Sword & Sorcery Store, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow
The store pictured above advertises itself as a harmless place for playing games and is situated about one hundred yards from the local Baptist Church!
Major Challenges to the Gospel at the Local Level
In previous centuries Kirkintilloch was among a number of towns near Glasgow visited by three major spiritual revivals in 1742, 1839 and 1904. But the years since the 1960s have seen a surge locally as well as nationally in rates of alcoholism, anti-social behaviour, crime, debt, domestic abuse, drug addiction, family breakdown, gambling, homelessness, poverty as evidenced by the rise in foodbanks, sexual abuse, violence and the rise in witchcraft and occultism.
Christian Witness in the Local Community as Warfare
In his Letter to Christians the apostle James highlights the fact that faith without action is a dead faith (James 2:14-26). Churches in towns and cities across Scotland have demonstrated the love and compassion of Christ in practical ways. Examples include -
• Bethany Christian Trust for the homeless
• Edinburgh and Glasgow City Missions
• Cafe Outreach
• C.A.P. Debt Counselling
• Mother and toddler groups
• Prison Fellowship (Scotland)
• Stauros Recovery in Christ
• Street Connect
• Street Pastors
• Teen Challenge
• The Salvation Army
• Trussell Trust Foodbanks
These are all part of the warfare at the natural level to reclaim ground the enemy has taken by modelling the love and compassion of Christ.