How do we respond when we face trials and testing? This is particularly important when testing involves suffering. We may at times be tempted to give up on seeking to do what is good and right. This was certainly a temptation that the Psalmists faced when they looked around and saw the wicked prospering. We… Continue reading Tested
Posts
Worthy is the lamb
Faithroots Podcast: Revelation 5-6
Grieving the evil of war
I recently wrote that “war is an evil”. I wrote this to respond to and distinguish from Scott McKnight’s argument that war is itself a crime, it isn’t just about the committing of war crimes. What this enables us to do is to recognise that sadly, in a fallen world, war is sometimes necessary and… Continue reading Grieving the evil of war
Evaluation
It may surprise us, given Scriptures warning about pride, arrogance and boasting that New Testament authors, including Paul as well as James do argue that there is a place for boasting. The surprising twists concern who can boast and the basis of their boast. A look at the text (Read James 1:9-11) James contrasts the… Continue reading Evaluation
Ask and you will receive
Jesus famously said: 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door[a] will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. It’s that theme from the sermon on the mount which James picks up… Continue reading Ask and you will receive
A strange source of joy
It is easy to be happy and contented when things are going well, when there’s good news and obvious hope. How do we respond however, when things are not going so well? A look at the text (read James 1:2-4) James says that we aren’t only to find happiness in the good times. Instead, we… Continue reading A strange source of joy
Greetings to scattered people
Theresa May in her 2016 party conference speech described her opponents as “citizens of nowhere.”[1] She was arguing that those who saw themselves as citizens of the world, especially those who were using this kind of language to attack Brexit supporters as nationalists lack roots. The speech understandably ruffled a few feathers. The reality of… Continue reading Greetings to scattered people
Israel, Jews, Zionism and antisemitism
One of the little examples of semantics that tends to come up when talking about antisemitism is the potential difference between being antisemitic and anti-Zionist. It’s probably helpful first of all to talk about terms. Jews: A recognised ethnic people group with minorities around the world. There are 7.8 million Jews in the modern state… Continue reading Israel, Jews, Zionism and antisemitism
It’s complicated … and it isn’t
In the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there were those who argued that our responsibility as Christians was simply to pray for and work for peace. This was often accompanied by calls for a ceasefire. Similarly, there have been those who have responded to events in Israel and Gaza with similar appeals for… Continue reading It’s complicated … and it isn’t
James and Paul: Law, grace and faith
Does James contradict Paul? This is one of the big questions that has been asked of his letter and it is the primary reason why some people have been suspicious of the letter. Paul has been keen in his letters to argue that we are saved by grace alone and justified by faith. In Ephesians… Continue reading James and Paul: Law, grace and faith
