Tag Faith

Is it sensible to believe in the Resurrection?

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‘How can you be a Vicar?’ someone once asked me. ‘You seem to be far too sensible to believe in all that mumbo-jumbo!’ On the one hand I was quite pleased to think that someone thought I was sensible, but on the other hand, I was quite perturbed to think that anyone might think that I wasn’t! So I enquired further, to which they replied, ‘Oh, I’m quite happy to believe that Jesus lived and was a good teacher and did a lot of good while he was alive – but raised from death? That’s just impossible!’ And of course, at first glance she was quite right! Normally speaking, people don’t come back to life after they have died. Anyone who has suffered a bereavement or been involved in a fatal car accident or fought in a war can tell you that! People die all the time and sadly with the state of the world in which we live, death is only too common an occurrence. But of course, it was just the same in Jesus’ day. If people didn’t die of poverty, sickness or malnutrition, they too could die in conflict or as in Jesus’ case, by painful execution. Indeed, the Romans were a master of their craft. They knew precisely how to murder people.

So how can we possibly believe in the resurrection?

Well firstly, because there were witnesses – people who knew Jesus well and saw him die; who also saw the empty tomb and he himself wonderfully alive. Firstly, to Mary Magdalene, and then to Mary the mother of James with Salome and Joanna – all of which is very strange, because if you wanted to ‘invent’ a resurrection story you wouldn’t use women as your principal voices who wouldn’t even be deemed as credible witnesses inside a court of law! So, were they mistaken? Had they hallucinated or simply suffered from grief stricken, over active imaginations? No, because the next witness to the living Lord was Peter, who had previously run to the empty tomb with his fellow disciple, John. They’d seen the empty tomb just as the women had described, with its huge entrance stone rolled away (the soldiers who had been guarding the tomb had to subsequently be bribed by the Pharisees to say that they had fallen asleep on duty). Yet it was not quite empty because the graves clothes which had monetary value were still inside, proving that the tomb hadn’t been struck by grave robbers. But this was not the end of the matter. Two disciples on the road to Emmaus reported that they had seen the risen Lord, and then he appeared to the disciples not once but twice (once without and then with Thomas). Thomas had declared that he wouldn’t believe that Jesus was alive until he’d touched the nail marks in his hands and placed his hand in the wound caused by the centurion’s spear in his side – and he was invited to do so with the admonishment, ‘Stop doubting and believe’. But even then, this was not the end of the story, because apart from joining the disciples once again for a fish breakfast on the side of the Sea of Galilee (proving that he was tangible and real and not a ghost), he also appeared to a group of 500 men all at once, as well as his own physical brother James (who subsequently became the leader of the church in Jerusalem), before finally appearing to a man call Saul who was so totally transformed by the experience that he ceased to be the great persecutor of Christians, and became its greatest advocate, the Apostle Paul.

All of this was topped by the simple truth, that not once did the Roman or Jewish authorities ever produce the body. That would have quashed the resurrection story once and for all, but they couldn’t because the tomb was empty, and Jesus was alive!

Yes, of course in the normal run of things, ordinary people live and die, but despite the fact that Jesus was fully human, that’s not all he was – he was also the Son of God, who lived, died and rose again. His resurrection proves it! This was a resurrection gospel that turned a rag-tag bunch of Jewish fishermen into fearless disciples, willing to live and die on the basis of what they had seen and heard for themselves and knew to be true. There is so much more that could be said about the resurrection that we don’t have time nor space to consider it here, other than to note the incredible growth of the church, and to rejoice in the wonderful transformation that it has brought to so many peoples’ lives with its huge implications for their future and the world in which we live – even for the creation.    

In the light of all this I simply don’t have the time, space or faith to be an atheist or even agnostic, for I delight in my rational understanding, and my joyful sense of identity and purpose – and my profoundly rewarding, satisfying and sensible Christian faith.

May I wish you all a very HAPPY EASTER!

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Philippians 3.10–11

What can ‘Mr Bates v The Post Office’ teach us about Lent?

