A Time Like This

Signs of Engagement

by Roger Grainger

At the present time the Christian Church appears to be frightened and disturbed by changes in areas of social life which were previously affected by the worldview of religion.

This book is a cry to embrace the secular world — not by surrendering to its values, but by engaging with it in love.

The aim of the book is to comfort and reassure Christians of all kinds — members of congregations, theological students, clergy, even perhaps hospital patients. It is not a textbook, but a record of one person’s experience as a Christian alive within a secular society. As such it should be of interest to everyone who is interested in social behaviour, whether or not they themselves owe allegiance to any particular religion.

“It is important that the Church of England in the UK at least, understands with its mind, and faces with its spirit the anxiety which is infecting it concerning its survival and protection.

“Here is a book which faces the present situation with the courage of a hospital chaplain and the insight of a Counselling Therapist. He sees that instead of retreating into the supposed security of otherworldliness, we should be facing and embracing the threat and crisis of ‘secularity’ with the love of the Creator, expecting to find Him at work there. He believes that by such ‘engagement’ we shall experience a glory of resurrection in the very situations which are making us so powerless and afraid.

“Here indeed is a book for ‘A Time Like This’ — a book for all of us, and not only for the faithful and frightened few!”

John Hoskyns, a retired parish priest with 40 years experience of parish ministry, in ‘Fanning the Flame’ November 2003

“At the present time the Christian Church appears to be frightened and disturbed by changes in areas of social life which were previously affected by the worldview of religion.

“This book is a cry to embrace the secular world — not by surrendering to its values, but by engaging with it in love.

“The aim of the book is to comfort and reassure Christians of all kinds — members of congregations, theological students, clergy, even perhaps hospital patients. It is not a textbook, but a record of one person's experience as a Christian alive within a secular society. As such it should be of interest to everyone who is interested in social behaviour, whether or not they themselves owe allegiance to any particular religion.”

From ‘Clergy Mailing’ November 2003