Page 30 - Summer 2016 Contact issue 38

Elder’s Article
The new Children’s Hospital in Dublin will be
a great asset for children with rare and serious
conditions throughout this island. I have been involved
for some time in its development and so, like many
others, I was pleased to hear recently that planning
permission has been granted for building to
commence. However, I was also struck by the
comment of the leader of one of the groups which
had argued strongly against the chosen location.
He is quoted as saying that the decision should now
be accepted: “We’ve made our point. We’ve done
our best … and now we’ve got to move on.”
It seems to me that this is also where we need to be
as a congregation in relation to our building project.
Although there was a 3:1 majority in favour, we need
to recognise the valid concerns expressed by those who
have not felt able to support the proposal up to this
point. Indeed, as those called by God to leadership in
this part of His vineyard, we want to hear those
concerns where they relate to the detail of the
proposal so that it can be refined and improved
over the coming weeks.
However, nothing would please the devil more than
for this to become a source of disunity among us. That
is never God’s will. Indeed, as Psalm 133 makes clear,
God’s blessing is linked with His people demonstrating
unity in their life together: “How good and
pleasant it is when God’s people live together
in unity! For there the Lord bestows His blessing,
even life forevermore”. (Psalm 133:1, 4)
Unity is a wonderful word. Since I first heard it many
years ago I have loved Ruth Patterson’s description
of unity as ‘diversity embraced by love’. We do not
have to always see eye to eye or agree with each other,
but the Word of God makes it abundantly clear that
all disciples of the Lord Jesus are expected to actively
build and maintain unity with their brothers and
sisters, whatever the non-essential issues on which we
may disagree from time to time. This is only possible
through the Holy Spirit and the work of regeneration
taking place in every believer, as we allow God’s love
to become more and more evident in our lives and in
our relationships with each other.
The writer to the Hebrews puts it in a very clear
and practical way: “Keep on loving one another
as brothers and sisters. Have confidence in your
leaders and submit to their authority, because
they keep watch over you as those who must
give an account. Do this so that their work will
be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no
benefit to you”. (Hebrews 13:1, 17)
As we continue to seek God’s direction and provision
in all of our life and work as a fellowship, including
the building project, let us each commit to putting
these biblical imperatives into practice. A proper
decision has been made with a clear majority, so now
is the right time to honour our Presbyterian system
of congregational governance by joining in unity with
our minister and other leaders to ensure that the
project can begin as soon as possible. Our request
to every member is to become actively involved by
prayerfully considering what practical steps you will
take in joyful contribution, including financial
sacrifice. Let’s demonstrate through this that we
really believe that investing for the Kingdom of
God is a privilege as well as a proper response to the
amazing grace that has provided our salvation and
so much more.
As we demonstrate our love for each other through
unity in our diversity, God will bestow His blessing.
Not only that, and even more importantly, others will
be drawn to experience divine love for themselves as
they see it embodied in our lives, both individually
and together. Those who do so will join with us, and
the angels in heaven, in giving thanks to our God and
King for His love which does indeed endure for ever.
John Jenkins