The tumultuous events of the past few months—not just the pandemic, or the American election and its aftermath, or the military coup in Myanmar, or the economic violence in the world’s markets, or the sabre rattling by some of the superpowers; but the anger and fear, intolerance and hatred which have surfaced and threatened freedom all over the world—these raise the question of hope. We seem to be living through an extraordinary moment in history, when what seemed secure is unravelling and what we thought were common commitments and a common direction are proving to be illusory. Does it make any sense to speak of ‘hope’ just now?
It is easy to lose your footing when your attention is drawn so dramatically to what is going on around us. There are plenty of voices crying out that this is a new age and the old message and old patterns of Christian ministry will just not cut it any longer. They question whether evangelism really is the need of the moment. When everything is coming apart around us, isn’t there a more urgent need that we must address? If we are to have any chance to be agents of healing and cohesion, don’t we need to work harder at gaining the respect of the opinion makers, avoid anything that might be interpreted as confrontational, and adopt the posture of the learner rather than the teacher? This is a moment for listening not speaking.
Other voices call us to new certainties, new remedies to the randomness and insecurity of this moment, and new directions. If we can just somehow silence those who speak so loudly against us, remove their platforms for communication, insist upon adherence to what we determine is the consensus of what is right and what must be true, then we’ll be able to weather this storm and emerge even stronger. There is a growing predilection for control: control of processes, control of information, control of all mechanisms for dissent, and control of the way people think. It should not be surprising that when there is no hope, enormous effort will be put into managing the present.
Christians cannot afford to surrender to any of these proposals. Of course, this is not a time for belligerence, or frantic attempts to protect the privileges of a bygone age. But neither is it a time for silence, and for a lack of confidence that the gospel entrusted to us will accomplish God’s purposes. God’s just judgment of sin is still the biggest threat we face. Forgiveness is still the most liberating experience any person can have. The message of Jesus, his perfect life, atoning death, triumphant resurrection, glorious ascension and promised return, is still the powerful instrument God uses to bring men and women from death to life. The return of Jesus and a new heaven and new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet 3:13), where every tear is wiped away and death is defeated forever (Rev 21:4), and all things brought into their proper relation to Christ (Eph 1:10, 22; 1 Cor 15:28), is still the Christian hope.
God does not need to revise his strategy in the light of recent events. He does not need to change his mind in the light of what we have discovered (or think we have). He knows the end from the beginning. Nothing catches him by surprise. Most important of all, God does not have a new gospel for a changed world, since at heart the world remains the same. God is still the Creator, we are still his creatures, our stubborn refusal to live as his creatures in his world still puts every human being in the most serious danger, and Jesus is still our only hope.
Since this is true, the mission of Moore College is unchanged in the light of recent events. With the apostle Paul, we speak of ‘Christ Jesus our hope’ (1 Tim 1:1). We remain confident that ‘the word of our God endures forever’ (Isa 40:8) and that in proclaiming not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord (2 Cor 4:5) we are involved in the most important task for this moment in time. Knowing the scope and depth of what God has done for us in Christ, we ‘hold fast to the hope set before us’, ‘a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul’ (Heb 6:18–19)
So 2021 is a year when Moore College will get on with the mission of preparing men and women to take ‘living hope’ into the world (1 Pet 1:3). We will continue to train them in reading and teaching the word of God, in applying it carefully to life as a disciple in today’s world, and lovingly nurturing the faith of those they are called to serve. In the Lord’s goodness, he has brought a large group of men and women into this year’s first year. That is a wonderful answer to prayer, and God’s kind provision in light of the very great need in the world and in the churches. May I ask you to pray that we might serve them well?
I trust you will enjoy reading this edition of Moore Matters. It is full of hope. We at the College are very grateful for your partnership in this work. We press on together towards the goal, confident in the midst of growing uncertainty around us, joyful rather than fearful, and trusting the sure promise of God that he will make all things new.
Originally published in Moore Matters Autumn 2021
