William Temple

Excerpts from 'Devotional Classics' edited by Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith William Temple (1881-1944) Introduction to the Author William Temple was born in The Palace, in Exeter, the son of Frederick Temple, who later became the archbishop of Canterbury. Educated at Rugby and Balliol College, Oxford, he was a Fellow lecturer in philosophy at Queen's College in Oxford from 1904-1910 and the chaplain to the archbishop of Canterbury from 1910 to 1921. He then served as bishop of Manchester, 1921-28; archbishop of York, 1928-42 and archbishop of Canterbury from 1942 until his death in 1944. Many have considered Temple as outstanding leader in modern Protestantism. He was regarded by all who met him as a great, yet humble man. His premature death prevented even greater accomplishments, but he managed to influence multitudes of people through his lecturing, preaching and writing. He was a tireless church reformer who gave excellent leadership to Christian social movements and stood as a prophetic voice to the world. The following selection addresses a very important issue: the role of the Church in society. In it, Temple shows his keen insight into human nature and social structures. Excerpts from 'Christianity and Social Order' 1. The Church's impact upon society The method of the Church's impact on society should be twofold. First, the Church must announce Christian principals and point out where the existing social order is in conflict with them. Second, it must then pass on to Christian citizens, acting in their civic roles, the task of restoring the existing order in closer conformity to the principals. 2. Christian principals This is a point of first rate importance, yet it is often misunderstood: If Christianity is true at all, it is true of universal application; all things should be done in the Christian spirit and in accordance with Christian principals. The Church will likely be attacked from both sides if it does its duty. -It will be told that it has become political when in fact is has merely stated its principals and pointed out when they have been breached. -The Church will be told by advocates of particular policies that it is futile because it does not support theirs. If the Church is faithful to its commission, it will ignore both sets of complaints and continue as far as it can to influence all citizens and permeate all parties. 3. In the center of our own world Our standard of value is the way things affect us. Each of us takes our place in the center of our own worlds. But I am not the center of the world, or the standard or reference between good and bad. I am not, but God is. In other words, from the beginning I put myself in God's place. This is original sin. The only way to deliver me from my self-centeredness is by winning my entire heart's devotion, the total allegiance of my will to God - and this can only be done by the Divine Love of God disclosed by Christ in His life and death. 4. Not with man, but with God All Christian thinking must begin not with man but with God. The fundamental conviction is that God is the creator of the world which could not begin or continue except by His will. The world is not necessary to God in the same way God is necessary to the world. If there were no God, there would be no world; if there were no world, God would still be what He is. The world is not necessary to God but it results from His love. 5. Our true value The fundamental facts about human beings are two: first, we are made 'in the image of God'; and second, that image has been stamped upon an animal nature. Between these two there is constant tension resulting in perpetual tragedy. Our dignity is that we are children of God, capable of communion with God, the object of the love of God - displayed to us on the Cross - and destined for eternal fellowship with God. Our true value is not what we are worth in ourselves, but what we are worth to God and that worth is bestowed upon us by the utter gratuitous love of God. All of our lives should be ordered and conducted with this dignity in view. But we should not conduct our lives as if we ourselves were the center of our own value. We are not our own end. Our value is our worth to God and our end is 'to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.' 6. The image of holiness and love We are self centered, but we always carry with us abundant proof that this is not the whole truth about our nature. We have to our credit both capacities and achievements that could never be derived from self-interest alone. The image of God - the image of holiness and love - is still there, though defaced. It is the source of our aspirations. It is capable of response to the Divine Image in its perfection. It enables us to see 'the light for the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ' and so 'with unveiled face, reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord', we may be 'transformed into the same image from glory to glory.' That is our destiny. And our social life, so far as it deliberately planned, should be ordered with that destiny in view. We must be treated as what we actually are but always with a view to what in God's purpose we are destined to become. For the Law, the social order, is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Read: Romans 13:1-7 Reflection 1. Temple says that the method of the church's impact on society is twofold. (Section 1) In your opinion, how well has the Church done in achieving these two goals? 2. Any political involvement, Temple says, will be attacked from two sides; one side will say that Christians should have nothing to do with politics and the other will say their involvement is futile. How have you experienced this opposition in your attempts to take a stand politically? 3. Look up Romans 12:2. reading that verse in conjunction with Romans 13:1-7, what are some of the things you might be both responsible for and limited in doing? 4. Examine an important political issue this week. (abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality...) Read the editorials n your newspaper to clarify the differing opinions, but read them with Temple's counsel of looking at the issue from God's vantage point. 5. Treat everyone you meet this week with the dignity he or she deserves as a person who is created in the image of God. 6. Who is the center of your world? Honestly? Is it you, your job, your wife or children, even your ministry or church? What can you do to make God the center of your life? Be specific. The really big idea in this essay of Temple's is that the social order is to be influenced and shaped by a Christian ethical and moral environment. This is done by a clear articulation of Christian principals rather than through a specific political agenda. Do you know what you Christian principals are? Are they Biblical? Can you articulate or clearly explain them to others in a public arena? Are you willing to study to learn what Christian principals are? Are you willing to speak out when they are broken or over looked? The time is rapidly approaching when Christians will have to stand strong for their Biblical principals. And because of that stance, they may suffer like our brothers and sisters in the severely persecuted countries all around the world suffer for their faith. May God's grace be abundant to us all.