Feeling beleaguered? Back to the beginning...

As Christians we may well feel beleaguered by a number of pressing issues in the world today.

There is first of all our society’s insistence on the rights of personal sexual freedom and identity, threatening the church with ‘conversion therapy’ bans if we dare to disagree. Then there is the related issue of family breakdown, and the undermining of marriage. What about environmentalism, and the impending ‘climate crisis’? This is linked to warnings of world overpopulation, and a whole generation considering childlessness ‘for the sake of the planet’. Or is it systemic racism and injustice in society which is of primary concern?

Is there a common thread in all of these issues? In Romans 1 we are told that an unbelieving world rejects its Creator and is given over to a rejection of the pattern of creation. By contrast, the purpose of God is to see creation redeemed. As Christians we are to be restored in righteousness to the true image of God (Eph.4:22-24). Christ died to reconcile all things to Himself (Col.1:19-20, Eph.1:10). The goal is a glorious new Eden (Rev.22:1-2).