With parliament prorogued and then not, as legal challenges raced through the courts, 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 a ‘no deal’ Brexit may mean or fear what may happen 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, continue to tread an un-trodden path to Brexit, of one shape or another, or not and face a General Election or possibly not; certainty seems to be a distant concept. One thing that history and life experience have taught me is that we always live in times of change and trial, we are always having to adapt to the unknown and often unexpected.
The Church is often portrayed, especially in the media caricature that is television, 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 style and taste and not about a lack of cultural relevancy. There are many vibrant and modern churches of all denominations, that flex their style to reflect popular culture changes and yet keep to a consistent and relevant belief. Whatever the style of church I see churches that are filled with people that care about our society, about injustice, about the environment and about the communities they are in. I see people and churches that are always adapting to meet the needs of society, providing support services to the elderly or those with debt or those feeling lonely and isolated. This is nothing new. The church has always done this but has adapted with the times – providing support through organisations like Christians against Poverty (www.capuk.org), and co-ordinating projects like Food In School Holidays (FISH) or Assist (www.assistlincs.org.uk) as just three examples out of many. Whatever the music or the age of the building it is clear that the Church is moving with the times, even in uncertain times.
There is one thing about the Church that is unchanging. That is the consistent nature of God. A God that is both immense and yet interested in each and every person on this planet. A God that poured out immense love and immeasurable sacrifice to bring certainty to believers both for today and for eternity; A God that commands his believers to feed the hungry, defend the cause of the poor and the needy and to love their neighbour whatever side of the Brexit debate they are on.
I have no idea what Brexit will hold – What I do know, 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 that they will have wisdom, compassion and tolerance throughout this journey. I also pray for us as a country and a local 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.
First published in March 2019 - updated and republished for the Cherry News Oct 2019