Category: ethics

A better ethic than the Bible?

In this article, Michael Bird picks up on some disturbing comments that John MacArthur made about slavery back in 2012. I agree with Bird, that the comments were troubling. MacArthur’s suggestion that benign slavery was possible is utterly wrong headed. There is of course a fundamental difference between sticking with a good institution like marriage… Continue reading A better ethic than the Bible?

Headship – what are husbands meant to do?

I mentioned the other day a friend who was asking challenging questions about headship, submission, complementarianism and headship. Here’s another of their questions. If the core characteristic of male headship in marriage is love not leadership, why do we focus on submission to a husband’s leadership instead of his love? They are thinking primarily of… Continue reading Headship – what are husbands meant to do?

If I stopped being a complementarian, what would I lose?

A friend asked this searching question the other day – not specifically of me. Rather, they asked men who hold to complementarianism what they would lose if they walked away from that position. It’s an interesting one. In a sense, there might be something to lose.  You see, for some pastors/leaders, it would involve losing… Continue reading If I stopped being a complementarian, what would I lose?

Aren’t most asylum claims fake?

I’ve been writing a little this week about asylum, responding particularly to arguments about the UK’s policy of removing asylum seekers arriving across the channel to Rwanda for processing. One of the assumptions I frequently hear is that the vast majority of claimants are not genuine that they are really economic migrants using the asylum… Continue reading Aren’t most asylum claims fake?

Do we need to control immigration to protect our culture?

I promised the other day, that I would deal with one specific argument for why we need to tightly control immigration.  It is stated here: The argument is that mass immigration will distort and destroy our culture.  We therefore need to restrict immigration at a level which enables newcomers to assimilate into the host culture. … Continue reading Do we need to control immigration to protect our culture?

Why I consider the Rwanda policy immoral

Yesterday, I wrote responding to the criticism that opponents of the Government’s “Rwanda policy” haven’t come up with any proposals of their own.  Well, it seems that having stated what some of those proposals are, the criticism switched back to “but in your article, you didn’t offer a critique of the Government’s policy.” It seems… Continue reading Why I consider the Rwanda policy immoral

Is there really no alternative to the Rwanda policy for refugees?

It seems increasingly rare to hear supporters of the Government’s policy of removing asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing defend the policy. Instead what you tend to get are comments along these lines: And … Now, first of all, a couple of preliminary responses.  You will notice that the presumption is that anyone who opposes… Continue reading Is there really no alternative to the Rwanda policy for refugees?

God, gender, pronouns and the church

If you check someone’s social media profile these days, then you are likely to find that they’ll tell you their preferred pronouns. The point is that we are not to assume that they want to identify with a particular gender.  It is considered respectful to allow another person to let you know how they want… Continue reading God, gender, pronouns and the church

Praying for or praying against enemies?

My article about the UK national anthem provoked a little discussion.  Several people on social media commented that they agreed with me that it shouldn’t be sung in church.  One reason given was that the Anthem includes verses which call for the defeat and destruction of the Queen’s enemies.  Observations included that this was “more… Continue reading Praying for or praying against enemies?