Two church leaders highlighted the importance of contending for gospel freedoms and speaking of Jesus in public life on 23 June.
John Stevens, national director of the FIEC group of churches, and Dr Joe Boot, senior pastor of Westminster Chapel in Toronto and a cultural apologist, were speaking at a special event in London hosted by Christian Concern. Entitled ‘Gospel Truth in Contemporary Culture’, the Open Forum sought to explore different approaches to Christian engagement in public life.
As moderator, Dr Dan Strange pointed out at the beginning of the event that both speakers agree on the fundamentals of evangelical faith. As the evening progressed, it became apparent that there was also significant agreement on aspects of public engagement.
Different approaches
The two speakers did, however, offer distinct theological frameworks to approach the pressing issue of how Christians should engage with a rapidly changing culture. The differences in approach were not merely theoretical, but would give rise to different emphases and priorities in practice. Both speakers agreed on the need to defend gospel freedoms and to witness to the truth of the gospel in an increasingly hostile public square.
