A Theology of Hope
At Devana, hope is central to who we consider ourselves to be. It is part of our 'slogan' borrowing from Saint Paul: "Journeying Together by Faith, in Hope, with Love." We try to take it seriously. But it can be hard amidst all that is going on in the world today.
Christian Aid has, in its 80th year, spent some time reflecting on a theology of hope in a very useful report prepared by Dr Nick Spencer and Bob Kikuyu. You can download a copy of the report here.
They write about the report:
This reflection presents a Christian theological expression on hope, marking 80 years of Christian Aid's mission. It acknowledges the harsh realities of the world today—conflicts, displacement, climate chaos, and shrinking democratic spaces—that can make hope seem distant. However, it stresses that hope must confront these realities honestly and be based on solid theological foundations that involve intention and determination grounded in the revelation of God through Jesus Christ and scripture.
The document critiques inadequate secular and theological reasons for hope, warning against confusing optimism with hope. It then proceeds to propose foundations for a Theology of Hope.
It's posited that Christianity offers a realistic, resilient hope that is neither naïve nor cheap. It trusts in the lawful nature of creation, affirms human agency and creativity, and recognises the power and challenges of human cooperation. This hope does not guarantee that the future will be better but insists that a better future is possible and worth working for. Christian Aid’s origins amid the devastation of the Second World War, and the subsequent impact it has had since then, encourages us to face the future with hope grounded in faith and action.
