keynote defending , and propagating the gospel
The apostle Paul was frequently in prison . His missionary ministry got him into trouble with the political and religious rulers over and over again . It was not because he was actually a criminal . In those days anyone who did not comply with the correct way of thinking was treated as a threat . Our society is increasingly coming to the same position .
We are expected to agree with whatever the leaders of our society say we should believe and behave as they say we should . In some instances their expectation is both reasonable and welcome . It should not be socially acceptable to be racist , sexist or misogynistic , or to be prejudiced against minority groups . But sometimes , those who hold power or who seem themselves as the opinionshapers of our society come close to attacking anyone who does not agree with them when it comes to religious matters as well .
In this climate it is right to stand up and be counted , to speak out for our faith and to defend our religious rights and freedoms . Christianity is not merely a private matter . In many cases , Western nations and the democracy they are built on owe much to Christians who helped shape and sustain the values we all have come to live by . These include tolerance , freedom of speech and the right to have faith or no faith at all .
This does not mean everybody should simply believe what they feel like believing . Truth is important in all matters of belief and conduct . Without the concept of true and false , or fact as opposed to fiction , not even science could function . The same is true of religious matters . Something is never true in the real sense of that word unless it is also reasonable . Christianity is no exception . We believe God not despite the evidence , but because there is very good evidence to support our faith .
Today , your leaders are not in prison . But we do take our lead from Paul ’ s example . He wrote from prison to the church in Philippi and said that he was sent for “ the defence and the propagation of the gospel ”. Even in prison he continued to preach to the guards chained to him . Everybody got to hear about it . His focus was also on ensuring others grew strong in the faith and experienced the joy of following Jesus wholeheartedly .
That ’ s what Kensington Temple , London City Church is all about . And that is why we have launched the 20:20 Vision . Check it out on KT ’ s webpage : kt . org / 2020 . Sign up today so that we can count you in !
Colin Dye Senior Minister
Follow Colin Dye on : www . facebook . com / colindye . org
and his blog : www . colindye . com
Revival Times February 2017 5