In the Wild Atlantic west of Ireland lies the ruins of Kilmacduagh Monastery. It was founded by St. Colman, son of Duagh in the 7th century, and includes the ruins of seven buildings surrounded by cattle, where very few visitors go out of their way along winding narrow roads to arrive at these sacred stones. Upon exploring one building, I came around the corner of a stone structure to be greeted by a massive bull, so I quickly turned around and moved away.
It was powerful to think that sometime after 600 AD people who loved Jesus worshiped in this place and spent their lives raising up the next generation of church leaders. While most of Europe was plunged into the dark ages, the churches and university settings of the monasteries thrived with creativity, art, study of theology and the sciences. They represented the light of God come to earth, shining to point to Jesus.
Friends in Heaven from Long Ago
When I go to a place like Ireland, I think about the saints that have lived, loved, worshiped there, and are buried there from centuries past. These saints have become my friends. I do not pray to or through them because we have direct access to the throne room of God and are encouraged to bring our prayer requests straight to Him.
I love reading the stories of these saints and the great things they did to build the Kingdom of God. Their lives are often filled with suffering just like ours. None of them were perfect, and they were men and women just like us. (See James 5:17). I’m thankful to have some connections and relatives that lived during those middle ages that are recognized as men of God today. Someday I’m going to worship Jesus in heaven right next to them, singing songs of praise to the High King of Heaven.
Friends on Earth Who Live Across the Sea
There are people I have met in Ireland who are my brothers and sisters. When we meet, the Holy Spirit inside me leaps as it recognizes the Holy Spirit in them. The love, affection and soul connection is real, deep and powerful. It is like meeting a cousin you have never known before and feeling an instant family tie.
It felt like I was coming home when I saw my soul brother Samuel. His heart beats for the same things mine does. Partnering with him in hosting and leading a group from the church these past few weeks was filled with so much joy as we focused on our King Jesus every day in our travels.
Friends We Haven’t Yet Met
There are people who haven’t trusted Jesus yet that we will meet and love in the next year. Our culture has no hope and no truth without Jesus Christ. So many people are searching for meaning, purpose and truth. As we live out our faith, share the hope we have within us, others will be drawn by the Holy Spirit to a place of deciding to trust Jesus with their lives. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will begin to transform their lives and they will be a part of the family of God, the church.
Communion of the Saints
The Apostles creed is first mentioned in a letter in AD 390. It contains the line, “I believe in… the communion of the saints.” This refers to believers (saints) in the past, believers (saints) in the present, and believers (saints) in the years to come, sharing a common salvation in our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Many ancient books, carvings and stone reliefs show people in heaven worshiping right alongside us as we honor God. On Sunday mornings, I can sometimes picture people we love who have died recently peeking in around the top of the dome, along with John the Apostle (my favorite from the early church) and others singing with us as we honor Jesus. I believe that Hebrews 12:1-2 refers to these men and women as a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.
Family and Friendship
So, making a pilgrimage to Ireland with this small group was not about kneeling at the tomb of an old dead Christian hoping for a miracle. It was not about praying to the saints because as one theologian writer wrongly assumed, “because we are weaker than they are in their glorified state.” This was a trip revolved around family; the family of God, the communion of the saints and the friendship with one another as we experienced God’s wonderful world, heard His story of sending others with the gospel to Ireland, and realizing we have brothers and sisters all across the world.
Undoubtedly the relationships built on a trip that is built on a good theology of travel can become important soul friendships (Celtic phrase: anam cara). We will make other trips in the future and I would love for you to consider joining us. To watch my brother Samuel in a short video explaining the theology of travel click here.
May God bless you today with new friendships that will help you explore, marvel and share Jesus with the world!
go mbeannaí Dia thú (May God bless you!)
I look forward to seeing you next Sunday at our Worship Service in the Dome at 10:00 a.m.
You can also live stream our service on Facebook and YouTube at 10:00 a.m.
I'm excited to be teaching my new series about God's Word. If you missed last Sunday's message, The Big Picture: Experiencing the Whole Story of the Bible, please click here.