Stephen Thorp 2 Comments

The recent ITV drama ‘Mr Bates v The Post Office’ has highlighted for many the dreadful plight that many subpostmasters found themselves in, following the installation of a faulty software accounting system called Horizon. The drama vividly portrayed the pain and anguish inflicted upon these sub-postmasters, who suddenly found their lives torn apart as the Horizon software frequently and falsely reported shortfalls for many thousands of pounds. This led the Post Office to accuse the subpostmasters of alleged theft, fraud and false accounting. The drama highlights the terrible burden, weight and consequences these accusations had on people lives and the enormous stress they were under. Between 1999 and 2015, 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted by the Post Office and 283 other cases were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service resulting in many people going to prison and many more receiving criminal convictions. Most lost their homes, livelihoods and savings and sadly four people committed suicide. The drama went on to portray the immense struggle that Alan Bates and his campaign group, the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, had over many years fighting for justice, culminating in their incredible victory at the High Court in 2019 when it was proved that the Horizon Post Office software had been at fault and that the sub-postmasters were innocent. The drama raised such public awareness and concern that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced in Parliament that all criminal convictions will be duly overturned and each person fairly compensated. This news has been warmly welcomed and received by all.

However, many people will find themselves reflecting upon the morals and ethics of this sordid episode. How can a trusted business and brand like The Post Office allow itself to treat so many innocent people so badly for so long? Why should it be more important to maintain the integrity of the Horizon software system than trust the integrity of their employees? Why was it so hard for the Post Office to admit the failings of its system and say sorry?

Christians will know that with Easter soon upon us, Lent is a great time for personal reflection and repentance, because it encourages us to consider our own lives and possible failings in the light of a God who loves us despite the fact that we are sinners. It encourages us to reflect upon how much we live up to the biblical command of loving God and ‘our neighbours as ourselves’ (Matthew 22.39), treating others with honesty and respect ‘as we ourselves would like to be treated’ (Luke 6.31). It also encourages us to reflect upon all those times when we have accidentally or deliberately fallen short, and sin has got the better of us, the consequences of which may be highly significant and impactful upon us and the lives of others. As we consider the events leading up to the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross, this season of Lent gives us another chance to reassess our lives, repent of our sins and reset the clock when we sincerely put our faith and trust in him, knowing that Christ died so that we might be forgiven.

We may not be able to change the misfortunes or immoralities of the world (or even the Post Office), but we can make things better where we are as we take responsibility for our own lives – words, deeds and actions – and as always, genuine moral change always starts with repentance!    

“I tell you … there will be much rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15.7

Have you taken down your Christmas decorations too soon?

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One of the things that saddens and surprises me most about Christmas is how quickly some people seem to be pleased to see the back of it. With the help of their Advent calendars, children have been joyfully counting down the days to Christmas for weeks (and parents no doubt the shopping days as they struggle to get ready) but as soon as the big day has come and gone, they move on to the next ‘big thing’, usually the Boxing Day sales or the New Year celebrations. After all that sense of increasing anticipation, Christmas has come and gone in an instant; shops and supermarkets surgically remove any trace of Christmas and people swiftly take down their decorations and remove the lights from their houses.

And yet as the Christmas Carol helpfully reminds us, there are ‘twelve days of Christmas’, and the Christmas season theoretically continues until ‘twelfth night’ on the 6th January, when we move into Epiphany. This is the time when the church traditionally marks the arrival of the wise men or Magi (‘the three kings’) who bowed down and worshipped the infant Christ as they presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

There was nothing instantaneous about their journey, as travelling from Babylon (modern day Iraq) it would have taken them 4-5 months to travel by camel the long and arduous route to Bethlehem. Yet it was worth it – because they understood that this was a moment of huge and profound significance, because in keeping with ancient prophecy, the God who had created both the heavens and the earth was going to send a great king to rule over his people. This is why they turned up at Herod’s palace asking “where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2.2). The Nativity and Epiphany stories remind us that the child who was born at Christmas as the Son of God was warmly received by shepherds and kings alike; Jews and Gentiles coming together to worship and acknowledge the birth of the long-awaited Messiah, the one who would not only “save the people from their sins” (Matthew 1.21) but the one whose kingdom would last for ever.

