Where and when was the term Christian Nationalism first coined? Well, some of the ideas, underpinning theology and ideology seem to have been around for a long time with or without the term. Indeed, it is worth observing that there are both people who are happy to overtly identify as Christian Nationalists, there are others… Continue reading Christian Nationalism -origins of the term
Category: Church History
Still reforming?
Most people will have their eyes on Halloween as the big celebration today. However, 31st October is also the anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation in 1517. Now some of you may be asking whether or not that’s something to celebrate. Wasn’t the Reformation a negative and divisive thing. So it is helpful… Continue reading Still reforming?
True Revival?
This month ‘s Evangelicals Now carries an article by Bill James with more comment on the so called Quiet Revival. He asks if the reports reflect “True Revival”. I don’t want to really debate that question because I’m unconvinced it is helpful. There seems to be an obsession at the moment from both sides of… Continue reading True Revival?
A regular reminder: If you want me to be confident about your interpretation of the past, start by leaving me confident about your interpretation of the present
This is a quote in On Classical Trinitarianism edited by Matthew Barrett and Todd Billings. “Consider, for instance, the predictably heretical perspective of many evangelicals concerning the Trinity. Evangelical understandings are improving, but a recent poll reported online in Christianity Today found 78 percent of evangelical respondents agreeing with Arius, though they had no idea… Continue reading A regular reminder: If you want me to be confident about your interpretation of the past, start by leaving me confident about your interpretation of the present
Having the nature of sin
There’s an interesting little phrase in the Thirty Nine Articles, it appears in article 9 which discusses original sin. In full, the article says: “Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam, (as the Pelagians do vainly talk;) but it is the fault and corruption of the Nature of every man, that naturally is… Continue reading Having the nature of sin
A new pope and implications for us
The dominant image for me last week was claret and amber flare smoke over Valley Parade telling the world that Bradford City were promoted. The dominate image this week for many was the image of white smoke over the Vatican announcing a new pope. I’ve been intrigued by the response of people both within Evangelicalism… Continue reading A new pope and implications for us
Ask me in 40 years
I must admit to being rather baffled by an article I’ve just read in Evangelicals Now. Church historial Michale Haykin describes how he has spent the last 40 years researching and writing about the Particular Baptists of the 1800s. Her suggests that it has taken him this long to get to properly know his subject… Continue reading Ask me in 40 years
The Toronto Blessing in retrospect
Thirty years ago, something significant happened in the life of the church around the World. Reports started coming through of something spectacular happening at the Airport Vineyard Church in Toronto, a possible move of the Holy Spirit accompanied by both spectacular and weird phenomenon. At the one end of the spectrum people were reported to… Continue reading The Toronto Blessing in retrospect
Responding to Andrew Bartlett on Complementarian novelty
Andrew Bartlett has responded to my article questioning whether or not Complementarianism is novel. I thought it was worth a little response back. I think the crucial thing to say here is that I think Andrew misses the point. It’s important to be clar about what is being argued and what is not being argued,… Continue reading Responding to Andrew Bartlett on Complementarian novelty
How novel is complementarianism?
I’ve responded to this question briefly before in response to claims made on social media that Complementarianism is novel. I want to return to it again here in response to Andrew Bartlett’s book because one of his starting arguments is that both complementarianism and egalitarianism are novel positions. Bartlett, offers a necessarily brief survey of… Continue reading How novel is complementarianism?
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