Some years ago, probably around 20, I was sitting in a combi full of teenage guys and girls.  I had the privilege of driving these young people home after youth, often getting home way after midnight.  On those trips we had the most amazing conversations.  Being a Baptist youth group you can imagine the deathly silence that engulfed the combi when when the young girl innocently asked; 'Basil, can you be a Baptist and a Christian at the same time?' All I could think at the time was, 'where did that come from?'

Now you may or may not remember that 20yrs ago the country we were living in was a very different place.  Apartheid was entrenched and, in this young ladies view, the Baptist's silence on the matter was a statement of our unbelief in a God of righteousness and justice.

As you can imagine her statement sparked some lively, controversial discussion.  After all, what else do a group of young people and their youth leader do on a two hour trip home after youth?  I cannot remember all the conclusions that were arrived at.  What I do remember, however, was going to a particular scripture that has challenged the socks off me ever since.  Listen to Jesus say it

Whilst I may not have agreed with her on everything it is seldom that I have been challenged the way that I was that night.  It has left me asking the question often: Do we, as Baptist's, major on the minors whilst ignoring the really important things like prejudice, hatred, injustice, the poor and many other related issues?  Do we indeed demonstrate the relevance of JESUS CHRIST to a world that is lost and broken? 

Let me know what you think!