New Year Message from Rev. David Firth

Dear Friends

I haven't seen one myself yet but I understand that there are buses driving around Scotland bearing the slogan "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

This has predictably drawn forth protests from people who claim to speak for Christians. Actually, I think this slogan is preferable to some of the cringe-worthy comments which Christians put on buses and advertising hoardings around our towns. One of the people behind this campaign is reported as saying "I hope the adverts will make people smile on their way to work." I think that they are amusing, but not in the way she intends.

It is interesting that the people who wrote this slogan are only prepared to go so far as saying that there is probably no God: that seems to me to be a classic case of "hedging your bets"! It is also touchingly naive to imagine that most people in this country spend any time worrying about whether or not God exists. I would be surprised if that was the case and I would actually be rather disappointed as well. We don't need to worry about the existence or non-existence of God. We are not supposed to worry about it – perhaps it is only atheists who do.

I became a Christian because I realised that without God true joy was lacking in my life. Now I know God as my friend and companion and I don’t worry about it. I have fun but that is not the same as joy. I face problems and difficulties but they do not take away my joy.

"Know God! Know Joy!"

With best wishes for 2009
David Firth