ST PAUL’S AND HOLY CROSS
“For whereas it was the expectation of many ….that some thick and palpable clouds of darkness would so have overshadowed this land, that men should have been in doubt which way they were to walk, and it should hardly be known who was to direct the unsettled state:….”
I wonder if you recognise in which book’s introduction these words are to be found.
Clearly the language is not modern but the sentiment expressed seems to fit quite well with the issues of the present times. The author of this preface clearly recognised that the world of his day needed to put the very real challenges his society faced within a framework big enough to give real markers for wise thinking and action.
In our own generation, is it possible to find agreed ways forward to handle the nation’s debt problems, issues of responsible use of resources, violence that is justified by fundamentalism – religious and atheistic?…….. Do we need to see the issues of the day in a broader perspective than simply the immediate? Where might the base line be?
If you would like to read the whole preface, you will find it in the King James Bible, first published 400 years ago! One of the reasons for this (then new English) translation was to give the nation a proper God centred framework within which to tackle the issues of the day. That remains the purpose of the Christian scriptures – relevant to every generation. We may argue about which of the many versions of scripture we prefer but the real issue is, do we read them and wrestle with them so as to know what is good and acceptable in the things we encourage in today’s world. Lose sight of the One who has uniquely and fully revealed Himself in The crucified and risen Christ, and through the scriptures which both preceded and followed him, and our world is in a perilous position!
How about using some of the cold and dark February evenings to read through carefully just one of the Gospels…and be reminded of how up to date the issues you come across actually are…. With my greetings, Jim Stevens