Condemned?
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
As I write the news is full of condemnation: Israel has a death penalty law; Iran is striking nations that have not attacked Iran; Russia continues to be aggressive to Ukraine; Antisemitism in the UK is condemned by the British government; even the US press have condemned their president for threatening to attack Iranian civilian infrastructure.
Closer to home, the boiler in Alton Church has been condemned. Not that it has failed to work, it has served us well for over 20 years, but the regulations for ventilation have changed so the engineer told us that without more air around the boiler we could not use it. Some folk noticed as soon as we changed the historic west door of the Church (without cutting it) removing the top right side; and replacing it with horrible plywood and a grille. This means the door looks terrible and the bellringers have a draught.
The Church is seeking to look after the environment, so we had to look at replacing the boiler with a heat pump (too expensive, and not suitable for buildings that are not heated all the time). Then we thought about using hydrogen gas in the boiler which is apparently on its way but not available yet. So we had a serious look at electrically heating the Church but this would require many heaters suspended from the ceiling throughout the Church and we did not like the look of them. So we have gone back to the idea of a gas boiler – but much more efficient than the old one, installed by a local contractor, with a balanced flue through the stone wall on the side most people don’t see. The Church does its planning permission through experts based at Lichfield who know about listed buildings and the plans for the new boiler are now with them for permission. Once the new boiler is in place we can put the west door back how it used to be.
We do know it will cost about £20,000, and we can probably just about stretch to it – but it would leave us with nothing for rooves and churchyards. We always ask the local congregation to give a special gift in June (St Peter’s day is 29th). I know this article is read by many who don’t often come in the Church but value us being there for the village and for the many services we offer (baptisms, weddings, funerals). If you would like to give to the appeal, I have included here the QR code you can see in the Church pews which allows donations to be given digitally. (You will need to download it from this page before you can use it)
Continuing the theme of condemnation in a more fitting way for the Vicar’s letter I want to briefly look at the most famous verse in the Bible.
John 3:16 begins with God’s heart: “For God so loved the world…” This love didn’t wait for us to be perfect. God loved first. And because of that love, He gave His Son. Jesus came not to embarrass us, not to crush us, and not to cast us away. He came so that whoever believes in Him would not perish.
Verse 17 explains even more clearly why Jesus came: God sent His Son “not to condemn the world.” Instead, Jesus was sent to save it. That means condemnation is not the final message from Jesus. The final message is redemption, God’s rescue plan reaching into our weakness.
Then John 3:18 draws a direct line: “Whoever believes in him is not condemned.” Notice what belief does, it brings us out from under condemnation. But John also includes a sobering truth: “Whoever does not believe… stands condemned already.” The issue is not that God delights in punishment; the issue is that refusing Jesus leaves a person without a Saviour.
So, the question isn’t, “Am I a bad person?” The question is, “Will I trust the One God sent?” If you believe in Jesus, you are not condemned, because He came to save you, not to shame you.
Confess your need, receive His love, and walk forward in hope. Jesus is calling you out of condemnation and into life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:17-18)
Brian Leathers April 2026