October 08 +Graham CITIZENSHIP

The Ethiopians come from a war torn and famine affected country, yet they lead the world in long-distance running. The Jamaicans are sprinters with a 1, 2, 3 in the women's 100 metres, and what about the extraordinary new world records of Usain Bolt! It was good to hear of people cheering on the streets of Jamaica and watching on huge screens erected in Addis Abbaba.

There is something about the Olympics in which national pride takes a huge place. And there is also something about celebration which is vital for a healthy life. Celebrations in the UK still continue with yet more television appearances for our gold medallists. Did you notice tears in the eyes of some of them as they stood on the podium in China, the Union Jack was hoisted and the national anthem played? Look around the stadium and there will be many more flags waving. There is something deeply moving about representing your country and winning. And those of us who watched at home were proud of our success and delighted to be British.

All this national delight and pride serves to illustrate something greater and eternally lasting. For we all know that when we die we leave behind our British or Chinese or American citizenship. Can there possibly be anything greater? Christian belief says, yes. St. Paul calls it a higher citizenship, one that is in God's realm which we call heaven.

Recently, at the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops, I found it very moving, each morning, to share in the service of Holy Communion, in different languages, along with bishops and their spouses from a huge variety of nations. How amazing it is that Christ gave us such a symbolic feast to bind us together! This is the citizenship of which the Bible speaks: it is to belong to Jesus Christ and to the people of God. It transcends all national identities. Our flag, the badge of our ‘country', so to speak, is the cross; and it is seen in the bread broken and wine poured out, in our act of worship together.

This cross-cultural citizenship of heaven has a profound purpose in the world. It is a sign of God's aim for a common and united humanity, a humanity which lives at peace. How else can over 600 world spiritual leaders be united together for nearly three weeks? Only Jesus Christ has the power to achieve this. Similarly, the transformation in South Africa which happened when apartheid ended was rooted in Christian Faith; otherwise there would have been dreadful bloodshed.

Our citizenship of heaven is also a sign of our ultimate destiny. Everyone knows that to be British or Indian is of no consequence when we die. But to be welcome to Christ's table in the Holy Communion, is to see that we ultimately belong with Christ. To be a citizen of heaven, in the company of Christ, is the only citizenship which continues beyond the grave.

For four years, the life of each British athlete has been consumed with the priority of training; their life programme is completely dominated by the desire to win the prize. St. Paul tells us to work hard for the prize of our high calling, to enjoy and to represent God's country on earth.

Graham Dow, Bishop of Carlisle