Engaging with atheists: using the Bible

This is an extract from the recently published Engaging with Atheists.

One of our key principles I want to impress upon readers is that we want to give people the word of God—that means the Bible.

I like to challenge some of my atheist/agnostic friends as to what kind of agnostic they are. I point out that there is intelligent agnosticism and that there is dumb agnosticism. In order to explain the difference, I ask them to imagine that I am sitting in my living room, watching Barcelona vs. Real Madrid in the European Cup Final.

The doorbell rings and it’s a complete stranger who asks me: “Do you know your house is on fire?”. I reply that I don’t know. I am agnostic about it. A dumb agnostic in that situation says: “I don’t know and I don’t care”. An intelligent agnostic says: “I don’t know, but it’s a pretty big deal if my house burns down, especially with me in it, so even though I don’t know you, and I am more than a little suspicious of you, I will go and investigate”. Likewise, you can encourage your atheist/agnostic friends to investigate. Perhaps by reading a book you give them, perhaps by going to something like Christianity Explored or Alpha, or perhaps by simply going to church with you.... continue reading

Facing down our evangelism fears

Christians have a wonderful message to tell the world. As the angel said at the birth of Jesus, it is “good news that will cause great joy, for all the people” (Luke 2 v 10). But at times we have been slow to take that message of forgiveness and new life to others.

Sometimes it’s because we have become distracted. There are so many things that can push the need to tell others from its central place in our calling as individuals and churches. We get wrapped up in our own church issues, problems and politics. Or we get sidetracked by the very real needs of our broken and hurting world, and expend our energies on dealing with the symptoms rather than the cause.... continue reading

Fighting the Monday feeling

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Psalm 16:5-8

Praying for The Good Book Company

It's a busy time of year. It's an incredibly busy time of year for us here at The Good Book Company. And we would really appreciate your prayers over the next week or so.

We're going to be running 8 big bookstalls at 8 events across England and Wales in towns from Cwmbran to Southampton and London to Manchester. And there are going to be some brilliant deals along the way ...

We're going to be launching fantastic new books like A Man's Greatest Challenge, Purity is Possible as well as Engaging with Hindus and Engaging with Atheists.... continue reading

Christianity in the News 02.10.2014

Iraq crisis: 'Every single Christian wants to leave'

One in 10 Church of England bishops 'could be secretly gay' – says bishop

100 Christians, Including Children, Arrested During Major House Church Raid in China

Costa Ricans Celebrate 'Day of the Bible'

Former Bishop of Winchester Michael Scott-Joynt dies aged 71

Disclaimer: The Good Book Company is not responsible for the content of external sites and does not necessarily agree with the content of articles listed.

Hippos, Frogs, Guilt and Mercy

Let me ask you a strange but important question: Are you more hippo or frog?

I’m not talking about physical stature (you’ll be pleased to know), but about the way you respond to discovering there are idols in your heart. Are you more of a wallower or a jumper?

Hippos are wallowing creatures. If they see a patch of warm, muddy water deep enough to envelop their enormous bodies, they will head for it and sit in it for hours. They snort and they snuffle, they rub and they roll in the filth that surrounds them.

And some of us do that with our idols. We see the things we want more than God—maybe we see them clearly for the first time—and we get overwhelmed by the dirt and rebellion present in our lives. We get hit by a tidal-wave of realisation that we are not the beautiful people God calls us to be, not even the half-beautiful people we thought we were, and we become paralysed by the enormity of who we’ve become. We wallow. We sit, inert in our sin, shrouded in despair and unable to believe that change is an option.... continue reading

You are what you watch

It was an unpleasantly hot autumn afternoon on the London underground. Having read all the adverts and glanced one too many times at my neighbour's newspaper, my eyes settled on the man opposite. His t-shirt was blue, slightly grubby and bore these words: "You are what you watch"

I imagine it was a commentary on film or TV watching. If so, that would make me James Bond or a character from NCIS - for better or for worse. But the concept intrigued me - a deeper truth lurked in those crumpled words.

Where we put our eyes impacts our Christian walk:

• If I watch the attitudes of the people around me to find my identity, I will live in fear of man rather than fear of God.
• If I look to my job to find security I will store up riches on earth rather than riches in heaven.
• If I set my eyes on my hobbies (even church activities) to bring fulfilment, I will sideline the life in all its fullness brought by Christ
• If I gaze upon my family as a source of hope, I will push the wonder of eternity into the periphery of my view

I guess, in part, that's why the writer of Hebrews encourages us to live our Christian lives with our eyes very carefully positioned:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

It's an inescapable fact: you are what you watch.

Porn: the battle women face

It's a subject that's taboo. A reality that many find shocking. A fact that some would prefer to deny. But the truth is out there: women use porn too.

Accurate statistics are difficult to source but a quick trawl of the web seems to suggest that about a quarter of those who visit internet pornography sites are female. Some pages suggest that up to 60% of women have used porn at some point in their lives. And while we might prefer to think otherwise, it's fairly safe to assume that some of those surfing such sites will be Christians who are confused, ashamed, addicted or desperate. Indeed over the last decade I've had quite a few Christian sisters confide in me - each convinced that they are the only one. Far from being a solely male pastoral issue, porn is something that affects women too and those involved in women's ministry need to be addressing the subject proactively.... continue reading