Make the gospel attractive

Here is some more from Graham Tomlin's first address at the Alpha day last week.

A response to the crisis facing the church - see earlier post here - has been:
1960's/70's - a liberal response - let's change the gospel. Robinson and Hick and others.
1980's/90's - let's change our technique - music and power point.

Niether of these help address the crisis.

Many today would echo the words of the late John Diamond, 'I'm happy not believing'.

The challenge to the church is well framed by Blaise Pascal, 'Make it attractive, make good men wish it were true and then show that it is.' How do we make the gospel attractive? Can we do this without treating those who don't believe disrespectfully? Is the only way to evangelise to first create dissatisfaction with a present way of life?

The charge of hypocricy against Christians bites because often our words about the gospel promise much, but what is promised is not delivered in changed lives. We need to learn how to live different lives that commend the gospel and provoke the question, 'What does this mean?' Acts 2.