I’ve been starting to dip my toe into a little theological debate about something called “concupiscence”. I’ve so far focused on highlighting what Scripture has to say about desire and temptation. It’s probably worth saying a little bit more about what the debate seems to be all about. In the new volume, Ruined Sinners to… Continue reading Desire: What is the concupiscence debate all about?
Category: ethics
Jesus, desire and temptation
We cannot talk about desire and temptation without looking at Jesus’ experience of temptation. We can see this exemplified in the temptation he experienced in the wilderness from Satan and secondly in the Garden of Gethsemane. Remember that Jesus’ experience of temptation is different to ours, he was without sin and so his nature was… Continue reading Jesus, desire and temptation
Thank you for telling me what I think
Evangelicals Now have published a couple of articles responding to Trump’s inauguration, one from a concerned Evangelical. The other from someone seeking to explain why Trump has evangelical support. Unfortunately most of the article is given over to telling us UK Evangelicals what we think about Trump and why we are mistaken. We are also… Continue reading Thank you for telling me what I think
“Temptation comes from our own desires” What does James have to say about sin, desire and temptation?
James 1:13-14 says: Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire (ESV). The NIV translates epithumia as “evil desires”, although whilst… Continue reading “Temptation comes from our own desires” What does James have to say about sin, desire and temptation?
Heads, submission and BDAG -my response
Andrew Bartlett has kindly responded with some comments on my most recent article in our conversation series. As I noted then, I sent him an advanced draft copy and I made a couple of amendments prompted by his comments. I left his response as is because I thought it still helped to prompt a few… Continue reading Heads, submission and BDAG -my response
Heads, bodies, submission and BDAG: Andrew Bartlett’s response to my article on Ephesians 5
Heads, bodies, submission and BDAG: Andrew Bartlett’s response to my article on Ephesians 5 Below is Andrew’s response to my latest article. I try to send Andrew an advanced draft of what I’m about to say and keen-eyed observers will notice that I amended the first comment he picks up on, prompted by his comment. … Continue reading Heads, bodies, submission and BDAG: Andrew Bartlett’s response to my article on Ephesians 5
Marriage at work in Ephesians
In my detailed engagement with Andrew Bartlett’s book, “Men and Women in Christ, we’ve got to the bit where he engages with Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3. You will probably have picked up that I think he should have made this his starting point Now, you might think that maybe this reflects my own bias,… Continue reading Marriage at work in Ephesians
Standing with friends against antisemitism
I recently read another post from a friend describing how they and their family feel unsafe because they are Jewish and have been subject to antisemitism. I am sad and tired to have to keep reading such comments. To be 100% clear I’m not tired or wearied by the people sharing the posts. Unfortunately another… Continue reading Standing with friends against antisemitism
Church leadership should reflect not mitigate the home
I’m a complementarian in regard to church leadership because I believe two things, first that this label best describes the pattern for relationships between husbands and wives in the home. Secondly, that the local church is mean to function as an extended family. Let me expand on that a little. First, complementarianism is based on… Continue reading Church leadership should reflect not mitigate the home
Concupiscence, contraception and pastoral carelessness
In his chapter of Ruined Sinners to Reclaim, Stephen Wedgeworth outlines his understanding of a Protestant doctrine of concupiscence before landing on two areas of application, both are around sex and sexuality. The second is about same sex attraction but the first is about contraception. Whilst he doesn’t go so far as ruling out contraception… Continue reading Concupiscence, contraception and pastoral carelessness
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