Movement magazine issue 154

to forget that many people for many
reasons live most of their lives at the
foot of the cross, or under the weight
of their own cross. Not because they
want to, but because that is where
their place in the world puts them.
A theology of suffering is not simply
textbook material for those of us whose
life is too often a life of endurance
rather than enjoyment because of the
skin we wear, the sexuality we have
been given, or the social class into
successes, but on how well we have
loved.’
In this post-referendum Britain, we
have to remember that there is no
referendum on the values of the
Gospel, nor shall there ever be. Now,
more than ever, is the time for the
Church be the Church, to find her
voice and her confidence, and for
each and every baptised Christian to
take to heart the words of Jesus who
WHAT I LEARNED IN
MY FIRST SEMESTER...
As an undergraduate
student
which we are born. Yet, the power of
said that he came:
In this post-referendum
Britain, we have to
remember that there is no
referendum on the values
of the Gospel, nor shall
there ever be.
the cross is one which stands to set
all people free, and has something
radical and new to say to every time
and place and situation.
It could be one of the deep sins of
White Christianity that it seeks too
often to avoid suffering, and therefore
disembodies black experience in
many parts of the world, but also
the experience of the immigrant, of
the differently abled, of the LGBT
community, and of the poor – all those
that the world, and sadly even the
Church, might treat as less than fully
human. For far too long it has been
acceptable for good Christian people
to keep their faith private, and their
convictions concealed, meanwhile the
EDL, Britain First, the KKK and other
far-right groups take up the cross
with more courage and passion than
some of us who truly profess Christ
crucified. But when people are facing
prejudice and hatred which is always
enhanced and enabled by our silence
– then for Christ’s sake, we have to do
something. St John of the Cross puts
it beautifully when he says: ‘In the
twilight of life, God will not judge us
on our earthly possessions and human
‘to proclaim good news to the poor…
freedom for the prisoners and
recovery of sight for the blind, to set
the oppressed free and to proclaim
the year of the Lord’s favour.’
This is what the Kingdom looks like
to Jesus, and it will take each of
us to play our part – to take up our
cross, and to follow him – always
remembering, even in the midst of
our very complicated and dark world,
that evil may have its hour, but God
shall have his day. Until then, we do
the Kingdom things. We praise God,
we trust God, we love each other
recklessly, and we press on to Glory.
In the hope, strength and grace of the
One whom death could not hold!
Revd Jarel Robinson-Brown is a
Methodist minister in Cardiff and
blogs at changedfromgloryintoglory.
wordpress.com
MARK BIRKETT The most valuable
lesson I learned was about the importance
of independent learning. During my first
year at university I have been asked
to engage with various set texts and
complete numerous essays, yet it is the
independent learning I have undertaken
that, for me at least, represents the
biggest step forward in my development.
For the first time in my life I have picked
up an academic book free from feelings
of obligation, and instead with a genuine
curiosity and interest. Part of my course
is philosophy, a subject that often gets
accused of being pointless - tackling
abstract concepts with little practical
appeal. I would certainly not attempt to
disagree with this analysis; philosophy
has too often been hijacked by an
academic elite that tackle philosophical
issues that are detached from the stress
and anxiety of day to day existence.
To be honest, I don’t much care if the
table in front of me is real or not, I’m far
more preoccupied with whether or not
these neurotic thoughts I’m having qualify
me to be institutionalised. In fact, forget
about whether or not I exist, because
clearly I do - I’m more interested in how
I should navigate my existence without
going insane. I have come to appreciate
the brilliance of a practical philosophy
that frees itself from the chains of
dusty books and deep meaningful looks
into the distance. A philosophy that
doesn’t require you to talk utter trash,
though you tend to anyway, but instead
encourages you to engage with people
and contemporary issues.
I have become particularly fond of
the wisdom bestowed by the stoic
philosophers who never cease to remind
me that life can be lived differently. It
seems strange to me that ancient Greek
philosophy can be applied to modern day
living, but perhaps I’m naïve to think that.
I can’t help but imagine Seneca would
not have been quietly practicing his
philosophy in his room while next door a
group of plastered students sang painfully
loudly along to Robbie Williams’ Angels.
‘So when I’m lying in my bed, thoughts
running through my head…’ has never
been so poignant a lyric! On reflection,
I have mostly ignored the syllabus at
university, but this has probably been one
of the better decisions of my life. If the
worst comes to worst, I have a promising
career as a Robbie Williams tribute act!
In fact, forget about
whether or not I exist,
because clearly I do - I’m
more interested in how
I should navigate my
existence without going
insane.
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MOVEMENT Issue 154
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