Loughborough Churches Partnership (LCP) have hosted some excellent events over the last couple of days with Evangelical Alliance missiologist Phil Knox. At last night’s one, the annual LCP united service, the reading was from 2 Corinthians 4, which talks about us having our treasure in jars of clay. Phil spoke well to that but what moved me most was listening to the bit of the reading where St Paul tells the believers in Corinth: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (vv. 8-9).

One of the stories Phil shared was about being surprised when one of his friends who wasn’t a Christian invited him to church. Normally you’d expect that to be the other way round. In turn, his friend was surprised how much Phil threw himself into singing the hymn Amazing Grace. A few days later, Phil sent his friend a parody version, Average Grace. The latter wasn’t a song you could imagine anyone getting passionate about and that was the point. It is someone who knows they once were lost but now are found who belts the original hymn out from their heart.

Reflecting today, I wondered if that was the same reason Paul’s words struck me? We need to pay attention to those who are pressed and crushed, perplexed and in despair, persecuted and abandoned and struck down and destroyed. Those are the ones who, if they receive the love and forgiveness Jesus longs to give them, will show with passion and authenticity how the good news brings the wonder of the kingdom of God. When they discover that, although still perhaps hard pressed, they are no longer crushed, they will hold the standard of God’s love higher than those who just come along because they enjoy the songs, the nice coffee and the sense of belonging to a safe little club.