letter from Spain
The large expat population who sit around Benidorm’s bars and clubs any afternoon all year round are a strong minded, independent bunch. Thousands have made the ‘big move’ and have come to Spain for the laid back lifestyle. They look forward to no work, no time pressures, no stress.
Generally, they no longer like being told what to do, how to live their life or, especially, or what they should believe. Truth is not sought after. After many years of hard graft in the 'rat race' the prospect of a sunny climate and a cool drink, not having to think too much while watching the sunset seems irresistibly appealing - at least for a time.
Then boredom sets in - and a life which is meant to be 'used well' slides into indolence and then into sin. Days can slip by with nothing really meaningful to do except eat, drink and be merry. So there are marriage breakdowns, alcohol and drug abuse and a general lethargy and casualness about life, which is neither healthy nor edifying. Many lifestyle choices are 'normalised', atheistic worldviews and nihilism are commonplace. It is into this culture that the gospel must speak.
