One God, One Witness, One Life
The constant emphasis of Ignite arises from the Scriptures and especially the epistle of James with its characteristic challenge of all double-mindedness. One God challenges all false gods in which our world hopes. These include sex, money, and power in secular Western society as well as religious idols in traditional societies. The challenge implicit here is again that students “speak of and live out their faith in Jesus Christ in an undivided way in every aspect of life”. One witness is the affirmation that this radically different Christ-centred life will be a witness to the world. It is also a call to unity of witness in the church across racial, cultural, and economic divides. One life highlights the urgency and all-of-life consuming nature of the missionary task.
In thinking about how Christ sends us into the world, it is instructive that we consider His charge to the disciples. He charges them clearly that they are not of the world even though they are in the world (John 17). As such they would find themselves at cross-paths with the world. They would be hated all over the world because of their allegiance to Christ. They would be arrested, persecuted, and even killed (Mt.24: 9, Rev.2:10, 13). However, they must be “faithful and sensible/wise servants” (Mt.24:45, Lk.12:42), “good and faithful servants” (Mt.25:21, 23) in the midst of all these, just as He (Jesus) was a “faithful witness” (Rev.1:5, 3:14).
This call has not changed to Jesus’ disciples today. The context of the 1st century disciple is certainly different from the context of 21st Century disciples. Nonetheless, the call to be faithful still stands as solid as it was given then. Today, as we live in a consistently changing society with challenges and opportunities all around, questions regarding self-sacrifice and life commitment towards a missional life cannot be evaded. Who will stand out as a faithful witness of the Lord Jesus Christ both in terms of unwavering commitment to Him, but also in the way he handles His word and applies it to modern times and issues? Ignite 2013 will devote its time to place a challenge to the Conference delegates to always bear in mind that they have been called to be a light to the world pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ at all times, in all places for all reasons!