In its first few hundred years, the church was a minority sect, an irritant to the Roman empire, and an easy target for persecution. It was on the margins of society, and was seen as radical, subversive and dangerous.
In the 4th century, that all changed. Christianity became the state religion, and over a short period of time it became the only safe option. The church had moved from the margins to the centre of society…
Michael Frost says, ‘The church is still hoping and praying that the ground will shift back and our society will embrace once again the values that it once shared with the Christian community….but this hoping and praying is a lost cause….the epoch of history (Christendom) that shaped the contemporary church has crashed like a wave on a shore and left the church high and dry.’
Q What do you think of Michael Frost’s analysis? Do you recognise what he’s getting at?
The death of Christendom removes the final props that have supported the culturally respectable, mainstream, suburban version of Christianity…Our present predicament leaves the faithful to rediscover the Christian experience as it was intended: a radical, subversive, compassionate community of followers of Jesus (Frost).
Q How do you feel about Frost’s bold statement?
Q How might it look for SBC to be more ‘radical, subversive and compassionate followers of Jesus?’
“The righteous (Tsaddiq) are those who are willing to disadvantage themselves in order to advantage the community”
Q Are you willing to disadvantage yourself for the sake of the community? What might this mean to you ?
Stockport Baptist Church, Thomson Street, Edgeley 