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"Well done good and faithful servant — enter into the joy of your master."

One of the images that I like to use when describing the Christian experience is that of a journey. Although this is my own personal experience, it is more than just an experiential theology based on the understanding that there is more to faith than conversion. As one reads the Scriptures, there is an overwhelming development of the sense of movement from an immature to a mature faith. Conversion is part of the steps of the journey, but neither the beginning nor the end. A focus on conversion, can lead to many problems, if not in the least a judgemental attitude to others.

Perhaps we should start by defining conversion. This contains in it the idea of change of direction which I spoke about last week and is the focus of the Baptism service. Conversion is about making the choices we rehearse in the baptism service — Turning to Christ, repenting of your sins, rejecting selfish living and all that is false and unjust and renouncing Satan and all evil. These are clear choices and each of us must make them, but there is a danger, that having made them, we can see ourselves as superior to those who haven’t or indeed see ourselves as having completed all the necessities for the task.

In former times, Louise and I were involved with the Presbyterian Fellowship and in particular with their camping programme for the teenagers. They were very serious about their faith, and would have guest speakers on the camps, who would put forward the claims of Christ and then call for a response — a conversion. Many young people did make commitments to Christ, but as they returned to these camps year after year, they soon developed the attitude, that they had heard it all before, and rather than growing as Christians, they developed the attitude that they had already arrived. In our time, we encouraged a change of emphasis — not that we would cease to proclaim the claims of Christ, but with these we would add the expectations on a Christian. Perhaps answering the question - "How then should we live?"

But is not only youth progammes that run this risk. I have heard preachers who in every sermon give an altar call, even when the church is full of only believers, and even have a colleague who does so at funerals.

In contrast the journey motif has the tendency to explain faith as an ongoing commitment — indeed this resonates with the Gospel readings for last week (the wise and foolish virgins), this week (the talents) and previewing next week (the story of the sheep and the goats). In all three which come at the end of Jesus teaching, we find dire warning of the possibility of missing out, and how our behaviour (post conversion) will determine whether the gate to the kingdom is found open or closed. This thought is also picked up in the epistle reading, where Paul warns his readers at Thessalonica not become complacent.

Now this is not a sudden shift in the teaching of Christianity to the idea that it is behaviour that will make you and I a Christian but Jesus is emphasising in his last teaching, that the choice to become a disciple will be reflected in the on-going behaviour. This is not so much according to rules and regulations, but rather according to the inner character of the disciple.

Now you will note, that earlier I carefully described conversion as neither the beginning nor the end point of faith. I am a firm believer that there will be a point in our lives at which we make a definite decision to follow Christ. But those with the luxury of time to reflect on their faith journey will often find that God has worked in their life prior to this time. The theologians describe this with the wonderful term — prevenient grace. This is graciousness of God, walking with us even before we recognise his hand upon our lives or accept his calling.

It is important to me, and I hope to you, that we develop this understanding, that God is at work on all people. Indeed there is that very real sense that evangelism is our acting as an agent for God in the lives of others. When we start to see people not in terms of being saved or not saved but rather as people on the journey we open ourselves up to possibilities for evangelism. The more that I work in this job, the more that I discover that God is at work in the most unlikely people. If a person is on the journey, then it is the final destination and not their current point that is important. I am not a universalist, in the sense that all will be saved, but I am in the sense that all can be saved. There is not one person who is beyond the reach of God’s salvation.

Why is this important? Well it effects how you and I perceive others. To believe that any individual may be on the journey to faith, means that you and I should have a respect for them and help them on with the next steps. Paul in Romans describes the miracle, that while we were still sinners — Christ died for us. When we emulate him, we will show that same sacrificial love for not only those brothers and sister with whom we share our faith week by week, but with those who stand outside and look on.

This I think is the strength of a church that is Parish based. I am the Priest for all who call themselves Anglican, and I have a duty of care to all of them, not just to those who we can neatly categorise as belonging.

And what I do in my role as a priest, is definitive of the role of the church in the world. We all have a duty of care to our community whether the faith is strong, weak, invisible or non-existent. We are all called to be a people reaching out to others and sharing the journey with them. Few people are actually antagonistic to God — more often they are apathetic, because they cannot see the importance of God at this time and do not know what it means to work out a belief in practice.

We have unprecedented opportunities to draw in others as they come for baptisms or weddings, or for what ever reason they appear at Christmas. Do not get me wrong here. I am not preaching about this because this not a welcoming church — I think we have so much going for us in this area. Why I am concerned to preach about this is that every now and then, we have to be reminded to focus our attention outwards towards the outsider. This is the very reason we are here in this place. Let us then look outwards. Take a moment now and think of the outsiders whose faith journey is beginning. How can we build bridges to them? How can we walk beside them and draw them to God?

Christmas is a wonderful time, because many people are drawn through our doors by the wonder of the season. This is God’s opportunity, for us to reach out. Let us not withdraw from the opportunity to use our talents in this task and let us see with Joy new people on this walk towards God.

One last thing — often the only guidebook people have to God is ourselves — A question that is worth periodic reflection: Am I are good guide for others to find Jesus?

AMEN.