Hope is Letting Go

The UK church has become disillusioned to the point of hopelessness. In the context of a wider society, the church is looking for hope. The extremes of Christianity, obedience and exclusivity, have been deemed too uncomfortable and inappropriate for the outside world, and issues such as fornication, homosexuality and the drinking culture have been glossed over in the search for hope. The reality is that hope and obedience go hand in hand. I use the analogy of lifesaving at sea. It is a known principle that when those who are being rescued try to help the rescuer by kicking or fighting the sea actually make it more difficult for both and endanger both lives. The rescue is easier when one just cooperates and the rescuer does the work. Here is the ugly truth: we don't always know what's best for us. Funny that Hollywood has tried very hard to preach the opposite, that kids shouldn't always obey their parents because their parents actually don't always know (Billy Elliot, etc). In surrender to God we submit to One who actually does know the best, and when we realise and accept that, then we have the peace and the hope everyone hungers after.