Deep roots and tall branches

One of the things I’ve noticed since moving to the Western Dales are the wonderful trees that border the fields and paths. As I’ve been making my way along the winding roads to some of our smaller churches, I’ve started becoming familiar with the different shapes and features of these trees. I’m looking forward to summer, when they will be full of brilliant leaves.

Christianity can be thought of as being like a magnificent tree. Its roots delve down into the rich soil of the Hebrew religious tradition, but it is also nourished by the thought of the Ancient Greeks. As it springs up out of the ground, its trunk branches out into different boughs. The long history of Christianity means that this is a more complex and expansive tree than many of us realise! We may be familiar with the Western traditions of Catholicism and Protestantism, but there are also rich expressions of the faith in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Church of the East (historically referred to as the Nestorian Church).

We need to be careful when considering other expressions of the faith. We shouldn’t assume that others think the same way as we do, and we should be prepared to listen carefully, and challenge when appropriate. The Russia-Ukraine war has brought to the surface some of the complex and concerning ways in which Christianity can be accommodated to the political regimes of its day. Pressure is being applied to the Russian Orthodox Church to call for a ceasefire, rather than stoking the flames of war.

Despite the many differences between these different churches, there are some things that are held in common. Scripture, the earliest creeds, and traditional Christian practices such as prayer and worship are some of the foundations that you will find if you visit these different churches today (although it might look quite different to what you would expect!)

If you would like to explore some of these ‘foundations of faith’ – scripture, the early creeds, and common Christian practices – please do consider attending our ‘Finding Faith’ sessions that will be running each Wednesday evening from 18 May 2022, at St Andrew’s Sedbergh and Cornerstone Community Church. This will be a relaxed environment in which to consider the riches of the Christian tradition, and explore how they help to answer some of the big questions that life throws up. Please call or email me to find out more: 015396 20018 or andy.burgess@westerndales.org.uk.