All power to your elbow Archbiship

Last week the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu gave up his planned family holiday in Salzburg in order to camp inside York Minster where he invited people from all over the country to join him in heart and mind to pray every hour for peace in the conflict between Israel and Lebanon. He also shaved his head and fasted for the week.

There has been widespread publicity in the British media about his action with varying responses to it.
Some were very cynical. One blogger wrote, “What a hoc of bull. Don’t eat or drink anything for 7 days then talk to me. I bet his fasting had a lot of “howevers”. Just a show.” Other comments have been that it has been a gimmick on the level of David Blaine, the illusionist.
Others haven’t doubted his sincerity but whether he can make a difference.
One man said, “He can’t change anything,” Another, “It depends if you believe or not. I personally think the church has had it, but my kids are impressed.”

There has been much positive reaction too, particularly by those who went to visit the Minster themselves. There was a real sense of the presence of God and many have responded to the challenge to pray for peace.

One comment was, “Nobody can quite explain what this eccentric ecclesiastical spectacle might achieve, but under the beautiful gothic awning of a medieval Minster, the balance of opinion is that prayer might be worth a try.”

A mixed reaction to a Christian doing something so public is to be expected. Personally I believe he is a man of God who is willing to go out on a limb on all kinds of kingdom issues and we should be backing him to the hilt.

What made me smile but also made me mad and sad was the reaction of some so called believers who reacted with, “He should stick to religion and not meddle in politics.” I’m still trying to work out what pray and fasting are if they are not religious. And another, a church leader said, “What he is doing is undignified for a man in his office.” He should read 2 Samuel 6:22

God bless

Carol