“You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Buses in London and other cities recently carried an advertisement which begins “There’s probably no god”. This is a campaign being run by the British Humanist Association, and supported by Richard Dawkins, himself a fervent humanist and atheist.

Much was made of the fact that the campaign raised far more money than originally expected – over £100,000 – so that the campaign can be far more widespread than envisaged.

I love the fact that Bishop Stephen was at a recent Humanist event inviting everyone to church to join the Christmas celebration – church is for all you see those who believe and those who doubt and those who down right deny God exists. Church is not a club for believers.

So what did the Humanist Association do with their advertising opportunity? Are they perhaps saying “There’s probably no god, so stop fighting about it.”? or “There’s probably no god, so let’s get on and sort out our own problems” ? or “There’s probably no god, so let’s make the world a better place ourselves.” ?

The Humanist slogan actually read: “There’s probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

To many people, that will ring very hollow: those who are losing jobs or homes in the credit crunch, those who are suffering or grieving… probably, anyone facing hardship. I suggest there is a limit to the goodness and scope of being told to, ‘to stop worrying and enjoy life.’

Now, Jesus also said , ‘do not worry’. And he backed up that call by saying how much God cares for humanity and every individual within humanity and that the whole point of Jesus was to bring God’s hope to everyone, forever. We are here today because we believe there is a God – a God who loves us and has given us hope through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah.

The church has over the years made people feel guilty, added to their worry and perhaps stopped their enjoyment of life. But that is the people of the church getting in a muddle and missing the point of God and God’s central message to all humanity – you are beloved!

In Luke’s gospel an event happens that has a magnitude and implication that echoes through time and contains words that should have a huge and positive effect on us… God says ‘you are my child, beloved and I’m pleased with you” – imagine the impact of that on a 100 buses! If you’ve never heard and internalised that yourself, by the grace of God may it occur now…

In this account of Jesus’ baptism God is doing a new thing, he is declaring to the world that the Messiah has come. God is saying there is a new way here. You can come to me through my Son. Yes repent (turn around), the baptism of John, but there is a new thing... have faith, faith in Christ…

What does this unlock for us? Try that sentence with your name at the beginning – “…you are my child, my beloved; with you I am well pleased.” The heavens opened and God said this to Jesus…he is also saying it to you today! And every day, refreshed and new…regardless of what we do or how we are; or what we do or do not believe about God. Humanist, atheist, agnostic, cynical, tired, doubting…

You see, God’s grace (outrageous hospitality) is not subjective and based on us loving him first, it is objective and continually poured out and available to all. God’s plan to be there for all humanity would be severely compromised if his grace was rationed on a ‘need to know basis’ to ‘card carrying’ Christians only.

God sees us in a way that we often do not see ourselves. Because of Christ who came and died for us, so that we are forgiven, again and again and again… Baptism of Jesus – the Holy Spirit came to Jesus as a marker of a new age…repentance, and a direct relationship with God the Father through Jesus. See in Acts how the Holy Spirit came to unite and encourage as a physical reality to deepen faith (trust and connectedness) with God.

The Holy Spirit is freely given to us so we can know and experience God and live the Christian life…even when sometimes we can’t see God or feel him.

Going forward at this time of New Year. A time of resolutions. Try the deep and profound thing…turn to Christ – for the first time or anew, accept the gift of God’s spirit (simply God with you) and know that you are God’s beloved. The challenge is to live life according to this truth…not by how we see ourselves or how others see us. What one thing would you change in your life to live it more as someone who God says, “…you my child, beloved, I am pleased with you.”

This doesn’t mean we stick our heads in the sand - God doesn’t promise that our lives will be easy. But he does promise that if we trust him, we don’t need to worry, and can have his peace, come what may, knowing that he is with us.

God doesn’t tell us to enjoy our lives, but to rejoice in life. God doesn’t tell us to enjoy our lives – rather he tells us to rejoice - have life in all its fullness by loving God and loving neighbour (as ourselves i.e. we/they are all God’s beloved) so that all have a full life.

In this rejoicing, we are the true humanists: we believe humans are valuable because God so cares about us and shared our humanity.

Next time you spot a bus or travel on a bus imagine this advert on it: ‘There is a God; who loves you like his own child and thinks you are great; rejoice’