Page 6 - Summer 2015 Contact issue 34

CONFERENCE SEMINARS Peter Lynas who led the Faith & Culture Seminar, pictured left Jane Butcher who led the Faith at Home seminar, pictured above The Awaken Conference planning team, pictured above right Awakening to faith and culture But more than that, he called us to follow the example of Jesus Christ and enter In a world of free speech, news our public square whether that be school, headlines, equality commissions and work, university, or even on Facebook by countless opinions the relationship being unafraid to share the story of which between faith and culture has never been we are a part – the story of the gospel; the coziest. As Christians and as a global the story of identity, mercy, grace, church we increasingly fnd ourselves at compassion, freedom, justice and truth odds with the politics of this world. So which cuts right across the empty how should we react to these stories? meaningless story the world seeks to And where does the gospel message of force feed us. Inevitably, the gospel and Christ stand in all of this? culture will always collide – Jesus, after all, was executed for his engagement In his seminar Peter unpacked some of between faith and culture; but we should the things we hear and read about in never be afraid or apologetic for what we the news. Using the words of Paul in have to say, for the story and message Romans 12:1-2, he encouraged us that we have, as we seek for the Holy Spirit to as Christians we must engage with the come and pour himself in, transforming culture and world around us by being culture and people, is one for the whole people who are rooted in the Word of world. God. Andrew Dickson