Here’s an outline of a conversation I had after church a while ago: “Does the Holy Spirit speak to you personally?” “Yes”, I said. “Absolutely! He’s been speaking to me and to you during the last 30 minutes, through the Holy Scriptures”. “No, I don’t mean that. I mean do you hear his voice telling …
“Safe To Be Me” is the name of a conference the UK government are organising in 2022 to promote LGBT rights around the world. I think the conference title is ingenuous. In just four words, it unites two big, popular ideas: safeguarding and identity politics, and rolls them into a moral agenda. “Safety” is the …
Here’s a dilemma I have. I haven’t been able to resolve it yet. But, I think spotting the dilemma itself has some value. It works like this: On the one hand, I will read a passage like Titus 3. Paul says: “be gentle, and… show perfect courtesy towards all people, for we ourselves were once …
[Note: this is a longer read about a big subject, that’s only going to get bigger in the years ahead] In shocking news, our reporter at the Jerusalem Post can reveal that Alexander the Coppersmith has accused the apostle Paul of spiritual abuse. Dear presbytery of Jerusalem, I’m afraid I’m writing with some difficult news. …
Breaking news: “spiritual abuser” allegations rock early church! Read More »
Christians can and should pray for healing. James 5:14 says: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord”. We believe in a God who heals. He is called “the LORD, your healer” (Ex 15:26). He sent his …
What is the reformed church all about? People often ask me that question. One answer is that reformed churches are churches that want to “connect the dots” of Scripture. I expect at some point as a child you played Dot-to-dot. It’s a puzzle, which is solved by drawing lines between dots, as you follow a …
It seems to me there’s nothing more counter-cultural we can teach our children at the moment than the statement: “It’s not your body!”. We’re (rightly) eager to teach our children the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touch. We don’t want them to be abused or to abuse others. But how do we arm them intellectually …
If you’ve been with us for a while, you’re probably aware that we baptise the children of believers at church. That can often surprise, confuse, or even upset many Christians. How can a child be baptised when they aren’t able to understand the gospel? Isn’t the order in the New Testament “Repent” first and only then “be baptised” (Acts …
Lots of evangelicals are questioning the ascendance of “white, European theology”, especially its export to other parts of the world. “Stop ramming white theology down the throats of people from other cultures”. Instead, we’re told, we need to encourage “indigenous theology”; this theology will be attuned to the sensibilities of Asian and African communities, rather …
I’m rubbish at dancing. Ask Mrs. A. I was left traumatised after being laughed at by some girls at a primary school party. Though Mrs. A loves dancing, I made sure there was none at our wedding. Apparently, I just don’t have rhythm. Rhythm is all about timing; it’s a regular, repeated pattern, which your body is …
