Will ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ fill the churches? Wrong question, says the Archbishop of Canterbury
By Mark Woods, Christian Today.
[…] Another of the strengths of Thy Kingdom Come perhaps lies in the title itself, which lends itself – as Welby is eager to stress – to more than just evangelism. That provided the initial impetus to the initiative and is still at its core, but he says churches are praying – and acting – far more widely than that. God, he says, ‘prods you into something more expansive’. When people start praying, he says, ‘they don’t separate out the witness to the good news of Jesus Christ from the witness through action, through prayer for the world, particularly after Manchester. And so it’s become very much more holistic, so there’s a real Kingdom theology in there as well as a clear missiology.’
But at its root, this is a movement of prayer for conversions. While there are good and encouraging stories to tell of conversions and growth, the fact remains that in the UK at any rate, many churches are in a parlous state. They have seen years of decline, aging congregations and indifference among their communities. And though it’s easy to feel, in the midst of a purposeful and engaging campaign like Thy Kingdom Come, that the tide can be turned and the churches can be filled again, the reality on the ground looks rather different. So should the campaign be judged not just on how good it makes people feel, but on whether these prayers for conversion are actually answered?
It is, he acknowledges, a fair question – but the answer, while thoughtful and entirely honest, is not altogether straightforward.
The numbers engaged are not a test for success, he says. ‘We simply start by saying, is there something to celebrate in people’s involvement? Because celebration is very much part of the Christian tradition. And yes, there’s a lot to celebrate. It doesn’t mean it’s a success, it means there’s a lot to celebrate. That people are engaging with God in prayer is good news.’
Editor’s note: Readers might be interested to know that, in the season of Pentecost and during this ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ initiative for prayer and evangelism, the Archdeacon of Berkshire has seen fit to call Anglicans in Oxford Diocese to focus on ‘the holy month of Ramadan’ instead. In her introduction to the monthly email from the Diocese she urges Christians to “pray with our Muslim brothers and sisters…for the blessing of peace” (see here for her short message in full)
Brave stand for inclusion and reconciliation, harmless ‘Vicar of Dibley’ woolliness, or serious theological error and insult to persecuted Christians? Write to me here if you have an opinion, and I will pass on (moderated) comments to the Archdeacon.
See also: Selling out Pentecost to Islam, by Geert Wilders, Gatestone Institute
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