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Overcoming Anxiety in Sharing the Gospel

Deborah Asamoah
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Overcoming Anxiety in Sharing the Gospel

Sharing the Gospel may feel like a laborious task for those of us who find it more comfortable to share it in specific settings/methods that are convenient for us. However, do not fret and take heart for God has given us more than we need when we feel out of our comfort zone.

The Trusty Notepad

When I was in my early teens, whenever I was talking to a guy I liked – I remember typing out everything I wanted to say to him. I would hide behind long hours of text messages. The prospect of a potential phone call with him would onset nausea and sweaty palms. I could acrobatically flip and twirl my way through long paragraphs of digital converse, but as soon as I would meet him face to face my tongue would go into hiding.

Equally when I’m facing the heat of a debate whether, in the context of apologetics or a disagreement, I often find myself reaching for my trusty notepad, again, writing down everything I want to say to them. Spending hours trying to tactfully predict the course of the argument. Slowly turning into a playwright as I marked out every word and response that could be said.

Put in brief terms, writing my thoughts down makes me feel safe when simply entertaining verbal confrontation, without my drafted thoughts, feels like rocking up to a duel with a butter knife in the face of an opponent who has a calibre pistol.

When it comes to sharing the Gospel off cuff, I have felt (and sometimes still do) that same anxiety. That my unplanned words would stifle the glory of the message. That my verbal diarrhoea and best attempts to string words together would never do the beauty of the Gospel justice. When I’m speaking about the Gospel to a stranger or someone I don’t know well, at my best, I’m an awkward fool and at my worst I’m a nervous wreck. Still I do try to do it, but for socially awkward and anxious personality types like myself, I must admit I don’t always enjoy it.

So what’s the remedy for the socially awkward Christian posse in the corner of society’s vibrant party get down, who is often left clutching scraps of pre-written lines when he or she is approached by folks from all walks of life; liberals, conservatives,  members of the LGBTQ community, atheists, gnostics, other religious groups, all while sounds from the key of life boom through the speakers?

We Speak God’s Wisdom

First of all, it is helpful to ask yourself questions; Why do you feel this way? How well acquainted are you with the Gospel message and the implications it has for our lives? When explaining this message, why does writing things down feel like an easier, more preferred avenue of sharing than verbal discourse? What axis does the fear and anxiety of sharing it with others rest on? Do these conversations expose your insufficiency relating to knowledge of the matter? Or does it reveal your social anxiety when it comes to sharing a message that most likely will not be received well by those who do not share the same beliefs as you?

Paul speaks profoundly to this matter;

‘Yet we do speak a wisdom to those who are mature but not a wisdom of this age not of the rulers of this who are passing away. Rather we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden which God predetermined before the ages for our glory. This God has revealed to us through the Spirit. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom but with the Spirit describing realities in spiritual terms.’

1 Corinthians 2:6-7, 13

At the very heart of Paul’s address to the Corinthians is that our ability to understand and accept the Gospel is inextricably linked to what the Gospel is about in the first place. The only reason we understand these things and accept freely and desire to speak to others about it is because of the fact that God in His great love, through the death of  His Son, by the power of the Spirit raised us from our dead-like state where our minds were darkened and only available to futile thinking (Rom 1:21). It was by His saving grace and through the Spirit that He revealed the light of the Gospel to us and the beauty of His wisdom. That tells us two things. That we are unable to convince men with merely our intelligence, fortitude or reasoning and that until God decides in His infinite wisdom to open the hearts of men to the truth, people will continue to consider God’s wisdom and truth concerning salvation as folly, no matter how well put our words are. This should ground us in the reality of knowing that people’s acceptance of the Gospel is a responsibility of the Holy Spirit, He is the One who softens and opens hardened hearts and God is the One sovereign in salvation; not ourselves and should remove the burdens of always needing to have a positive reception from our shoulders. Anticipate disagreement, confusion, scoff and out-right rejection more than eureka, enlightened and epiphany moments. But as you expect the former, yearn and desire for the latter.

Study to Show Yourself Approved

Secondly, we should always be ready to share the Gospel and speak about it. And this includes being well-prepared by studying the Word and learning how the Gospel is presented throughout scripture. Studying the Gospel is not like preparing for a citizenship test. It is not a one-off endeavour or one-stop-shop. The Gospel message weaves into every book of the Bible as God’s purpose and divine plan of salvation slowly unfold throughout. If there are things you don’t fully understand and know seek to understand them well, that you may be able to articulate them to others well.

We must study to show ourselves approved (2 Tim 2:15) In other words we must know what we’re talking about when we share the Gospel, and we must know it well. Read books, articles, sermons – that can inform your understanding and frame your knowledge of the Gospel. Aim to understand the fundamentals then dig deeper. How does the Gospel respond to cultural worldviews? How does the Gospel offer answers to the big philosophical questions of life? You will find that the more you study, the more you will grow in confidence when it comes to articulating the Gospel. This will make speaking and sharing it with those who you know and don’t know, a much comfortable process. The more we allow the Word to readjust our worldview to see life and all its workings through a Gospel centred lens, the more comfortable we will become with sharing our viewpoint on matters while seamlessly sharing the Gospel.

