Peter Lynas
Peter oversees the advocacy team and the work of the Alliance across the four UK nations. He is passionate about faith in the public square and leads the Being Human project with Jo Frost. He previously worked as a barrister in Belfast before studying theology at Regent College in Vancouver, where he serves on the board. Peter is a regular media commentator, is married to Rose, has two daughters, and loves running.
It’s Christmas, but not as we know it
20 December 2021The queues became long as supplies ran out and fear took hold. Suddenly an angel appeared and said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people – today in a lab, a solution to Covid has been found.” And when they heard the news, the people rejoiced and rushed to see this thing that had happened. When they saw what they thought would save them, they bowed down and worshipped and opened their treasures and bank accounts and presented their most…
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The gospel: true and good but rejected
28 June 2021There are generally two elements in people’s responses: first, the gospel centres around an event in history and it is good news; second, the gospel is both true and good. For a long time, apologetics focused on the question of whether the gospel is true: did Jesus live, die and rise again from the dead? Was He the Son of God? As theologian C. S. Lewis put it, was He lunatic, liar or lord? The question today is less about whether the gospel is true, but rather whether it is good news. Truth is…
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NI 100: “We can and must build a new society”
21 June 2021Our history is painful, bloody and contested, and yet our people are generous and welcoming. Our problems are the same as many other places – our healthcare system is stretched by unrealistic demands and our education system is failing far too many. There is no such thing as a unionist or nationalist pothole or rates bill, and coronavirus affects us all regardless of religious belief or political persuasion. The impact of lockdown will be felt for many years by people from every part of our wee…
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Report proposes a new deal with faith communities
24 September 2020The report recognises the invaluable role of churches noting that, “before the welfare state, social support was provided by parishes, and by a patchwork of independent charities, foundations, friendly societies, mutuals, trades unions, cooperatives – and churches… Many of our public services – our modern health, education and probation systems in particular – have their origins in Christian institutions”. There is recognition the contribution made by faith groups not just in terms of financial…
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Abortion changes in Northern Ireland: My body, my choice?
30 March 2020That makes the recent abortion regulations in Northern Ireland all the more ironic and, frankly, jarring. The campaign that led to these changes was premised on a simple slogan: my body, my choice. This is the ultimate rallying cry of an individualist culture. It is, however, completely at odds with this cultural moment. We are all being urged to do what we can to save the lives of others – particularly the most marginalised and vulnerable. Our healthcare professionals are giving all that they…
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Serving the UK church in this difficult moment
20 March 2020Prayer n this season of different routines and patterns, we are learning to pray more and listen to God – perhaps saying the Lord’s Prayer as we wash our hands. This is a great opportunity to make sure God is the primary voice we are all listening to, rather than social media. Practical advice The church has left the building, whether it wants to or not. The gathered church is extremely important, but the church is also a scattered community. This is an amazing opportunity for us to re-imagine…
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The curious case of Franklin, free speech and the venue police
31 January 2020When footballer Mesut Özil tweeted his support for the Uighur people, who are oppressed for their faith in China, the Chinese authorities refused to broadcast Arsenal's matches. Here, private landlords and local councils are being pressured to cancel events with 'unsavoury' speakers, ironically in the name of inclusion, diversity and tolerance. Franklin Graham is set to tour the UK in the coming months as part of the evangelistic Graham tour. But over the last few days we have seen venues fall…
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Yearning for more
1 November 2019Today we live in a world of much greater uncertainty, chaos and fear. Few are saying that life is good, economically or politically. A job for life is a thing of the past. Politics changes by the hour, let alone the day or the week. I have no idea who will be Prime Minister, or even which party will be in government, by the time you read this. At the same time, faith is much more likely to be contested or actively resisted in the public square. And yet, the declaration that “God is good news”…
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Northern Ireland: Darkness and light
23 October 2019We have prayed, petitioned, protested and polled; we have engaged with the press, politicians and the public. We have tried to carry ourselves with integrity, grace, compassion and love. We have made every effort, as we should have done. The laws on marriage and abortion have now changed, though their final form is yet to be determined. We will be encouraging you to engage in the consultation process on both marriage and abortion, because there are important issues still to be resolved. There…
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Our hope is in Jesus
11 July 2019Last night MPs at Westminster voted to extend abortion and same-sex marriage rights to Northern Ireland. The Evangelical Alliance’s director for Northern Ireland, Peter Lynas, reflects on how Christians should respond. I read Psalm 2 last night and again this morning: the nations will always conspire; people will always plot in vain; the world is growing ever more chaotic. But this is not a new thing, nor a surprise to God. In Ephesians, Paul reminds us that Christ remains on the throne in deep…
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Why I wrote Transformed
29 November 2018I felt ill-equipped to answer these questions. The Bible has much to say on identity and the importance of the body, but I needed to understand more if I were to offer any guidance. I decided to read all I could and meet with people for whom this is a very real experience. So, I met with the trans groups in my local area. One group works with those who are post-operative, another supports families, and a third is mainly made up of young people who have a much more fluid view of being…
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