October 2020 - LPNI

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October 2020

LPNI Devotion – October 2020

A Cardboard Church

In 2011, three major earthquakes destroyed the spire and upper tower of the magnificent Gothic style Anglican cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand, and severely damaged the rest of the building, forcing its closure. It had been built in the heart of the city between 1864 and 1904, and was a national icon. I had the privilege of preaching twice in that cathedral – once as President of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand, at a Reformation festival, and once as President of the Bible Society in New Zealand, at a Bible Sunday observance.

After some debate, the decision has been taken to ‘reinstate’ the cathedral, but this will take some years. Meanwhile, a ‘cardboard cathedral’ has been the centre for diocesan worship since 2013. Designed by Japanese architect, Shigeru Ban, this ‘transitional cathedral’ is built out of 96 cardboard tubes, 60 centimetres in diameter, that rise from eight shipping containers (the walls). The tubes, are reinforced with laminated wood beams, and coated with waterproof polyurethane and flame retardant, with two-inch gaps between them so light can filter inside. The building seats around 700 people, but it’s a very ‘transitory’ structure.

Christchurch cathedral is also a visible reminder that the church is not a physical building. The closure of our churches due to COVID-19 gives us the same reminder. Like the temple in Jerusalem, church buildings are all transitory structures, and will not last forever. They can aid and enrich our worship and spiritual life, but essentially the church is not buildings, but the people of God gathered around the gospel in word and sacrament.

Martin Luther once said: ‘Anyone who is to find Christ must first find the church. How could anyone know where Christ is and what faith is in him unless he knew where his believers are?’

The role of the church is to make Jesus known as the Christ, the saving Son of the living God – crucified and risen for the sin of a whole wayward humanity. Where this is happening – whether in a magnificent Gothic cathedral or out in the scrub somewhere ... or in a hospital ward, a school classroom, or over a cup of coffee – there the church is, and neither hell nor COVID-19 will overcome it, as Jesus promised (Matthew16:18).

And in this church, Christ’s people are ‘living stones’, supporting and strengthening one another, and holding one another solidly and lovingly in place on the foundation which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). And Parish Nurses play a vital part in this supportive, outreaching church.

At times you might feel like weak and malleable cardboard, but the Spirit of God can and will coat you with the ‘polyurethane’ of his Gospel power to enable you to withstand anything that might threaten to weaken or undermine your ministry.

This was the experience of St Paul. He was always conscious of his weaknesses and his thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians12:7b-10) – apparently some physical impairment – but he was also conscious of Christ’s power at work in and through him.

You can be too!

Robert J Wiebusch

Hope Valley, South Australia 5090 robert.wiebusch@lca.org.au