At the start of a new year many people take stock of their lives and hopefully wish for a better future, but Christians know that Christmas and Epiphany are not only wonderful occasions to celebrate the birth of Christ, but great opportunities to reflect upon their own personal present and future lives ‘in him’. Knowing that God is prepared to step into human history on your behalf as your Lord and Saviour, dying upon the cross, really brings home how much he loves, cares and values you. It changes your perspective of who you are ‘in Christ’ and gives your life a greater sense of meaning and purpose, deepening the way you see yourself and your appreciation of others. In some parts of the world, love, joy and peace are in short supply and yet they lie at the heart of a Christian Christmas. Therefore, it seems to me that it’s certainly worth celebrating the ‘twelve days of Christmas’ and leaving the decorations up longer than we seem to, so that together we might pause and allow the season to nourish us a little longer.

For to us a child is born…and he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9.6

What are YOU celebrating this Christmas?

Stephen Thorp 2 Comments

What are you celebrating this Christmas – and what do you hope for?

For many, Christmas is simply an opportunity to take a break from work and spend time with the family; an opportunity to rest and relax after the giving of presents and the eating of Christmas dinner. For others it’s an opportunity to ‘catch up’, and perhaps visit distant relatives and friends. However, as nice as these things may be, the deeply Christian nature of Christmas is lost on many who don’t really know, understand or appreciate it. Which is such a shame, because it’s the significance of Christmas, which gives it so much of its meaning, magic and sparkle!  A few years ago, it was reported that one third of children between the ages of 10 and 13 did not know that Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ and I doubt if that figure has gone down (although I’m discounting Necton School from this comment as I know they do a terrific job teaching the children about Jesus). But the point remains, Christmas tinsel and wrapping paper may be very pretty but they become rather useless without the present, and celebrating Christmas without Christ is rather similar! Most adults will have some recollection from school Nativity plays that Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem on the back of a donkey, so that she could ultimately give birth to the baby Jesus in a stable – but even so, do they truly understand the significance of the baby?

The Bible tells us that apart from the baby being called Jesus he is also called Immanuel – which means ‘God with us’ – and this is the first most amazing point of Christmas, that God does not remain abstract or aloof, an idea or philosophy hovering somewhere out in space or the ether, but becomes intimately involved with our world, by stepping into it by becoming a baby, a child, a human person just like us – and so God really does understand us from the inside out as it were.  

The second point is that God did not step into the world because the world was so good, but precisely because it is not! This is why Jesus is often called the ‘light of the world’ because his presence shines a light into the darkness of our surroundings and even our own hearts. Yes, the world is beautiful, but the wars in Ukraine and Gaza / Israel demonstrate only too well that our world isn’t perfect, and neither are our own lives, for we all carry imperfections and have sometimes suffered misfortunes in consequence either directly because of our own actions, or those of others – and occasionally just because ‘life has been unkind to us’. These things break our heart, but they also break God’s heart too, which is why knowing that ‘God is with us’ can be so joyful and comforting, because we know that we are not alone. God cares for us in our bleakest moments as well as our happiest.

Jesus spent most of his life teaching his disciples and therefore us, not only about God but a better way of being, how to live a better life. His life and ministry was therefore through his teaching, and the power of the Holy Spirit about transformation making us more ‘Christlike’ when we recognise precisely who he is and put our faith and trust in him. Yet, the consequences of our broken world still had to be dealt with, which is why Jesus’ ministry ultimately took him to the cross, where he performs the most gracious act of loving self-sacrifice, dying for us upon the cross and taking upon himself the consequences of our sin. This is an act of atonement which pardons us and frees us from all guilt, sin and shame when we personally appreciate, trust and believe that he died for us, each one of us – because he loved us. This transforms our sense of identity, self-worth and purpose as we look out into the world and our place within it. It fills our hearts with life, ‘eternal life’ and peace – which is everlasting.

Merely summarising these things means nothing without personal thought and contemplation, but genuine appreciation and acceptance is a real cause of joy and celebration. I hope that you will know something of God’s love, joy and peace for you and your families as you accept the free gift of Christ this Christmas. So, on behalf of the parishes I represent, may I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.

Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2.11

Earthquakes, floods and famine – “There but for the grace of God go I”

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The recent tragedies in Morocco and Libya have been truly heartbreaking. With 3000 people dying as a result of the Moroccan earthquake, and the possibility of 20,000 people dying in the Libyan floods, the amount of human suffering is hard to imagine or comprehend. It’s no wonder that many traumatised victims, trying to make sense of things and come to terms with their grief, have been recorded by journalists as simply saying ‘It’s the will of God’ or ‘Allah wills it’, which leaves the rest of us safely looking on from the comfort of our homes thinking, ‘well, thank God I wasn’t caught up in that’ or ‘there but for the grace of God go I’. But now, of course, the difficult questions arise! Why aren’t buildings built to be more earthquake resilient, and why aren’t dams which are known to be faulty immediately repaired? Surely a lot more lives could have been saved if only they had been. Perhaps part of the problem is a fatalistic mindset, which encourages people to believe that certain tragedies are an ‘act of God’ and ‘what will be will be’. If this is your attitude, then why should you bother learning from your mistakes or from tragedy, because effectively all responsibility is taken out of your hands and left in the hands of the divine. But this isn’t a biblical perspective, because despite the fact that the world is imperfect (as so clearly demonstrated by recent events) God cares! “The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all that he has made” (Psalm 145.9). So, instead of thinking that God is aloof, uncaring or absent, we should think of him as being deeply concerned and hands on, working through the kind and compassionate words and deeds of those who act in his name and struggle to bring assistance and relief to the needy. In a sense, this mirrors the Gospel itself, for God has always sought to step into the world rather than step out of or away from it. This is most ably demonstrated in the person of Jesus, who taught his disciples to love God and their neighbour as themselves and who by his death, demonstrated a selfless love for the world so that it might be renewed, restored and forgiven of sin. Although we might tend to think ‘there but for the grace of God go I’ when it comes to earthly tragedies, in the light of sin the Gospel message might be summed up in the words ‘there but for the grace of God, goes God’ achieving for us something that we couldn’t possibly achieve for ourselves.

So, in the face of calamity, whether it be at home or abroad, let us hold on to the fact that God’s love and compassion is with us, and echo and demonstrate it in our own thoughts, words and deeds.

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. Lamentations 3.22

Celebrating Harvest – against all the odds!

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Many of us will be familiar with the story Jesus told his disciples known as the ‘parable of the sower’ (Matthew 13.1-9,18-23), which demonstrated the spiritual reality that sadly not every heart would be open to the ‘Word of God’ like seed sown on good soil – but rather, like seed that was eaten by birds on a path, scorched by the sun in rocky places or choked by thorns and thistles, would be destroyed and rejected by those whose hearts were influenced, shaped and hardened by the worries, cares and problems of the world,  resulting in what appears to be at first glance, a massive 75% failure rate!

But even if we put the spiritual metaphors to one side for a moment, and take the parable ‘literally’, it still speaks to us, because it chimes with what we understand and see going on around us at the present time. The ongoing war in Ukraine has been a disaster for the world’s food store. Because of damage to fields and farms, 40% fewer crops have been planted in 2023 than the year before. The lack of fertiliser has literally left many crops struggling to grow against thorns, thistles, and weeds. Many farmers have therefore switched to growing easier oil-based crops such as sunflowers, resulting in the fact that this year’s grain harvest is even smaller than before. The ‘rocky ground’ left by an overabundance of military ordinance, such as landmines, has left a deadly legacy so that many fear to gather the crops, and now that Russia has pulled out of its Black Sea crop exporting deal, the worries, cares and pressures of the world are exasperated for many. In other parts of the world, climate change and excessive heat waves literally scorch the seed sown for food. All of this reduces supply, forces up prices, fuels inflation and cements the cost of living crisis, leaving 20% of people on the lowest incomes in the UK with not enough money to feed themselves after two weeks.

The situation is no doubt even more complicated than this, but it is why we need to celebrate harvest and be grateful for what we have, supporting those who through no fault of their own are less fortunate than ourselves. So as many of our churches begin to look forward towards the harvest season, may I encourage you to join us. This year our harvest charity will be Ripple Effect (formerly known as Send a Cow), helping poorer African nations learn how to farm and feed themselves sustainably, and we will be using our dry provisions and harvest gifts to support our local foodbank. Kindness and generosity are great spiritual values whether you consider yourself to be Christian or not, and just as the ‘Word of God’ teaches us, seed that is sown into good soil ‘can produce a crop a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown’ (Matthew 13.8). Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our kind, generous and thankful hearts had a similar effect this harvest season?!      

Well done England’s Lionesses. Let’s go again!

