Dear Editor,
Glen Scrivener’s article ‘Love your neighbour: a strategy to reach the world’ in the ‘Everyday evangelism’ column (en July 2022) is an encouraging account of a gospel conversation with his neighbour. However, I do not think it is helpful to draw a contrast with his talk given to ‘the cream of society’, and particularly to suggest that efforts to reach the elites are less fruitful and worthwhile than simple chats with our neighbours.
Although Glen encountered an apparently complacent atheist, we do not know what God is doing ‘behind the scenes’. Maybe that young man will change his mind as a result of Glen’s talk. And there were others listening who may have been impacted positively.
The evangelical church is notoriously anti-intellectual and has for centuries neglected to witness to those who are likely to become leaders in our society. As a result there is a dearth of Christian leadership in our nation and our Judaeo-Christian heritage is steadily dismantled to the detriment of our culture.
Yes, all Christians need to share Christ in their everyday conversations, but let us also support and encourage a strong witness to those who are likely to become influential leaders.
Yours sincerely,
Alison Carter By email
