Point of Contact

Our faith - and what it means

Although you have navigated to this page labeled “Christian”, we believe that it would be clearer if we had used the term “follower or disciple of Christ” instead.  This is not trying to be clever with words.  But today, the term “Christian” is used so broadly as to have lost any specific meaning.  For example, in the UK, a national survey revealed that 70 per cent of the population said they were Christian, but closer questioning showed that there were wide differences as to what people actually meant by this!  And another reason that predisposes us to use the word "disciple", is that in the whole Bible, the word “Christian” is used only 3 times, whereas the word “disciple” is used 269 times.

So, in summary, whilst we are happy to be known as Christians, we feel that it is more helpful if this is understood to mean people who seek to follow Jesus as "My Lord and my God!" (John 20: 28) - which is what Thomas the disciple, (who had previously doubted that Jesus really was God) said when he saw the risen Christ (see John 20: 24 - 28).

A 21st Century Faith

In our secular age, a common objection to the Christian faith is that it is irrelevant and untrue, and therefore its followers are in some way living their lives based on false assumptions and beliefs.

But for those of us connected to the work of Point of Contact, we know that our lives are not based on a set of untested beliefs, but on a faith to which our whole lives’ experience bears witness as being true.  We are Christians who know that to follow Jesus means more than simply saying we believe in Jesus, but to seek to follow Him with all of our heart and in every aspect of our lives.

Faith and Deeds

The Bible is full of examples of how faith is something active, rather than just a private issue.  The Apostle James puts it clearly when he writes, “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’  Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” (James 2: 14 – 18)

Fair Trade

We regard our work in the area of Fair Trade as a similar response to what James was writing about.  Clearly, we live in an unjust world where many people suffer great deprivations as the result of man-made poverty.  But through our work, we have seen many positive changes culminating in transformed lives with hope for the future.  Whilst we are witnesses to these facts, we know that this has not been done in our own strength.  We give God all the glory and praise, knowing that without Him, there would be no fruit to show for our labours; and, conversely, that with God, we trust that this work will go on to bear even greater fruit.