In 2006 he said: \u201cMy hope is that in the future, evangelical leaders will ensure that their social agenda includes such vital topics as halting climate change, eradicating poverty, abolishing armouries of mass destruction, responding adequately to the Aids pandemic, and asserting the human rights of women and children in all cultures. I hope our agenda does not remain too narrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stott set out to destroy the myth of the sacred-secular divide, the idea that some parts of life (church services, praying, reading scripture) are important to God, but everything else (work, the arts, science, sport) is \u201csecular\u201d. \u201cWe must not marginalise God, or try to squeeze him out of the non-religious section of our life,\u201d he wrote. Similarly, Stott was committed to the \u201cliberation\u201d of the laity, recognising that while clergy had a crucial job to do, so did lawyers, industrialists, politicians, social workers, scriptwriters, journalists, and homemakers.<\/p>\n
Stott\u2019s appeal lay in his authenticity. He did not want power or status. He was unassuming and lived simply. He gave his wealth away. \u201cPride is without doubt the greatest temptation of Christian leaders,\u201d Stott said in 2006 during a visit to the US. \u201cI\u2019m very well aware of the dangers of being f\u00eated and don\u2019t enjoy it, and don\u2019t think one should enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a> (subscription).<\/p>\n \u201cOur love grows soft if it isn\u2019t strengthened by truth, and our truth grows hard if it isn\u2019t softened by love.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 John Stott (born 100 years ago today) pic.twitter.com\/B3WC7ekjIc<\/a><\/p>\n — Matt Smethurst (@MattSmethurst) April 27, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n