ADVENT BLOG Named by God - HEAD OF THE CHURCH

“Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour.”

(Ephesians 5: 23)

I had the privilege of being in the same room as Her Late Majesty the Queen.  I have to add that there were around 800 or more others in that room because it was the Assembly Hall in Edinburgh at the opening of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.  The Queen was there as sovereign and defender of the faith but not as Head of the Church.

In the midst of the pomp and circumstance, all of the ceremonial, there was a simple, yet powerfullmoment.  This was when the Queen entered the gallery.  As the Assembly stood for her arrival she bowed before anyone bowed to her. It connects with yesterday’s theme that he is indeed King of kings and Queens, King of leaders, King of all who put their trust in him.  This is a powerful reminder that there is only one Head of the Church and that is Jesus Christ.  He is the head of the body which is his family here on earth.

When we think of the word head in relation to any organisation or institution these days we think about a Chief Executive Office or Chief Operating Officer.  Christ as head is quite, quite different.  Yes, we should be businesslike in much of what we do but we are not a business and should never be an institution.  The word head has been used carefully here because its not head in the sense of organisational boss but, head of a living organism - alive and involved in the life of the world.  We don’t sell some product which is out to make a profit, but we are called to a life of service as already indicated in these reflections and called to be prophets who speak the truth about God and live that truth out in life.

It is Christ as head who as Lord leads us and whose power sustains us.  The church receives all of its life from him and we have no life apart from him.  He is the head and we, as his church, are the body.

What does it mean to look to Christ as head of the church?  What difference can his lead and his power make in your life?

You are the King of glory,
You are the Prince of Peace,
You are the Lord of heav'n and earth,
You're the Son of righteousness.
Angels bow down before You,
Worship and adore,
For You have the words of eternal life,
You are Jesus Christ the Lord.

Hosanna to the Son of David!

Hosanna to the King of kings!

(Mavis Ford)