You don’t need to speculate

This week, Matt Chandler, pastor of the Village Church and president of Acts29 announced that he was taking leave of absence from preaching and teaching at the Church. The reason given was that he had been direct messaging a female on social media and had been confronted about this by one of her friends.  An… Continue reading You don’t need to speculate

The danger of Federal Vision

I’ve mentioned the so-called Federal Vision a few times here.  This is the position associated with James Jordan, Peter Leithart and especially Doug Wilson.  I thought it was worth revisiting it as my social media timeline has been busy again recently for some reason with discussion about Wilson and Federal Vision.  I think as well… Continue reading The danger of Federal Vision

The Cost of Living Crisis – it’s time to act

There’s been frequent talk of and demand for emergency budgets through the year as the cost-of-living crisis has worsened.  Earlier I argued that we shouldn’t be panicked into doing what this or that politician or former prime minister demanded and that rushing to hold an emergency budget wasn’t the right response.  Because the main driver… Continue reading The Cost of Living Crisis – it’s time to act

The Cost of Living Crisis: I’m sorry but “warm banks” may not be the answer

With the impending energy crisis, this winter, one suggestion that is gathering pace is for churches, libraries, community centres etc to provide places where people can go during the day to keep warm.  Just as we had food banks, so too, we can provide “warm banks,”  Some Councils such as Birmingham are even beginning to… Continue reading The Cost of Living Crisis: I’m sorry but “warm banks” may not be the answer

The Cost of Living Crisis and the Jubilee answer

Today, the energy watchdog for the UK confirmed that the price-cap on fuel bills will rise by 80% in October with average household bills set to go up from £1,971 to £3549. Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been writing frequently about the Cost of Living Crisis. This is a crisis that is already… Continue reading The Cost of Living Crisis and the Jubilee answer

Why I don’t think partial nationalisation will solve the energy crisis

*This article is an attempt to look further at questions around the cost-of-living crisis. As we get into practical solutions, this does start to politicise things.  I don’t favour Christian leaders making party political pronouncements. However, public theology and ethics will involve some engagement with political application and there should be room for charitable disagreement.… Continue reading Why I don’t think partial nationalisation will solve the energy crisis

What if Putin’s Strategy is to impoverish the West?

A lot of our responses to the War in Ukraine and the related impact on the Cost of Living crisis is driven by two related assumptions. That the crisis will be short That Vladimir Putin is a madman who has miscalculated and gone for broke on a fool hardy invasion of Ukraine. But what if… Continue reading What if Putin’s Strategy is to impoverish the West?

Healing The Divides (Book Review)

This is the second book I’ve read and reviewed this summer talking about a divide affecting the church. The first focused on class divides and this one is about race. Jason Roach and Jessamin Birdsall write against the back drop of the recent #BlackLivesMatter movement and the response to George Floyd’s murder. Jason writes as… Continue reading Healing The Divides (Book Review)

Beth Moore, Grapes, Crushes and how we talk about Jesus

In the absence of a major church reforming debate or political crisis, there are still things popping up on our social media timelines ready to provoke a lot of heat, controversy and offense.  This weekend, it was Beth Moore’s turn.  For context, Beth is a US Christian and author with a large women’s teaching ministry.… Continue reading Beth Moore, Grapes, Crushes and how we talk about Jesus

Complementarianism  – provision, protection and life before The Fall

I’ve argued that headship is not meant to be about power and hierarchy but rather, authority is about being authorised to do what we are responsible for.  In the case of husbands and fathers (as well as elders -spiritually in the church) this is about provision and protection.  I take this from Genesis 2:18 15 The Lord God… Continue reading Complementarianism  – provision, protection and life before The Fall