nation. 

Image by Dr StClaire from Pixabay