Monday 9th May 2011 – There are non-evangelical Christians??

One of the things that passed through my mind at King’s yesterday is how different Christians choose different styles of worship and different emphases in theology, and it’s all OK. I suppose I should have been prepared for today’s attack of the liberals!
I went to the first session of the CACEC four-part course on the book of Acts, at City URC in Windsor Place, Cardiff. The last one I went to was on Mark’s gospel, taught by Simon Woodman, and packed with between 20 and 30 Baptists. This one is taught by a venerable retired Anglican clergyman (venerable is his title, as well as a description of the man!), and sprinkled with about 10 non-Baptists. I was, on the whole impressed with the teaching, and enjoyed it and picked up some interesting points about the book.
Nearly all of the rest of the class consists of elderly ladies who mainly have a liberal view of scripture and salvation. Some more liberal than others.
Here are some quotes:
“Why should we have to evangelise?”
“Acts 4:12 [salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved] is a bit dodgy in today’s multi-faith world. People don’t still believe that, do they?”
“The people on Songs of Praise singing with their hands raised are obviously very enthusiastic, and taken with the person of Jesus, but I worry whether there is any depth of teaching in these evangelical churches.”
Before my sabbatical I was told that I should go and hear different points of view to my own, and I think I am fulfilling that part on this course… it will be an interesting four weeks! :)

By the way (with reference to a comment last week), twice today when I was asked where I had come from, and said ‘Caerphilly’ I was met with surprise that anyone would travel such a vast distance for a lecture on Acts. All the way from Caerphilly!!! Yes, a whole 17 mins on the train from Caerphilly to Cardiff Queen Street.