The Spirit’s Counsel and Support

No matter how well you know your stuff, speaking to unbelievers who disagree with our Christian view can still be daunting. The good news is, we have the Holy Spirit,  our Counsellor, who is able to guide us and give us counsel on the right thing to say and the right way to say it (1 Cor 2: 1-5), but also He gives us courage and comfort when we know what we should say but feel fearful and aren’t bold enough to say it. At certain times it may seem easier to avoid talking about the Gospel but the Holy Spirit offers support and strength to overcome the temptation to not say anything, and we should rely on Him and seek support through prayer.

Also, both confiding and leaning on fellow Christians, mature Christians in particular, who can guide you can prove to be helpful during times when you feel stuck and reluctant to share the Gospel with others. Practising your approach of sharing the good news with a trusted friend is a great exercise to help you sharpen your interpersonal skills, build your confidence and sharpen your methods as far as speaking to people about the Gospel goes.

The Urgency of Gospel Sharing

Finally, know what works best for you but be open and flexible to alternate methods. You might feel more comfortable in relationships and speaking one on one with someone about the Gospel. Perhaps you prefer to have a conversation over the phone or via text. But be open to the fact that this preferred avenue may not always be available. You might never get a chance to see them again, procrastination might mean you forget to revisit that conversation with your pal. Always be on the lookout for the opportunity that God presents for you to share the Gospel and seize it. After all, it may be the means by which God is drawing that individual unto salvation.

Write down your thoughts if you must, but remember an apt word in season is like honeycomb to someone who needs to hear it, and we all need a sweet dose of the beautiful good news.

How Should Christians Respond To False Teaching?

Toye Akinoso
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How Should Christians Respond To False Teaching?
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In a world which is increasingly fuelled by online commentary, where everyone has a Twitter account or an online platform, it is now more than ever, easier for false teaching to spread. Long gone are the days where messages had to be copied by hand and false teachers would have to travel for weeks on horseback to share their message. Now, through a tweet or the creation of a Tiktok video, false teaching can spread at the press of a button. However, this is nothing new. Since the inception of the Church in Acts 2, the history of the Church has been inextricably linked with Satan’s attempts to defile Her. So, in today’s day and age, how should the Church discern and respond to false teachers?

All Heresies Are Errors, But Not All Errors Are Heresies. 

The first distinction I would like to make in this article is that there is a clear and biblical difference between false teaching and false teachers. There is a distinction between willfully committing a soul-destroying heresy and committing a theological error. Let’s take the example of Apollos who was a man regarded as “competent in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24). The Bible even goes as far as to say that he “taught accurately the things concerning Jesus” (18:25). Now, Apollos wasn’t deceitful and seeking to exploit fellow believers; in fact, he was very much sincere, however, regarding their topic of baptism, he was sincerely wrong. It is important to note that he wasn’t treated as a false teacher. Instead, Aquilla and Priscilla, a Christian couple, “took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (18:26). Here was a man found to be committing theological error. I have seen many believers, who similar to Apollos, teach “accurately the things concerning Jesus”, but however may be mistaken on some doctrinal points and then be labelled with the term ‘heretic’ and treated as enemies of the faith.

Aquilla and Priscilla show us the Christian response to such theological error. They should, in love, be taken aside to explore and hear more fully the revealed truth about God. The truth is, just about any Christian, especially ones who are just starting out in their faith, can teach or believe something that is false. The Good news is, as someone once famously said, “we are not justified by precision alone. We are justified by faith alone”. However, on the issue of heresy and false teaching, the Bible plays a very different tune.

The Bible is very specific in its use of the term “False teachers”. So much so that, though strong rebuke around false teaching is expressed throughout, the term “false teacher” only explicitly appears once all throughout scripture. That makes it clear that what is being discussed is no small matter and highlights the gravity of identifying someone as a false teacher. Here is what the Apostle Peter had to say on the issue:

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

2 Peter 2:1-3

So How Do We Recognise False Teachers?

The first point to make when it comes to discerning false teaching is to acknowledge the existence of false teaching not as a mere possibility but rather a certainty. Peter does not mince his words in relation to false teaching, he doesn’t beat around the bush. He makes the definitive statement that “there will be false teachers among you.” There are two important things to note here. Firstly Peter is writing to the Church and secondly, the use of the words “among you”. Peter is not saying that there might be false teachers in your workplace, schools, or on the TV. But rather that there will be false teachers posing as members in your local congregation; or in online and offline Christian spaces. If this wasn’t enough, the Apostle John warns that “many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). The ‘many’ illustrates this isn’t something that is happening on the fringes elsewhere but that it is a pervasive reality everywhere.

This is why Paul warns the elders in the Ephesian church (Acts 20:29–31) and his mentee Timothy (2 Timothy 4:3–4) (1 Timothy 4:1 and 2 Timothy 3:1–6) about the existence of false teaching and false teachers in their church. So the question beckons, how do we spot false teaching?

