A sermon for Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church
14 April 2024
This week Liz and I went to the National Theatre to see the amazing play ‘Nye’,
which tells the story of Nye Bevan,
the boy from the Valleys of South Wales
who became the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
in the post-war Labour government,
and spearheaded the creation of the National Health Service.
It’s not a spoiler to the plot of the play to say that he succeeded,
and I don’t think it’s a spoiler to tell one further anecdote from the play.
When he is sitting with his father,
who is dying of lung disease caused by inhaling coal dust,
Nye Bevan promises to look after ‘everyone’,
and at the end of the play,
after he has got the National Health Service Act passed through Parliament,
he looks out at the audience and asks the question:
‘Did I look after everyone?’
It’s a powerful moment,
and it raises the question that every society has to grapple with,
from the first to the twenty first centuries,
of what to do about those who are sick.
How are we to respond, financially, practically, compassionately,
to the reality of human frailty and mortality?
This question is also at the heart of our reading today,
and in our reflection on this passage from Acts,
I’d like us to think about the transformative power of faith,
and its relevance to our lives in the modern world. [1]
Let's journey back to a time
when narratives shaped people's understanding of the world,
and the story of a nameless, marginalized beggar
unfolds at the entrance of the Temple.
We don't know this person’s name, gender, age, or even nationality,
but what we do know is that they were a child of God,
living with a crippling disability
and relying on the kindness of others for daily sustenance.
This is someone whose life is defined by disempowerment,
by reliance on others, and by a lack of agency to take their own decisions.
But on this particular day,
their life would be forever changed.
Enter Peter and John,
two disciples whose lives had only recently been turned upside down
through their encounter with the risen Christ,
and whose response to this
had been to root themselves in prayer and devotion to God.
In their encounter with the person begging by the temple gate,
they demonstrate the power of healing through the name of Jesus Christ,
offering the beggar a precious gift that transcends material wealth.
Peter and John, not possessing money to give,
offer something far more valuable -
they give the beggar at the gate a gift of healing,
one that serves as a beacon of hope
for all who seek solace in the power of faith.
This story is a testament to the profound impact
that faith can have in a person’s life, both then and now.
We live in a world where many people, myself included,
struggle to believe in the miracles of healing
performed in the name of Jesus Christ.
In our world healing, for most of us,
takes place in our lives through medical care,
through Nye Bevan’s health service.
Yet, friends, the healing power of faith
is not bound by time, space, or the confines of the material world.
These stories cannot be consigned to some pre-enlightenment society
and dismissed as inconsequential for us today.
Because the healing power of faith transcends the barriers of time and place,
reaching into our world, too.
I do very much think that in our 21st century church,
we must remain open to the work of the Holy Spirit
and acknowledge the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives.
Our faith in God is not merely a metaphor,
and neither is our belief that Jesus is with us by his Spirit
in ways that bring healing and wholeness to the world.
The way in which we frame that conviction, of course,
will be a product of our time,
just as the way it was framed for Peter and John
was a product of their time.
Disability takes many forms, as does healing.
And we need to tread carefully when we speak of such things.
The social model of disability is a conceptual framework
that shifts the focus from viewing disability as an individual's limitation,
to understanding it as a societal issue.
It recognizes that disability is not inherent in the person
but is a result of barriers and exclusion
present in the environment, attitudes, and structures of society.
We need to keep alert to the difference between impairment and disability,
and the social model distinguishes between impairment,
which refers to the physical, sensory,
or cognitive difference in an individual;
and disability, which is the disadvantage or restriction imposed by society
due to the lack of inclusion and accessibility.
This means that it becomes a communal responsibility
to remove barriers and adjust structures
to enable full participation of individuals with impairments.
This includes, for example,
providing accessible public spaces, transportation, and services.
The reason I’m drawn to the social model
is that it promotes the empowerment and self-determination
of people with disabilities,
by actively involving them in decision-making processes
that affect their lives,
seeking to challenge negative attitudes, stereotypes, and prejudices
that contribute to the marginalization of people with disabilities.
