A Brand plucked from the burning?

When Saul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him… Acts 9:26-27

Until a few years ago I had barely heard of Russell Brand. I knew his name vaguely as some sort of television personality - and that his reputation was not particularly savoury. But I was in no position to judge – nor, of course, would it have been right to do so anyway.

Now it’s in the headlines that he has become a Christian; in fact, that he has had himself baptised in the River Thames (why, oh why, the Thames!). It seems that somebody advised him to “turn to Jesus, not to religion”, which surely was good advice. And he is quoted in the paper as saying: “for the first time in my life I realise I’m not the centre of my universe”, which sounds humble and sincere.

But there are other details about his story which are, perhaps, a little troubling: he apparently uses tarot cards to foretell his future; he has dipped into a variety of Christian groups, from praying the rosary Roman Catholic style to attending Alpha courses Anglican style to involvement with various charismatic groupings. Interesting!

I can imagine grave heads being shaken in various circles, in suspicion if not in downright disapproval. He is quoted as saying that he is “just learning”, which again sounds properly humble and sensible; but which also begs the question “Good! Learning is vital! But who exactly is doing the teaching?” Who did the baptising? Conversions rarely happen to people in total solitude, so it’s only natural to wonder what friends and influencers are around him (though, of course, he would be entitled to tell us to mind our own business).

Do you tend to be pretty cynical when you hear a story like this? “Huh, we’ll soon see how long that lasts! Just attention-seeking! Just jumping on a band-wagon!”? Or do you launch into a shout of praise? “Praise the Lord! Truly, a Brand plucked from the burning!”?

Either of those responses would be mistaken: we should be neither cynically dismissive nor naively gullible.

Remember Saul of Tarsus.

We read in Acts 7:58 that when Stephen was stoned to death by a mob of outraged members of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the people who did it “laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul”. In 8:1 we read that “Saul approved of their killing him”, in 8:3 that he “began to destroy the church”, and in 9:1 that, just a little later, he was “still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples”.

This was no minor opposition! So the words I have quoted above, from Acts 9:26-7, while terribly sad (“he tried to join the disciples” – can you picture that scene?), should perhaps not surprise or even shock us too much. Those Christians who felt it necessary to reject Saul were themselves still quite new believers and, humanly speaking, were justified in suspecting what he was up to. Remember - they knew nothing of what is now ancient history to us; nothing of “the apostle Paul”! Would they be next on the hit-list?

Imagine a couple of Christians running into one another on the streets of Jerusalem… “Have you heard – that dreadful man Saul is claiming to follow Jesus! He wants to join the church!” “No! I don’t believe it – he’ll soon be showing his true colours…! Just you wait and see…”

The fact is that, had it not been for the lovely man Barnabas, who made the wonderful, courageous decision to take Saul under his wing, Saul might very well have been lost to the church… (All right, you will say that God had it all in hand, and would have found a way to work out his plan; but you get the point.)

Every now and then we get news of “celebrities”, notorious or not, claiming to be converted. And sometimes, yes, it turns out, sadly, not to last. But then not every “ordinary” convert stands the test of time either, do they?

I remember when the prominent political figure Jonathan Aitken ended up in prison for lying in a court of law, his life and career shattered. He subsequently claimed to have become a Christian, was ordained as an Anglican clergyman, and now serves as a prison chaplain. There has been much cynicism. But he has by now “stood the test of time”  - at least as much as many of the rest of us have.

What becomes of Russell Brand only time will tell. In the meantime your business and mine is to follow the story with love and prayers (and perhaps a pinch of salt), but not with either cynicism nor gullibility. He needs good friends, good teaching, true nurture and encouragement with all that that may involve – and, I would add, plenty of peace and quiet in which to find and establish his new self.

Whatever happens, may it never be said that any of us failed to give him the support of our prayers.

Dear Father in heaven, help me, I pray, to grow in my heart a blend of wise discernment, healthy scepticism and practical helpfulness in the matter of supporting new converts. Especially today, may your gracious hand rest upon Russell Brand and all those who are his friends and advisers. May your Holy Spirit transform him and ultimately bring him to glory. Amen.