Concerning the ravages of woodworm

...though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day 2 Cor.4:16

1971.
It was a quiet meeting place. In ones or twos the people came to worship, as they had done in this place for centuries. The sun streamed peacefully through ancient casements, lighting upon dark wooden benches, warming a plain floor whose boards had known the reverent tread of many years. Heads bowed, the handful of worshippers maintained a stillness broken only by the sounds of the world outside - a baby wittering in its cot, a motor car droning by, the call of neighbour to neighbour out upon the street. Undisturbed, two insects wandered leisurely over the floor, as if this quiet place were theirs.

Suddenly one realised what these insects were. Tiny holes in the floorboards gave witness to their origin. As one cast one's eyes over the floor another insect came into view, and another... and as for the boreholes, not one hole came into focus, not ten, not a hundred, but a multiplicity, abundant evidence that the solid-seeming boards were riddled, honeycombed with tiny passages, a mere outer shell remaining of what had once been sturdy timber. Such are the ravages of woodworm, given undisturbed possession. One wondered how long it could go on. As the friends met one morning, would the floor quietly crumble beneath their feet? or would they by then have moved out into their new meeting room which was already being prepared?

Not only upon these friends and their building do the effects of change and decay come, but in different ways upon all of us. Quiet routines of fellowship and worship continue up to a point, and then of a sudden it becomes evident that things are not as they have been in the past. This can apply not only to buildings, but to habits of worship, understandings of scripture, all those traditions that are associated with fellowship in Christ. Change is part of the present order of things, we must accept that, and be prepared. And if the 'woodworm' has been doing its work, and traditions are revealed as an empty husk, are we ready to express our life of fellowship in new ways?

But while new days may bring new ideas, God's purposes and his truth remain, firm, tried and dependable. It is our ideas that may have to be adjusted. What is our place in His purpose at any given location or time? For example, when our country was nominally Christian the task was to uphold His truth in the face of respectable semi-Christian half-truth. But now, is it different in an environment more hostile to faith? Christians who truly believe in Jesus as their Lord and attempt to follow his teaching, can find themselves increasingly thrown together, in a spirit of unity which has nothing to do with churches or organisations. Often there is a desire, perhaps among small groups or households, to meet together, pray together, and rediscover from the Bible just what God is doing, and what is His will in this day and age. Do we need to move on?

One more thought. Moving on to a new home is a picture used in scripture. Paul used the analogy of leaving behind a tent in favour of a more permanent dwelling to describe the change from this life to the next. Although while this age continues the living fellowship of true Christians will continue in some form or other, individually we do not continue indefinitely.. Change and decay will have their way with our bodies... we must face the prospect of moving to new premises. But we are confident that our future dwelling, for ever with the Lord, will be a place of happy service and fellowship, which is proof against 'woodworm' and every such thing.

Thoughts from Midland Newsletter, July 1971