The Christian Society

Bishop Stephen Neill first published “The Christian Society” in 1952. The thirteen chapters outline the story of the church from Jesus and His society through the nearly two thousand years of its life. He concludes with this seven fold description of what the Church is –

First, and always, the church is the Eucharistic fellowship. In the central act of Christian faith, the interaction of time and eternity is always present. Christians are already citizens of eternity, and therefore cannot be other than pilgrims in time.

Secondly, the Christian fellowship is one in which no member should be in need or want, should never be lonely or friendless or in despair, since Christians are called to have all things in common; and, though the rules and methods of this Christian communion are flexible, the obligation is absolute and unchanging.

Thirdly, the Christian fellowship is that in which any stranger should feel him/her-self immediately welcome and at home. Suspicion, contempt and hostility should be excluded by the Christian law of love.

Fourthly, the Christian fellowship should be clear-sighted in the detection and uncovering of evils existent in the society immediately around it, tireless in protest against injustice, active in the relief of suffering.

Fifthly, the Christian society must make it clear that its ultimate loyalty is always and only to Christ and to His word. If it accepts for a time association with the state or any other human association, it must be prepared at any moment to withdraw from that association, if its spiritual liberty and its power to bear witness are in danger of being infringed.

Sixthly, each Christian group must be conscious of its fellowship in Christ with all other Christian groups throughout the world, even though circumstances should make impossible any expression of that fellowship other than the fellowship of prayer.

Seventhly, each Christian group must be constantly aware that the church is set for the redemption of the whole world, and that the purpose of God in Christ cannot be fulfilled, until the Gospel of the Kingdom has been preached to all nations for a witness to them.

We may quibble about this description but it is worth placing them like a mirror for us to consider our Anglican Communion and our local expression of that communion.

Stephen Charles Neill (1900–1984) was a Anglican missionary, bishop, and scholar from Scotland. He was educated and later worked in Trinity College, Cambridge University. He moved to India where he became a bishop.
I had the privilege of meeting him in Sabah in 1970.