Evangelical Cumbria
Just as Cumbria is blessed with very busy
ecumenical Christians associated with Churches
Together, so it is also blessed with a significant
number of evangelicals. Especially in the shape
of the Keswick Ministries which incorporate the
Keswick Convention and also with Bishop
Graham Dow and Bishop James Knowles
and also with the Carlisle, Pray For The City
group. One of its ‘hidden’ gems is Operation
Mobilisation who have a major centre of their
operations in Carlisle. It’s Director of International
Operations is Mr Peter Maiden who is an elder of
Hebron Evangelical Church and who was/is Chairman
of the Keswick Convention.
Which group is more effective for the propagation of
Christianity? Churches Together or the ‘Evangelicals’?
I would lean towards the evangelicals. Their work is
traditionally linked directly with the Father God, Jesus,
the Holy Spirit, traditional orthodox teaching and of
course the Holy scriptures as revealed in the Holy Bible.
Sadly however, some evangelicals are falling into the trap
that many ecumenicalists such as Churches Together,
have fallen into.
Ploughing resources into good works is good, but if
such work is only permitted if they do not evangelise,
or mention the name and ministry of Jesus, then there is
a danger that all they achieve is to help people have a
better life on their way to hell.
The trap is cloaked with the gratitude of ‘society’.
Christians get to feel good about themselves, but are
drawn away from the real purpose of their life on earth and that purpose is to evangelise. Instead they may find their love offering is no more than casting pearls before swine, as they help people to have a better life on their way to hell.
Perhaps some people will become intrigued by why the Christians are doing good and investigate the root and find Christ..
However, Christians have been doing ‘good’ for 2,000 years and the Church in the UK is in crisis, with falling attendances and falling standards of belief.
One can only hope and pray that God will match up the dots of the good works and that Christ will be revealed to those who are staggering to slaughter.
Within evangelicalism there is still a strong anti-catholic element which prevents the county of Cumbria being all one in Christ Jesus. There are however, many evangelicals who recognise the common orthodoxy between all believers in a Triune God, and who work together for Jesus sake.
Jesus said, “love one another”.
