Category: Church History

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

Photo by Luis Quintero on Pexels.com

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?

Why the Reformation still matters

As well as being Halloween, the 31st October marks “Reformation Day.” It’s the anniversary of the day when Martin Luther launched his protest against the Catholic Church.  Now, I don’t think that Reformation parties are likely to catch on or engage culturally as an alternative to Trick or Treating, so if you were planning one,… Continue reading Why the Reformation still matters

Calvin without Hobbes

1517 Johann Tetzel ““As soon as a coin in the coffer rings / the soul from purgatory springs” Indulgences – a financial payment protecting you and/or your family from Purgatory Semi Pelagianism –a recipe for corruption and Abuse Martin Luther Born 10th November 1483 2nd July 1505 –studying law –nearly struck by lightening “Help Saint… Continue reading Calvin without Hobbes

Athanasius and the dodgy worship leader

Introduction              Arian Chants and Songs                               en hote pote ouk en “The uncreated God has made the Son A beginning of things created And by adoption has God made Son Into an advancement of himself Yet the Son’s Substance is Removed from the substance of the Father The Son is not equal to the Father… Continue reading Athanasius and the dodgy worship leader

Irenaeus and the mystery of the missing Gospels

Introduction a. An Alternative Creation Story -God as distant, pure spirit –who doesn’t get his hands dirty Impersonal –in fact one Gnostic, Basileadis, goes so far as to describe him as “The non-existent God.”   -Between us and God are intermediary spirit beings/gods (demiurges)                -Creation as an unpleasant accident –matter  =bad, spirit = good… Continue reading Irenaeus and the mystery of the missing Gospels

Slaves and Masters

Ephesians 5-6 applies the way God’s love poured out to us is reflected in our love for each other in four relational examples Encouraging one another in the church Marriage Parents and children Slaves and Masters Here is some background reading relating to the 4th example with a look at church history and the movement… Continue reading Slaves and Masters