The paradox is that growing or shrinking numbers do not tell you anything. The
Gospel would still be true even if no one believed it. The hopeful thing is
that, where it is tried – where it is imperfectly and hesitantly followed –
as it was in Northern Ireland during the peace process, as it is in many a
Salvation Army hostel this Christmas, as it flickers in countless unseen
Christian lives, it works. And its palpable and remarkable power to
transform human life takes us to the position of believing that something
very wonderful indeed began with the birth of Christ into the world.