The Westminster Assembly describes heresy as the following:

“Heresy is a gross and dangerous error, voluntarily held and factiously maintained by some person or persons within the visible church, in opposition to some chief or substantial truth or truths grounded upon and drawn from the Holy Scripture by necessary consequence.”

The Westminister Assembly

False teaching or heresy is any ‘voluntary’ intentional and ‘fictitious’ biblical error so severe that it disputes the fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith. Jesus said false prophets were “ravenous wolves” who dressed in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15).

Here are some fundamental Christian beliefs alongside helpful questions to ask when discerning whether something constitutes as false teaching:

  1. Salvation by faith alone and in Christ alone – Does this teaching encourage us to trust in anything else other than Christ alone for righteousness?
  2. The Trinitarian view of God –  Does this teaching so distort the doctrines of either (a) the Trinity or (b) the unity of the Godhead?
  3. The Word of God – Does this teaching so distort the doctrine of Scripture that it undermines biblical authority?
  4. The person of Christ – Does this teaching affirm something contrary to the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ?
  5. The Holy Spirit – Does this teaching affirm something about the Person or work of the Holy Spirit that is false and thus antithetical to His nature?

More can be added but in summary, a false teacher is someone who maintains a view that opposes a chief truth of the Gospel message. Heresy is something that strikes at the very heart of the Gospel and of the truth.

Furthermore, Jesus said you could recognize false prophets also by their “fruit.” (Matthew 7:15-20). False teaching, then, is not simply predicated on what someone may say but also how they live their lives. Peter sheds some light on what this might look like in 2 Peter 2. He says that false teachers in their pride would defy authority (2 Peter 2:10, 12-13,18). In their greed, they will exploit fellow believers for material gain ( 2 Peter 2:3, 14-15). Additionally, in their lust, they would compromise sexually (2 Peter 2:2,10, 12–14, and 19).

So How Should Christians Respond to False Teachers?

The Christian response to false teachers begins on your knees in prayer. As Rod Smith brilliantly says, we pray for false teachers “the same way that you should pray for your own pastor and teachers. Pray that they would not teach anything false or misleading, but only what is true and right and accurate according to God’s Word, the Bible”. We pray that they would turn from their wicked ways come to know the truth of the Gospel and preach the truth of the Gospel. Not only does the Bible inform us to pray for false teachers, but we must also rebuke and call out false teaching. If a Christian truly claims to love God, love His Word, love the truth, love the lost, love the flock and even if you love the false teachers themself, the Christian should expose them publically in order to minimise the spread of their infectious and dangerous teaching (Ephesians 5:11). For far too long, Christians, under the guise of trying to be “loving” have cowered in their response to false teachers. To be apathetic towards false teaching is the opposite of love.

Let’s imagine for a moment, that there’s a shepherd who notices a ravenous wolf and because he doesn’t want to be seen as ‘judgemental’ so fails to warn his sheep. That shepherd is one who should be considered a selfish shepherd who doesn’t love his sheep. A good shepherd would fend off the wolf and warn the flock because their lives are in danger! And in a similar fashion, eternity is at stake and ravenous wolves are running loose in our churches. Christians, especially those in a position of leadership, have a duty to alert, identify, and expose false teachers (1 Timothy 5:19–20). Paul throughout his ministry went on to publically name at least six false teachers (See 2 Timothy 4:10, 2 Timothy 1:15, 1 Timothy 1:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:17).

“The best protection against the darkness of error is the light of truth.”

– John Piper

In the perilous times, we find ourselves in we must resist the temptation to passively let false teaching and false teachers slide in the name of “love”. True love for the Lord and His Bride/Body results in a carefully considered but courageous response to refute false propositions in His name.
Instead with knees on the ground and hearts moved by compassion, let love for the Lord drive us to pray for and highlight both teachers and teaching who desecrate His image and worth by the abuse of the Word.
Likewise, let love for the Bride/Body cause us to simultaneously pray for the hearts of those projecting false ideas about God whilst warning against their false teaching. In so doing we are protecting our vulnerable and unassuming brothers and sisters, who are the sheep of the Great Shepherd. But also a love which ‘hopes and endures all things’ (1 Cor 13:7) hopes those who espouse these false ideas embrace the opportunity to repent and be delivered from deception (2 Tim 3:13) and ultimately be restored to fellowship with the God of truth.

Do not regard false teaching lightly. Consider what is at stake and insist on the clear teaching of God’s law and His gospel. Do it for the love of God and people.

The Origins of Pain and Suffering

Deborah Asamoah
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The Origins of Pain and Suffering

“Israel gained by education. The Lord was not going to lead a mob of slaves into Canaan, to go and behave like slaves there. They had to be tutored. The wilderness was the Oxford and Cambridge for God’s students. There they went to the University, and he taught and trained them, and they took their degree before they entered into the promised land. There is no University for a Christian like that of sorrow and trial.” – Charles Spurgeon

Why Does Trouble Prevail?

