CHRISTIAN VIEWPOINT: 'Yes, I encounter the Great Love. But I also know despair'
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“Light in the darkness.” This is the theme the Church of Scotland is emphasising during Advent, when as Christians we remind ourselves of our need for God, and of how that need is met in the coming of Jesus.
As the Bible says: “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Jesus, we believe, brings light and hope because of his teaching, because he modelled joyful, love-focused, God-centred living, because of his death and resurrection, and because of his identity.
We believe Christ, unlimited by time and space, meets us today whatever heavy loads burden us, whatever darkness enfolds us.
My own darknesses are due to mental health issues in which I find myself sustained both by hope in Jesus, and by an intermittent sense of encounter with a great, liberating Love.
Note that Bible quote doesn’t say the light chases darkness away but rather that darkness cannot swamp us when Jesus is with us.
Some Christians have a very dualistic approach: folk erect barriers between those who “have the light”, and believe the right things, and those who don’t.
Now obviously light is the opposite of darkness, but in my experience light and darkness co-exist.
Yes, I encounter the Great Love. But I also know despair.
I’m aware of selfishness and pride and lust in me which I sometimes express in words and action. I’m aware of the unjust systems I participate in.
And God seems to have little time for our barriers, awakening people to a fuller life regardless of their faith or lack of it.
I believe in a tolerant God who until the day of judgement lets weeds and good seed grow side by side in people, in churches, in organisations, in communities. There is one benighted world, one message of hope in Jesus, and there will be one united, perfected creation. Pure darkness met pure light as Jesus died: on the first Easter Sunday it was clear that light had triumphed. Even darkness can be redeemed.
This is the enormous significance of Advent, the coming among us of the light. On our wiser days, we respond with gratitude, joy and hallelujahs, seeking advent daily, opening ourselves to the light. Daily we live as people of light, privileged to help those in darkness and despair as Christ advents in us.
