I think fundamentalists and liberals tend to make the same mistake about the Bible. They read it through the same modernist lens. They miss what the Bible is saying and so they miss its applicability to contemporary life. Let me give two examples to help with our thinking. First of all, let me return to… Continue reading We miss the radical teaching of the Bible when we impose the wrong thought categories
Category: ethics
George Floyd, justice and why the optics do matter
I woke yesterday to the news that George Floyd’s killer, Derek Chauvin has been convicted. This is good news because it means justice for Floyd’s family, but it does not deal with the issue of racism. In fact, it is concerning that some people are still trying to separate out the race issue here and… Continue reading George Floyd, justice and why the optics do matter
Why did the European Super League fail? More lessons in idolatry
It has been fascinating to see the way that the European Super League proposal collapsed as quickly as it was revealed. So, what caused this to happen? Well various explanations have been given as to what made the difference including: Fan power and an example of collectivist communitarianism. The fans stood up to big business… Continue reading Why did the European Super League fail? More lessons in idolatry
The proposed European Super League exposes our idolatry
The news cycle moves on. What has knocked coronavirus and a royal death off of the headlines this week? That’s right, it’s football and proposals for a European Super League. The plan is for 12 of the richest and largest clubs in Europe to break away from their national leagues to form their own competition,… Continue reading The proposed European Super League exposes our idolatry
Race, class and geography (more thoughts on that report)
Just before Easter, the Commission on Race, equality and disparity reported. The report has proved controversial with people focusing particularly on associated headlines questioning the existence of institutional racism and suggesting that the UK was in fact a positive example of improvements in race relations. I chose to hold off from making an immediate response… Continue reading Race, class and geography (more thoughts on that report)
Getting out of lockdown: Between idealism and pragmatism
Followers of Faithroots will know that I’ve been pushing hard at the question “Is there a way of helping us get back to full in person corporate worship sooner rather than later.” That is the context for any discussion on the proposed vaccine/immunity passporting scheme. Now, I want to be clear here that my long… Continue reading Getting out of lockdown: Between idealism and pragmatism
Cancel Culture and the death of academia
I’m continuing to reflect and write about culture in the light of recent abuse scandals and I want to pick up on something that has come up in social media conversations. As we begin to consider the question of healthy church culture, our attention is drawn to examples of leaders, speakers and writers who have… Continue reading Cancel Culture and the death of academia
Is the UK institutionally racist? Responding to THAT report
The other week, the Government published a report looking at racism in the UK in the light of last year’s #BlackLivesMatter protests (Report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities). The publication was accompanied by headlines[1] to the affect that There was no evidence of deliberate institutional racism The UK was in fact a… Continue reading Is the UK institutionally racist? Responding to THAT report
Scandalised
One of the really sad things about recent abuse scandals in the church is the way they mirror some of the horrific things we see in the world around us. We should be able to respond and to offer something that is beautifully counter cultural. Yet instead, we are seen to ape some of the… Continue reading Scandalised
Conservative evangelical theology SHOULD mean there is no excuse for abuse
Predictably, one of the responses to two high profile cases of abuse has been for some to identify a specific problem with conservative evangelicalism and therefore with its underlying theology.. conservative evangelical, or more properly, “Reformed Theology” holds that. God is the great and glorious Lord, the Triune God who is love, holy and just. … Continue reading Conservative evangelical theology SHOULD mean there is no excuse for abuse
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