It also encourages collaboration
among people with disabilities, their allies, and various organizations
to work towards an inclusive and barrier-free society.
So healing, in a contemporary context,
for a person with a physical impairment,
may not be the removal of that impairment itself,
but rather the removal of the obstacles to full inclusion
within the communities that they are a part of.
But thinking more broadly for a moment than simply physical disability,
a person may suffer from psychological and spiritual impairments,
from misaligned faith or spiritual poverty.
These too can be mechanisms of exclusion,
disabling in their outworking.
For such a person,
healing might begin with the recognition of their own vulnerabilities,
and the understanding that true identity and fulfilment
come from the unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ,
rather than from say, material wealth or worldly success.
Sometimes, freeing a person from their addictions
can be the great act of healing that they need.
We can learn here from the example set by Peter and John,
listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit,
addressing our own need for spiritual healing,
and offering comfort and hope to those in need.
By doing so, we build a strong foundation for our faith,
and create a community of faith
within which healing and wholeness can flourish,
as people experience the transformative healing
that flows from a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Together, as a community of believers,
we can support one another on our journey
toward a deeper, more meaningful faith,
and extend this healing grace to the world around us.
So let’s look a little more closely to the story of the beggar
sitting at the entrance of the Temple, known as the "Beautiful Gate."
Reserved for esteemed visitors,
this gate provides a backdrop for the profound interaction
between the beggar and two disciples, Peter and John.
It is at this gate that the beggar, marginalized and in need,
musters the courage to ask for help.
The beggar's initiative to engage with Peter and John
challenges us to reflect on our own interactions
with those who are less fortunate.
How often have we encountered individuals in need
and simply offered a quick fix, a temporary solution
that fails to address the root cause of their struggle?
As Christians, we must recognize that our ministry extends
beyond momentary acts of charity;
we are called to pray and work for lasting healing
and to empower individuals to reach their full potential.
Christian charity can all too easily become ‘toxic’,
where our desire to meet another person’s needs
ends up perpetuating their dependence,
rather than procuring their liberation.
It’s not for nothing that the golden rule of community organising
is to never do for someone else
what they have the capacity to do for themselves.
Our calling in the face of need is not to engage in charity,
so much as it is to build capacity
and create a context within which the person’s physical, social, economic,
psychological, or emotional impairment
ceases to disable them from full participation in society.
In the case of the nameless beggar,
Peter and John do not simply offer a handout;
they respond with the healing power of faith.
The beggar, once crippled and dependent on others,
experiences a profound transformation
and is now able to "walk, leap, and praise God" (Acts 3:8).
This miraculous moment of healing
not only restores physical health
but also revitalizes the beggar's spirit,
enabling them to engage fully in the world around them.
So too then, we are called to emulate
the profound compassion and faith demonstrated by Peter and John.
We must remain present and engaged
in our ministerial, evangelical, missional,
and transformational calling to the world.
As we encounter those in need,
let us remember to offer not only material assistance
but also prayers for healing, guidance,
and the strength to overcome adversity.
It’s our calling to build a community
that reflects the transformative love and grace of God,
where those excluded by others
are included in the name of Christ,
where those disabled by society
are enabled by the Spirit of the Living God through the body of Christ
By addressing the exclusions faced by those who are marginalized,
and through empowering them to rise up
and enter into their full capacity for life,
we create a lasting impact
that extends far beyond momentary acts of charity.
Just as Peter and John displayed unwavering faith
and compassionate ministry so many centuries ago,
so too we can create a world that is more loving, more inclusive,
and more reflective of the divine presence that unites us all.
So, we must ask ourselves:
How can we, as a church community,
address the pressing issues of our time
and ensure that our ministry practices
extend beyond mere charity?
