Category: ethics

The parameters of antisemitism

In a recent social media conversation about the affect that demonstrations were having on the Jewish community, one person asked me what  considered to be the parameters of antisemitism, in other words, how did I define it? I think the reasoning behind such questions is that the context  of the marches and demonstrations has been… Continue reading The parameters of antisemitism

Why it is important that we don’t assume that ethics based on God’s Word alone is arbitrary

I’ve recently been writing a little about the different strands of complementarian thinking. You can read about my attempts to map out the field of play, here. I’ve also commented about the problems when you don’t hear each other well, here.  I wanted to pick up a little more on the specific aspect of the… Continue reading Why it is important that we don’t assume that ethics based on God’s Word alone is arbitrary

Complementarians disagreeing badly

I’ve recently included a series of articles looking at tools to help us to map out the different positions withing evangelical Christianity on the role of men and women in church and family.  One of my reasons for doing this is that I wanted to help us to have a better conversation and even if… Continue reading Complementarians disagreeing badly

Criminals, converts and asylum

Some high profile cases of asylum seekers who have processed Christian faith and then gone on to commit serious offences have been used by politicians to question the genuiness of claims and to accuse the Church of complicity. In the light if this Tim Dieppe of Christian concern has written and suggested that a high… Continue reading Criminals, converts and asylum

Should pastors let people know their political position?

I asked two questions on Twitter, the first was about whether pastors/elders should declare their political allegiance in terms of party. The second question was related but slightly different. It asked whether or not pastors/elders should express their political views.  In both cases, the majority of those responding indicated that they thought that pastors should… Continue reading Should pastors let people know their political position?

Should we have locked down? And should the church have co-operated?

One of the big questions throughout COVID and since is whether or not lockdowns were the right response to the pandemic.  It is important to distinguish lockdown scepticism from COVID-scepticism.  Although many who were against lockdown were also sceptical about the threat from the virus, it was possible to be wary of the Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions… Continue reading Should we have locked down? And should the church have co-operated?

Cowardice, sin?  Does the church need to repent over COVID?

We are now 4 years on from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and 2 and a half years on from the full re-opening of life in the UK which effectively marked its end.  The UK have been holding a public inquiry to learn lessons from the pandemic and some Christians have been encouraging the… Continue reading Cowardice, sin?  Does the church need to repent over COVID?

Questioning authority

One of the questions that came up during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to be debated since has been over the extent to which the church should have complied with Government guidance and regulations. To some extent, the debate was about the extent to which Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 applied in terms… Continue reading Questioning authority

Who is in the room and how does that shape the conversation?

I was reflecting further on the recent “Lesson learnt” Symposium on the Church and COVID and it struck me that one of the main lessons presented to us was unstated but highly visual for those who had eyes to see.  You see, as I looked at my fellow panellists and as I watched the feed… Continue reading Who is in the room and how does that shape the conversation?