Lifestyle more important than dogma in UK mission, says evangelist

The evangelisation of Britain requires Christians to take the Gospel to places “beyond our church culture”, says one Church Army evangelist.

Steve Hollinghurst argues in his new book ‘Mission-shaped Evangelism’ that “lifestyle is far more important than dogma” in 21st century Britain.

He says Christians can no longer base evangelism on the assumption that a large percentage of the population was raised or educated within a Christian framework.

Rather, he says the church today must follow the method of the early Christian church, which spread the Gospel to the known world by involving itself in other cultures.

He said: "It is no accident that the early evangelisation of Europe led to the Christianisation of existing religious festivals and holy places.”

While belief and spirituality abound in Britain, Hollinghurst notes the prevalence of a “pick and mix” culture which covered everything from horoscopes to lucky charms and superstitions.

His book, published by Canterbury Press, coincides with the publication of new book ‘Raised With Christ’ by Adrian Warnock, in which the popular Christian blogger argues that the church must preach the resurrection if it is to see revival.

Perfectly timed for Lent and the approach to Easter, he writes: “Not preaching about the resurrection is a major reason for the weakness, lack of joy, poor growth, spiritual decline, compromise with sin, and many other problems in the church today.”

Warnock goes on to state that failure to preach the resurrection is having a negative impact on the number of people converting to Christianity.

“Without the resurrection, the cross is just a meaningless tragedy. If we don't declare that Jesus rose again, we have not shared the biblical Gospel at all. There is therefore no surprise that we see few conversions. We are not declaring the full Gospel, which is the power of God to save us.

"The early church preached overwhelmingly about the resurrection and its implications. It is the resurrection that helps us connect with the same power that raised Christ from the dead, and gives us hope.”