I have a dream of a church which is a biblical church –
which is loyal in every particular to the revelation of
God in Scripture,
whose pastors expound Scripture with integrity and
relevance, and so seek to present every member
mature in Christ,
whose people love the word of God, and adorn it
with an obedience and Christ-like life,
which is preserved from all unbiblical emphases,
whose whole life manifests the health and beauty
of biblical balance.
I have a dream of a biblical church.
-John Stott
This September we are introducing Dr. John Stott's brief reflection, "I have a dream of a living church" as a way to generate reflecting and thinking on our own church involvement and community.
If the name is unfamiliar to you, John Stott served his entire pastoral ministry at one church - All Souls, Langham Place in London. And yet his influence was worldwide - through his writings, speaking and tireless institution-building. He cared deeply for the local church while at the same time giving glory to his Savior in humble, faithful service.
As part of a liturgical tradition that values the thoughtful and informed reading of scripture, Saint Gabriel values personal as well as corporate reading, meditating and studying of the Bible. We do so for a variety of reasons: some are interested in the bible’s historical context or to better understand what was once called “Western Civ,” while others dive into the bible for wisdom, meditation, guidance, and comfort.
We would agree with Article VI of the Articles of Religion in the historical section of the Book of Common Prayer, which holds:
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church.
We would also encourage each person at Saint Gabriel – from our youngest to our oldest members – in the words of Dr. Stott “to love the word of God, and adorn it with an obedience and Christ-like life.”