Earlier this week, we were asked to sign a letter to the Government written by other church leaders. The letter expressed support for appropriate measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, expressed concern about the way some measures might be affecting the most needy and vulnerable, explained why churches play an essential role in our community… Continue reading The danger with playing the media game
Category: ethics
What does it mean to “just focus on protecting the vulnerable”?
Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen a point of view gaining momentum in certain quarters which is that we should never have had a full national lockdown and that we should be lifting all restrictions now so that the young and healthy can be free to live their lives without interference. Instead we should… Continue reading What does it mean to “just focus on protecting the vulnerable”?
Breaking International Law? (2) The Internal Market Bill
Is the UK Government in a position where it has been forced to go back on its treaty agreements with the EU through the Withdrawal Agreement? In brief, the issue is this. We have devolved governments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is therefore possible for those governments to implement legislation relating to food… Continue reading Breaking International Law? (2) The Internal Market Bill
Breaking International Law?
The other day, a Government minister announced that the Government were about to break international law in a specific and limited way. Their comments related to the latest stage of Brexit negotiations and the Internal Market bill that is going through the House of Commons at the moment. Before I go any further, I want… Continue reading Breaking International Law?
COVID-19 update: What is the present reality and should Christians break unreasonable laws?
COVID-19 cases are on the increase again around the world and here in the UK. At the end of last week, new restrictions were introduced for the whole of England limiting the number of people who could socialised together to 6. Similar rules with some variations were introduced in Scotland. Meanwhile, from tomorrow we will… Continue reading COVID-19 update: What is the present reality and should Christians break unreasonable laws?
Work Matters
I’ve been writing about the importance of rest over the past week or two but we cannot talk about rest without talking about work. It is that point which influenced my last article on the matter. In that article, I responded to a question about why we do not give enough attention to the part… Continue reading Work Matters
Morality and the Christian account of God
So how does the God revealed in Scripture and worshipped by Christians do when it comes to the morality question? Once again we are back to the question of evil and suffering and why a good God can permit these things to happen. Now, there are two charges to respond to here. The first, is… Continue reading Morality and the Christian account of God
Specifically Wrong
Today asked about the Government’s Brexit policy, a minister, Brandon Lewis stated that yes the Government would break international law … in a specific way. You heard that right. A minister acknowledged intention to break a law. Not only that, the slightly weird defence was introduced that it was only in a specific way. That… Continue reading Specifically Wrong
Exploring Forgiveness and Repentance
I’ve been writing a little recently about forgiveness. It arises out of our recent studies from the Sermon on the Mount. It also relates to some other things I have written recently about our pastoral responsibilities to victims of abuse and to those accused. So, I was interested to see the other day that my… Continue reading Exploring Forgiveness and Repentance
Woke?
How did the term “woke” become the insult of choice in 2020? The word is simply an African-Americanism meaning to be awake. It has been around for many years. It came to describe those who had become awake to their subjugation. Woke people were awake to racial injustice, the historical effects of the slave trade… Continue reading Woke?