CT: You say that it might be the turn of Christians in the UK to face persecution, a sentiment which reflects the feelings many Christians here already. What impact do you think that’s going to have on the way that Christians live and worship and interact in the UK?
JE: I think persecution is a relative concept and if we stood next to our brothers and sisters in the world we wouldn’t dare use that word in relation to what they have to suffer. But I think it’s becoming increasingly challenging for us to present the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a community that has embraced new orthodoxies of diversity and pluralism, and I think that it will become far more demanding.
I think Christians will find in the years ahead that we present Christ at far greater cost than the security and comfort and safety with which we have been used to talking about Jesus in our churches or in the popular culture.
Once upon a time we presented Christ and were met with cynicism and disbelief. Now we present Christ and we are far more likely to be met with disapproval and sometimes hostility, especially when talking about the exclusive traits of Christ.
CT: In the Bible, whenever the believers faced persecution they also experienced great growth. Do you think there is a real opportunity for Christians here in the face of that challenge to improve on the things they are doing?
JE: I think it is consistent with the calling of the church to find itself in that kind of environment where faith under pressure produces the kind of faith that is most robust and servant-like and transforming.
CT: You argue that we have to go back to Scripture if we are to recover the term ‘evangelical’. Some Christians accuse evangelicals of having a somewhat robotic, dutiful approach to mission, at the expense of conveying the Gospel’s message of love. Have evangelicals lost the love at the heart of evangelism?
JE: They probably say that because it’s true. Very often what people see and hear us doing as evangelicals is fighting for our own corner, defending our own church, protesting for our own rights.
