Christmas Service – We’re in Uncertain Times

We’re in uncertain times and as a species we don’t tend to do very well with uncertainty - it makes us anxious. When world-views are shaken and things we thought were solid no longer appear to be, our brains will do everything they can to stop us from experiencing uncertainty. We can be tempted either to double down on certainty (despite all evidence to the contrary) or demolish the whole edifice of our beliefs entirely. Many people feel caught between these two extremes when it comes to their Christian faith. But the story of Christmas invites us on a different path. Jesus did not take flesh in order simply to be believed in - but to be met. He became one of us to be with us. Putting our faith in Jesus (as opposed to a belief system) is a lifelong journey of him forming and challenging all our beliefs and actions. And it means that we neither need to hold onto certainty dogmatically, nor throw everything away as soon as doubt creeps in. Rather we allow God’s spirit to change us from glory to glory. And we can meet an uncertain world in confidence, not our own, but his. Because Christmas means that once and for all: God is with us - so we never need to be afraid again.