This weekend I had some time to reflect on the results of the Evangelical Outpost essay contest. Having read the other winning essays, it is no small honor to be in such company. As you read, note the common themes across each writer’s perspectives. Let that remind you of the unity-in-diversity that should characterize effective Christian communication across new media.
What’s on deck for A Deo Lumen? This contest and subsequent comments like this one from pastor Jacob Van Horn move me to think this site may truly help others navigating the various challenges and opportunities arising from new media. I want to help Christians and non-Christians alike however I can.
In the near term, I plan on breaking my essay down into smaller parts to apply it to specific situations. I am updating the site to reflect this focus. I may also find time to assess the Evangelical Manifesto and its various responses.
For newcomers to this site, “To God for illumination” is my starting point because I have full confidence that God’s Word has answers for both natural and spiritual problems. It illuminates root causes and enables one to think clearly about even the hardest issues today, including the man-made and natural suffering surrounding such headlines as these from today:
Tornado deaths underscore risks of taking shelter in cars
Anxious Chinese Americans follow news of quake
Wildfires force evacuations in central Florida
Gaza Rocket Kills Another Israeli
Israeli police raid city offices in Olmert fraud probe
Sudanese Soldiers Hunt Rebels After Khartoum Attack
Such problems present many gospel opportunities, if we have eyes to see. This is what Mark Stanley at Digital Reason sees:
Speaking intelligently, loudly and unswervingly about timeless truths will be refreshing in a time of mushy thoughts and half-hearted positions. I believe the Christian message will grow bolder due to these strongly individualizing conditions.
I agree, and I add: There are deep spiritual causes underlying our world’s many problems, and I hope to see a multi-generational chorus of Christian sages arise through new media to address such issues with both boldness and humility, using a Biblical worldview that ultimately points others to the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ.
Nineteenth century British pastor Charles Spurgeon said, “The gospel is like a cage lion. It does not need to be defended, it just needs to be let out of its cage.”
We keep the cage closed for many reasons. We don’t want to look different. We run from the intellectual challenges to Scripture. We get stuck in compromised lives of sin and a lack of assurance of our salvation. We accept the secular assertion that Christian truth only applies to “faith and practice.” We build our friendships only in the church. We only speak using Christian terminology…the list goes on.
A Deo Lumen exists to help open the cage.