The Baptist Centenary Congress has gathered thousands of Christian leaders from the UK and from every corner of the globe. Approximately 13,000 delegates have gathered so far in Birmingham, UK for the event, and amid a hugely busy schedule, Rev Steve Chalke took time out between addressing thousands of attendees to speak passionately with Christian Today.

Rev Steve Chalke is the founder of Faithworks and Oasis Trust, and is the author of a number of Christian books, including ‘The Lost Message of Jesus’. The text of the interview is shown below:

Christian Today: What kind of impact do you hope that these four days of the Baptist World Centenary Congress will have?

Chalke: Well I think that around the world Baptist denominations and local Baptist churches are all distinctive; there’s no one size that fits all. Churches are different and they need to respond to their culture and their setting. But I think that there are certain basic principles that should guide every church and every Baptist church, and I hope that what will come out in these four days is that Christians will go back to their localities and communities around the world and live out principles that are taught here and do so in a culturally sensitive way.

Christian Today: The theme of this congress is ‘Jesus Christ Living Water’. Could you explain what you believe is the relevance of this to the Baptist denomination now and also to the other UK churches at this time in God’s history?

Chalke: I think that without a doubt we live in an age when people are spiritually past. There are no answers to all the hard questions that we face on a global scale. We live in a global society in a new way now, and are suddenly aware that we are actually one race of people – that we belong together. But there are no answers to the pressing problems, the moral problems, the social problems. So we are ‘past’, and so it is here where there is the life giving word of Jesus which is like water.

I honestly believe that the message of Jesus, the relevance of Jesus’ teaching is paramount today. If you look at the global war on terrorism and all of those issues, why is half the world angry with the other half? The world can easily split the religious line couldn’t it. The Christian West versus Islam. Only the words of Jesus and ethics of Jesus will save us on a planet that overheats where we all fry anyway. So I think if you look at any of the big issues, all the local issues, where there is loneliness, poverty, lack of hope and despair – the message of Jesus makes sense. He is living water.

I think that the words of Jesus and the passion that he brings to a person’s life in transforming men and liberating them, forgiving them and appointing them outside themselves – this is the hope for the world.

This is some research just done here in the UK by the Home Office, and it showed that if you are an active Christian, you are three times more likely than anyone else to engage in the affairs of your community beyond your own interests. Why is that? Because Jesus puts passion into your heart. It is written into the DNA of any followers of Jesus that they must be concerned of their brother – who is my neighbour? Everyone. Love God and love your neighbour.

I think its a pretty potent, energetic and powerful force, and as a Christian community filled with God’s spirit, I think we have a lot to do.