insight - november 2012

insight the newsletter of Solas Centre for Public Christianity

November 2012

Most people who had reached adulthood by the year 1963 can remember where they were in the early evening of 22nd November in that year. As a student, I was earning a few pounds by delivering copies of Readers’ Digest to subscribers and in one tenement in Leith, a house door happened to be half open, with the result that I could hear the radio. That’s when I heard the announcement that John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America , had been assassinated. It has since become the most memorable date on which people can remember where they were when they heard it.

On that evening a satirical play was being performed in a theatre, and in one scene a character was arriving for a job interview. The actor carried a portable radio which, for the sake of authenticity, was switched on. He set it

© 2012 Solas - Centre for Public Christianity, 4 St. Peter’s Street, Dundee DD1 4JJ. Phone: +44(0)1382 525021, Email: [email protected]

Who’s for some reality?

Written byDavid J. Randall,Solas Trustee

us for Himself and therefore our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Him – it is then that we are in touch with reality. Is it not one of the ironies of our time that the term “reality show” should describe so much that is trivial and simply unreal?

The call of Christ is not to enter some make-believe world of fantasy. It is the call to enter the real world and receive real life from His hand who made us and acted in Christ for our redemption.

C.S. Lewis could never have imagined that his stories, especially his children’s books, would become as popular as they

down so that background music played while the play proceeded. At one point, however, the music stopped and a voice was heard: “We interrupt this programme to inform you that today the American President, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas”. The actor moved quickly to switch off the radio, but it was too late – the audience had heard the announcement. The grim reality of the outside world had shattered the make-believe world of the theatre and whatever action was taking place on the stage seemed rather trivial and irrelevant.

The famous C.S. Lewis died on the same day and Philip Yancey brought the two events together: “That is what C. S. Lewis did for me and many others. He interrupted my own small world of selfish ambition, materiality, pride and pain with news from another world – in this case news not tragic but unimaginably good: a sure promise that God has not given up on this planet” (What Good is God?, page 90).

Many people imagine that faith / religion / church / Christianity are all about some unreal world while “reality” has to do with the physical aspects of our existence, the nitty-gritty of everyday life, material possessions. In fact, it is when we “tune in” to that other world, when we pay heed to the message of Jesus Christ, when we remember that He has made

M.C.Escher - Relativity

“He interrupted my own small world of selfish ambition, materiality, pride and pain with news from another world ”

Insight - Newsletter of Solas CPC November 2012

have become as the years have gone by. Big screen epics such as Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader would have been beyond even the wildest of his dreams. But consider this striking image from his book on miracles: “There comes a moment when the children who have been playing at burglars hush suddenly: was that a real footstep in the hall?” And his message? “There comes a moment when people who have been dabbling in religion (‘Man’s search for God’!) suddenly draw back. Supposing we really found Him? We never meant it to come to that! Worse still, supposing He had found us?” Supposing He is like the poet’s “Hound of Heaven” from whom human beings so often run away without realising that He comes to bless, to enrich, to save. Francis Thompson had been an opium addict and he later reflected on his desire to escape the clutches of God: I fled Him, down the arches of the years, down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter. But the poem concludes with:

Halts by me that footfall:Is my gloom, after all,Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?‘Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,I am He Whom thou seekest!Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me.’

Or, as Scripture expresses it, He stands at the door and knocks. He says, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in” (Revelation 3:20). He comes to challenge all that is wrong and unworthy; He comes to redeem and empower; He comes to enable people to share the apostle’s testimony, “In him you have been enriched in every way” (1 Corinthians 1:5). That’s real!

C.S. Lewis

It has been a really encouraging past few weeks. I am writing this on the train from London after having spent a very profitable couple of days with a few Christian leaders in England. We were looking at what Solas is all about – the re-evangelisation of the church in the UK. There were some very stimulating and helpful discussions, which I will share with you in the future (and will say something more at the Solas day on November 24th). Whilst I was down in London I recorded a couple of programmes for Premier Christian Radio (we will put these on the website when they are broadcast). One of these was with the comedian Marcus Brigstock who can best be described as an unhappy atheist who really wished that God did exist but says he does not believe because as yet he has not been presented with a credible version of God. Which is where Solas comes in!

Report from David


Charlotte Chapel: This is one church that really does get what Solas is about – using persuasive evangelism. We have done two events there over the past weeks. On the 16th of August I did a talk on atheism and the gospel and then on the 17th of September we had the Same-Sex Marriage debate. The ripples from the latter are still being felt. Pray that there would be more churches like Charlotte who will catch this vision.

European Leadership Forum: ELF is an important partner with us. I did a webinar with them on the 17th of August. People from 26 countries signed up and it seemed to go well. I have been signed up to do three more. I am also going to speak at their main meeting which will be in Poland next May.

Other events I have been involved in are DNA training in Aberdeen, a debate with Alistair McBay of the National Secular Society in Dundee, a lunch bar for Stirling CU and a meeting with the director of London City Mission looking at how we can partner with them. Plus there have been several opportunities to interact with journalists and write articles.

But as you should know Solas is much more than a record of my activities outside of St Peter’s. The Edinburgh Solas Pod is developing fast (why not think about starting one in your area), Richard Lucas is continuing with his excellent ministry of writing newspaper letters and public speaking; Tim Allyn and Ally Smith are producing increasingly good quality ‘Fleabytes’; David Randall has agreed to become vice-chairman and is working on a Solas book; Gordon Wilson continues his wise leadership and interaction with Scottish politicians; Will Traub is setting up Porterbrook and will begin work on some materials for Solas and we look forward to the arrival of our European director, Tom Courtney this month….

The doors are opening. Pray. Pray. Pray. And act.

Yours in Christ,

David

A big congratulations to Tim & Bev Allyn on the safe arrival of their new baby boy Andrew.

Andrew was born on the 17th September at Ninewells hospital, Dundee, weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz.

We wish Tim, Bev & Jonathan every blessing and join them in giving thanks to God for this new addition to their family.

Congratulations to the Allyns!

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Is there a God?

Alistair McBay versus Richard Lucas

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insight - november 2012

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