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I wonder if in 2023…..?

In October I went to see one of my favourite bands, Counting Crows. It was a brilliant gig – they played all the hits I was hoping to hear. As they played “Long December” it came to my mind how, in recent years, I’ve quoted the song on my social media pages to round off the year:

“It’s been a long December and there’s reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last”.

2020 was, of course, a year dominated by COVID. Lockdowns, grief, anxiety and fear were the themes of the year, but 2021 was coming, vaccines were here, “maybe this year will be better than the last”.

But 2021 was pretty cruel too. New variants of the virus emerged, reminding us that COVID was not disappearing anytime soon. The Taliban started another era of oppressive rule in Afghanistan, 27 people (including a pregnant woman and three children) died in the English Channel hoping to find safety in the UK, and my MP was murdered. Bring on 2022… “maybe this year will be better than the last”?

Here we are one year one – war has broken out in Europe, political chaos has deepened polarisation and we’ve entered the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation (at least). Looking to 2023, is there any hope that “this year will be better than the last”?

I’d understand if you’re sceptical. There is plenty to suggest the year ahead is going to be very challenging indeed. I’d understand if your hope is feeling overextended. But it’s important to remember, for those who put their confidence in the Lord, hope never dies.

There will be darkness in 2022, but Jesus is the Light of the World – and the darkness cannot overcome His light. And for those for whom darkness is still overwhelming, it’s important to remember, God has always been, and will always be, present in the darkness – in the presence of God, there is always hope.

This year that hope has been on display for all to see as the body of Christ has stepped forward to be present in darkness. I have witnessed hope being given to Ukrainian refugees who have been invited to live in the homes of countless Baptist Christians across the country, including in the EBA. I have seen hope being given to those experiencing the worst of the energy crisis as churches open their spaces to offer food, hospitality and friendship to those in need of a warm welcome. This year, there is little doubt, the spirit of generosity, so famous at Christmas, has been on display in Christian homes and communities.

I wonder if in 2023, however, we might go a little further…

Another song I often stumble across at this time of year is Jackson Browne’s, “The Rebel Jesus”.[1] It’s a powerful Christmas reflection on how western Christianity has, perhaps, drifted away from the radical life and message of the rebel Jesus. The third verse speaks to our generosity to the poor, but the following words urge us to follow Jesus one stage further:

perhaps we give a little to the poor

if the generosity should seize us,

but if anyone of us should interfere

in the business of why there are poor

they get the same as the rebel Jesus

My hope for 2023 is that our churches might find courage in moving beyond our wonderful acts of hospitality and generosity, and consider what part Jesus might be asking us to play further upstream.[2]

How might we challenge the policies and structures that create a society where foodbanks and warm welcome centres are needed by so many, and where our leaders persist with policies that tell strangers in need “there is no room at the inn (but there might be in Rwanda)”?

I wish you and those in your communities every blessing this Christmas and pray that you might experience tangible hope in the coming year.

The thought this week was written by Rev Steve Tinning, BUGB’s Public Issues Enabler and member of Eastwood Baptist Church.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1d0ivyTTk

[2] “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” ― Desmond Tutu