Stephen Thorp 3 Comments

No doubt like me, many of you are disappointed that England’s Lionesses failed to win the Women’s Football World Cup 2023! But what a wonderful tournament it has been, and what excitement! Who can forget Chloe Kelly’s incredible winning penalty strike against Nigeria which at 69 mph was more powerful than any goal scored in the Premier League last season – or young Lauren James announcing herself on the world stage with 2 wonderful goals against China and an incredible strike against Denmark – or finally Mary Earps’ sensational penalty save against Spain in the Final which rightfully won her the ‘golden glove’ award and confirmed her place as one of the world’s top female goalkeepers admired by millions (whatever Nike might say by not producing a copy of her shirt for fans to buy). Not forgetting the rest of the team who all did so very well under the wonderful management of Sarina Wiegman. It’s such a shame that the final proved to be ‘one game too far’, but their skill and dedication has brought us all a lot of joy and entertainment over the last few days and we can as a nation take great pride in what they have accomplished, and they have certainly inspired many other ‘little boys and girls’ to play football and be the ‘lions and lionesses’ of the future.

However, we all know that it is the possibility of winning or losing which makes football and so many other sports, so enthralling. It is embracing the idea and stepping up to the challenge which makes sport such a wonderful metaphor for the stresses and strains and challenges of life. It’s been 57 years since England last won the football world cup and perhaps for many it may seem like we will never win it, but still it’s a challenge which inspires.

The Christian will know that when it comes to earning our place in heaven, we are all doomed to fail, because as frail, fallen, sinful human beings we can never make the grade or live up to God’s standards – we have all fallen short! (Romans 3.23) But fortunately, God’s love for us means that we are not abandoned or left to our own devices; God steps into the world in the person of Jesus Christ, so that he might take upon himself all the terrible consequences of our fallen nature by dying for us upon a cross. His death paid the price of our sins and so now we can enjoy a new forgiven life and a new relationship with God when we put our faith and trust in him. The Apostle Paul sums it up so well, when he says ‘forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3.12-14).

So, let’s be thankful for all that Christ has accomplished, and like England’s lionesses, pick ourselves up and grab that second chance ‘to go again’.      

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15.57

Georgia Stanway, Rachel Daly, Millie Bright, Mary Earps, Alessia Russo, Lucy Bronze, Lauren Hemp, Ella Toone, Jess Carter, Keira Walsh, Alex Greenwood

Cultivating a friendship which inspires

Stephen Thorp 2 Comments

You don’t need to be a fan of Rugby League to appreciate and be inspired by the tremendous friendship between Kevin Sinfield and his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow. When Rob Burrow was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in late 2019, Kevin stuck by his friend and was inspired to do whatever he could to raise money for MND charities. In 2020 he ran seven marathons in seven days and in 2021 he completed a run of 101 miles in 24 hours. Last year he completed an Ultra 7 in 7 Challenge when he ran seven back to back ultra-marathons (an ultra marathon being a run longer than the standard marathon length). His latest triumph was on Sunday 14th May 2023 when he completed the first inaugural Rob Burrow’s Leeds Marathon when he actually pushed Rob the 26.2 miles in a specially adapted wheelchair, lifting him out of the chair as they finally crossed the finish line together. So far Kevin Sinfield has raised well over £8 million for charity, which is not only a remarkable story about good coming out of adversity, but a wonderful celebration of their friendship.

The Bible has a lot to say about ‘running the race’ and ‘going the extra mile’, just as it does about friendship, with such examples as those of David and Jonathan, and Ruth and Naomi whose love, compassion and loyalty bound them together through ‘thick and thin’ as good friends regardless of what life and dire circumstances had brought them. The Christian will be aware that this was modelled in Jesus’ own life and taught by him when he told his disciples that they and all who put their faith in him could be his friends if they did what he commanded – and what was it that he commanded? It was that they should ‘love one another as I have loved you’ (John 15.12) in other words selflessly, sacrificially and completely, often putting the needs of the other person first, and before themselves. This was ultimately demonstrated by Jesus himself when he died upon the cross.

There is so much sadness and suffering in the world that it often weighs us down and depresses us but let us also lift up our heads and be inspired by the good examples of love and friendship that we see and be inspired to cultivate such qualities and friendships in our own life and the people we meet.  

