With another Brexit vote defeat, the future direction of the country seems less and less clear. It is easy to be concerned by the stories in the press of what No Brexit may mean or fear the predicted unrest should Brexit be delayed. Trying to filter the facts from the hyperbole is difficult in the media at the best of times. Now as we as a country tread an un-trodden path to Brexit or not certainty seems to be a distant concept.
This feeling has been true throughout history and times of change and trial. The church is often portrayed as stale, unchanging and irrelevant. My view of the Church as a whole is far from that. Yes, there are some old church building and some churchgoers that favour music from the nineteenth rather than the twenty-first century but that is about styles of worship and flavour of church. There are many vibrant and modern churches of all denominations, that flex their style just as popular culture changes that are filled with Christians that care just as much about what happens outside the church anyone.
One thing that is true though is the unchanging nature of the church. This is not about style or social fit, this reflects the unchanging nature of God. A God that is both all-powerful and interested in each and every person on this planet. A God that poured out immense love and immeasurable sacrifice to reconcile me with him so that I can know Him and have certainty in that relationship today and for eternity.
I have no idea what Brexit will hold – what I do know though is that whatever changes the political decisions bring, I serve a God that is unchanging. That certainty is both comforting and empowering as we move through these uncertain times. It is that certainty in God that allows me to pray for all our leaders (both those of my political stance and those of other parties) that they will have wisdom, compassion and tolerance throughout these continued negotiations. I also pray for us as a country and community that whatever the outcome we show the best of the human spirit by disagreeing well and being magnanimous in our views to people of other opinions.
Romans 8:38-39 New International Version (NIV)
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a]neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.