Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali: General Synod Speech on the Uniqueness of Christ in a Multi-faith Britain
We should be grateful to Paul Eddy for drawing our attention to such an important aspect of our mission to the world and also to Dr Martin Davie for his masterly summary of Christian belief in this area and particularly for his rehearsal of Anglican teaching and thought on the person and work of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I do commend to Synod his longer paper available at the enquiry desk.
As Chair of the House of Bishops Theological Group, I am glad to reaffirm the biblical teaching on the utter uniqueness of the God who reveals himself to Israel but also on the universal significance of this one God, the source and ground of all that exists, for all peoples and the whole world. The New Testament tells us, and the Catholic Creeds declare, that, in Jesus Christ, God himself has entered into human history and we encounter him in this human person. But because it is God who is encountered, the particular becomes full of universal significance.
Of course, it can be shown from Scripture that God reveals something of himself through the created order, in conscience and in the spiritual awareness of which everyone is capable. But we should note that such knowledge cannot save of itself not least because it is affected by human sinfulness and rebellion. The early Apologists for the faith believed that, even in midst of falsehood and superstition, people could know something of God because they were made in the divine image, because the Logos, the Eternal Word, incarnate in Jesus Christ, illuminates the minds and hearts of all (John 1:9), even if they turn away from this illumination, and because the Holy Spirit is everywhere and always convincing people of sin and righteousness and judgement (John 16:8-11). For the Apologists, however, such knowledge pointed to and was fulfilled in Jesus Christ; his Incarnation, Cross and Resurrection.
We recognise God’s presence and work in our world precisely and authentically only because of his revelation in the call, liberation and history of his Chosen People and supremely, of course, in Jesus Christ. This history of salvation and judgement is the touchstone, or canon, by which we are able to recognise God’s providence anywhere.
The Anglican formularies affirm such an understanding of salvation history. No-one can be saved by any ‘natural’ knowledge of God, nor by religious observance but only by God’s graciousness, fully revealed in Jesus Christ. This does not bind God in any way. He is fully sovereign in how he acts to judge and to save but wherever and whenever he does this we know it is by the merits of Christ’s work on the Cross and the prevenient work of the Holy Spirit. There is no room for human scrupulosity or pride. It is all of God alone.
This bears on our understanding of mission: dialogue is an essential aspect of mission. We must engage with the thought, language and culture of those to whom we are sent. This helps us to bear witness sensitively and truthfully. It also helps us in serving human need. It is God who converts people to himself but this is no excuse for any laxity in our witness or service. In our commitment to the wholeness of mission, we must also be committed to its universality. No-one is outside the scope of God’s purposes, as revealed in Jesus Christ, and we have an obligation to bear witness to all of the good news of the accepting, healing and transforming love of God in Christ. This does not mean that we should target anyone but it cannot mean that anyone is excluded either.
I am sure that the House of Bishops will tell us that they adhere to this cumulative teaching of the Bible, the Fathers and the Anglican formularies. I hope this Synod does too.
As to the second part of Paul’s motion, we will hear of some of the good practice he is asking for on Thursday afternoon. It is important for us to bear in mind not only presence, dialogue and service but also witness, discipling, teaching and healing as part of our missionary mandate. I hope that many will agree and the House should certainly bear the whole of mission in mind as it seeks to respond to this motion.
+Michael Nazir-Ali
February 2009
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