Where do pain and suffering come from? Whenever I hear this question arise, it more than likely stems from trying to make sense of something painful or terrible that has occurred to us. Someone we love or know has died suddenly. We witness a terrible natural disaster unfold or the tragic consequence of hundreds of thousands of people fall sick, or worse, lose their lives at the hands of a pandemic caused by an incurable virus. In the face of tragedy, we start to question everything. Why are these things happening? Why do the young die? Why do the oppressed receive no justice? Why does trouble prevail in our world so frequently and why is it so difficult to avoid? The question that stings the most for many, including myself is: ‘How could God let something as painful and terrible as this happen?’

The question on everyone’s minds, whether it be covert or overt is; ‘who causes suffering?’ In other words ‘who is responsible for the pain that I am feeling?’ Our inclination to make sense of our suffering is often done by trying to work out to whom we can fix the blame for what seems an unfair dose of pain and trouble. Most importantly as Christians we try to reconcile the truth of God’s sovereignty with the existence of our pain and suffering, we struggle to tread the tightrope of wanting to believe that God is in control of everything that occurs in our lives, both the good and the evil, while trying to avoid resentfully blaming God when we are struck with tragedy in our lives. Let’s be honest this rope is not an easy one to tread. But we must be willing to walk it, in order to view the pain and suffering that we face through a corrective lens. So let us walk through it together.

In the Beginning

The first thing that is helpful to understand is that before there was any sin, suffering did not exist. In fact, it was the total opposite. Genesis 1-2 paints a picture of bliss and abundance, a world free from strife. No pain or suffering exists. Most importantly God is the architect of this goodness and He approves it as being good by measuring it according to the standard of His innate goodness (Gen 2:31). Genesis 3 is where we see things take a turn for the worst. We are introduced to a sly and conniving character who sets out to be an adversary to the goodness that God has created. His ultimate goal in opposing the utopian goodness that exists is by convincing man that the good that God has created is in effect not that ‘good.’ From Gen 3:6, we see mankind grow increasingly doubtful of God and His ability to be good and do good for them. Their scepticism of God’s order and choice for their lives means they are enticed away from God’s good choice and drawn to their own ‘good.’ Ultimately by doing so, they reject God and His prized relational goodness and all it entails (abundance, safety etc).

Vince Vitale remarks that ‘wherever there is the possibility of rejecting relationship, there is also the possibility of pain and suffering.’ If we know this to be true, then separation from God’s goodness as a result of one man’s disobedience in rejecting God’s command opened the door to the existence of suffering. Most of us would be quick to point out that the suffering of mankind begins when God punishes Adam, Eve and Satan for their sin (Gen 3:14-19), however, we see suffering enter the picture much earlier. The first signs of suffering we witness are in Adam and Eve’s torment that leads them to attempt to ‘hide’ from God and feel shame from their nakedness (Gen 3:8-10).

But who causes the suffering that we experience? If suffering exists as a result of the sin that has entered the world, does the pain we feel as a result of our suffering come from Satan who perpetuates the sin that leads to our suffering or from God who is control of all things and authorises the suffering that enters our lives?

God’s Sovereignty in Calamity

The book of Job helps us find the answers that we seek regarding these questions. In the opening chapters (Job 1) we get a rare glimpse at the ongoings within the heavenly courts. The sons (angels) of God have assembled as Satan approaches God’s royal court to challenge him. God remarks on Job’s piety and Satan scoffs at Job’s blameless character arguing that he is only upright by virtue of wanting to appease God to receive His blessings. What’s important to note is that in the same way that Satan is permitted by God to challenge Him in His royal court, he is also given permission by God (though limited) to attack Job. The running theme here, that should be understood, is that Satan is subordinate to God. This paints a picture of God’s active sovereignty in relation to our suffering, in the sense that He allows evil to enter our lives. The truth is that God brings suffering upon us whether it is at the hand of Satan and supernatural evil or the sinful consequences of man. The Bible shows the indicative causality of God’s sovereign hand and our pain and suffering (Job 1:21, Job 2:10, Job 42:11).  However we must always remember the God in whom we serve, One who’s character is marked by holiness and remains utterly untouched by evil, though he allows the trouble of evil and terrible circumstances to enter our lives which cause us pain and suffering.

However, in all this, it is the motive that makes the difference. God’s purposes for bringing suffering into our lives always point to His goodness and more importantly His love for us.

“Blessed is the one whom God corrects;
so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.[a]
 For he wounds, but he also binds up;
he injures, but his hands also heal.

Job 5:17-18

So while Satan strikes out of malice, God allows His people to suffer out of loving concern for His people and ultimately His glory in their lives. And the ultimate glory can be found in that He allowed His only dear Son to suffer for our sake that we might experience the beauty of His grace in salvation.

Though we may not always have all the answers for why our pain and suffering happens in the way that does, encouragement and relief can be found in knowing that God is in control of the suffering that enters our lives. There is safety and security – knowing that the One who is in charge, cares for us and works all things together for our good (Rom 8:28).