The world today faces numerous challenges
relating to health and wellbeing,
from unequal access to healthcare services,
particularly in low-income and underserved communities;
to the rise in non-communicable diseases
such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer;
to increasingly prevalent mental health issues
with a growing need for improved awareness, prevention, and treatment;
to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases;
to the world's aging population;
to a global shortage of healthcare workers;
to environmental factors such as climate change and pollution.
Addressing these challenges requires collaborative efforts
from governments, healthcare organizations, and communities worldwide
to develop innovative solutions and promote health equity.
And the mission of the church is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ by all means,
including healthcare and social justice initiatives.
This is why Christian Aid, who we have long supported here at Bloomsbury,
put so much emphasis on health and wellbeing
in the work that they do around the globe.
We will be welcoming a guest speaker from Christian Aid in a few weeks,
and I’m sure they will tell of how, in the name of Jesus and on our behalf,
they are bringing healing and wholeness
to people trapped in disease and disability.
However, we must acknowledge
that the church has sometimes fallen short of its calling
to be a transformative and healing presence in the world.
And so I wonder about the potential for ministry
that this story from the book of Acts presents us with.
What would it mean for us to consider the profound connection
between prayer and healing,
and to take seriously how our prayers
can inspire us to take action in the face of adversity.
I think it is true that when we open our hearts, minds, and eyes
to the possibilities of healing,
we become better equipped to serve those in need,
and to create lasting change in their lives and our own lives.
It is crucial that we, as a Christian community of faithful people,
continue to address the systemic inequalities
that contribute to the suffering of marginalized populations.
We must speak out against the unjust distribution of resources
and advocate for the rights and wellbeing of all people,
regardless of their socioeconomic status.
People of colour, and people of low socio-economic background
have, statistically speaking, worse health outcomes.
Marginalisation, racism, and poverty
are literally killing people in our country, and in our city.
By taking prayerful action to address these,
we honour the legacy of Peter and John,
who, through their faith and compassion,
healed the crippled beggar at the Beautiful Gate.
This powerful narrative is a call to action,
for us to embrace the healing power of prayer,
and allow it to guide us as we work
to create a more just, equitable, and compassionate world.
Together, we can ensure that our Christian ministry
extends beyond charity
and fosters true transformation
and renewal in the lives of those we serve.
In closing, I think we need to note a duality present in this story.
On one hand, we witness the incredible healing power of faith and compassion,
as demonstrated by Peter and John.
On the other hand, we are confronted with a critique of the modern church,
which often neglects its missional calling to serve and bring healing
to those on the margins of society.
Today, many churches have retreated to the affluent suburbs,
inadvertently leaving behind the very people who need them most.
Yet it is surely to the deprived areas that we are called,
areas home to the marginalized and vulnerable
to immigrants, widows, orphans,
the abused, drug addicts, the elderly,
and yes, to those who beg, to those who are homeless
we are called to those
who long for a message of hope and authentic living.
As a church in the city centre,
we have to be alert to the needs on our doorstep,
and to the injustices experienced by those who come through our doors.
The story of the healing at the beautiful gate
challenges us to question our role as a church in the 21st century.
Are we truly attentive to the needs of the sick and suffering?
Do we view all people as beloved children of God,
deserving of love, respect, and equal treatment?
These are crucial questions that demand our attention and reflection.
As a liberal and inclusive church,
let us heed the call to serve those
who are often overlooked and marginalized.
Let us embody the spirit of Peter and John,
who courageously reached out to the beggar at the Beautiful Gate,
offering not only physical healing
but also spiritual restoration and belonging.
May we commit ourselves to a ministry
that is driven not by competition or the pursuit of success,
but by the unwavering love and compassion of Jesus Christ.
And in doing so, we can create a church
that truly reflects the transformative power of faith
and the boundless love of God for all people.
[1] This sermon draws on the commentary by Israel Kamudzandu on the Working Preacher website. https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/peter-heals-in-jerusalem-2/commentary-on-acts-31-10-2
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