Wading through worldview wars

I was struck this week by the stark contrast between two stories I read on the Christian Post website.

The first article spoke of more than 16,000 decisions for Christ that have been made during three recent Harvest Crusades following the tragic death of lead pastor Greg Laurie's 33-year-old son in an auto accident earlier this year.

Sixteen thousand people! That's an astounding number. I was reminded in reading the article how God has moved so mightily in the hearts of our Thomas Road Baptist Church members since the sudden death of my father in May 2007. Many people have come to know Christ because of the continuing impact of Dad's life.

So often we see great spiritual results come about as a result of the tragedies of life, and we are comforted and reminded anew of the greatness of our God.

And then I focused on another article that bore this headline: "'No God' Ads to Hit London Buses." In the story, I learned that an atheist organization known as the British Humanist Association has purchased ad space on London buses for signs reading: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

The story noted, "It is well known that Christianity is in decline in the United Kingdom and across Europe." In fact, about two-thirds of Britons say they have no religious affiliation, the United Nations has reported.

We see in these stories life in contrast, as it has been for thousands of years.

On one hand we see Christian believers carrying out the command given by Jesus to his followers: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15, NKJV). On the other hand we see a group that rejects Christ and suggests that people of intellect have no use for a belief in the Almighty.

We as Christians find ourselves at an expanding cultural crossroads in the early 21st century. In the mainstream media, entertainment, politics and education, the notion of the saving Christ is being increasingly rejected, even condemned.

Yet amid the cadence of criticism and bullying, we continue to be called by Christ to be his lights in this world that increasingly denies him. We must be constantly honing our skills in apologetics (defending or proving the truth of Christian doctrines) so that we can effectively communicate Christ's message.

I am continually inspired by the life of a former Muslim who has become one of the great Christian statesmen of our day. His name is Dr. Ergun Caner, president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, a man who is beloved by the young people at Liberty who find such inspiration in his life.

Dr. Caner is a man who has felt the rejection of his family and been the target of ridicule and derision because of his faith in Christ. He has a constant message to Christians: "Continue sharing the gospel, whatever the cost."

I see Ergun Caner as a modern picture of the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. I love the story of this unnamed woman who was apprehensive when spoken to by Jesus (since Jews weren't supposed to speak to Samaritans, and men weren't supposed to talk to women without their husbands around and rabbis typically didn't talk to women with suspicious histories). But Jesus reached out in love to this unlikely woman (John 4) to express the theme of his "living waters." And this woman quickly went into her community to tell everyone about the Messiah.

Ergun Caner was also an unlikely spokesman for Christ. But today he is proclaiming Christ wherever he goes. "Go to the lost," he says. "Some are going to mock you. Who cares? It's about the living water that you can offer them through Jesus Christ. Meet them at the well!"

As the atheist and humanist messages prevail culturally, we must challenge the messengers with reason and the Mind of Christ as we continue to be the bearers of Jesus Christ's living waters.