The Gospel from TCF Macedonia to TCF Manchester

Reflecting I Thessalonians 1

Tamil Christian Fellowship (TCF) in Manchester turns 10 at a time when the global Christian communities are celebrating 500 years of Reformation initiated by Martin Luther in Germany, which changed the course of Christianity, by making the Bible available for people to read in their own languages. We also turn 10 at a time, when William Tyndale’s first ever English translation of New Testament was completed 492 years ago in 1525. We also turn 10 at a time when the famous classic theological text written by Christian martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, 80 years ago in 1937. We as TCF turn 10 at a time when our own Rev. Dr. Jacob anna and Rev. Dr. Jasmine akka complete their 30 years of ministerial journey. We as TCF turn 10 at a time when the youngest in our family, Olivia turned 1 this year. Locating TCF in this spectrum of the global to the local, provides us an opportunity to praise God for God’s consistent faithfulness over a decade to our fellowship.

Anniversaries are to celebrate God’s faithfulness in the life of our fellowship, in the lives of all our people, it is also an opportunity to reflect on our very being and engagements of our fellowship and also a time to wait on God in envisioning for a future of our fellowship. So it is all about celebration, reflection and envisioning.

This evening, the message I have from the Word on our decennial anniversary is titled, “The Gospel from TCF Macedonia to TCF Manchester”, which is expounded as “The Gospel from Thessalonian Christian Fellowship (TCF) in Macedonia to Tamil Christian Fellowship (TCF) in Manchester. I have chosen I Thessalonians 1 to be text for our reflection. As most of you will know Thessalonian Church has come into existence after Paul and Silas went on their second missionary journey, for there was a riot because of their visit and can be found in Acts 17. It is believed that this first letter of Paul to Thessalonians is one of the earliest written documents written between 43-47 CE, which some scholars agree has even preceded the first four Gospels in New Testament. The context of this community is that as new believers in Christ, they have been awaiting the return of Jesus Christ in their own life time.

Allow me for this anniversary to call on this Thessalonian Christian Fellowship (TCF) in Macedonia of the first century to speak to the Tamil Christian Fellowship (TCF) in Manchester of the 21^st century. Such a conversation acknowledges the same Spirit of God that spoke to Thessalonians is now speaking to TCF here. The TCF of 1^st century invites us to four primary things for us today on this anniversary to do.

1.      Looking Backwards

2.      Looking Upwards

3.      Looking Outwards

4.      Looking Forwards

Before I dwell into these four aspects of our looking, I want to reflect on the being of the Thessalonian Christian Fellowship. Paul as he beings his letter, writes in verse 1, “To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ.” Thessalonians is a port city, capital of Macedonia in Achaiah, now in modern Greece, and Christians in 1^st century gathered as house groups and fellowships, and Jason was one prominent person in whom they met, from Acts 17. Church is its original meaning ekklesia is an assembly of people, gathered in the name of Christ. Paul calls these Christians gathered at house assemblies in Thessalonians as a Church, and this prompts me to reflect on the very being of our TCF, Manchester.

Are we as TCF a Church? We are not a Church in its organisational, structural and hierarchical sense. But we are as Thessalonian Christian Fellowship, a Church in its theological, spiritual and faithful sense. We gather as an assembly in the name of Christ from far and wide, and are part and parcel of the broken body of Christ, for the Church happens among and amidst us. We form a Pentecost community, a community celebrating diversity of Christian church.  

1.      Looking Backwards: (2-3v)

In prayer and gratitude, Paul thanks God for all the members of Thessalonians and remembers three prominent things in their life and witness in the presence of God. At the verge of ten years, we come into the presence of God remembering these three things which are relevant to both our TCFs. We celebrate about them in our lives.

a.      Remembering the work of faith: nurture, growing in faith and grounding in Christ

b.      Remembering the labour of love: extra mile, testimonies, forgiving

c.       Remembering the steadfastness of hope: in times of insecurity, far away from home,

Anniversary is time to take stock of these three things, being grateful to God for the work of faith, labour of love and the steadfastness of hope in the life of our fellowship.

