REFLECTIONS

These pieces are written each month by members of our clergy team.

June Leader

Why is there something rather than nothing? This question lies at the heart of theology, cosmology, metaphysics, philosophy and science and is often cited as the ultimate question. For some people, such as the philosopher Bertrand Russell, the Universe and its existence is just a brute fact and there is nothing more to be said over the reality that ‘something’ is just simply the order of things. Some physicists argue that nothingness is inherently unstable and unless there is a physical law that prevents the existence of something, things will just come into being to offset the instability of nothingness.

For theologians God literally creates ex nihilo, which is Latin for ‘out of nothing.’ In other words God does not use pre- existent matter to create things but creates things of substance out of nothing. This is reflected in the Genesis creation narratives when for example it says, ‘and God said let there be light and there was light.’ God brings things into being, including ourselves. God is full of creative energy, a creator that delights in what has been made in partnership with His Son Jesus, as it says in John’s Gospel, ‘all things came into being through him, (Jesus) and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. (John 1:3) The existence of the world with all its finely tuned laws and interlocking systems is for people of faith evidence of thoughtful and intelligent design emanating from the uncreated God of the Bible. It then follows that as humans who are made in God’s image, we too share in this desire and drive to create something where there is nothing, whether it be a painting, a piece of music, a cake, a home extension, and life itself. Just give a child a piece of blank paper and a pen! Humankind is constantly restless, constantly making, doing, and wanting to leave an indelible and tangible legacy of their time on earth.

Some things that humans have created are absolute wonders and timelessly convey joy and beauty. Other things that humans have created have and do cause suffering and are to our shame as a race. As much as the question, ‘Why is there something rather than nothing’ is a deep and profound philosophical one, I also find myself applying it to the life of our church and the world of volunteering. Why is there something rather than nothing? Could be rephrased as, why is there a fete, why is there church music, church flowers, a well-kept churchyard, pastoral care, and children's work, a poster on a board, a glass of wine to share and a hymn book given out. Indeed, why is there a church at all? Nothing has an automatic right to exist. It only exists because people make it exist and create things and experiences that we can all enjoy and benefit from through the sharing of their time and abilities. Perhaps we could apply a form of the question to ourselves. Do we contribute to the something or just leave the nothing?

Matthew

Almighty God, Give us grace and energy to serve your Son Jesus Christ in the shortness of our years on earth. Even when we are older and less confident grant us small things to do to advance your Kingdom. May we be faithful in our love, strong in the face of hardship and gentle with our shortcomings and the shortcomings of others. In Jesus name, Amen.

Reflection:

Sunday 31st May sees the Church celebrate Trinity Sunday. On this day we acknowledge the belief that is unique to Christianity, namely that God has been revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not three Gods, but one God, in three persons. This belief did not originate in a theological college, or at a conference of Bishops, but rather it emerged amongst the disciples through their experience of being with Jesus and their later experience of the Holy Spirit.

Most of the writers of the New Testament were Jewish and they had been brought up to believe that God was one. However, as they spent time with Jesus and witnessed his miracles, his Crucifixion and Resurrection, they came to realise that Jesus was the Son of God and God incarnate on earth. Take for example Thomas's response when meeting the risen Christ:

‘Thomas said, my Lord and my God…’ (John 20: 28)

Or Jesus’s response to Philip:

‘Philip said to Jesus show us the Father and we will ask no more. Jesus said to him, anyone who has seen me has seen the Father….' (John 14: 8)

From these and many other passages the church began to understand that Jesus was Divine and had been sent by the Father to redeem and save humankind. Jesus identifies with us in our humanity and saves us in his Divinity, for one human being cannot save another human being from sin and death, only Jesus Christ can accomplish that. After Jesus's Ascension into heaven the Holy Spirit was poured out into the hearts of the believers and has been continuously poured out into the hearts of all those who believe so the presence of the risen Christ is now available to all people, at all times, across all history. As it says in the above passage:

‘Here is the proof that we dwell in Him and He dwells in us: He has imparted His Spirit to us'. (1 John 4: 13)

Let us unpack this a bit more. In our above passage from the first letter of St John, John declares that God is love. In all the different descriptions of God, this is the ultimate name that Christians have for God. God is love. Now, if we know God as love then we have to think about what that means. God in love with himself would be an expression of egotistical and sterile love. God just in love with the Son would be an exclusive and excluding love, but the love of three is an open and balanced love. The Father loves the Son, the Son in return loves the Father and the language of love between them is the Holy Spirit. In other words God is relationship, a relationship of perfect balance and mutual respect. A relationship that creates, sustains, saves and shares Divine love with the created order on earth. A love that wants to lead people away from things which are not of love, namely sin, to a deeper experience of God’s love and presence. A love that is relational and also one. And because this love is Divine then when it dwells within us we are given the eternal life that cannot be destroyed by death, although our bodies are. As Jesus said to the woman at the well:

‘In fact the water (Holy Spirit) that I give you will be a well of water springing up to eternal life.’ (John 4: 14)

Through the presence of the Holy Spirit within us we can know and participate in the Divine love and moreover we are commanded to share this love amongst other people. In this sense the doctrine of the Trinity forms and underpins the very basis of Western civilisation. For the notion of love, not just a private affair, but as a societal value has led to the establishment of human rights and the rights of the individual. It has led to an emphasis on creativity and self expression, and moral right and wrong. Above all, it has over time, shaped a responsibility for others in society, especially the poor and disadvantaged. It could be argued that it is the belief that God is love and our need to love others which has shaped the emergence and assumptions around the Welfare State. God as relationship shapes the ideals around how we should relate to our fellow humans. Without a notion of love for others we could have had a society where people just fend for themselves. Even at times in history where Christian countries were cruel and indifferent to the suffering of others, there were always people of faith who championed the way of mutual love and care. This way of mutual love and care stems directly from the belief in the Triune God as John writes:

'God is love. Beloved let us love one another for love is from God and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Those who live in love, live in God and God lives in them'. (1 John 4: 8)

We all know that love is the most important thing in the world and we desire to love and to be loved. That is because we are made in the image of the Triune God, the God of love.

Matthew

ABOUT ST. GILES CHURCH

Monthly Bulletins

It has now been 5 years since we started sending out our monthly Bulletin as a result of the Covid pandemic and I know from various feedback that the Bulletin is very much appreciated. Going forward I remain very committed to making sure that all of us who love St. Giles are kept informed not only of what is going on at our Church but encouraged in the understanding and practice of the Christian faith.

In the future we will continue to write to you but every other month making sure that our bulletins coincide with the important occasions in the Church's year. Our next Bulletin will be sent out in July.

Matthew Hughes, May 2025