Great Expectations

A Lesson for Christians from the 'Blair Years'

So Tony Blair has finally announced his departure from office after 10 years as Prime Minister. The media of course have been in overload with their reviews, reflections, special supplements and assessments on the ‘Blair Years’. One repeating theme has been ‘how much have things improved since 1997’ – accompanied by a flurry of opinions on the perceived positives and negatives. What I find striking is, whether you think things are better or worse, that the big issues in politics remain largely the same - Health, Education, Crime, Interest Rates etc. Indeed these were key issues in 1987, in 1977 and so on.

Yet every new generation of politicians rises up with confident promises about tackling our problems, delivering world beating standards and giving us satisfaction in all these areas. Often key to the solutions suggested are the need for ‘radical changes’ or a ‘new approach’. So in the 1980s & 90s many told us Scotland’s problems in these areas could be dealt with if only we had Devolution. Now we have Devolution and other voices tell us that the solution lies in Independence. Well this isn’t to be political (in a Party sense anyway) but I absolutely guarantee you whether Scotland becomes Independent or not the very same issues will still be problematic in 10/20… years from now. You see for all the radical changes and new approaches we never seem to get to that place where we can rest contented with the big concerns/issues of life put behind us.

Ok – just in case you were thinking you had clicked The Herald website by mistake – what’s the relevance of this in our Christian lives. Well it is that we live our Christian lives all too often under the same illusion – that our frustrations and problems can be dealt with by some great new fix. That if only we make this change to church or have that experience then everything will fall into place – final spiritual satisfaction and contentment will be delivered. The reality is that no matter how many times you change your church structure, reinvent your services or initiate a new ministry the big struggles of the Christian life – purity, obedience, faithfulness, living sacrificially, being Christ and other person centered etc – will continue. You can be Conservative or Charismatic, High Church or Low, Trendy or Tight, and the day to day battles of your Christian life will be exactly the same.

If you are waiting for a lightning bolt from heaven that will make your life finally sorted then you are on a road to disillusionment with the Gospel. Yes, there are high points and times of great blessing on the way – but the warp & weft of so much of the New Testament is: keep on going, persevere, be an over-comer, fight the fight, resist the devil, endure hardship, don’t give up, hang in there – an emphasis and tone reflective of a life that involves going against the grain in this world.

Now this isn’t to suggest a counsel of despair – just as the Health Service can doubtless be improved so can our personal and collective walk before God. A good idea is a good idea and we need to change to keep up with and tackle the different circumstances and challenges of life. But where many were naïve in May 1997 to think a change of government could make problems go away - Christians should remember that ultimately their hope is not in creating the perfect church or discovering some secret formula for spiritual success but in the coming of the King and establishment of His Kingdom. Until then our contentment is to 'keep on keeping on' knowing His presence and provision in the battle.