Be Humble, Sit Down

JJ Irukwu
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Be Humble, Sit Down

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A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of hosting Lord Michael Hastings during our ‘Gospel in a Broken World’ online conference. We spoke about humility and he gave a lot of anecdotes and examples which got me thinking- with all that we’ve seen recently in regard to attitudes towards social justice, how could more humility play a role in these discussions?

The Epitome of Humility

It’s worth noting humility is one of the abstract terms used a lot in Christianity. It’s always a good thing, we always should have more, but it’s hard to do 24/7 and by the world’s moral standard, it isn’t even all that necessary. As a result, being humble is something that can be elusive at times. Without even realising it we can let pride sneak in and become the more dominant force. Speaking from experience there are times where I have accomplished things out of pride and a sense of competitiveness, but it has been difficult to switch this off when pride became the driving force. The issue with pride is that it is addictive and self-fulfilling. The more you inflate your sense of self, the more likely you are to act in an effort to protect that sense of self.

God opposes the proud and shows favour to the humble.

– James 4:6

Jesus was the epitome of humility and He set the standard. He was the most capable man to have ever walked the Earth, a man with access to omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence, He should never have had to prove Himself or listen to the lowly opinions of those around Him. Were the disciples going to teach the Son of an all-knowing God anything useful? However, as easy as it would have been to dismiss the Pharisees who didn’t know what they were doing, or to grow frustrated with the disciples and leave them behind for still not believing after He had shown them more than enough, Jesus always remained patient and humble. He went so far as to wash their feet just to make this abundantly clear. Jesus could have acknowledged that He had access to more power than anybody in the history of mankind and lauded it over anyone that challenged Him, but instead, He took on the mantle of teacher, patient with His students and pursued a goal of enlightenment.

A Standard Set By Christ

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give His angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”

Matthew 4:1-11

A great example of Jesus rising above the temptations of pride and embracing humility was during His fast in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. When Satan came to tempt Him, you see that it was a play on His pride. What else do you use to tempt a man who is clearly not beholden to bodily desires? This is worth noting for us because sometimes we feel as though because we are not committing any clear sinful deeds, that we are protected from sin but as we saw with Jesus, Satan began each new temptation with an attack on Jesus’ pride, by stating these words, “If you are the Son of God”. It reminds me of school days when someone would instigate a hostile situation by saying ‘oooooh if it were me, I wouldn’t have done that’. This is what Satan is saying to us to draw a response that says ‘If you don’t do this now, you are somehow less’ and this lie is incredibly dangerous. The truth is that refraining from such prideful temptations is the more impressive feat and the standard we as Christians should be aiming for. Even when, in a desperate final attempt, Jesus was promised the world, He was humble enough to put Gods plans and objectives above His own.

Following the Standard

Current events in the world are showing a need for humility now more than ever. While it’s not an easy task, it is the standard set by Christ. At this time, around the world, conversations are taking place that require introspection, unlearning, critiquing your own long-standing opinions, whether in regards to racism, rape culture, human rights and so much more. There is a need for humility to acknowledge that what you thought previously might be wrong, misinformed or unfair. Without this, we cannot grow and these conversations become nothing but debate for sport or shouting matches between the loudest in the room. If you cannot recognise that man cannot live off ‘his own experiences’ in the same way he cannot live off bread alone, you end up with a very lopsided and inconsiderate view of others because you haven’t experienced their lives. We all have blind-spots and areas in which we do not understand the complexities of living and it requires humility to acknowledge these blind spots and want to address them. 

 

For Christians, a key theme of our relationship with Christ is the movement from darkness to light, from chaos to peace, from confusion to understanding. In this way, empathy and understanding for people who do not yet understand the complexities of an issue should be second nature to us. We should be eager to rush into opportunities that help people grow and have a chance at redemption, not to make us feel smarter but from a desire to help. While I understand it is not humane to ask the oppressed to have patience with their oppressors, if ultimately education and addressing a disconnect in understanding is the goal, it will require the humility to sit with your oppressor and impart knowledge as Jesus did with a world that rejected and lynched Him. I don’t think I could call the entire world to sit with people who have systematically oppressed them but I do think I can make the call to Christians, as we are assisted by grace and Christ has given us the role of advocacy and mediation.

When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, He reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord- and you are speaking rightly since that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done for you. Truly I tell, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

John 13:12-17

We are all now His sent messengers in a world that will not always love us or receive our message. We are sent to be an example of humility, washing the feet of those around us. Not only this, but we were sent by the epitome of love and patience and as He says in John 13:16, “no messenger is greater than the one who sent him.” None of us are above reproach and are above being wrong, none of us have seen from all points of view and none of us are above engaging the with the curious and those looking to grow. Therefore we should look to Jesus, following His footsteps and example of humility, being lights that shine in the darkness of this broken world that seeks self before others.

