IS ISLAM THE GREATEST ENEMY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH?
We desperately want our western brothers and sisters in Christ to realise that the greatest enemy of our faith today is not communism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Atheism, or even Islam. Our greatest enemy is lostness. Lostness is the terrible enemy that Jesus commissioned His followers to vanquish with the battle strategy He spelled out for them in Matthew 28:18-20. He was addressing this same enemy when He plainly clarified His purpose in coming: “I have come to seek and to save those who are lost.”
Our hope is that believers around the world will get close enough to the heart of God that the first images that come to mind when we hear the word “Muslim” are not Somali pirates or suicide bombers of violent jihadists or even terrorists. When we hear the word “Muslim,” we need to see and think of each and every Muslim as a lost person who is loved by God. We nee to see each Muslim as a person in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. We need to see each Muslim as someone for whom Christ died.
Nik Ripken, The Insanity of God, p. 302-303
Find out more about Jesus: who He is; why He came; what it means to follow Him.
// KRIMPER LANE
// DUBBO DUSK
DIGITAL STRATEGY FOR CHURCHES // FREE E-BOOK BY JORDAN GILLMAN @JORDESIGN
Jordan Gillman, from churchsites.co and author of this guest post, has released his e-book for free. Digital Strategy for Churches is a 48-page e-book designed to help churches think strategically about the way they use their website and social media presence. Jordan’s material is accessible for churches of all sizes with specific action steps at the end of each chapter. Definitely worth checking out.
DOWNLOAD ‘DIGITAL STRATEGY FOR CHURCHES’
I’ve written some content that might also be useful:
- REDEEMING SOCIAL MEDIA
- #HASHTAGS, SELFIES & BEING A CHRISTIAN ONLINE
- THE DIGITAL SKATEPARK // GET YOUR MINISTRY ONLINE
HOPE BEYOND CURE: BOOK REVIEW // GUEST POST BY ADAM SCOTT (@ADAMNSCOTT)
I recently noticed my friend, Adam Scott, share online that he had just finished reading a book for the second time. The book? ‘Hope Beyond Cure’ by Dave McDonald. Knowing some of Adam’s story I asked him if he’d be willing to share how this book has impacted him in particular. Ads is one of the ministers at St Mark’s Pennant Hills (Sydney).
“It’s actually very serious.”
That was the last thing I wanted to hear from the doctors treating me.
An MRI had apparently revealed a large arterial tear in my neck & the consensus was that I’d probably had a stroke. It all started feeling very serious. I was 28 years old, laying in a hospital bed, surrounded by pensioners who were apparently healthier than I was – go figure!
It was the first time in my life that someone spoke candidly & clinically with me about the reality of dying and it was terrifying. I’d always expected dying to be a future, far-off, unfortunate but inevitable reality, but someone with more authority on the subject was telling me that perhaps my presumptions were wrong.
That’s probably why I’ve appreciated reading ‘Hope Beyond Cure’ by David McDonald as much as I have. It’s a book written by a pastor who was humble enough to admit that facing death can be terrifying & perhaps our presumptions are wrong.
Continue reading “HOPE BEYOND CURE: BOOK REVIEW // GUEST POST BY ADAM SCOTT (@ADAMNSCOTT)”
