To advance Christ’s call to unity we must do what men have always done, we must push and prod and challenge and sharpen each other’s beliefs and methods. Fidelity and fruitfulness, both matter. No one has a corner on the truth and methods must do more than ‘work.’
One of the things most alarming about today’s culture is the way in which evangelicals are responding to attacks. Gone are the days, it seems at times, when believers devoted themselves to thinking deeply about the world in order to respond humbly to the church’s enemies without ceding any intellectual ground. Many evangelicals have bought into the idea that having one’s heart in the right place is all that matters—that a passion for Jesus and the life of the mind are mutually exclusive. What this view misses is that burning hearts are not nourished by empty heads.
At Ligonier Ministries’ 2012 National Conference, we will be addressing this problem as we consider the theme of “The Christian Mind”, considering the importance of building a Christian worldview, the role of education in the Christian life, science and God’s natural revelation, defending the faith, and many other topics. It promises to be an exciting time of training and fellowship as we all learn how better to think like Christians in order that we might live like Christians.
At Acton University, you will:
Build your own curriculum. Choose from more than seventy courses ranging from the theological and philosophical, to the policy-oriented and practical.
Learn from world-class faculty. Meet leading authorities on economics, theology, public policy, globalization, the environment, and other disciplines.
Network. Interact with people from diverse backgrounds who share a concern about issues at the heart of faith and freedom.
Equip yourself to engage in the debate. Better articulate your understanding of the Judeo-Christian view of liberty and morality and its application in a free and virtuous society.
The Gospel turned the ancient world of the Apostles on its head. It transformed the most unlikely of people into fervent ambassadors for God, while making enemies of both the secular and religious establishments. In contrast, the Church in many places today has become a part of a dying tradition that neither challenges the culture nor attracts the skeptic. Even in movements founded on Biblical truth, a pervasive legalism and moralism has eclipsed the explosive power of what God did for the world in Christ. There is only one thing that can restore the revolutionary power of God to the Church: the Gospel. The Church is in a moment of crisis. The Gospel is our only hope!
Featuring some of the world’s most respected scholars, speakers and apologists, the Word Conference is poised to be the most important Bible conference of the new century. In addition to four main-stage sessions by speakers including Lee Strobel, Darrell Bock and Craig Evans, attendees will also be able to choose from several breakout tracks, each featuring three targeted sessions or you can pick and choose from each of the 15 available sessions. Tracks for this year’s Word Conference are:
Several essential doctrines of the Christian faith are under attack in our day, even from within the church, and it is important that we be well grounded in these truths so that we may have a deep affection for our triune God.
Leading scholars from around the world will interact with the key theological issues being discussed in their regions. In addition, the conference features theological voices from minority communities in North America who also address many of the issues central in Majority World theology.
Thinking is one of the most hazardous things we do. But it is absolutely necessary for being human and worshipful. The apostle warns, “Knowledge puffs up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). But he also commands, “In your thinking be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20). Do this dangerous thing. But do it well.