faithrootsdw

Bavinck, The Trinity and EFS

I recently saw some discussion on Facebook about a quote from H Bavinck. The quote is as follows: Nevertheless, this doctrine of the pact of salvation, despite its defective form, is rooted in a scriptural idea. For as Mediator, the Son is subordinate to the Father calls him his God (Ps. 22:2; John 20: 17),… Continue reading Bavinck, The Trinity and EFS

Can’t you just say “they died”?

I recently saw someone complain on social media about Christians using euphemisms for death such as: passed away, gone home to be with the Lord and promoted to glory. “why can’t we just say that they have died?” They asked. Well having both pastored people through bereavement and experienced it myself, I thought I would… Continue reading Can’t you just say “they died”?

Are you ready to vote?

There are likely to be some big elections this year. The US Presidential election will take place in the Autumn and at some point, Rishi Sunak is likely to call a General Election in the United Kingdom. Generally speaking, I don’t like it when pastors and elders attempt to tell people how to vote and… Continue reading Are you ready to vote?

Should a pastor blog?

Sinclair Ferguson doesn’t seem to think so. Recently a clip of an interview with him was circulated where he argued that the time spent writing your blog article could have been spent visiting an elderly lady in the congregation. I have an obvious interest to declare here because I write a blog and have done… Continue reading Should a pastor blog?

Can you be an effective pastor without being a reader?

This was a question shared on Twitter recently as a poll. The originator suggested that by being a “reader”, he meant beyond the bible and commentaries. Responses both in the voting and in comments suggested that most people assumed that wide reading was if not essential at least very important for pastoral ministry. Some people… Continue reading Can you be an effective pastor without being a reader?

Why the marches need to stop

It has been strongly argued that allowing demonstrations concerning Israel and Palestine to go ahead was important because this is about free speech and because the protests were essentially peaceful. Whether or not that was the case in October 2024, and even then I thought it peculiar that the focus of the demonstrator’s anger seemed… Continue reading Why the marches need to stop

What can we really learn from Rochdale?

Last week, firebrand politician George Galloway was elected back to parliament in the Rochdale by-election. The election campaign had been marred by controversy with the Labour Party withdrawing support for their own candidate after he made antisemitic comments. My friend Steve Kneale has written here about the result and lessons that the church might want… Continue reading What can we really learn from Rochdale?

If God predestines, why bother with evangelism?

There was an old apocryphal tale of little Calvinistic churches that didn’t put up notice boards with service times because if you were part of the elect, then you were predestined to be at church at the right time. I am not sure if anything like that has ever really happened. However, this has been… Continue reading If God predestines, why bother with evangelism?

One less God?

“You don’t believe in 3000 gods, I just happen to believe in one less than you.” It’s one of the great claims atheists make against Christianity.[1] The argument is that there are so many possible options for a god to believe in, what is to say that your god is the true god? What makes… Continue reading One less God?

What have we learnt about God and from God?

What we’ve learnt We started looking at “Who is God?” by seeing that we can end up believing all sorts of lies about God. These include that God is not love or that he could not love me, that God is weak, he lacks the power to act, that God is distant, unapproachable and so… Continue reading What have we learnt about God and from God?