The Way, The Truth, The Life

Shumi Mararike
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The Way, The Truth, The Life

Strolling by the Quays in Salford is one of my favourite ways to unwind in Greater Manchester. The sun shimmering on the waters and forms a picturesque backdrop against the BBC and ITV studios. On this occasion I was joined by a friend of mine. At one point, the conversation steered toward faith and evangelism. She expressed a thought which has been on all our minds at one point or another: “I don’t feel like I have the right to tell someone what they believe is wrong”. The question revealed her heart for God and desire not to offend others which I admired. Hence, I replied to the question as lovingly and faithfully to the Gospel as I could.

Not All Religions are the Same

Many believe that the major world religions are fundamentally the same but only different on a superficial level. Contrary to popular opinion, this is false. For example, one similarity (especially for monotheistic religions), concerns the issue of how people may be brought into right standing with a holy God. Another is the question of what happens to us after we die. How each religion answers these questions varies dramatically, exposing their vast and crucial differences. Not all religions are the same. They are fundamentally different, with some superficial similarities, therefore requiring one to be true.

What is Truth?

“Everyone has their own truth” is a popular maxim in our day. This is rooted in the postmodernist thought which has borne a cataclysmic impact on Western Europe. Truth is no longer considered objective and absolute. However, for the sake of logic (and the sake of Christ), this can’t be so. Truth by its very definition demands objectivity. If not, we can never be certain of anything from life, from history, to the present and future things to come- should it be founded upon subjective thought/feeling. Surely for someone to build upon and devote their whole life to a particular faith, they ought to know whether it is true or not.

Yahweh is God

Yahweh (YHWH) is the Hebrew name by which God identified Himself to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:13-14). He is the eternal, self-existent God as communicated by declaring “I am who I am.” This was used to form the central tenet of Judaism in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 known as the Shema. Verse 4 comprises just four words in Hebrew, “Yahweh our God, Yahweh One” (with the word “is” being implicit).

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a]

Deuteronomy 6:4 

This emphatically asserts that there is only one God. All other gods are idols because Yahweh is the one and only true God (Isaiah 45:5-6). God has revealed Himself as Yahweh with this being the Covenant name of God by which He is associated with Israel and His promise to Abraham (Exodus 3:15). Therefore, Allah, Buddha and Krishna are not different names for the same God. There is only one God, and His name is Yahweh.

One Way to God

Jesus strongly affirmed that there is only one God (Matthew 22:36-40 and Mark 12:28-30). He also proclaimed that there is only one way to Him.

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:5-6 

Moments before at the Passover, Jesus told His disciples that He would depart from them. Jesus encouraged them not to be troubled, for He was going to the Father’s dwelling place (heaven). He would prepare a place for His disciples to join Him there when He returns for them at His second coming.

Not all roads lead to this destination, it is a one-way road, and that road is Jesus. In claiming to be the Truth Jesus equated Himself with the Law of God as the authoritative standard of righteousness. In perfectly fulfilling the law of God, He is the Truth (Matthew 5:17). In His life, death and resurrection, He became the source of all life, physical and eternal.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12 

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

1 Timothy 2:5

Jesus Proved It

To claim to be the exclusive way to God is an incredibly bold statement. Some may call it arrogant. However, we can be fully persuaded that this is indeed true because of the most important event in the history of the world: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Raising Himself up on the third day demonstrated that Jesus did what He said He would do (John 2:18-22; 10:16-18). It gives certainty that the resurrected Christ will bring His disciples safely home (John 14:1-4). We are assured that the dead in Christ and those who are alive, in Him, will be raised with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The resurrection guarantees us that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life because God’s plan for redemption was accomplished through the Son’s sacrifice on the cross on our behalf and was accepted by the Father.

We Must Share the Truth

Surely for someone to build upon and devote their whole life to a particular faith, they ought to know whether it is true or not. There is one God and one way to Him, Jesus Christ, making Christianity the truth. It is more loving to share the truth with someone rather than leaving them in a lie with perilous eternal consequences. This requires us to respectfully and lovingly share the Gospel with people of different religions/no religion at all. My next article shall explore how we may do so.

Will We Ever See Complete Justice in Our Lifetime?

Deborah Asamoah
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Will We Ever See Complete Justice in Our Lifetime?

The Plight of the Black Woman

Oluwatoyin Salau. Breonna Taylor. Joy Morgan. What do these names have in common? Over the past few weeks, it feels like the derelict and neglected status of the black woman has finally managed to capture the world’s attention. Yet while the black woman’s plight has only just slightly met the media’s gaze, there still seems to be a veil of invisibility that cloaks dark-skinned black women and their experiences.

When it matters, black women seem to be ignored by the media, they are misplaced, unknown, neglected by society – they have become lost causes, and the media circus only seems to arrive when it is too late. I know there are women, who like myself, are trying their best to fight the cynical thoughts that want to convince us that the current support of the black woman’s cause is simply the fashion of the times and that soon enough, the plight of the dark-skinned black woman will soon fade into its wonted anonymity and alienation.

