God Is Doing Something New

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”- Isaiah 43: 18-19 NIV

Hoppin’ John, a traditional good-luck dish eaten on New Year’s Day. Credit Quinn Brein & Sam Jones, The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Pyrotechnics, black-eyed peas, and Scotsmen swinging balls of fire, arcing through the midwinter night. Around the globe, cultures and countries will soon celebrate the new year. Humanity can finally take a deep breath. For the special 24 hours when this particular midnight circles the globe, I suspect God will hear a collective sigh of relief.

“Goodbye, 2020; Hello, Hope.”

Of course, our problems will not disappear overnight. In the US alone, millions have suffered through COVID-19, and hundreds of thousands have died. The lunatic in the White House held the relief money hostage while he golfed; can you say, “let them eat cake”? Our country has been divided, our families have split, and our nation’s poor are played as pawns while the wealthy battle over power.

I’ve spent the last sixteen months using every resource available to me to protest this present evil. But after much prayer, I’ve decided to turn my face toward the rising sun of 2021 and begin a new chapter in my spiritual journey.

There’s no going back to the way things were. The political and social climate of Trumpism simply gave greater voice and power to the meteoric rise of the Religious Right. The churches that supported Donald Trump and his agenda will continue on their paths, and their people will continue in their beliefs. I have used this forum to grieve their divergence from the teachings of Jesus Christ, and I appreciate all those who have walked the rocky road alongside me. Thank you for your support, your insights, and your company.

Fresh Vision, New Direction

In 2021, I’ll be shifting my focus from protesting the adulteration of the Evangelical Church to exploring other expressions of loving our Savior. Those who subscribe to my newsletter will see the banner change to Faith After Church. I’ll keep The Christian Resistance site updated and the bookstore stocked.

Also, I’ll be sharing my search for a fresh vision of God. To that end, I will continue to list new books, websites, writers, and resources that I find along the way.

Ideas, Resources, Rebuilding

Lastly, I will continue to pray for you, fellow wanderers. I know that, for my sanity’s sake, doom-scrolling has got to go. I have no control over Donald Trump’s increasing insanity; I’m not going to wait until he actually leaves the building to live again. Instead, I’m adopting practices to nurture my mental health and to further the growth of my soul. In my case, I’m watching interviews and Ted Talks on YouTube with some of my favorite writers. I’m reading books by authors whom I used to dismiss because they swam outside the mainstream of Evangelical thought.

And the walls. You know, the walls we all construct around us. As I built my house of faith, I felt like I needed security against the storms “out there,” meaning “not Evangelically-approved.” Having been raised with no belief system whatsoever, I borrowed some windows here and some doors there from people whom I respected and admired. There was nothing wrong with that. But over the last thirty-five years, I’ve built a firm foundation from reading and rereading the Word of God. I’m ready to remodel the old house, strip her down to the studs, and rebuild upon the foundation with doors of a different color, and windows that let in more light.

My prayer for us all is a fresh vision of God. May we be able to wipe the grime of 2020 from our windows to let the sunshine in. May we be willing and able to let go of the hurt we have suffered from the loss of our church communities, and look for new doors to walk through. May we trust that God is making a new way for us; streams in the desert for us to follow.

May we hear His voice today, as we celebrate His mercies that are new every morning. Happy New Year to all!