ROMANCE OR REALITY?

by Chris Mathieson

A royal wedding, in the most typical and different of all possible styles, that of Seville: bull fights, open carriages, flowers for the virgin, mantilla veils, fans, not to mention the photographers and souvenirs.

Something has caught the imagination of Spaniards this spring, something which will help them escape the uneasy reality of a frail economic recovery, devaluation, political instability, corruption trials and many other events which are causing tension. There is an uneasiness in the air.

Perhaps you have a postcard image of Spain. Your holiday may be one long dream of sun, sand and sea, but this is only one aspect of a many-faceted land.

Reality for most Spaniards is anything but an endless vacation. Clear skies mean frosty nights in winter and scorching days in summer. Sand or dust gets everywhere, a nightmare for housewives. As for water, two thirds of Spaniards can again look forward to major restrictions this year.

Spiritual reality is similar. 90% of Spaniards still consider themselves to be Catholics, but very few attend mass regularly. In fact over half the population only go to church for christenings, first communions and weddings, and even then many wait outside the church.

Yet while traditional religion is losing ground among the middle aged, the young unchurched are searching for reality in the New Age and other spiritual options.

As for the evangelical alternative, neither the traditionally religious, nor the materialists nor the new irrationalists find attractive a Gospel based on fact and truth, and which calls for repentance and moral living.

Across the country, many are willing to go against the trend and examine the claims of the Gospel. In March, thousands called in, asking for the "Power for Living" book advertised nationwide on TV, billboards and so on. On a smaller scale, hundreds discuss the claims of Christ every month with OAC evangelists and their teams during open-air meetings in Madrid's city centre.

It is one thing for a Spaniard to investigate, quite another to "change religion" which is how they often understand our message. If only it were that easy!

We are calling for something much more radical: a complete change of lifestyle. Following Christ should be a way of life, not just a Sunday religious hobby, but perhaps even in Britain we are not much better at understanding this.

We rejoice in the fact that lives are being changed in Spain. The evangelical churches are growing, and the name 'evangelical' is not quite so frequently mistaken for a sect.

On the other hand, with a membership which has only recently grown beyond one hundred thousand, of whom over half are gypsies, it is a challenge to think we aim to reach the whole Spanish population of forty million.

Commitment and truth are once again major concerns in Spain, the royal wedding providing a stark contrast to the corruption trials. Please pray that people will be more willing than ever to investigate the unique claims of Christ.