Category: Theology

Is Penal Substitution about redemptive violence?

Penal substitution is an aspect of the doctrine of atonement.  It is the belief that Jesus died in our place ad a substitute bearing the penalty for our sin.  One of the objections to it is that it perpetrates “redemptive violence” so that the violence enacted against Jesus is itself seen as redemptive.  Recently in… Continue reading Is Penal Substitution about redemptive violence?

But now… (Romans 3:21-31)

You are talking with someone about the Gospel and they raise the classic objection. It is arrogant for you to claim that you will be going to heaven and they won’t. On what basis can you make such an outrageous and intolerant claim. You start to share the Gospel further with them. How would you… Continue reading But now… (Romans 3:21-31)

Going with the grain of how Scripture talks about God

I want to say a little bit more about the recent controversy concerning Gently and Lowly.  If we have discomfort about the language in the book, then it seems to be because we struggle with the language we find in Scripture. Let me pick up on one example. In Hosea 11:8-9 God says to Israel:… Continue reading Going with the grain of how Scripture talks about God

Do evangelical and liberal Christians believe in the same God?

This may be an even more provocative question than yesterday’s question about whether or not Christians and Muslims worship the same God.  However, I hope it will help us to develop our thinking a but further.    It comes in the context of some of the responses to the first question, where the follow on is… Continue reading Do evangelical and liberal Christians believe in the same God?

God in the Dock (Romans 3:1-8)

Paul has argued that relying on ethnic pride does not work.  Your genes will not save you, nor your knowledge of The Law. We are judged by our actual righteous, the good that we do or don’t do. Therefore Jews and Gentiles alike face judgement day. So, if a Jew cannot claim an exemption, is… Continue reading God in the Dock (Romans 3:1-8)

A small matter and a heart matter (Romans 2:14-21)

It has been a contentious week when it comes to identity and status.  Did you pick up in the Meghan and Harry interview that so much of the fall out between the Sussexes and the Royal Family (not forgetting the media and the UK in general) was to do with the status of their son… Continue reading A small matter and a heart matter (Romans 2:14-21)

Rivals to creation

The contemporary discussion about origins is usually polarised between Atheistic Evolution and some form of Creation or Intelligent Design approach. Later on, we are going to have a look at the Creation v Evolution debate; however, it is worth noting that, for most of history, atheistic evolution has not been the primary rival to the… Continue reading Rivals to creation

Let women learn

Alistair Chalmers has started a series of articles from a complementation perspective on allowing women’s voices to be heard in church. He gives the extreme example (extreme in logic sadly not necessarily in terms of commonality) of women attending women’s conferences and being taught by men on what it means to be a godly mother… Continue reading Let women learn