Engaging with our culture

Its been interesting as we have been thinking about engaging with our culture for the sake of the gospel to notice how much Christianity is in the news in various ways and what opportunities it presents us.

March 10, 2009
'I just want to get on with student life, but feel that I'm a sinner who is going to Hell' was the headline given to this letter sent into and published by The Times

Dear Tanya,
I'm 18 and in my first year at university but I can't help thinking that I'm “sinning”.
I didn't grow up in a religious family, didn't go to a religious school or have God-fearing friends, I just seem to have developed this strong belief that I'm not good enough and I'm going to Hell. I think that if I don't dedicate my life to selfless acts then God will send me to Hell.
I don't believe that other people will be treated in that way, though, just me. It sounds as if I have a very high opinion of myself but I've always had low confidence and am quite shy when it comes to meeting people.
I want to get on with my life like a normal person. I'm not saying that I want to be selfish but I just don't want to have to battle with my conscience day and night.
I don't follow any religion to a high degree so I can't speak about this to a religious person. I find churches and the like rather intimidating.
I would be very grateful for any advice.
Anna

If you search The Times online you can find their disturbing response, that reduces all notions of sin down to a psychological flaw which can be remedied with treatment.

Then in today's paper was the following:

A male nurse wants to be the first “Christian” in Britain to be “de-baptised” after complaining that at five-months-old he was too young to decide.
Mr John Hunt, 56, says that he wants his 1953 baptism at the St Jude and St Aidan parish church in the Southwark diocese, south London, cancelled because he was not consulted and does not believe in God.
Mr Hunt has had a “Certificate of De-baptism” made up, in which his baptism is revoked and has paid £60 to record it in the 17th-century London Gazette.

The full article is here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5934198.ece

The challenge for us as believers is to be thinking through how we respond in Christ to such things and be ready when people ask us what we think.