Author: faithrootsdw

How not to be a heretic – preaching the negatives

One well known preacher allegedly once said that if we are to preach the Gospel properly, so that it’s full force is heard, then we are likely to be accused of being anti-nominans.  An anti-nomian (against law) is someone who believes and teaches that the law only applied before Christ, we are now under grace… Continue reading How not to be a heretic – preaching the negatives

What I would like to hear from Boris Johnson today

It is likely that when the Prime Minister addresses the nation today, it will be to tell us that there is going to be an extension to the roadmap out of lockdown. Press speculation suggests this will be for another 4 weeks. The extension will primarily affect the entertainment and hospitality industry but even if… Continue reading What I would like to hear from Boris Johnson today

The truth probably lies somewhere away from the scare stories

An unnamed government minister has warned today that if we delay lifting COVID-19 restrictions on the 21st June, then we will end up with restrictions in place until spring next year.  Well, whilst many things are now up and running again, such a situation would be catastrophic for the entertainment and hospitality sector and unpleasant… Continue reading The truth probably lies somewhere away from the scare stories

The difference between heresy and error -another worked example

I’ve been talking about the difference between error and heresy and in my most recent article, I argued that Scripture and not church courts and councils is the final authority on such matters. As I was looking at Acts 15, I realised that we had a helpful case study regarding the difference between the two… Continue reading The difference between heresy and error -another worked example

21st June will be decided on data … and assumptions

Donald Rumsfeld famously (or perhaps infamously) talked about there being “known knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns.”  It’s another way of saying that you don’t know what you don’t know.  This is particularly true when we come to the decision the Government must make about COVID-19 unlocking by Monday 16th June. What do we know?… Continue reading 21st June will be decided on data … and assumptions

The court for determining heresy is the court of Scripture

Since my last article on the difference between heresy and error I’ve had some push back. The question has come “how do we decide if it’s error or heresy?” It’s been suggested that the risk is that it becomes my opinion against someone else’s. Don’t worry though because my Presbyterian friends have offered a solution.… Continue reading The court for determining heresy is the court of Scripture

How can we encourage our church family to know God’s word well?

It starts with children.  Look at your teaching programme for your Sunday School and also what you do with your midweek clubs.  At Bearwood we used a programme with our 4-11s that took them through the whole Bible.  With our 11-16s, they were either joining in the main Sunday morning teaching programme at our 9:30… Continue reading How can we encourage our church family to know God’s word well?

Trauma, grief and response to abuse

Over the past few years, I’ve written and spoken quite a bit about the problem of abusive cultures particularly in the context of church life. First of all, my concern is to see us doing better in letting what we believe affect how we live so that doctrines of grace lead to cultures of grace.… Continue reading Trauma, grief and response to abuse