10 historical Christians who changed the world
Get inspired with the stories of ten whole-life disciples from days of old!
These artists, scientists, campaigners, and entrepreneurs didn’t leave their discipleship on the church steps. From writing symphonies to saving lives, they used the skills and passions God had given them to make a difference right where they were.
Some you’ll know – others, not so much. So, without further ado, let us introduce to you…
This article is one in a series (Culture & Discipleship) from the the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.
Called to be (De)influencers?
The age of the influencer has peaked and a new age is dawning – that of the deinfluencer.
For years now, social media influencers have told us precisely what products to buy to be bang on trend. But, now, a growing number of deinfluencers are fighting back, using their platforms to say we don’t need another £200 lipstick, or a 20th pair of top-price trainers. Instead, we should use what we already own, or opt for cheaper, lesser-known, and better alternatives.
This article is one in a series (Connecting with Culture) from the the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.
‘Hi Ren’: 'Screwtape Letters' for the Streaming Generation?
‘This is a soul splitting open and exploding into art.’ – Ari Grossman
I’ve been watching complete strangers shed tears, at a loss for words, or opening up about their own mental health struggles, prompted by their first viewing of one song.
I’ve been watching reactions to ‘Hi Ren’, a video performance by independent musician Ren. It’s a nine-minute exploration of the artist’s struggle with self-doubt – compelling in its delivery, deceptive sophistication, and raw honesty. By the end, we are in no doubt this is a life lived, not imagined.
What ‘Hi Ren’ does so well is explore the lie that we are constantly told by the world, the flesh, and the devil (1 John 2:15–17) – you’re not good enough, so just give up.
This article is one in a series (Connecting with Culture) from the the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.
To Strike or not to Strike?
That is not a simple question!
Every day brings news of further strikes. Think transport, NHS, Royal Mail, schools, and the civil service. Everyone’s impacted. And opinions run hot.
It’s tempting to support who you feel most sympathy for. Yet if a dispute reaches a point where workers walk out, both sides have fallen short.
This article is one in a series (Connecting with Culture) from the the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.
Gritty Wonder - The Shepherds
And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’
Obituary: Queen Elizabeth II, Beacon of Grace
Mark Greene is the author of The Queen’s Way and co-author of The Servant Queen and the King she serves. He is Mission Champion at LICC.
The first time I ever thought seriously about the Queen was when God told me to.
It was 2015. And Elizabeth was 89. I had asked God a specific question: please show me someone in the public eye who is an outstanding whole-life disciple of Jesus, someone whose faith shapes all they do and say. ‘Elizabeth’ was God’s answer. Swift, clear, weighty. And to be shared.
Since that day it’s become ever clearer to me that Elizabeth was a gift from God to nation, Commonwealth, and indeed the global community, a beacon of humility, grace, astuteness, good humour, generosity, and deep faith – God’s woman, God’s follower, God’s Queen.
Like many I suppose, I’d never been a ‘royal-watcher’. I admired the Queen, appreciated the clarity and warmth with which she spoke, almost every Christmas, of her trust in Christ and the difference he made to her life, but I hadn’t thought deeply about her particular vision or how God might be working in and through her. Yes, she was a remarkable woman, and a remarkable monarch, but what I came to see, and had confirmed by others who knew her better, was that she was first and foremost a remarkable disciple of Christ. As such, she offered us an extraordinary example of consistent godliness in one of the longest and most public global ministries in the history of the world.
Farewell Elizabeth
Grief and loss strikes all alike, from palace to terraced house.
Today, our thoughts and prayers go out to ALL who grieve and mourn, and particularly to the family of Queen Elizabeth, who, because of their media profile, we have an extraordinary knowledge of.
We give thanks to God for the long life of Elizabeth, her unstinting service to the life of this nation, the Commonwealth and her diplomatic approach to world affairs. In her humanity she found a greater source of strength with which to rely on through her long life of service.
It’s been no secret that the Queen’s faith in Jesus Christ was of central importance to her. But very little has been written about the particular character of her Christian commitment, or how it fuelled her vision for her role, the nation, and the Commonwealth.
This article is one in a series (Culture & Discipleship) from the the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.
In his fresh analysis, Mark Greene, co-author of The Servant Queen and the King she Serves, looks in depth at what the Queen herself says about her faith. What emerges is a compelling picture of a global stateswoman whose private and public lives have been shaped by the Bible and her relationship with Jesus – whose life of sacrifice, service, and compassion is the inspiration and model for hers.
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