WHY I AM A CHRISTIAN
By John Stott
IVP. 149 pages. £7.99
ISBN 0 85111 407 5
This is a classic piece of gently evangelistic writing from the pen of John Stott. It takes its cue from, but does not really engage with, Bertrand Russell's well-known published lecture Why I am not a Christian. The book is based on sermons preached at All Souls Church, Langham Place, London, in 1986.
After an opening chapter explaining that the ultimate reason anyone is a Christian is because of the sovereign grace of God, the main substance of the book consists of five chapters which explain why the author believes 'that Christianity is true, or better, that the claims of Jesus are true'. These chapters consider the claims of Jesus, the cross of Christ, the paradox of what it is to be human, Christ as the key to freedom and Christ as the fulfilment of human aspirations - our quest for transcendence, significance and community. The final chapter, entitled 'The greatest of all invitations', is followed by a prayer of commitment to Christ.
The re-emergence of heavy shepherds
What would you think if you received a letter from your church leaders that read like this? ‘Are church members …