Category: pastoral-care

Getting impersonally personal

Something struck me after engaging in a particular dispute recently.  It was the dispute about the Keswick Convention’s relationship to abortion campaign group CBR UK and their church focused project, Brephos.  I was reflecting back with my wife after some follow on conversations with people who had got in touch we me about my article. … Continue reading Getting impersonally personal

Submitting to one another and learning love languages

My friend Steve Kneale has written a very helpful article here about how we learn to experience love across cultures.  In his article, he picks up on how the concept of “love languages” has often been misunderstood and misused. Steve, observes that too often, people talk in terms of what their “love language” is meaning… Continue reading Submitting to one another and learning love languages

What about those curses?

I wanted to write say a little bit more about the fear of curses.  Previously I argued that Spiritual Warfare is not about a kind of superstitious approach relying on symbols and actions to ward off evil.  What I mean by this is twofold.  First, I don’t need to worry too much if there is… Continue reading What about those curses?

Marriage when it’s not reciprocal

I’ve argued in previous articles that Paul’s teaching about marriage in Ephesians 5:22-32 is an amplification or application of what it means to “submit to one another” ((5:21).  This means that you can describe it as “mutual submission” albeit: However, whether or not we buy into the concept of mutual submission, I think that generally… Continue reading Marriage when it’s not reciprocal

Marriage health-check (applying Ephesians 5)

In my previous article, I suggested that we should be cautious about attempting to be over prescriptive about what it means to practically apply Ephesians 5:21-32.  I’m convinced that rather than looking at each aspect individually to see if wives are submitting, husbands are being good heads etc that we do best to look at… Continue reading Marriage health-check (applying Ephesians 5)

Marriage, mutual submission and headship: what does it look like in practice?

In Ephesians 5:22-32 Paul instructs: Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord … Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” In a previous article, I argued that this was a fleshing out of 5:21 and the instruction to “submit to one another.” … Continue reading Marriage, mutual submission and headship: what does it look like in practice?

A big bug bear

I wrote recently in response to Sinclair Ferguson’s comments about blogging.  My friend Steve Kneale has written more directly with his response here.  I share Steve’s sentiments.  I think Steve is right to suggest that such comments portray a lack of insight into the nature of Gospel ministry.  On a side note, one of the… Continue reading A big bug bear

Can babies sin? Navigating a current controversy

Apparently, the latest dispute to occupy people’s head space and get a thousand fingers tapping passionately at their keyboards, is the question about whether or not it is possible for babies to sin.  The big claim has been that if you are reformed, then you should recognise that babies sin.  The practical focus seems to… Continue reading Can babies sin? Navigating a current controversy

Can’t you just say “they died”?

I recently saw someone complain on social media about Christians using euphemisms for death such as: passed away, gone home to be with the Lord and promoted to glory. “why can’t we just say that they have died?” They asked. Well having both pastored people through bereavement and experienced it myself, I thought I would… Continue reading Can’t you just say “they died”?