Difficult times

We live in difficult times. 

Hold up a placard in public proclaiming support for Palestine Action and you will be arrested for supporting a terrorist organisation: yet the government continues to offer succour and material support to Israel.  Israel's actions in Gaza are condemned as genocide in a recent United Nations report.

Should you be transgender your life is being made difficult by a decision of the Supreme Court and subsequent proposed guidance by the  Equality and Human Rights Commission.  The proposed guidance is opposed by over 650 business organisations and organisations compaigning for liberty and equality.

Gay individuals in the Church of England look askance af the turgid progress (if any) of  the Living in Loving and Faith saga. 

And then there is the resurgence of right wing ideology manifested in the electoral gains made by Reform and the recent march in London by right-wingers.  This march was soured by violence from a minority: in stark contrast to the placard waving protesters supporting Palestine Action.

Added to all this is the pantomime, or is it tragedy, of the government. The Deputy Prime Minister resigned, the Ambassador to the United States of America resigned and advisors are dropping like flies. Will the Prime Minister be next: the vultures are circling.

Then there is the difficult economic situation with a stagnant economy, upheaval over proposed changes to social security, increased homelessness 

Plenty of scope for us to be glum, despondent, even depressed. 

What does a follower  of Jesus do in these circumstances, this conjery, this litany of upset and potentially disaster in our society?  Are we powerless?

The principle of  'love your neighbour' requires us to help people at point of need.  We have also to campaign for systemic change to deliver social justice.  It is a hard road to follow, many obstacles are placed in the way.  Those with power will do their utmost to defend their position.   But win we can,  sometimes.  So, let's not be glum, despondent or depressed, but fight on either by ourselves or in concert with others. For those professing to follow the way of Jesus, it is a demand placed on us:  not simply intellectual assent, but a call to action.