The axe is at the root of the trees.

Rev Ian Farley reviews 'Christianity: A Complete Introduction', by John Young and Greg Hoyland (2016, RRP £14.99)

Although published this year, purchasers will want to note that this is an updated version of a 20-year-old book, part of the Teach Yourself series. The text is very clear and well laid out. There is a good introduction and suggestion of how to use the book. After each section there are examples of further reading, most of which are books published since 2000.

A Complete Introduction?

There are four parts to the work: Jesus and the Bible, Beliefs (sacraments, prayer, spirituality), History and Today's World. In theory readers could start at any section that interested them, although the authors do encourage everyone to read the 'Jesus' section first.

Some readers may consider there to be imbalances in the coverage: for instance, there are ten pages on textual criticism, form criticism, redaction criticism and non-canonical books of the Bible, but only one page on the issue of inspiration. There are two pages on Anglicanism but only 13 lines on Pentecostalism. These divergences, however, highlight that the authors go to great pains to be descriptive without being resolving. They do not take sides on what many would take to be supremely important matters.

This does not mean they say nothing: they play down hell; they are very circumspect on the phrase 'born again'; there is no questioning of the Christian Year; Creationist viewpoints are not included in the review of resolving the tension between science and faith; the designated important books of the New Testament are the four Gospels, there is just one sentence on Paul and justification by faith- Romans is not mentioned. On the other hand, the different understandings of both baptism and the Lord's Supper are fairly represented.

A Difficult Task...

It is very difficult to compact the whole of Christian history into one quarter of one volume. Purchasers would do well to register that the goal is to elucidate the differences that might appear to someone who has really no knowledge of churches today. As a one-volume work this book may be worthwhile in this context, and it is easy to read. However, Christian buyers looking to introduce a non-Christian friend to the faith may prefer to look for four shorter but more specific books dealing with the topics separately and from a confessional angle.

Christianity: A Complete Introduction (368 pages) is available in Christian bookshops and from Amazon. Also available as an e-book.

Christians pray for a miracle to restore their broken and divided nation.

For the first time in the history of Ukraine, all of the churches of the country recently came together for a National Day of Prayer for their war-torn nation and for peace.

The three-hour event, that took place on Saturday 18 June 2016, was attended by thousands of people and church leaders at the National Sports Palace in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, and broadcast 'live' by three national TV channels.

Supported by Ukraine's Bible Society, Greek Catholics, the Baptist Union, two Pentecostal Unions, Charismatic and Independent Unions, and the Senior Rabbi of the Messianic Congregation in Ukraine, this was the first time that all these unions have come together in unity to call on God to restore their broken and divided nation.

Church representatives also included those from the Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox churches.

Incredible Unity

An especially enthusiastic welcome was given to church leaders from East Ukraine, and also the leader of the nation's Messianic Jewish Community. It was a far cry from a media image of politicians fighting in Parliament, Russian tanks, corruption, economic stagnation and a civil airliner being shot out of the sky!

At the prayer event, they joined to sing hymns to Jesus Christ, and also recited a bold declaration, asking God to unite their nation, where corrupt leaders failed. Church people lined up to pray, asking God to stop the fighting, remove the tanks and bring peace.

Each prayed in their own tradition, before uniting behind their Bible Society leader, praying for a miracle to rebuild Ukraine upon the Bible, which they all have in common.
It shows, when all else fails, desperate people turn to God.

Influence of David Hathaway

The event was called for by British evangelist, David Hathaway, who is little publicised in the UK, but almost a household name in Ukraine.

He was known in this area of Europe after he called for prayer conferences in East and West Germany in 1988 and 1989, which were attended by thousands of people, who prayed for the Berlin Wall to come down. Around this time, critics suggested the Reverend Hathaway might be 'mad', until, shortly afterwards, the whole of the Iron Curtain came down shortly. Then, people stopped such criticism.

Ukraine's first-ever National Prayer conference concluded, not with prayers for Ukraine, but for Russia and Vladimir Putin, the current president of the Russian Federation.

David Hathaway leading Christian church and Jewish leaders in prayer.According to Hathaway's Prophetic Vision website, "After the Russian annexing of Crimea in March 2014, war broke out in eastern Ukraine the following month, April 2014, when Russian-backed separatists seized control of a number of towns and declared independence.

That summer the Ukrainian army recaptured the rebel stronghold of Slavyansk and moved to encircle Donetsk, the defacto separatist capital. Following two decisive Russian military interventions which effectively reversed Ukrainian gains, a peace agreement was signed in Minsk in February 2015. The effect of this agreement has been to slow, rather than end the war; the killings continue to this day."

In view of that, just think of it. Thousands of Ukrainians, praying for Russia and President Putin is extraordinary! The Ukraine problem is that their history, culture and language, are closer to Russia than any other country, on earth.

For Russia, their foundation and precious Orthodox Church come from the 'Rus' - in what is now Ukraine, and their leaders and ancestors are buried there. For Russia, Ukraine is in the blood. For Ukraine, Russia is in the blood. Even Mr Putin's first name – Vladimir -- comes from Ukraine, 1,000 years ago.

A Turning Point?

I believe that this prayer gathering will be a turning point for both countries, and the two Presidents of each will be mindful of this.

As the European Union (EU) tries social engineering and expansion that it really can't afford to pay for, in Ukraine, so the currency keeps falling. The driving force is economic. War brings poverty. Both need reconciliation and restoring their mutual economies, especially as Russia argues with Turkey.

For Ukraine and Russia, forgiving and reconciliation will be a miracle. Only God and the people's prayers can deliver that.

First published by ASSIST News. Author: Gareth Littler. Gareth spent years building up UCB (United Christian Broadcasters) in the UK and is now planning an Anglo-Russian News, Gospel & Orthodox TV project.