I appreciate Sells response: I still struggle with the role the church has to play in our lives - as a returned catholic - now that will surpirse some of those familair with my scribblings - I have long struggled with the relevance that church actually has; as a kid I was mesmerised by the ceremony, the incense, the latin and the lyrical nature of much of the celebration - I was heavily involved as an Alter boy.

In retrospect I had no awareness of the meaning of the gospel even though I attended religious schools and indeed in my teens was a reader at mass. Even now I find it contradictory in so many ways. I was bombarded less with the message of Jesus and the good things than I was with how evil I was and essentially sinful.

So for me the pre occupation of the churches with "good works" albeit on the payroll of the government seems a more practical application of Christs message than focus on end time pronouncements and a pre occupation with witnessing for the lord; I thought that what the work actually was. In fact I think you can probably do both - in fact I think Sellick says as much towards the end of his article.

As I said I have more work to do here.

There is much to be said about the meaning of the end time than I had room for. The end time is not a natural event, even thought apocalyptic language is used in the gospels and in Paul involve a convulsion in nature. Rather the writers of the NT used the language of apocalyptic to describe the discontinuity in history that was precipitated by the death and resurrection (not resuscitation) or Christ. The old world has to come to an end before the new can dawn. This process is not just a continuation of human progress but is truly the work of God in the world, the power of the proclamation of the gospel.

As is true in many such things end of the world language became the province of cranks and literalists who miss the point entirely. The kingdom of God is established in our time and place, it is not an escape from the world but a deeper involvement in it. This deeper involvement has its basis in the Word made flesh that reveals what we truly are and what the world truly is

sneekeepete,
what are some of these contradictions you are encountering?
If you want, I would be delighted to discuss these with you by email.
joseph_howard@hotmail.com

Christian social action must never become mere unspiritual ideology. Christians mediate the gifts of "faith, hope, and love", which come down from the Divine. Their first commitment must be to build up the community of spiritual gift and prayfulness, which is the church. Therefore charitable works must be "inspirited" if they are to be dutiful: dead works do not build up.

The church is the first-light of that kingdom which will dawn everywhere, of course. The church approaches to it, especially in that perfect integration which the eucharist symbolises.

The author's theology is a very correct one. Welfare provision (and education and hospital services) is wrongly cut off from the church's spiritual life. I do not think we should scale back our good works, but realise their purpose as means of grace. We must use them to bring people into the worshipping community.

Of course, the banality and boredom of your average suburban church is a question for another day.