Thought for the Week

by the Rev Rob Hilton, Minister of Christchurch in Ilkley, and of Ben Rhydding Methodist Church.

A RECENT poll reported by the BBC found that 43 per cent of British people don’t believe Jesus was a real person. The article suggests that what is actually meant is that most of them have never really thought seriously about it, so they’re basically saying they don’t realise that Jesus was a real person.

On another tac, the wonderfully addictive book for geeks ‘Knowledge is Beautiful’ reports that from internet searches alone, the people considered most ahead of their time as progressive thinkers were Jesus and Gandhi.

This Christmas at Christchurch we took a fresh look at what was in the Christmas stories in the Bible (In - Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, a manger, and Bethlehem; Out - an Inn, a donkey, and three Kings), it was pretty controversial. The highlight of the experience for me was taking a group of primary age children round our exhibition, and one of them asking me if the nativity stories were mythical? Not that they were being sceptical, negative, or critical, but that child fully understood that a myth is a story that’s told to convey a truth.

But what fascinates me, is that as I live and work amongst the ordinary people it’s my privilege to know as a Church Minister, I find all these views across the board. Some Christians firmly reckon the Christmas stories are myths, others believe them to be historically accurate truth. Some people ask me to take funerals that are ‘not too religious’, but when we talk I find many of the values of Jesus about love, justice, forgiveness, and faith are quite evident and real.

I only wish I could sit down and talk with the 43 per cent who don’t realise Jesus was real, and introduce them to an intelligent reading of history. I wish I could similarly sit down with all those whose internet searchers and introduce them to the reality of a living relationship with Jesus that is a life enhancing and healing mystery.

And the Christians? I hope we can all learn confidence with humility, love with action as well as conviction, and public worship that has integrity, relevance, and meaning, without being too religious!

If it’s not too late, Happy New Year.