Indeed a representative of the BBC who was present stated “what was achieved was the equivalent of an outside
broadcast”.

It was certainly an evening that once again “put Highworth on the map!”
For many people, it was encouraging to see so many talented young people along with those who were much older. Those taking part included those of faith and no faith.
What attracts people to take part in events such as The Passion? For many it is to be part of re-telling what has been described as “the greatest story ever told”. Down through the ages The Passion events have attracted interest. As a basic story it has all the elements of a good film – “intrigue, deception, a fixed court case, a gory death and eventually triumph over death”.

But the key question is, is The Passion just a story or is it true? For Christians this issue is really high stakes. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15 (The Message Version) “If there’s no resurrection, there’s no living Christ. And face it—if there’s no
resurrection for Christ, everything we’ve told you is smoke and mirrors, and everything you’ve staked your life on is smoke and mirrors. Not only that, but we would be guilty of telling a string of barefaced lies about God, all these affidavits we passed on to you
verifying that God raised up Christ—sheer fabrications, if there’s no resurrection.”
Clearly Paul was not mincing his words.

However he wrote with assurance as he knew people who had met the risen Christ. Indeed he would claim that the changes in his lifestyle were as a result of experiencing for himself the transforming resurrection power of Christ on the roads to Damascus.
As a Church leader in Highworth I would encourage you to investigate for yourself whether Paul was deluded or whether what he experienced and wrote was the truth. The churches of Highworth (contact numbers in the back of this magazine) offer
opportunities to participate in courses such as the very well known Alpha course which give people the chance to investigate the issues for themselves in a no pressure atmosphere.

Paul in Philippians 3 (The Message version) states that “I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power.
You never know, it may just change the whole of your life just as it did for the Apostle Paul 2,000 years ago. Now that would be another great story to tell.

Phil Baker
(A leader of Highworth Community Church)