Whilst I’ve complained at times that there has been a slowness to talk about the cost-of-living crises, that doesn’t mean that no-one is talking about it. This week, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown weighed in with his take on the crisis and what needs to be done. He spoke with a characteristic sense of urgency… Continue reading Just because someone proposes a solution to the cost of living crisis doesn’t mean we have to jump at it
Category: ethics
The tragic case of Archie Battersby: Are we helping or hurting?
This weekend, the courts made the decision that Archie Battersby’s life support should be switched off. This was not the ruling that his friends and family wanted to hear. Our first thoughts and prayers should be with them. It is natural, right and good that a parent will do everything that they can to fight… Continue reading The tragic case of Archie Battersby: Are we helping or hurting?
Complementarianism and Egalitarianism -the practical overlap and the real difference
There’s been another flurry of conversation about complementarianism on social media recently. I think this has been prompted a little by this article in Premier Christianity. As a side note, I think that the article doesn’t do a bad job of trying to reflect the different views and provide balance. However, I am not convinced… Continue reading Complementarianism and Egalitarianism -the practical overlap and the real difference
Headship and love – What Ephesians 5 says about the cost of living crisis
I often return to the question of how we understand and apply Ephesians 5:21ff to marriage today. I’ve a particular interest in this area having written my MTh dissertation on the passage. So I have an academic interest but my concern is that this should be helpfully practical. One of the conclusions I’ve come to… Continue reading Headship and love – What Ephesians 5 says about the cost of living crisis
Is it time for the State to get out of marriage?
The Government have recently reported on proposals to further liberalise the rules about marriage in terms of where, when and by whom you can be married. The National Secular Society have come out broadly in support of the proposals. Actually there’s much to like about them (with some quibbles) although we’d have a very different… Continue reading Is it time for the State to get out of marriage?
Not under compulsion: Is submission voluntary?
One of the key tenants of complementarianism is that submission, especially the wife’s submission to the husband is voluntary. In other words, she is not under compulsion to submit to her husband but rather, she may willingly choose to do so. Primarily when making the point, complementarians are seeking to address two groups of people.… Continue reading Not under compulsion: Is submission voluntary?
Should Christians disagree on social media?
Social media, whether it’s twitter or Facebook (I assume that TikTok and Instagram have the same challenges but I’m not trendy or young enough to know) isn’t always the easiest place to be. Friends fall out quickly, words are said, others are muted, unfriended and blocked. It can become toxic very quickly. Sadly, that seems… Continue reading Should Christians disagree on social media?
What more do we need?
This is a bit of a follow up to my article regarding the abolition of slavery and “a better ethic than the Bible” earlier this week. A lot of the argument concerning the redemptive-movement-hermeneutic boils down to two questions which Michael Bird helpfully crystalised in a twitter discussion. Is it better for something to be… Continue reading What more do we need?
“She came to him” -on Bathsheba and reading motives into actions
It seems that the argument for Bathsheba being complicit in sin with David rather than a victim of his sin against her comes down to one phrase. In 2 Samuel 11:4, we are told of Bathsheba that “she came to him.” This must indicate consent. There is a major problem with that argument. The problem… Continue reading “She came to him” -on Bathsheba and reading motives into actions
What was David’s sin with Bathsheba?
Over the past few years, a little debate has kept cropping up about whether it is right to suggest that David committed adultery with Bathsheba or whether in fact we need to say that he raped her. I wrote a guest post for Steve Kneale here when the debate first came up but it has… Continue reading What was David’s sin with Bathsheba?