In a culture that is increasingly indifferent and ignorant of Christianity, it is not only important for Christians to understand what we believe but why. We must see it necessary to reclaim the importance of the intellectual life, not only to safeguard the witness of the New Zealand church but also its health and identity. Without diminishing a passion for lives that demonstrate radical love and conformity to the Gospel, we must yet take seriously the biblical call to always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15) and to thoroughly refute secular arguments that are raised against it (2 Corinthians 10:5).

With this conclusion as our frame and impetus, a group of us have launched Thinking Matters to try and respond to the increasing irrelevance of the Christian community in this country. We are an interdenominational network of professional and lay people throughout New Zealand, together resolute in the belief that the Christian God is rationally warranted and that the proclaimation of the Gospel is the only hope for a lost and dying world. Our vision is to see the gospel effectively communicated and our mission is to encourage this by  (1) equipping Christians to see that the claims of the Bible can stand tall in the public marketplace of ideas and (2) connecting and resourcing Christians that are already involved in apologetics.

The retreat from biblical Christianity at the centers of New Zealand culture continues to remind us not only of the importance of minds that are illumined, sharpened and submitted to God’s word but also knees bent before Him in intercession. We stand together with other Christians, aware of the responsibility to confirm the Gospel in the marketplace of ideas and in the hearts of those who hunger for a Saviour. Added on Thu, 28 January 2010 02:36:58 Hits 1145