Dundee’s Central Baptist Church played host to around 300 people on 3 November who gathered to consider how to share the gospel in our age of tough questions, at the ‘Confident Christianity’ Solas conference.
Jim Turrent, the pastor of Central Baptist, kicked proceedings off with a call for the church to embrace the biblical call to unashamed gospel proclamation. In a session entitled ‘How to talk about Jesus without sounding like an idiot’, Dr Andy Bannister led a crash-course in personal evangelism which was especially well received.
Poor science of atheism
Sharon Dirckx holds a PhD in brain-imaging, and took the atheist materialist world-view to task by arguing that their view of humanity as merely a physical entity doesn’t just clash with Christian belief, but is poor science. Andy Bannister’s second talk, ‘Am I matter, or do I matter?’, applied this further, exploring our creation in the image of God.
Dr Ben Thomas gave two talks on sexual ethics. The first was his testimony of conversion to Christ, when he was sharing his life with his same-sex partner. He explained that deep wrestling with Scripture led him to conclude that this could not continue, and why he has chosen a single, celibate life. He spoke with great warmth and clarity about the cost, but also the great joys of the Christian life. His second talk addressed how to share the gospel faithfully and winsomely with LBGT+ friends, family and colleagues.
Deeper engagement
Mark Stirling examined contemporary culture, the ways in which secularism seeks to claim the public square as its own, the consequences of this, and how to respond. He also spoke about sharing the gospel in an age when everyone takes offence, moving beyond hurling slogans to a far-deeper engagement. He warned the church in Scotland that it is ‘behind the curve’ in thinking deeply and profoundly about the cultural shifts, and that there is a need to pray and think hard, not regress to mere pragmatism.
Sharon Dirckx brought the day to a conclusion with a talk about suffering. The final answer, she said, was found in the gospel of Christ, and his promise of eternal life. She encouraged people who had spent the day engaged in serious thinking to ensure that they have trusted Christ themselves.
