How safe are churches ?

The voice in the railway station warns of leaving unattended luggage. the message outside shopping premises warns of bicycles being left unattended. A security guard throws a cordon around an unattended school bag keeping all passersby well away while it is searched bit by bit. These are the experiences that happen normally to many of us day by day.

For years it was normal routine in Northern Ireland to see huge queues outside any city centre shop not because of a bargain sale but simply a security search going on every day. Queues at airports are normal with many hours being spent by travellers going nowhere but simply having their baggage and person searhed.

Mosques,temples and churches have all been so called legitimate targets for terrorists; places like Forkhill, Enniskillen, Belfast, Baghdad being known for no other reason than worshippers were attacked

History tells of the persecutions of believers in bygone ages and the example of courage that many martyrs showed.

Not so long ago in this country dissenters were outlawed and punished. Preachers like John Bunyan were given long prison sentences for preaching.

Wearing a cross hat has landed people in trouble in this country and there are courses now in our own council to make staff aware of religion. It sounds almost like being aware of an epidemic and to take precautions.

Leaving an unattended closed church seems to cause more concern to many people than leaving an unattended open church. There seems to be a concern or worry about what will happen to a closed church in our community that could be an issue affecting us all more than the effects of passing by an open church.

We are almost saying there is more danger in the dead than among the living, dead stones than living places of worship. Well it is true that just going to worship may still be unsafe. No one can guarantee absolute safety anywhere even in 2010. It seems to me that it is more dangerous for all of us for the common good to leave an unattended church that is open for worship than to wait until all the churches are closed and we worry only about what will happen to those closed buildings.

The baby Jesus was in great danger from various sources because of his mission to change the world for the better but his mission took root at a great cost and that mission is still struggling at a great cost to those who worship him.

There seems to be more interest in that annual burglar in a red suit who comes round at this time and who leaves unattended parcels.

There might be safety in numbers as we worship together but only if we share that goodwill and love.

Every blessing....................

Angus