2.      Looking Upwards: (4-5v)

Then Paul acknowledges in the God of the Trinity, as he recognises God the father, Jesus the Lord and the Holy Spirit the inspirer. He calls the TCF as beloved by God and chosen by God. For the TCF of the 1^st century, the gospel came not only in word but also in power and in Holy Spirit and with full conviction. It was a Spirit-filled community and a fully convinced community in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Anniversary is a time to look to God, and rededicate ourselves as beloved and chosen community of God. TCF of the 1^st century was a beloved and chosen community of God, Spirit-filled community and the challenge for us is to reflect it boldly that yes, we are beloved and chosen community of God.

3.      Looking Outwards: (6-9v)

The TCF of the 1^st century were imitators of the Lord and of the apostles. It was a Christ imitating community, and therefore invites us to be such a community. This calls self-emptying and taking up the cross and following Christ faithfully.

Secondly, they did not care the persecution that came on them for becoming Christians, for they received the Word with joy, inspired by Holy Spirit. It was a receptive community to the Word of God.

Thirdly, they have become an example to Macedonia and Achaiah. TCF of the 1^st century was an exemplary community, living after the example of Jesus Christ. The have been a salt and light to those several communities around.

Fourthly, 8v. they were an Outreaching Community. For the word of the Lord sounded forth from them not in only in Macedonia but even far off. Their faith in God has become the talk of the towns in their region.

Fifthly, 9v. they were a Transforming Community, turning to God from idols in their lives. The idol of empire, the idol of self and turned to God.

4.      Looking Forwards: (10v)

They turned away from idols and turned to God so that they can from 9v. serve a living and a true God. TCF looked forward to serving a living and a true God, which was explains their steadfastness of hope.

They are also looking forward to 10 v. to wait for his Son from heaven, whom God raised from the dead, and who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

They are looking forward to be a serving community and to be a waiting community.

Thanks to our friends that designed the invitation card of this Anniversary, who have depicted digitally the 10 things that will not separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, from Romans 8: 38-39, expressing the hope and aspiration of our fellowship. Come what may, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, can do us apart from the love of God, for we are grounded in the love of Christ.

The challenge for us as TCF is to be and become like these ten-fold aspects of Thessalonians.

Conclusion:

Why do we attend services on Sundays or Saturdays? It is basically to be strengthened by Word & Worship, so that we go and reflect it in our lives the rest of the week. It is like coming to fill the fuel in the cars, then go out to travel and traverse different places. Unfortunately, we are coming to services only to fill our tanks and move around the petrol stations not venturing and adventuring to move around to reflect the gospel. We are just filling our tank and moving around the petrol station and then come again fill the fuel and going round and round. We as TCF are not that way just moving round and round the petrol station, but care called to move and travel to parts unknown and less traveled, to reflect the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When a new church was built, they have installed a board outside which read “Crucified Christ we Announce”. Then they planted a creeper around it for decorative purpose. It looked really grand. On first anniversary the green creeper covered the word ‘crucified’ on that board, it just read “Christ we announce.” People felt that was ok. Years passed by as the numbers dwindled, the green creeper grew and it covered the next part ‘Christ.’ Now it only read “We announce”. They thought it was ok, we now announce many other things. Few years later as the numbers further lessened, the green creeper went further and the only part that was left was ‘ounce’. This is symptomatic of the journey of that church and churches. The challenge for us as TCF is not be shrunk in faith to an ounce, but to keep growing in faith by being grounded in Christ.

Wishing TCF many more happy returns of this anniversary, and may many more blessings, testimonies and faith stories emerge from us, so that we become instruments in widening and deepening God’s reign here on earth. May God bless us all on this anniversary.

Blessings,

Rajbharat Patta

28^th October 2017.