Who Cares?…

‘Who cares for little Black girls, Black teens, Black women?’, were the words that resonated from Gabrielle Union as she paid tribute to the murdered 19-year-old black woman and activist Oluwatoyin Salau whose body was discovered a week after she had gone missing, and a week after she had alerted the world of her vulnerability and the danger she was exposed to, while the world failed to pay attention. Yet again. Via a series of, what people now describe as ‘immortalised’ tweets, she detailed her sexual assault by a man she trusted to support her in her displaced lodging condition. Ironically the same timeline that neglected to raise alert to her sexual assault case until it was too late, was set ablaze by the uproar from exhibitions of black women detailing their experiences of sexual assault. The very same timeline, weeks prior, put several UK influencers on trial for their colourist tweets which were unearthed from 6-8 years ago.

While many users thought it necessary to play ‘judge, jury and executioner’ in bid to vindicate black women by cancelling key figures for their colourism and misogynism, the real question is ‘who cares for little Black girls, Black teens and Black women?’ Who cares for them enough to not subject them to comments that demean their physicality, hair and the colour of their skin in the first place? Who cares for them enough to pay attention to their pleas for help when they are sexually assaulted, physically abused, when their lives are put in danger, and to act swiftly before it is too late? Who cares for them enough to pursue rightful justice when they are murdered by police and civilians alike, even when the rest of the world has moved on and forgotten their case? Cancelling people that mistreat black women does nothing but soothe our own sense of self-righteousness. What about the lifetime cause of protecting black women? How many Toyins would still be alive? How many Breonnas would have their killers found guilty? How many Joys would be found and safe at home with their families?

The Reality of The Matter

The reality is we all fall short when it comes to accomplishing justice. Many activists have noted that the ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests highlight the need for fair treatment of black lives, despite centring its focus on the protection of black men, while also ignoring the oppression of  black women who are being silently abused and sexually violated by the very same cohort that insists that ‘black lives have always mattered.’ A justice that is partial is still injustice.

The explanation for our inability to carry out perfect justice is that we are imperfect humans. In much simpler terms, we are sinners. We are predisposed to biases that make our judgment about justice flawed and erroneous. We inherently seek to serve ourselves. Even when we look out for those who are marginalised in our society, we are unconsciously desiring to satisfy our flawed and improper moral compass which is dictated by our own feelings and defective bias.

Even if we wanted to carry out righteous justice for Black Lives in all its capacity by; protecting and ensuring the dignified treatment of black women, bringing police brutality and racial injustice to the forefront of our society’s worldview, and compelling the legal and education system to take into account its systematic racism and rebuild its systems – we would still fall short, each and every time. Why? Because apart from Christ we do not know what it means to be perfect. Our failure to be perfect warrants our inability to carry out perfect justice. Who wants perfect justice anyways you might ask? Oluwatoyin. Breonna. Joy. Black women who are dead and soon to be largely forgotten by a world consisting of humans like you and me, who in our inability to carry out perfect justice are instead part of a society that invokes injustice which kills black women such as these. Black women that look like me. Black women who look like someone you call mother, sister, wife or friend.

Through Christ. Alone.

However, thankfully the Gospel transcends these societal struggles. We all desire to see the end of racism in our lifetime. We all wish to see the end of misogyny(noir) in our lifetime. We all hope to see the end of all injustices in our lifetime. There is one way in which we will be able to see such a reformative transformation in the history of mankind. And that way is through Christ. Alone.

In John 4, Jesus demonstrates the perfect example of restoring justice on a micro-level when He converses with the depraved Samaritan woman at the well, who is a social pariah in her community. Being a social outcast in the same way that dark-skinned black women have been relegated to, as a double minority in society, we see Jesus choose to engage with her and meet her at a time when no-one else would. At that moment, Jesus not only shows Himself to be an advocate for the oppressed woman but by acknowledging and respecting her as a woman made in the Imago Dei (God’s image and likeness). Despite the social and moral stigma attached to her past and her identity, He proves to do more to support the cause of the marginalized woman than a lot of us would do in the 21st century.

However, this is simply microcosmic in terms of how He is the author of perfect justice in our humanity. Unlike us, who are only physically capable of restoring justice to a certain measure, Christ is able to provide total reformative justice by transforming one place that the whole of humanity is unable to reach. The heart. Although the Samaritan woman has been sinned against by the unjust treatment of her society, she, herself is a sinner and has made mistakes in her past. As we all have. The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 – ‘all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.’ We have all fallen short, and that makes us, as well as the Samaritan woman, perfect candidates for a Redeemer. We all need Jesus to give us His ‘living water’ (John 4:10). The living water that Jesus describes here, symbolises the work of the Holy Spirit which is applied in our hearts because of His redemptive work, His death on the cross and resurrection. This work in our hearts both completely satisfies our needs as well as gives us new desires, and pure motives to live by.

It is not just the police who kill our black men and women or the men in our society who endanger and abuse and sexually assault our women, who are in need of Jesus to give them new hearts, new desires and new motives; it’s all of us who need a redemptive transformation. None of us are innocent. We have all lied, stolen, decided to mind our own business or failed to act, and in some shape or form contributed in various measures to the injustice we see in our society, whether big or small. We have all sinned at some point in our lives because we are inherently wired to break the perfect commandments and moral principles, designed by God, making us sinful by nature.

