Author: faithrootsdw

The Gnostic presuppositions of The Crown

I understand that for some, The Crown is compulsive and essential viewing.  Netflix’s big budget drama tells the story of Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family starting back with the death of George VI and over several seasons aiming presumably to bring things right up to date.  The show has proved both popular and controversial… Continue reading The Gnostic presuppositions of The Crown

Death as exile

What does God mean when he warns Adam and Eve that on the day that they eat from the forbidden tree that they will die?  We know that they didn’t immediately die physically, they lived for many years after, although they would now experience, sickness and mortality.  This is where our Biblical Theology theme of… Continue reading Death as exile

If Sunday is a meal or feast then ….

On the night he was betrayed, Jesus sat down with his disciples to share the Passover meal.  At that meal, he insisted not only that he was the host at the meal but that he was the meal itself.  Jesus was the new Passover. This was significant for his hearers.  It would have been obvious… Continue reading If Sunday is a meal or feast then ….

The nurses strike or Matt Hancock on I’m a Celebrity? When you don’t have to choose between two ethical issues

I saw this tweet the other day. It’s a classical example of poor reasoning and poor ethical thinking.  We sometimes refer to this as “Whataboutery.”  A person expresses an opinion on a moral issue.  They are then told that they should not be expressing views about that issue because issue x is far more egregious.… Continue reading The nurses strike or Matt Hancock on I’m a Celebrity? When you don’t have to choose between two ethical issues

God’s Big Story – an introduction to Biblical Theology

This week’s podcast was all about God’s people dwelling in God’s place or presence.  You can listen to the podcast: We were looking at Biblical Theology.  If Systematic Theology is about taking the whole teaching of Scripture, synthesising and systematising it into specific teaching topics or doctrines, then summarising them, Biblical Theology is about tracing… Continue reading God’s Big Story – an introduction to Biblical Theology

“This is my body” … what exactly do we eat at communion?

I want to return to something we looked at a bit earlier this week.  What was it that Jesus said at the last supper and what does this mean for when we take communion today? Mark 14:22-25 reports: 22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave… Continue reading “This is my body” … what exactly do we eat at communion?

What does your pastor need to know?

Every so often I see comments about what pastors and church leaders need to have studied, to know and be reading now. At one end of the spectrum is the view that “all we need is the Bible” and we don’t need to make it complicated.  At the other end of the spectrum is the… Continue reading What does your pastor need to know?

What was Jesus guilty of?

When talking about Jesus’ trial, we often emphasise the kangaroo nature of the court that met at night and the inability of his accusers to agree as they brought their false accusations. However, there was an accusation that stuck and was actually true.  Jesus was executed for a very specific thing and that charge was… Continue reading What was Jesus guilty of?