The title of this book comes from the image central to the inaugural sermon preached by Paul Bayes in Liverpool Cathedral when he became Bishop of the city and the Diocese, which is repeated in full as the first chapter. In the preface, Bishop Paul explains that the purpose of the book, published earlier this year, is to see how our lives, prayers and actions as Christians can be changed if we begin to see the church as an open table of friends, sitting beside Jesus.
“It’s a table for meeting. It’s a table for talking around. It’s a table for laughing. Most of all it’s a table for eating.”
My partner Henry is a fantastic raconteur and for the best part of fifteen years we lived in houses with large gardens and hosted summer dinner parties which went on long into the night (and usually in to the next day!) We would string together a series of umbrellas or gazebos and set up tables in a long line beneath them with lots of candles and lights on strings. Often the guests would be a mixture of people I had met before and others who Henry had met and had invited to dinner for the first time. Reading The Table reminded me of those parties, which begin standing around with drinks moving from one group of people to another – then sitting down to eat, perhaps changing places between courses as we got up to clear plates and get more wine. Often I would overhear repeated stories or anecdotes from earlier in the evening, or some new words of wisdom would catch my ear. Once all the food had been served and the volume of the chatter died down, the cigarettes or cigars and brandy would come out and the ‘deep’ conversations start, drawing the evening to a close, more-often-than-not at first light!
Part I of the book felt very much like the pre-dinner drinks. We learn later in the book that Bishop Paul’s first degree was in performance arts – which comes as no surprise as he is an expert scene-changer! After introducing the image of the table we are shown other metaphors and images, including the “underground stream”. Much like moving from one group of friends to another while topping up the glasses as they chat before dinner, some fantastic one liner’s caught my ear, such as;
“I believe that the purpose of leadership in the Church (and not only in the church) is basically twofold : to sing a song and to get a grip.”
and “I’m a practising Christian, not only because I’m no expert and will never be one, but because only by practising can I live.”
We sit down to eat with Part II of the book, which is divided into four courses, each discussing one dimension of Christian practice, linked to the image of the table. In this section we revisit some of the metaphors and images we heard before (“Don’t push the river; it flows by itself”); like someone telling their favourite story and repeating it to others further down the table.
First we are invited to meet at the table in friendship (not fellowship - an important distinction which is explained in the book).
Then we are invited to drink from the fountain - to be enriched and enlivened by scripture, the creeds and liturgies. Whilst all are important it is only the Bible that is this living water in liquid form - only scripture can run down to reach us even when we are in the depths of despair.
Next we are invited to prayer - to “watch in the moment.” Bishop Paul is careful not to suggest there is a correct way to pray - or even any way of knowing at the time if you are in “the moment” - and explains that none of this gets easier with practice (you just get more used to being a beginner). In fact prayer can feel awkward. Like an awkward moment when a dinner party conversation turns to the topic of Brexit. You can feel alone, even empty, despite being in company. The “moment” is described by Paul Bayes as “companionable emptiness” - the point at which we are utterly dependent on God and not ourselves.
The final course draws on this emptiness - and encourages us to empty ourselves, like Christ - to put everything on the line as we “stretch for the kingdom” to make life even more worth living. To make a bigger church because we want God to make a bigger difference. In this longest section we are encouraged to take risks - and risk the rejection that comes with evangelism, of sharing our faith.
Bishop Paul suggests much can be learned from those on the margins of the church and society, including the LGBT community, whose experiences of “coming out” may be able to teach Christians something about accepting and declaring their faith. Drawing on the writing of his teacher, Walter Hollenweger, Bishop Paul goes on to note that when Peter explained his baptism of Cornelius to the other Christians in Jerusalem, they accepted his account without any scriptural exegesis or any other explanation except that Cornelius and the other gentiles has received the spirit. They recognised their unity as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Part III of the book feels like that moment at a dinner party when the food is finished and the pudding or cheese things are left on the table. Someone lights a cigar and the volume of the conversation drops. It is at this point that the essence of the night - or the early morning - is discerned. It is here, at the breakfast table, on the lakeside in John’s gospel, that we find the risen Christ and hear the call to follow Him.
“Christians connect with God at least as much through their mouths as through their ears.”
Like many others, being a guest does not come easily to me and I can feel uncomfortable when I don’t know the “rules” about what to wear and what time to arrive. I was glad to have Bishop Paul to accompany me at this dinner party with such an awe-inspiring host, to navigate the “informal honesty in a meal of friends mixed with reverence in the presence of a saving sacrifice” which remains the “flavour of the Christian Eucharist” to this day.
The Table : Knowing Jesus : Prayer, Friendship, Justice was published by Darton Longman and Todd in 2019.
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