Category: Opinion

What should we make of Russell Brand’s baptism?

Controversial comedian and celebrity opinion former, Russell Brand has recently announced that he has been baptised in the River Thames.  The news has polarised responses with some being quick to jump on the news and share it as another exciting example of God moving to bring about a form of Christian revival.  Other examples include… Continue reading What should we make of Russell Brand’s baptism?

So if not TGC UK, what is it that the UK church needs?

I recently wrote in response to Affinity UK’s announcement that they were heading up an initiative to launch a UK version of The Gospel Coalition. My initial response was to ask some questions because I genuinely wanted to understand what was behind the proposal, what it was that the proponents were trying to achieve.  I… Continue reading So if not TGC UK, what is it that the UK church needs?

Responding to some criticism

In response to conversations about Affinity’s proposal to create a UK version of The Gospel Coalition, I came in for a bit of criticism recently   The criticism could be summed up as being to the effect that we should all want greater Gospel unity and therefore what am I personally doing to encourage it? In… Continue reading Responding to some criticism

Does the UK need The Gospel Coalition?

Affinity have announced in a press release plans to set up a UK version of The Gospel Coalition.   TGC describes itself as “ a fellowship of evangelical churches in the Reformed tradition deeply committed to renewing our faith in the gospel of Christ and to reforming our ministry practices to conform fully to the Scriptures. “… Continue reading Does the UK need The Gospel Coalition?

Gaza -six months after the 7th October

It’s now six months since that horrific morning when Hamas terrorists entered Israel and carried out a brutal atrocity, a violent spree of kidnap, rape, mutilation and murder.  Israel’’s response was to launch an extensive military operation into the Gaza strip with two stated aims, the return of the hostages and the complete and permanent… Continue reading Gaza -six months after the 7th October

Lessons from libraries

In Birmingham, 25 out of 35 public libraries are threatened with closure.  I was thinking about this recently whilst reading this article by Steve Kneale on what Christians can learn from the death of the High Street.  Steve mentions the challenge that libraries face too. I think there are some even more specific lessons to… Continue reading Lessons from libraries

Is the royal soap opera about certainty rather than drama?

In response to my article about speculation concerning the Royal Family and the Princess of Wales, one question that came back was whether I was sure that the motivation was to create drama and soap opera.   Isn’t it the case that people need certainty in life and without God, they desperately need something to fill… Continue reading Is the royal soap opera about certainty rather than drama?

The Princess of Wales, conspiracy theories and the need for drama

What would you do if someone let you know that they were about to have major surgery and would need a significant amount of time off to recuperate?  You see, this is exactly what has happened with the Princess of Wales.  There was an announcement that she was going to have planned but serious abdominal… Continue reading The Princess of Wales, conspiracy theories and the need for drama

Why the marches need to stop

It has been strongly argued that allowing demonstrations concerning Israel and Palestine to go ahead was important because this is about free speech and because the protests were essentially peaceful.  Whether or not that was the case in October  2024, and even then I thought it peculiar that the focus of the demonstrator’s anger seemed… Continue reading Why the marches need to stop