The Quotable Stott - Christianity Today

The Christian life is not just our own private affair. If we have been born again into God’s family, not only has he become our Father but every other Christian believer in the world, whatever his nation or denomination, has become our brother or sister in Christ. … But it is no good supposing that membership of the universal Church of Christ is enough; we must belong to some local branch of it. … Every Christian’s place is in a local church. … sharing in its worship, its fellowship, and its witness.Basic ChristianityIf you find it hard to believe in God, I strongly advise you to begin your search not with philosophical questions about the existence and being of God, but with Jesus of Nazareth. … If you read again the story of Jesus, and read it as an honest and humble seeker, Jesus Christ is able to reveal himself to you, and thus make God. … real to you.I Believe in GodThe modern world detests authority but worships relevance. … Our Christian conviction is that the Bible has both authority and relevance. … and that the secret of both is Jesus Christ.Culture and the BibleThe Gospel is good news of mercy to the undeserving. The symbol of the religion of Jesus is the cross, not the scales.Christian Mission in the Modern WorldSocial responsibility becomes an aspect not of Christian mission only, but also of Christian conversion. It is impossible to be truly converted to God without being thereby converted to our neighbor.Christian Mission in the Modern WorldSin and the child of God are incompatible. They may occasionally meet; they cannot live together in harmony.The Letters of JohnGod’s Word is designed to make us Christians, not scientists, and to lead us to eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. It was not God’s intention to reveal in Scripture what human beings could discover by their own investigations and experiments.Christian BasicsGod is a peacemaker. Jesus Christ is a peacemaker. So, if we want to be God’s children and Christ’s disciples, we must be peacemakers too.Decisive Issues Facing Christians TodayThe incentive to peacemaking is love, but it degenerates into appeasement whenever justice is ignored. To forgive and to ask for forgiveness are both costly exercises. All authentic Christian peacemaking exhibits the love and justice—and so the pain—of the cross.The Cross of ChristIt is never enough to have pity on the victims of injustice if we do nothing to change the unjust situation itself.The Cross of Christ

Related Elsewhere

See also today’s related article, “Pottering and Prayer | As John Stott turns 80, he still finds weeds to pull, birds to watch, and petitions to make.”

For Stott’s 75thbirthday, Christianity Todaypublished David Wells’s article, “Guardian of God’s Word| The amazingly balanced, wise, biblical, and global ministry of a local pastor, John Stott.”

John G. Stackhouse Jr. reviewedStott’sEvangelical Truth: A Personal Plea for Unity, Integrity, and Faithfulnessfor Christianity Today‘s February 7, 2000, issue.

Books & Culturealso recently published a lengthy article on Stott’s importance to the evangelical movement: “Basic Christianity—with an Oxbridge Accent| John Stott and evangelical renewal.

The John Stott Ministriessite offers excerpts from Stott’s works, “Stott Daily Thought” and “Stott Bible Study” newsletters, a biographical sketch, and his speaking schedule.

Past Reflectionscolumns include: