In the last article we approached the idea of variations of reward and position in heaven. Maybe we’re a little suspicious of this heavenly-hierarchy idea. We get wary of the potential for people to use their positions to oppress those below them. Indeed, as someone once said, “if you want to test a man, give …
The Glorious Equalities & Inequalities of Heaven – part 2 of 2 Read More »
Earlier this year, we spent some time as a church thinking about what happens to us when we die. We thought about the final hope of Jesus’ resurrected, glorified people in the new heaven and earth. Theologians call this the ‘eternal state’. But is this eternal state identical for every individual or is their variation …
The Glorious Equalities & Inequalities of Heaven – part 1 of 2 Read More »
It sounds like something straight from George Orwell’s “Ministry of Truth”. But it is in fact language that the Scottish parliament’s equalities committee are using as they explore out-lawing “conversion therapy”. The committee has concluded that religious teaching and prayer about sexual identity should only be permitted if it’s conducted in a “non-directive way” (para …
“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 ingenious. 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 …
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 …
In 1516, the Dutch scholar Erasmus wrote a book called The Education of a Christian Prince. He wrote it for the Spanish Prince Charles, advising him about how to rule. It contains this line: “it is not equality for everyone to have the same rewards, the same rights, the same status; indeed this often results in extreme …
To really eradicate social inequality you have to eradicate the family Read More »
I spend most of my time teaching, but if there was one thing I wish I could teach people, it’s “teachability”! Teachability is a precious quality, that’s hard to cultivate. It’s like a large, highly absorbent sponge that soaks up all the water around it. It’s a spirit of learning, that is alert, keen, and hungry for …
For the last year, there’s a phrase that’s been rattling around in my head. It comes from Hebrews 5:14 and talks about our “powers of discernment [being] trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil”. I think it’s a phrase we, as Christians, need to get acquainted with. This phrase shows us that distinguishing …
Majoring on the minors and minoring on the majors Read More »
