REAL HOPE FOR REAL LIVES 11. CHRISTIANITY IS COUNTER-CULTURAL (Matthew 5:1-16)

There were no ordered points in Mike’s outline as he was summarising previous messages in the series and using a variety of quotes to demonstrate how real Christianity is counter-cultural and that we really do have to stand out. Below are those quotes which he used:

1. “Probably the greatest tragedy of the church throughout its long and chequered history has been its constant tendency to conform to the prevailing culture instead of developing a Christian counter-culture.” (John Stott)

2. “Christianity today is so subnormal that if any Christian began to act like a normal New Testament Christian he would be considered abnormal.” (Leonard Ravenhill)

3. “If Jesus had preached the same message ministers preach today, He would never have been crucified.” (Leonard Ravenhill)

4. In many churches Christianity has been watered down until the solution is so weak that if it were poison it would not hurt anyone, and if it were medicine it would not cure anyone!” (Aiden Wilson Tozer)

5. Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” (C.S. Lewis)

6. “A good aim is to spend enough time with the wrong people to ruin your reputation with religious people”. (Charlie Mackesy)

7. “The world out there is not waiting for a new DEFINITION of Christianity…. It is waiting for a new DEMONSTRATION of Christianity!” (Leonard Ravenhill)

8. The Most loving act you can do for someone is to share the Gospel with them

9. Our standing in Christ matters more than our social standing