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17.17

‘God save the King’ – A prayer for the Monarch & the Nation

Stephen Thorp 1 Comment

In just a few days’ time the nation will be rejoicing as we collectively watch, witness & celebrate the coronation of HRH King Charles III at Westminster Abbey. It will no doubt be a grand occasion full of ‘pomp and circumstance’ which is such a feature of British Royal occasions (and broadcast around the world). The mixture of pageantry and religious symbolism will bring the service to life and mark the King as both the head of state and church in one incredibly significant, self-defining moment. Alongside the presentation of the King, the swearing of oaths and anointing, the moment of enthronement will culminate not only in the singing of the choir but by the public cry of ‘God save the King!’ with the congregation joining in a rendition of The National Anthem. However, although most will recognise The National Anthem to be a prayer said on behalf of our King, not many will appreciate that it’s also a prayer for ourselves and the nation we are part of, for although the antiquated language of the second verse may make many of us feel uneasy about the ‘scattering of enemies’ and the ‘frustration of their knavish tricks’, it has to be said that these words uttered in the light of the current war in Ukraine has a European poignancy which we haven’t seen or felt for some time. But it is of course, the third verse with its exhortation that the King might ‘defend our laws and ever give us cause, to sing with heart and voice, God save the King’ which strikes at the heart of our national life. Although we recognise King Charles to be our Sovereign, we also recognise that it is Parliament which guides and directs our daily living and of which the monarch is its figurehead – and yet the King’s soft power both at home and abroad is tremendous.

It’s a common misconception that religion and politics shouldn’t mix, but the coronation demonstrates how both are deeply ingrained in our society, shaping and making us the nation state that we are – and even with the UK becoming an increasingly pluralistic, multicultural society, the truth of this statement will only become more profound, not less.

The Christian will be aware that Jesus told his disciples that the greatest commandment was to “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ ” (Luke 10.27) because loving the first helps to achieve the love of  the second. This motivating truth should be reflected in all aspects of our society, whether it be personal or political, whether we be ‘prince’ or ‘pauper’, for as the Bible also reminds us “ ‘what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’ ” (Micah 6.8) and this is especially true, I would suggest, if you happen to be King!

So as we come to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, let us pray not only for him but for our nation and ourselves as we sing The National Anthem.

God save the King!

Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness. Proverbs 16.12

What can Lent teach modern people like us?

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The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Revd Justin Welby, has just recently attended a meeting of Bishops and Primates abroad (The Anglican Consultative Council, Accra, Ghana) where he has described how the secularisation of western society has dramatically changed the morality of financially rich, independent Europeans over the last 30 years. Indeed, with 75% of people under 30 in the UK claiming to have ‘no religious affiliation’, the Archbishop saw this as further evidence that we live in a post-Christian world and society.

The Archbishop also noted that along with financial independence, people have sought other personal and individual freedoms, longing to be free from the traditional norms and external constraining authorities and influences. Such as ‘how we live’, ‘who we love’, ‘how we change and manipulate our bodies’, ‘produce our children’ and even ‘how we die’. He then went on to describe how this modern post-Christian morality, was not only a morality for the wealthy, powerful and intellectually well educated – but also a morality that does not believe in human sinfulness and failure. Nor does it believe in forgiveness or hope – and this is where the church struggles.

However, Lent is a time when we are all invited to pause, take stock and reflect upon the way that we live, both as individuals and as part of a broader society. And sometimes this reflection isn’t easy, because although we appreciate that much of what we do is positive and good – much of it is not!  ‘To err’ they say ‘is to be human’, but sometimes our errors and mistakes have unintended consequences, inflicting damage not only upon our own lives but also those of the people around us. The ripples of our ‘sin’ (as the Bible puts it) often spread further than we can possibly imagine, having a negative impact not only upon those we love and come into contact with, but also within our communities, our society and the world – and even the God who loves it.

Lent is therefore a time when we can reflect once again upon the glorious story of a God who so loved the world that, despite its sin, he stepped into it. Whose love led him to take upon himself the terrible consequences of our sin ‘in the person of Jesus’ by dying for us upon a cross, so that we might not only be forgiven but also have hope for the future. All we need to do is the one thing that modern people find so hard to do, which is to say sorry, sincerely repent (turn away from our sin) and recognise that in Christ we have a Saviour who loves us.

We may not be able to change the misfortunes or moralities of the entire world but we can make it better where we are – and as always, it always starts with us! 

“Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1.15