Until the whole of humanity comes to accept their need for Jesus and His ‘Living Water’ to change their hearts, the world will not witness the complete reformative justice that it longs to see. As Christians, our job is to cling to this truth and ardently preach the Gospel of God’s redemptive power through Christ alone. Until Jesus returns and complete justice is restored, let us not waver in our faith but encourage ourselves and others with the Gospel in the face of the injustices that we see.

Discussing Injustice with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

On Mission
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Discussing Injustice with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Our director, Mike Omoniyi, was one of three people invited to take part in a special discussion on justice and equality with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, hosted by the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT).

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are the President and Vice President of the QCT.  The Trust exists to champion, fund and connect young leaders around the world, helping to inform its future direction.

The meeting was one of the QCT’s weekly discussions with young people, assessing the impact of various forms of injustice on the experiences of young people today in response to the Black Lives Matter Movement.

In the conversation, Mike emphasised the importance of humility when discussing and tackling racism:

“After pressing send online, people need to roll up their sleeves and do the work… There’s a whole host of things that mean to be an ally but the impetus has to be humility, kindness and a willingness to learn new things.”

This was echoed by the Duchess who stressed how crucial it was to “know when to lead and know when to listen.”

It is greatly encouraging to see people from such high positions and large spheres of influence demonstrate a strong willingness to grapple with the problem. This was strongly communicated the Duchess who encouraged the leaders:

“Keep up the incredible work and know that we are right there with you, standing in solidarity. We’re going to get there…and we have a lot of renewed faith and energy in that having had this conversation.”

This was also well-captured by the Duke:

“The optimism and the hope that we get is from listening and speaking to people like you because there is no turning back now, everything is coming to a head. Solutions exist and change is happening far quicker than it ever has done before.”

Humility is of vital importance in addressing racial inequality and injustice. As Christians, we are to demonstrate the same humble and compassionate spirit displayed by Jesus Christ when interacting with those who are pained by unjust treatment.

 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12

To watch the full discussion Click here.

To learn more about OGGM’s work and material, click here.

Praying Through The Darkness

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Praying Through The Darkness

Day four of this 5-day event was centered on Praying through the darkness. Praying through dark times is hard. What do I pray? Will I be heard? Why is this happening? These are questions we’ve all asked ourselves at one point or another. In spite of this, if there is one thing that is needed during this time, it is prayer. “Prayer is doubts destroyer, ruin’s remedy, the antidote to all anxieties”, this quote from Spurgeon emphasizes the need of prayer, especially in these dark times. So what role does prayer play in our lives? How important is it to us? Is it our first or last resort? Are your circumstances pushing you towards or away from prayer?


Stacie Reeser is the lead pastor and Co-director of the Ramp Church Manchester and on this day delivered a sermon giving us greater insight on how to pray through the darkness. In this sermon, Stacie also responds to many of our poignant, important questions about prayer. If you’re struggling to pray during difficult times, struggling to see where God is in your situation, you’ll love this sermon!

Dealing with Loss

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Dealing with Loss

Day three of this 5-day event was centered around the topic of dealing with loss. Dealing with loss has become a frequent reality in thousands of households during this period where more than 40,000 people in the UK, both Christians and Non-Christians, both rich and poor, both young and old, have died of COVID-19-related deaths. This epidemic has left people broken, fearful, and unsure of how to handle the loss of their relatives or how to talk to someone who is dealing with loss. No matter who you are, understanding how to deal with loss has become paramount.

Femi Kalejaiye was part of the pastoral team at Rediscover Church Exeter, and served as an operational pastor whilst leading the youth ministry and on this day delivered a powerful sermon, giving us advice on how to cope with loss through a Gospel lens with the using the example of Thessalonians, a church with frequently dealt with loss and suffering. Here he responds to many of our poignant, important questions. If you are dealing with any type of loss, this sermon will truly bless you.

The Gospel: A Response to a Broken World

On Mission
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The Gospel: A Response to a Broken World


To finish off our 5-day event we focused on The Gospel: A Response to a Broken World. During this season, whether we consider the Black Lives Matter movement or the COVID-19 epidemic, we all have questions, and ‘difficult’ questions at that. What does God want us to do? How should we respond to social injustice? Why is God allowing suffering? How do I change the world? All these ‘difficult’ questions have a very ‘simple’ answer. The Gospel. The good news. The promise of the coming of the kingdom of God. The world is in desperate need of it. Now more than ever.

Mike is the Founder and Director of Our God Given Mission (OGGM), a Christian charity of 20 trustees built on sharing, demonstrating, and defending the Gospel of Jesus Christ. OGGM through articles, videos, and events shares the undiluted Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mike is also the founder and CEO of  The Common Sense Network the first 100% independently funded news new network for millennials in the UK.

Here, Mike gives an empowering sermon on how to respond to the broken state of our world and how we, no matter how insignificant we may feel, can change the world. He then answers important questions that have been on the minds of millions. If you wish to change the world, or if you’re looking to truly understand the Gospel, you’ll love this sermon!

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